The spark-notes version of my accolades is on a different tab, but this is a little about who I am as a filmmaker:
I am the oldest of three siblings, and I grew up splitting my time between living in Tijuana, and going to school in San Diego — which meant crossing the border every day. While it was often confusing to feel like I belonged in either country, it allowed me to develop a truly unique perspective. I have a background in theatre and ballet, but whether it was putting on plays with friends for our parents, a 4th grade business renting my own handwritten storybooks to classmates, or convincing my teachers to let me turn in videos instead of powerpoints, I have always been a filmmaker and storyteller first.
For most of my life, I thought I would only be making comedies. After suddenly losing my dad at 19, it not only sped up my emotional empathy by several decades, but it helped me discover a love for drama and the beauty that is found in the darkest depths of human emotion. While at LMU film school, I learned how to turn my raw imagination into professional filmmaking, and I’m proud to say that during my time there, I was the only student whose junior and senior films were both nominated for back to back “Best Picture” awards at LMU’s Film Outside the Frame. I was also a finalist in the DGA Student Awards. In addition to my creative side, I often work as a producer and UPM, which I think makes me an ideal collaborator and a rare hybrid.
I love writing and directing projects that give you pause, make you think in a new way, or maybe just make you giggle. Though sometimes subtle, my aim is always to inspire kindness and promote compassion. So much of our world view is shaped by what we see in movies, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly.