Meet Noel Paganotti | Film Director & Writer

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

Hi Noel, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
The end goal is to have changed as many people’s lives as I can for the better. I believe that in life, our journey should be met with challenges and you should use those challenges to improve who you are and your career. In my filmmaking career, I want to be able to change people’s lives with my movies, inspire thousands of other filmmakers, just as filmmakers have inspired me, and bring more stories into this world. I want to be remembered as one of those who brought something new and everlasting into the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a kid, I was a very quiet and lonely person. I lived in and out of hospitals so much, I never had much time to socialize, or even create deep and meaningful connections, yet something was always there for me, storytelling. My grandfather introduced me to Scorcese and Coppola and I discovered Tarantino and Nolan. As a kid, I’d create small comic books, and make short films with other film clips, or making a power point presentation with images that told a story. Little did I know what would happen in my life.

What would push me off the cliff into becoming a filmmaker was in 2015 when my Stepfather died. The only person to truly ask what I wanted to be and told me to live my life as my own. After his passing, I started to reconsider everything in my life, of what my dream was of becoming. I knew I wanted to aim high, so I did. I set in my mind a goal, I want to create films that will leave an impact in your life and bring you powerful stories that will resonate. I wanted to become the filmmaker that would inspire others as many have inspired me.

The moment that information was out, friends, colleageus, professors, tried to put me down and tell me that I had no chance of getting in. It hurt, seeing people want to crush my dreams, close friends as well. I always kept pushing and pushing, and against all odds, I succeeded.

In 2017, I was accepted into the University of Utah to study film, where I met incredible people that pushed my limits even further, allowing me to spread my wings and fly. Professors like Paul Larsen, Eduardo Ayres Soares and Brian Patrick were always believing in me and pushing me further and further. And against all odds, I continued fighting when everyone told me to stop. I was put down by friends, colleagues and some professors, saying that it was a stupid idea, but the more I fought, the more I understood, my life is in filmmaking.

To be a filmmaker is to be criticized. It’s what I always tell everyone. But it’s how you take that criticism, that will make you improve and become not only a better filmmaker, but a better person.

My films, one after the other, would get more and more attention, and would constantly get better. From A Wish from the Moon, to my most recent film An Ideal of Liberty, who has just received an official selection by the LA SHORTS, Utah FIlm Festival, Beaufort International Film Festival, amongst many others, have been showing me that I can still improve and get better.

Stories are living, breathing things that are constantly changing, and I want to be a part of it of telling those stories. The stories that show the world, that even if the whole world is against you, you take the beating, stand up and come back stronger. To show people to not be afraid of doing what you love, and that there are people like them out there. Due to my dyslexia, I technically shouldn’t even be able to write full essays, but I never let that stop me. I pushed through. I succeeded so far by being different and not being afraid to prove a point, but also understanding how the industry and storytelling works. Today I am a Film Director & Writer.

I overcame so many challenges by believing in my self and listening… Listening above all else. Many of us believe that we know what we are doing, when we write a movie and sometimes people are not seeing things like you are, but after I stopped to listen I understood so much not only of my work, but of my life and of who I am. Be kind, listen, adapt, learn… Those would be the best words that I can tell to anyone in this medium or in any other.

I want the world to know about me as someone who wanted to leave inspiration to others, that no matter where you are, no matter how many people push against you, you must still keep fighting. My fight isn’t over, and for the rest of my life I will be grateful and kind towards all, no matter who it is. I am here to leave an impression in the world, and to make sure others can make their own impression. That they will feel inspired by my story and my work, for their own. And remember, money doesn’t mean quality… I think many people around me believe the more money, the higher the quality.

Today I am currently working on a thriller feature film, who I am currently in the development phase. And I know many will tell me to give up, and settle for something smaller, but without risks, there are no victories. I am not afraid to put my voice in the world, and neither should anybody.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where to start? Personally, I like to drive a lot, so besides Santa Monica, Griffith Observatory, and many of the classic spots, I would take them for a drive in the mountains or by the sea. Angeles Crest, drive by Malibu, and cross the city, showing them the beauty of the mixture nature and the city. Walk by Beverly Hills, and stare at the clothes and cars, cause I won’t be able to afford them, and show them the art museum, watch a baseball or basketball game. I’m a very chill person, so admiring the scenery would alway be one of my top go’s to. Relax by the beach, go on a hike around here!! It’s tought to pick one, since LA is always full of surprised.

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?
The shoutout goes to my mother and the professors that have helped me overcome all the challenges throughout my life. To all the people that were there to support me, even when the circumstances didn’t seem to be in my odds. To those who pushed me into taking risks I would have never taken before. To the filmmakers whose movies made me into who I am today.

Website: www.noelpaganotti.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noel_padilla_99/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpo9ETZ59dY

Other: VIMEO: https://vimeo.com/noelpaganotti

Image Credits
Photographer: Yukiko Cho Director of Photography: Nick Azzaro Assistant Director: James Velasquez CAST: Bill Jones – Nachbi Lacossiere Marie Jones – Kutloano Headbush Officer Curtis – David Warpness