Applicants and potential supervisors

[jadoo1989]

I am planning on going for a masters in Spanish or Latin American studies. My research interests are contemporary Latin American film and contemporary Latin American literature. I will be applying for Fall 2014 entry and application deadlines are in February, 2014. I suppose finding a supervisor isn't as important in the humanitie as it is in STEM, where budgets and projects matter a whole lot more. However, all of my schools ask for a statement of purpose/interest in which I identify my research interests and I'm thinking it would be good to show that I know what I want to do in the department and who I want to do it with. At what point should I get the ball rolling on that?