Meet Miguel Lopez De Leon | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miguel Lopez De Leon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miguel, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Hi! My name is Miguel Lopez de Leon. As a filmmaker who directs, acts, writes, produces and edits my own films, I really have full control over the stories that I choose to tell. This creative freedom is very important to me and really makes me feel like I have a clear voice in my own work. To date, I’ve made twenty-one films, and have won one hundred twenty-seven awards for those films. I am also a novelist and have published ten novels. But to me, even though these are two completely separate fields, they both are essentially the same type of work—storytelling. Since I was a child and I obsessed over my comic books and cartoons, to when I started reading novels and watching movies, I’ve always loved escaping into other worlds and realms. Eventually, I began creating my own worlds and realms through writing short stories and novels, then by making short films and feature films. I really do think that this form of creative expression is just a part of how I see, understand, and even cope with the world around me. So for me, I really don’t feel I have a choice as to whether to keep going or give up. Storytelling has always been a part of my life, and I hope it always will be.

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.
I guess what might make me a little unique as a filmmaker is that I direct, act in, produce, write, and edit all my films. Now while this is not that unheard of for short films, it is a little more uncommon when it comes to making feature films. My three feature films Walk Silent, Bellow, and Reaching Awake are projects that I loved doing, but they were not without their challenges. Filmmaking is traditionally a group effort, so to do it on your own is not the conventional path to take. I have, however, met or heard of some filmmakers who also make feature films like this, but not many. It all started with my first short film. I was trying to get a cast and crew together to film it, but while most said yes they would do it, no one was ever available at the same time, so finally I just decided to do the whole thing myself. And while it was challenging to do all those jobs, I personally found it very rewarding.

My twenty-one films have included many genres, including comedy (Ghost Leave, Inner Voices, Novel Idea, Heckler Guy, Film Idea), fantasy (Two Conjure), drama (The Panic Attack, Seance), experimental (Feathers, Hi, Escape Escape), and thriller/horror (Bellow, Walk Silent, Wait). I’ve enjoyed exploring topics in my films such as self-doubt, loneliness, mental health, grief, and loss, but also joy, humor, positivity, and aspects of the supernatural.

To work hard on all these films, then eventually get to see them in movie theaters at film festivals all over America has really been a joyful experience. It’s also been an amazing education. Sometimes the audience laughs at funny moments, sometimes they do not. Sometimes they jump in fright at scary moments, and sometimes they do not. But just to have the opportunity to have my work showcased and seen in that manner is really something that I do not ever take for granted.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my friends visit Los Angeles, I of course ask them what they want to do, but if I had total control of the itinerary, I would bring them to a local film festival—if one was available. I’d just like them to experience what it’s like at these events where you can pose for pictures at a step-and-repeat, walk the red carpet, watch screenings of lots of great independent films, then meet the filmmakers and potentially the casts and crews. I’d want them to get the whole independent film community experience!

Aside from that, as a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, I would definitely take them to watch a live play production at one of the many theatres in LA—my favorite being the Pantages Theatre. Then I would take them to have coffee and hang out at a bookstore, go to the movies and watch whatever the latest popular Hollywood film was, then have dinner out at a nice restaurant. For first-time visitors to LA, I find that The Grove—while predictable—is usually a good place to go. It has a huge bookstore, a bunch of good restaurants and shops, and great movie theaters.

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?
As a filmmaker, I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the independent film community. When I made my first short film years ago, I really didn’t know how it would be received by film festivals, or if they would even accept it into their official selections—especially since I directed, acted in, wrote, produced and edited it all myself. I was proud of the work I did on that first film, but I was very aware that no one else might like my work. But some film festivals did accept my first film into their ranks, and now, after having made eighteen short films and three feature films, I’ve had the opportunity to travel around America to a variety of film festivals, and meet some of the most creative, gracious, kind, and talented people that I’ve ever met. I’ve had an amazing time watching my films being screened in front of live audiences, but I’ve also loved watching all the amazing work of my fellow independent filmmakers. The experiences that I’ve had, and the fantastic people that I’ve met in the independent film community, have been a steady source of joy and inspiration to me that I am very grateful for.

Some of the great film festivals I’ve attended where my films have screened at this past year have been the Portland Comedy Film Fest (Portland, Oregon), International Mobile Film Fest (San Diego, California), Shawna Shea Film Fest (Worcester, Massachusetts), Studio City Film Fest (Los Angeles, California), Zepstone Film Fest (Salt Lake City, Utah), and the L.A. Indie Horror Fest, and Golden State Film Festival (Both in Los Angeles, California).

My feature film Bellow just screened at the Culver City Film Festival in Los Angeles, and will be screened in March at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, in Idyllwild, California. At the upcoming Idyllwild Film Festival, Bellow has received nominations for Best Actor (for my performance as Chris in the film), Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

Website: https://www.migueldeleonart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miguellopezdeleon1/?hl=en

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8905409/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0