Meet Rafael A. López | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rafael A. López and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rafael A., why did you pursue a creative career?
Younger, I dreamt about becoming a comic book artist. Capturing a story within frames, and the freedom to let one’s imagination run loose, trying to make sense of the world around felt oddly appealing. However, I quickly realized the meticulous nature of the work and the infinite amount of patience it required to finish only one board. Being semi-impatient at this age, I needed a “faster” medium to see stories come to life and instead turned towards short stop-motion animated films using Legos and clay.

Curious by nature, and still hoping to understand the world around, it didn’t take me long to come across existentialist philosophy –where it seemed like others before me had come across the same questionings I was facing. While consuming the work of existentialists writers made my teen-self feel less alone, this turned out to be a double-edged sword; making me question the world around me twice as hard, oftentimes with no answers and finding myself more lost than I had hoped for. It is around this time that a high-school professor oriented me towards writing, where I found a new means of expression. Even if I wasn’t able to answer those questions that kept me up at night, exploring them through short stories brought me a sense of peace.

This practice quickly turned into screenwriting, and eventually evolved into live-action filmmaking. This medium of expression seemed the most appropriate as it connected with my initial artistic aspirations: comic books turned into storyboards, and plastic figurines turned into complex human beings. The desire to keep exploring questions people close to me would rather avoid –and hopefully finding answers– slowly shaped itself into an artistic path.

Today, I am still learning to enjoy the journey rather than the destination. And now, this career path is, to me, synonym with a sense of freedom; the freedom to explore questions about the human condition without a dreadful need for answers.

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.
My professional path surely wasn’t straightforward, as it implied many sacrifices and uprooting my life to a country I have no connection to. My approach to filmmaking aims to interrogate the relationship between fiction and realism, by crafting environments where both the characters and actors are free to make one; therefore letting go of the idea of performance. The micro lens of human experience is, to me, an open door to exploring the complexity of flawed political systems. Raised between Switzerland and Venezuela –where most of my family still lives– it has been a struggle to establish a sense of belonging throughout my life, wherever I was. When the political situation in Venezuela became too unstable, I had the immense privilege to call Switzerland “home” yet it never truly felt like it. As a result, the concepts of belonging, identity and grief in their many forms, inspire my work –either it be commissioned or personal projects.

However, none of this approach would make sense to me if it wasn’t also an opportunity to redefine the visual language of cinema. This art takes its root in political propaganda and is still used to this day as a societal element to manipulate our perception of the human experience: what should we do, how should we react, what should we aspire to… the list goes on. Heavily influenced by Nina Menkes’ mentoring, I strive to combat the pre-established patriarchal norms of mainstream visual language by exploring new ways to address difficult conversations, while surrounding myself with collaborators whose voice would make a difference in this approach.

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.
I am only mentioning this because a couple of friends visited me recently, and since it was their first time in the city they wanted to see the walk of fame. The only way I would find this walk bearable is to start at In-n-Out (need energy..) and walk towards Afters Ice Cream to get a milky bun (it’s like a reward…)

Aside from that, I’d recommend checking out “Chamo” in Pasadena to get a taste of Venezuelan arepas (with an ice cold malta of course.)

And finally, the Jerome C. Daniel overlook, above the Hollywood Bowl, right as the sun sets on the city –ideally with any coffee from Community Goods.

And if anyone’s still hungry… Leo’s Taco truck is always a safe bet.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Many people deserve credit. First and foremost: Marie-Claire Gross, a Swiss writer and long time mentor, opened the door to a couple of written expression modes throughout my late-teens: creative writing and absurdist theater. Her mentoring has been pivotal in my artistic journey, and the first person to believe in my ability to tell a story.
Dr. Nicole Panter-Dailey, who allowed me to audit her screenwriting class at CalArts, initially for a “2 weeks trial period” which quickly turned into 4 years including 2 of these as her TA. Nicole’s strict mentoring, thorough and unfiltered feedback, greatly impacted my ability to express myself in a language that wasn’t mine.

Janice Tanaka mentorship and continuous support in my creative journey has played a crucial role in sharpening my skills, attention to details and overall perspective on filmmaking. She has been a pillar of support through some of the hardest moments in my life.

I would also like to mention how Nina Menkes’ mentoring has influenced my approach to filmmaking and solidified a need to combat the pre-established patriarchal norms of mainstream visual language. It is through her teaching that my views on cinema changed, perceiving it more like a tool for change rather than a medium for entertainment.

Ultimately, I owe a lot to my Calarts community who I cherish dearly. Many talented and hard working collaborators I had the privilege to exchange with, and learn from, helped build the creative journey I am on today.

Website: https://ralopez.work/

Instagram: @ralopez.work