5ReasonsTo Hire Me

Shakespeare bought me ice-cream

My friends love it when I tell stories because I make them epic: I act them out with sound effects and camera movements. Like the time I met Shakespeare... Buy me an ice-cream and I’ll tell you about it.

I had Samurai training

I was hired by a Japanese production company to direct their feature film “Hotel Chelsea” (theatrically released in 2011), and I had to shoot the whole thing in eight 10-hour days. Uh, yes: eight days, 10 hours each -- because of budget and Japanese union rules. People are surprised when they hear this, since the quality was not compromised. The trick? I had a Japanese producer constantly threatening to chop my pinkie off if I went overtime... which disciplined my artistic choices to be more... effective .^_^.

I see grasshoppers everywhere...

You know the feeling when you go to a new place and you’re marveled at everything because it’s new and exciting? For better or worse, this is chronic in me because I grew up all over the place (Cuba, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Costa Rica, went to college in University of Miami, and now live in New York City). I have a deep sensitivity to things... like the grasshopper by your feet. How is it that I can I hear it? The question is, how is it that you do not? -- (from “Kung Fu”)

My background includes Nicole Kidman

I wanted to be a painter, then a guitarist, then an actor, but my parents said I would starve. Since both majored in psychology (dad became a poet and diplomat, mom a Freudian psychoanalyst), they managed to convince me to major in Communication. Their plan backfired (HA!) when I got my hands on a camera and realized I could paint with light, compose with editing, and evoke emotion in a larger audience through films. The passion became unstoppable. Thanks mom and dad for encouraging me to abandon my silly dreams and find my true passion.

This career has in fact kept me pretty skinny, but it’s all been worth it: my directing credits include two feature films -- award-winning “Hotel Chelsea” (2011) and “You Can’t Kill Stephen King” (2012) -- and over a dozen short films (one of which was featured in American Cinematographer Magazine), music videos, commercials for companies like L'Oreal, and industrial videos for renowned organizations. As a cinematographer, I’ve shot feature films like "Cocaine Cowboys II" and ESPN's "The U". I also sold a screenplay, and I’m currently in pre-production for my third feature, “La Guadalupana” (2013), and developing two others.

I write everyday (which means I get a daily storytelling workout), and take filmmaking, writing, and acting classes whenever my schedule allows. Most noticeably, I’ve studied under acting guru Susan Batson (coach of Nicole Kidman, Juliette Binoche, and Tom Cruise, among many others...). One day, Nicole dropped by and said “hi”. And that’s how Nicole Kidman became part of my background.

Photo by Jorge Valdés Díaz-Vélez (dad :)

I got you to read this far...

Every 3 or 4 years my family and I moved to a different country: I became a chameleon -- I was trying so hard to fit in and please everyone because I had a deep need to belong. To grow out of that, I had to find myself... The journey inwards took a lot of courage, as I faced my demons, but I finally found him: my Inner Child. ;.) Now I don’t seek anyone’s approval except my own.

I am full of gratitude: I love what I do because it doesn’t feel like “work”, it feels like “play”. I am a very open person and have very dear friends all around the world -- I don’t take them for granted. I’m sure that if you’ve read this far you will end up buying me that ice-cream and becoming someone I will soon work/play with and care about too.