Meet Julián Oyanedel Santiesteban | Filmmaker & Master in Film and TV Production – Specialized in Music Videos

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julián Oyanedel Santiesteban and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julián, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As a filmmaker and musician, risks have been essential in my career; I grew up in a conservative environment in Chile and, as film and music were considered just hobbies and there is no real cultural industry there, I entered Med School to “be something in life”. Eventually, I had to make a decision: a prestigious career doing something that, even though would mean a wealthy life, didn’t fulfill me, and to opt-out and risk security over living the life that I wanted doing what I was passionate about. Quitting that life was the best thing I could do and, although it wrecked many of my family and personal relationships, I turned out to have the privilege of being happy, working as a filmmaker, musician, and actor. I started working on Music Videos to merge my passions and could withstand adversity and struggle to earn money (remember, Chile is in a sub-industrial state regarding cultural and entertainment development, so money for those venues come mostly from the artist’s own pocket and the grants given by the Ministry of Culture).
Probably another Leap Of Faith was deciding to come to L.A. to take a Master Degree in Film and TV Production, which meant changing my life and bringing my family from Chile, just to take a shot in the City Of Angels (and heathens), a place of dreams, that exudes both grandiosity and excess, and where you can find success or end up in the gutter.
Here I have met amazing people, and also have learned and got to experience things I could only dream of. Through work, I have met some of my idols like director Kevin Smith, music video director Vicente Cordero and his team, producer Kevin Feige, and Filter’s singer Richard Patrick.
It is like the old Latin quote “fortune favors the bold”, and I’m grateful that it is have been like that for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe that was has set me apart from most of the directors and producers is that I can work with a deep and personal understanding from most of the roles and even in front of the camera, as I have been acting since I was very young. I’m a director that understands and works with producers, no for my ego or thinking I am all mighty. Like the name of the Brazilian band: EGO KILL(S) TALENT! In a city with spoiled brats, it is always an asset to be able to fluidly work with all of the crew towards a common product. As a producer, on the other hand, I understand and work with the directors but this time I try to guide their ego into the path that best fits the project, keeping them at bay and guiding them from their delirium into clarity. I’m proud that I can make use of being a musician and actor too, as I can put myself in their shoes and give precise and effective directions, even to my band members when we are filming or playing live.
The risks and sacrifices made to get to where I am today professionally were big, and involved fights, being estranged, losing friendships, and even family members, but to be able to succeed and be fulfilled you have to always think about moving in constant motion.
I want the world to know me and I want to know the world too; I have a very aggressive editing style and an eye for detail that is set to bring life into my work, I want the actors to live the part and I’m not a conformist. if I know I can get somewhere, I go there, I don’t brag or fail to even take a step. I take risks for a living. As I was taught by Chilean director and Berlin winner Ricardo Larraín (RIP): “You cannot film excuses”.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The conditions right now are not the best, but I would probably go to the classic landmarks, like Venice Beach, Santa Monica, go hiking to the hills, checking the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood’s walk of Fame and the Chinnese and taking the classic studio tours at Universal or even the one at Warner bros.. Although, the main dish would be the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, one of the most important places in the history of music and Rock Culture. Sunset Blvd has been an inspiration and it is probably exemplifies best the excess and the glamour that coexist in Los Angeles.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my family, my wife Paloma and my son Martín particularly, for jumping off the edge with me and supporting me in my dream, which has brought us so many things, good and bad, and has put our love to a test. I love you. Also, my mother Rudy, my family, and my friends, who have backed me up with dreams that sounded delirious at the time, but bloomed into things that have made me proud. I remember my MTV LA debut when everybody thought that making music and videos was my doom, and how they changed their mind after watching me on TV and then keep moving forward. From Chile, my colleagues Mario Toro, director of MT Audiovisual, and Tomás Valeri, my band Render’s drummer and friend, who have stood by me on both sides of my passions and have shared so many victories with me. Also, my friends and colleagues Liz Tindle (Collins), Allison Piccioni, Vicente Cordero, and Alisa Daglio, who have supported me and welcome me to the USA, teaching me a whole new world that I could only fantasize with. Finally, thank you Shoutout for the support and sharing my story.

Instagram: @threemastersmedia

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianoyanedel/