Meet Daniel Salas | Filmmaker

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

Hi Daniel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose an artistic and creative career because I am able to have the ability to express myself. As I was growing up, I never thought I would pursue a life in the arts. Back home in Oxnard CA, I didn’t know of anyone who made films. In high school, the people I grew up with were on their way to study engineering, politics, computer science, etc. So, having the ability to create with others was pretty scarce. At some point, I decided to study to become a lawyer, even though I was not enthusiastic about it. Then, one day during my junior year, a class fell into my lap: Intro to Video Production, and I began to find a lot of interest in learning how to create videos. Over time, I found a lot of fulfillment in taking that class because, for the first time, I felt like I was able to express myself. In conjunction with this, I began to watch more films and became fascinated by the artistry and voices of different filmmakers. I stayed with this class till the end of high school and went on to study film and television in undergrad because I wanted to keep expressing myself within this medium.

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.
Once I realized I wanted to become a filmmaker, I knew the path to get there would be difficult. One of the first big milestones that I was able to achieve was getting accepted into the MFA program at Chapman University to study as a Film Directing student. But, When I started my journey at Cal State Northridge, I wasn’t sure about what specific emphasis I wanted to study, and a lot of students were very vocal, and had more knowledge about film than I did. They knew where they wanted to be, so by default, I was pretty quiet because I felt like I was years behind everyone. At the end of my sophomore year, the students and I in my cohort had to apply to get into the narrative filmmaking emphasis, and I did not get in. So, my choices were either television or documentary film, and I chose documentary as an editing emphasis. I didn’t feel too bad about not getting in because I was still so unsure about what I wanted to do.

When I was placed into the documentary program that’s where I started to figure out what I really wanted to focus on, which was directing. I directed a couple of documentaries during my undergrad and learned many skills I still use today. I learned to be on my toes and think on the fly, and in post-production I knew what to cut out to figure out the story within the footage I had. This was also happening during COVID, so it was ALL trial and error for me. Then, along the way, I wanted to try other ways of creating, so I took a video art class. There, I was opened up to a world of creativity that had no boundaries when it came to storytelling. I learned experimental editing techniques, but most importantly to start going by emotion when it comes to embarking on an artistic endeavor. That was where I really started to develop a style that I enjoyed. It’s a harsh black-and-white world with flashing edits that play into stories that delve into the dark underbelly of the human experience.

So, I feel like my journey was an experimental experience because I didn’t know right away what exactly it was I wanted to be in this industry or what I could offer it. In some ways, it makes it more difficult, but also more fulfilling because I learned many different skills and tried different things I take with me now that I’m at Chapman. And I will continue to experiment with different ways of storytelling as I go forward with my career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d definitely recommend going to downtown Ventura, especially Main Street. There are many little shops and a variety of small restaurants to eat at. Also, check out the hiking trails in Malibu. The view is great at the top of any of those mountains.

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?
There are a lot of people I could give a shoutout to, but I have to start with the man who put me down this path, Fundi Legohn. He was my video production teacher in high school, and the most important values I learned from him always stemmed from dedication and persistence. He had this saying in class which was, “Don’t leave your money on the table.” I tell myself that sometimes because it reminds me that I have to be willing to give everything I have to this craft if I love it.

The next person is my mom. I told her I wanted to pursue this crazy filmmaking life, and she didn’t hesitate to support me. Though some of my projects have been tough for her to stomach, she still has my back nonetheless.

Lastly, is a professor. Her name is Maria Elena de las Carerras. She is from Argentina, and she was my professor at Cal State Northridge when I studied documentary film. A lot of students feared her because she was so strict, but when you did the work and got to know her, you’d realize how much of a great mentor she was. Her film vocabulary is extraordinary; throw the most obscure film at her, and she’d know it. I loved getting her feedback on my projects. She was enthusiastic about my decision to pursue an MFA and wrote my letters of rec for all the schools I applied to. When I got into Chapman, she was very happy for me. She loves to keep in contact with students who are in the industry or at school, so I send her emails letting her know how I am doing and what I am learning from time to time.

Website: https://dsalasbecd.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvniel_5/