Meet Gael Kuni | Writer Director – Actor

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

Hi Gael, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since I was a little kid I knew that I loved arts. When I was three or four years old my mom would take me to Tlaquepaque in my home state Jalisco, where traditional mariachi bands always performed and I loved to jump on stage with them to sing and play my little toy guitar. Later on as I grew up, I remember that every time I went to the movie theater to watch some movies, I loved coming back home and quickly look for the behind the scenes of how they made the film. And I ended up liking the behind the scenes footage even more than the actual movie, at that moment I realized that filmmaking and arts were something that I loved, and something I enjoyed doing.

Later on at the age of 15 I joined theater and started acting, at the same time while I was doing that, I started writing and developing my first short film. I fell in love with storytelling and the various ways that you can tell stories. That’s when it really hit me, filmmaking wasn’t just entertainment for me. It was a passion, something I genuinely loved and wanted to pursue. I could spend hours and hours just writing and re-writing knowing that I could dedicate every second of my time my whole life without getting tired of it.

That is when I finally made the decision of pursuing an artistic career, and with full support from my family I took the bold decision of leaving my hometown in Mexico and move to Los Angeles to study filmmaking. It is a risk fueled by passion and a clear dream which is to tell stories that resonate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a proud Mexican filmmaker and actor. I don’t have a plan B in my life and I don’t see myself doing anything that is not creating. I am of someone that feels a lot, I truly enjoy feeling, I like music that moves me, I like films that move me. But what I enjoy the most is making people feel things. It is incredible how something I created from the bottom of my heart, can touch another person’s heart. And that is why I chose this lifestyle, that’s why I am an artist.

I know that art is something subjective, there is no right or wrong in making art and I feel that everyone should feel encouraged to share their art with the world in whatever way they feel comfortable with. I am a psychology fan and I dig deep into everything I write, or every character I play. I like to know the motivation and the reason why we do the things we do. Because for me the reason why is even more important than what happened.

It has been difficult finding myself and what I want to say. And I feel that I am still on the path of discovering who I am and where I am headed as a person. But as a filmmaker I want to be reminded as the man that was not afraid to say or show reality, the man who was never afraid of saying the truth. I want to use the tools I’ve been given as an artist to speak for those who can’t. And my goal in life is to support those voices that need power and exposition.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them for sure to all the famous tourist spots in LA, like the Hollywood walk of fame, the Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica.

But also I would definitely take them to amusement parks like Universal Studios, Disneyland, or six flags. I am a guy that enjoys adventure and thrill so taking them to this kind of places would make me the happiest.

And of course we have to checkout my regular day to day places like Pricilla’s Coffee, Bea Bea’s, the Universal Citywalk or AMC 16, and if we had the chance I would love to take them to a free event like a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to my family, friends and mentors. I know that without their support I wouldn’t be the man that I am today, and definitely wouldn’t be standing where I am standing today.

Instagram: @gaelkuni

Linkedin: Gael Kuni