Meet Francois Larosa | Award Winning Filmmaker and Documentarian

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

Hi Francois, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My beginning in this Film Industry business started in College Theater as an Actor to branching off into Short Films then to getting on to LA-Austin-France Film sets. All taught me the function of the Roles of what each Crew Member did. Then branching off into learning the Screenwriting Skills from an Award Winning Argentinian who won awards in Berlin Germany. Then migrated here to the US. I was one of two students when she first started her class. That foundation was the catalyst of me being where I am today as for being an Award Winning Screenwriter for TV and Film. Recently in the past 3 years became an Author of writing three books. All this made a huge impact on where I am now.

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’m Francois Larosa, If you Google my name you’ll see that they labeled me as an Acclaim Horror Filmmaker, Producer, Award Winning Documentarian to Author. In college I had take one elective, it was either Basketweaving or Theatre. I chose Theater. The interesting thing about that is everybody in college was talking about going to Los Angeles and New York to becoming big in this industry. And then they asked me what I was going to do. I remembered saying, “Well, it’s not gonna be anything to do with this!”

Out of the entire class I was the only one that did it. And that was by accident, or maybe fate!

My first big studio film was the remake of “The Alamo” the Director John Wayne’s Film.
My first featured role was screaming at Dennis Quaid “10,000 Men!” which ended up getting cut, got paid good, but I got the Acting bug. From then on after a year of doing everything in film, I finally got an Agent. It was a one year contract, then after that I got a better Agent. The interesting thing is I’m still signed by Paramount Talent Agency-Ezme Arana here in Austin Texas. This was the launching point of where I am today.
As a Director now, coming from Acting, it’s taught me how to talk to actors, to get what I need from them and understanding there concerns which results in a good Film. Knowing how to talk to the Crew, to letting them know the scenes and the game plan beforehand to making things work efficiently.
And most importantly dealing with the Producers that bring in the money. Letting them know what we’ve accomplished where we’re at and how much we have left in finishing.
One thing I’m known for is shooting on time and under budget. Also the most important thing in this is listening.

When you have a Production Company and you’re trying to provide services such as developing a Trailer, doing a Screenplay, or discussing with them to adapting it to a Featured Film. The most important thing is to know what they want, and to listen. Telling them how you’re going to approach it, trying to see how much they have to bring into the project and what you can do with the funds provided.
That makes for a consistent successful Filmmaker.
Also side-bar note, Knowing how to keep your cool on the set because your attitude sets the Precedence of the production. And believe me it trickles down.

These are the attributes that set me apart from others. And the result is being selected out by other Executive Producers, and Producers as one who gets it done.
The results of years in Sitting in the Directors chair and re-tweaking Scripts, or either Writing Screenplay’s has been Winning Awards.
From Paris and Nice France, Italy, Germany to the Prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 2016. To becoming a qualifier in BAFTA. In 2021, as well as in the U.S.
This past year, I had the opportunity to shot Film in the Virgin Islands which was breathtaking, then heading back to Miami Florida to do a Podcast, to finally Austin Texas, which I call my basecamp.

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.
There are Numerous places that have great food drink and views. But if I had some friends visiting, I would probably in LA, go first for Tacos, and that would be at Danny Trejo’s Taco’s, yummy.

Then visiting HelMel Studios on the East Side. The Art is visually surreal at times and you never know who might drop by-Val Kilmer.
I’ll stop with the name dropping but Rodeo Drive is still Iconic and maybe a Brunch one day at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Then doing a quick stop and seeing the Cecil Hotel for History sake.
Then pics at the Hollywood Sign for sure.
If that doesn’t make for a good conversation ( Laughing) I give up.
LA is still the place !

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There has been influential people that have been, in my early stages of this career teaching me responsibility and respect, before using the words of creativity and vision. My Actress mother-Angela Collins (Delarosa) who said that all things are possible in this film business, and also embedding in me to treat people the way I wanted to be treated. She was the conduit that helped in me moving my chess pieces in the right direction. Next Shoutout is my College Theater Director Ruth Williams. Under her tutelage I gained even more confidence and fearlessness. And one who recently passed and was a Consummate, Actor, Peter Gonzalez-Falcon. The Federico Fellini Actor shared insights and inspiration to me that I will always cherish.
All of these people I miss and still say “Thank you Dear Souls.”

Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm3817163/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_8_q_Francois%2520Larosa%2520

Instagram: @fxlarosa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francois.larosa.12?mibextid=opq0tG

Other: Fxlarosa@gmail.com

Image Credits
Paul Fischer Photographer