Meet Cassandra Pimentel | Film Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassandra Pimentel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassandra, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Growing up in sunny San Diego, I had the best of both worlds – the laid-back SoCal vibes and the cherished traditions of my Filipino heritage. Though, this world also felt like a bubble and 8 out of 10 Filipino families seemed to follow a familiar script – mom rocking the nurse’s uniform while dad sailed the seas in the Navy. Nothing wrong with that, it’s just that’s the only formula I knew in the 90’s/2000’s. In my household, we had our own similar version – my parents both in the sciences, my grandpa in the Navy and I was also surrounded by my big Filipino family – aunts, uncles, cousins – yes blood related – a lot of them in the sciences or Navy.

While I initially envisioned myself following the respected path of dentistry like my Auntie or a marine biologist having grown up with a Seaworld annual pass – there was a spark within me that craved something different. That spark would flicker as a hobby throughout my elementary and high school years but not ignite as a career path until college.

I had this love affair with movies – not just watching them, but the whole shebang of making them, unraveling the secrets of movie magic. Ever since I was a child, I was always fascinated by the Studio Tour Ride at Universal Studios and the behind the scenes of the making of the Harry Potter movies. Even though I had cinematic daydreams, I never saw this as a career possibility. Nobody around me, nobody who looked like me, seemed to be venturing down that “glamorous” path of filmmaking. But little did I know, the universe had some surprises up its sleeve.

Fast forward to the mid 2010’s I had an epiphany: filmmaking was a career path worth pursuing. I cherished the excitement of seeing Filipinos on the silver screen growing up. It sparked joy not just for me, but for my friends and family too. That excitement fueled my passion for filmmaking; So because of this, my reason for going into filmmaking is that I strive to spread the excitement of representation and to share an abundance of diverse stories and visual art so that society can understand and accept individual uniqueness and differences.

In 2017, I wrote and directed the short film “Plaza Blvd”, a story inspired by a well known Filipino-centric street in San Diego, drawing from my upbringing and childhood to craft a heartfelt family narrative. Through “Plaza Blvd,” I wanted to amplify voices often underrepresented in mainstream media and showcase Filipino culture in a genuine and relatable manner, where individuals from all backgrounds can see themselves reflected and celebrated on screen.

So, here I am, a proud product of San Diego’s sunshine and the warmth of my Filipino roots. Overall my background and upbringing gave me a deep appreciation for diversity and inclusion.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Filmmaking is my passion. My art is filled with color and diversity. Whether it’s directing a short film, a music video or a commercial, I enjoy the creative process and the craft. And what excites me the most is representation and diversity in mainstream media. There still needs to a constant push for it but I am excited to be a part of making a difference in this industry.

In college, with no film major at the time, Media and Cultural Studies offered the closest opportunity to learn about film. When Filmmaker Hisonni Johnson reached out to our department seeking student collaborators for his short film, I jumped at the chance. Out of over 50 interested students, only about 12 remained committed. Joining them was one of the best decisions I ever made, leading to invaluable hands-on film experience and some lifelong friendships within the film industry. Working on Hisonni’s Nightwing fan-based short film in 2013 paved the way for him to ask me to take on the role as 1st AD on a feature film premiering on Netflix in 2014, despite my initial lack of knowledge about the position. Though I discovered it wasn’t my calling, I’m very grateful for the film experience. Hisonni was an awesome first film mentor who really encouraged me to reach for my dreams.

After college I became the assistant to film producer Deborah Del Prete (The Wedding Planner, Ender’s Game) for 5+ years and immersed myself in the world of feature films. Working on projects like “Locating Silver Lake” starring Josh Peck and Finn Wittrock, Del Prete took me under her wing and I gained invaluable insight into the entire filmmaking process, from development to distribution. She has guided me in this crazy entertainment industry and has supported my directing career from the start.

Somewhere along there in my beginnings of living in LA, my friends and I were catfished by a college “friend” and well that’s a long story for another time. Let’s just say so much good came out of that mishap because that is when I met Lyle Del Mundo, founder of FACE – Filipinos Advancing Creative Education, Allen Palos and the rest of the MyxTV crew. They took a chance on me and I directed and produced MyxTV’s first digital mini series – “A.S.S. – A Scary Sleepover.” Because of this peculiar twist of fate I also met amazing music artists along the way who I have directed music videos for – Sheer Element, Jules Aurora, The Filharmonic, Common Kings and Robin Nievera to name a few.

This career path is definitely a roller coaster. I could have high days and low days but if I ever have low days I think about if there is anything else in this world that would make me happy to pursue, and personally for me there is not. I have encountered many challenges in this career path but I also have to remember that as cliche as this sounds, everything happens for a reason, but a reason that is good.

I want the world to know that I’m persistent. When asked about my progress in the film industry, my response remains the same: “I’m still trying!” While I may not have reached my ultimate goals yet, I’m determined and enjoying the journey nonetheless.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have a lovely group of best friends that I’ve known since preschool and we do call each other The Pack. One of my closest Pack besties lives in LA and was my first roommate when we moved here. Our go-to hangout spot in our early LA days was Lock and Key in KTown, where the music and dance scene always made for a memorable night. I love when my best friends come to town because there’s so many fun and exciting places to check out! I’m more of a foodie so I’ll probably focus on that here for favorite spots in the city.

When my friends come to town, I love exploring new coffee shops in the morning. Some favorites include Sightglass, Coffee for Sasquatch, and Verve.

For lunch, Gracias Madres in WeHo is a top pick for its exceptional vegan Mexican cuisine. It’s not every day you have vegan Mexican food that hits the spot! If you’re craving mouthwatering burgers, Monty’s is a must try – and yes, they’re vegan too. I’m not vegan but I am lactose intolerant and I do love that cheese texture so having cheese at these restaurants is amazing.

But my ultimate favorite spot is Kazu Nori, where I often find myself indulging, sometimes even solo. Love bringing friends here and watching them roll their eyes at their first bite. One time I went with my cousin and as we were leaving the restaurant, Olivia Rodrigo walked in. Props to her for patiently standing in that long line for being a big pop star.

When it’s time to celebrate a friend’s birthday, Bottega Louie is my go-to destination for their fabulous Celebration Cake, accompanied by a few macarons for myself, of course. Currently, I’m obsessed with Awan – literal hole in the wall – for its unique vegan ice cream flavors, perfect for my lactose intolerance.

During my boyfriend’s chef years in LA, Melrose Umbrella was our go-to spot to hang out with friends. Its lively atmosphere, vibrant bar scene, and inviting outdoor patio always made for a great time!

Some great dinner spots I recommend are Mother Tongue to try some foods from around the world, Toe Bang in KTown for a fun time with soju and yummy korean street food, or Meizhou Dongpo for their irresistible peking duck.

Goodness, I can go on and on about the fantastic food scene in LA! Now who’s hungry?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Choosing just one person or group to dedicate my shoutout feels impossible! I feel so blessed to have a great support system and be surrounded by so many friends and family who have inspired me and rooted for me throughout my life. At various points in my life, individuals close to me or those I’ve encountered have made significant impacts, shaping me into who I am today. So I would love to dedicate my shoutout to all my loved ones – my parents, my family, my cousins, my friends, mentors and my dog Lucky. Too difficult to point out individual names – I am truly thankful for everyone! So shoutout to you, you know who you are!

Website: https://cassandrapimentel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandra.pimentel/

Image Credits
Mark Mejia @MarkMejia Robert Edu @RawSawada @MarcoStills