David L. Rivera | Director & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with David L. Rivera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In my line of work, filmmaking and content creation, risk is just as important as learning your craft. I think this is true whether you’re a novice or an expert. Challenging your comfort zone and taking risks might be the only way forward. One of my biggest personal flaws in my past was complacency. I used to allow myself to get very comfortable in life, but over time I’ve learned to remind myself that whenever that begins to happen, taking a risk and doing something out of the ordinary is the only way to wake up. Risk is an excellent answer to comfort.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The creative project I’m currently most excited about in 2020 is an original sci-fi short film I’m developing to direct. It’s an idea I’ve been working on for about a year. But what keeps me the most busy as a working professional is the network of colleagues I’ve built over the years that at the same time have become my close friends. Keeping myself surrounded by other creatives keeps me motivated.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
As a Los Angeles native, born in downtown and raised in Mid City, I’d take an out of town friend to a mix of postcard destinations like Venice Beach, and Griffith Observatory, but also lesser known places that are equally as LA, like getting Korean BBQ at Road to Seoul in Ktown, cheesy pupusas at Es Con Sabor on Adams blvd, enjoy the views at the Korean Friendship Bell in San Pedro, and catch a concert at The El Rey Theatre on Miracle Mile.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would sincerely like to shoutout those that have taken a leap of faith and believed in me, trusted me with their project or brand, and helped in their own way for me to build my platform and body of work. Individuals like creative director David Adesman, actor/producer Diane Foster, writer/director Christopher Piñero, and producer Blake Armstrong at Lineage Digital. Maybe I didn’t have a huge body of work when I first met them, or maybe I was missing a specific work example, but they still brought me in to contribute to their own work and in doing so, I grew.