Can you share more about your journey from studying Advertising and Public Relations to becoming a writer and filmmaker? How did your early experiences shape your current career path?
Film, TV, theater, and literature have always been my passions. I was exposed to these since childhood so I could merge them until now, exploring each field separately.
Firstly, I was a member of a theatrical company as an actor/writer/director during college. After graduating, I had a job opportunity in one of the most important TV broadcasting companies in Spain, Atresmedia. There, I obtained lots of experience and knowledge of the entertainment industry, combining strategy with the creative side. At that time, I was also formally assembling the idea for a novel.
I started to write stories from a very young age. When I was 11, I wrote my first theatrical script for the Christmas Festival at elementary school and, since then, writing has been a crucial element for me. Additionally, I was a redactor in the school magazine during high school. So, after working on TV, I took my time to deploy the idea of writing a big story that, in the end, would become a trilogy. Finally, I published my first novel, ‘Sonrisas maquilladas’, in 2022. That encouraged me to jump to the next level and merge my creative writing with my other passions: Film and TV. So I came to Los Angeles to study “Entertainment Studies” at UCLA Extension and improve my skills.
Over this time here, I gained knowledge and self-motivation to follow up on my career and, undoubtedly, meet interesting people. Finally, through networking, hard work, and perseverance, I shot two short films in 2023 as a writer/director. The first one, titled ‘The Last Moment’, has won several awards within the Film Festival Circuit. The second one, titled ‘How Can I Help You?’, is currently in Post-Production.
Now, I’m working on two feature films that I have ahead as a writer/director.
Your novel ‘Sonrisas maquilladas’ marked the beginning of a trilogy. Could you elaborate on the inspiration behind this novel and how it influenced your decision to merge creative writing with your passion for Film and TV?
I love stories with heart and feelings. ‘Sonrisas maquilladas’ is that kind of story. It has love, disappointment, action, conspiracy, frustration but, most importantly, self-discovery. It’s an in-depth analysis of the human being and the society in which we live.
I’m a very detail-oriented person and I love to observe. Just observe. Doing this, I realized the flaws of the human being and the current society, and, merging this real part with fiction, I created a world in which Marcus, the protagonist, lives.
We follow Marcus over this journey full of mysteries, conspiracy, and self-consciousness. We witness this constant battle between his heart and brain and we take part in it because we also have experienced that in a certain moment of our lives. The story is written in first person because I wanted to preserve that intimacy between the character and the reader.
Over the trilogy, we walk with Marcus and the rest of the characters in this story, which increases in depth. We start in the world we know, continue in the world of dreams, and finish in the afterlife.
I also envision the novels as movies. The world created is fully described and visual, perfect for translating into feature films afterward. That is my goal in the future.
What motivated you to pursue “Entertainment Studies” at UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, and how did the experience contribute to your personal and professional growth?
I wanted to expand my film and TV knowledge and thought that Los Angeles was the right place. It’s the core of the film industry and you can feel that when you are here. On every corner, at every time, and almost everybody is working on it. You can find plenty of opportunities to get involved in projects and networking. Additionally, American cinema is quite different from European cinema. So, being here, also helped me to learn and distinguish those particularities.
Studying at UCLA Extension not only opened the door to discovering how Hollywood is made but it also allowed me to listen and learn from industry professionals and meet people who finally became my friends. My studies and working on several projects, either mine or others, have resulted in rewarding, personal and professional growth. I had the opportunity to work with people from different parts of the world and know their cultures, interexchange creative thinking to assemble particular pieces, improve my skills, or gain dexterity in areas I didn’t get used to.
Networking played a crucial role in your career progression. Can you share some key insights or lessons you’ve learned from your networking experiences, especially in the context of the entertainment industry?
I love networking and I consider it my favorite part of this industry. Meeting new people is always exciting, and even you can establish strong relationships with some who will continue working with you in the future.
The most important key in networking is respect. Especially in the entertainment industry, there are people from many countries. They think, believe, and work differently. And the main subject we work with is creativity, which is a sensitive issue. It’s crucial to respect every point of view and opinion.
Another significant element is listening. We tend to believe that our idea is the most wonderful one in the room and, in most cases, is not. Listening to others’ ideas, stories, suggestions, etc. helps to open your mind and strengthen that original thought. Remember, if you want to be listened to, you must listen.
Finally, to be grateful. Everyone’s contribution as a team makes a movie. Every person devotes effort, dedication, patience, excitement, time, and even money to a project and should be thanked.
Winning awards for your short film ‘The Last Moment’ is a significant achievement. How did the success of this project impact your approach to future filmmaking, and what lessons did you learn from the film festival circuit?
Winning awards is a way in which people recognize your work. That recognition from a jury and the audience is positive feedback and encourages me to keep going and putting all my effort into the next projects. Winning awards doesn’t change how I make movies or the path I would like to follow. The most important aspect for me is that my work reaches the audience and they like it.
The Film Festival Circuit is a very competitive place. There are lots of wonderful projects made by talented people around the world. The most rewarding part, independently of winning an award, is to watch other projects that inspire me in multiple ways, to network, and to listen to their creators. This industry is a continuous learning and I always find a chance to learn from other filmmakers. These events are a good place to do so.
With ‘How Can I Help You?’ still in Post-Production, what challenges and rewards have you encountered in the filmmaking process, particularly as a writer/director?
While doing this project, I discovered my capacity to manage multiple aspects simultaneously, solve problems successfully at the last minute, and find solutions for everything. I wore multiple hats: casting director, producer, writer, and director. Every role requires specific attention to a certain issue and I had to multitask. As a writer/director, every decision and every responsibility falls on you. It’s decisive to think calmly and appropriately.
I enjoyed every step of making this project. In pre-production, the hardest task was to find the exact locations that added the aesthetic needed to the movie. We struggled to find one location and to get permission to film there, but we finally did it. On the other hand, also in pre-production, my favorite part as a director happens: rehearsing with the cast. I love spending time with all of them and shaping each character according to everyone’s personalities, acting methods, etc.
The production phase is always stressful. Our main challenge was to shoot all scenes planned in time and there were plenty of aspects to fulfill. I remember one of the shooting days where we were almost 30 people, including cast and crew, and we had to shoot scenes with much dialogue and movements. Being problem-solving to overcome any unexpected setback is crucial here.
Finally, during post-production, you continue re-writing the story, selecting the takes that better portray it and embellishing them through editing. You need to invest time to make the right decisions and re-visit them on multiple occasions to achieve a consistent, accurate result. It’s exciting to see how the scenes assemble little by little. When you are shooting, you don’t shoot chronologically most of the time and, in editing, you watch the story in chronological order for the first time.
Working on two feature films as a writer/director is an ambitious undertaking. Could you provide some insights into the themes or narratives you’re exploring in these upcoming projects?
I like all genres but especially have a soft spot for psychological thrillers and mystery. That’s why I decided to embark on this kind of story for my next project as a feature film.
All my stories have some inspiration from real life, and this one is not the exception. I bumped into a very intriguing mystery case while watching a documentary. That story resonated with me and I decided to dive into it deeply. I found it even more fascinating because of the human component and, honestly, I love to explore human nature. That supposed the spark that made me write my next story centered on this theme: the depiction of the roughest human nature that everyone has inside. All this is wrapped within a fictional universe created on purpose for this project.
The second one is completely different. This is a musical romance. Making a movie with original music and giving it prominence captivated my attention. This means exploring the narrative in a particular way, in which lyrics substitute the character’s lines on several occasions and the communication is transformed through melodies. Also, music is the element that most makes us feel in movies. If you think of a touching moment or scene in cinema, it almost sure has it. That’s because the scene is what we see but music is what we feel.
How do you balance your communicative vocation and your passion for cinema, television, theater, and literature in your storytelling? How do these elements come together to create a unique signature in your work?
The perfect combination is a balance between words and action. In communication, the chosen words are important to translate a message to your audience. In cinema, apart from that, the visual element is powerful in communicating feelings or thoughts. We can obtain a lot of information from the way a character acts or moves, or just with the sight. So, in my work, I love to combine both to create a unique piece with a strong meaning in every sequence.
My communicative vocation, and my predilection for cinema, television, theater, and literature have formed an ideal cocktail to impregnate my stories with palpable realism, unmistakable sensitivity, and my charisma.
Can you share a memorable experience or encounter from your time in Los Angeles that had a profound impact on your creative journey?
I had the opportunity to attend the shooting of two TV series: “Night Court” from NBC and “That ´90s Show” from Netflix. There, I could see how a real Hollywood project is made and learn professional working procedures on the set. I realized how many people are involved in just one episode and how much effort everyone puts into it, especially for the long day schedule.
Those experiences are memorable and extremely valuable because I could be in the heart of Hollywood production and learn on-site. That made me love this job and the people who work to make it possible even more and strengthened my passion for this wonderful industry.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers and filmmakers who are looking to carve their path in the industry, especially those who are navigating a transition from a different academic background, as you did?
In my case, perseverance is the key. If you have a goal in mind, go and pursue it.
Don’t give up and keep writing, even if you think the story is not good enough. Exploring new narratives and finding your voice is crucial for a writer/director. Take your time to do so.
Don’t wait to be 100% ready because no one is. The point is that you dare to do it and jump into the unexplored. You will discover you can do more than you think and have hidden capacities you didn’t know.
You don’t need to know everything. This industry is a constant school for everyone, even for the most experienced ones. You will learn through the process and experience. What matters is to be present and willing to be involved.
And lastly, but the most important point for me, is to stick to your beliefs, be self-confident, and be you. Write for you and make movies for you. If you don’t believe in your projects, why the audience will do it? Passion is contagious, and if you put all of yourself into a project, it will have a heart that people will feel.
