Today we’d like to introduce you to Earnest Diaz
Hi Earnest, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Thank you for this incredible opportunity.
How it all started, it feels as if it is a full circle moment, due to the screenplay.
At the age of 5 my cousins and myself were playing and swinging from a tree in the front yard. I lost my grip and hit the root growing out of the ground. This caused ,e to have a broken nose and right orbital bone, which in turn led to me remaining home for a number of weeks to recover. I attribute this incident to the beginning of all of the creativity in my life.
This led me to discover sewing. After doing school work that was sent home for me, I watched my mother sew clothing for my brother and myself. Once I finished the school work I would mimic my mother by cutting fabric and putting two pieces under the sewing machine. I do remember not being tall enough to sit in the chair to use the sewing machine foot pedal. So I’d balance on my left leg as my little right foot put pressure on the foot pedal. I would sew little stuff.
This led me to discovering designing by the age of twelve. This was the age a second journey began for me, redesigning wedding for LGBT couples.
I worked various jobs and designed on the side for along time. I designed a collection for a major handbag company as well for a tuxedo company. 2004 I began writing what is now an award winning table book “Thankful”. By 2006 I came out with a flesh toned underwear collection for men called, Sk’n. From 2006 to about 2013 (while promoting the underwear line) management locked in a number of various clients. From stage, Reality TV to official types. It was then that, manager asked if I had ever written a screenplay. I said no, but accepted the challenge. I thought for a moment, what would I write about. Then I thought why not tell the story of Thankful. So, I wrote the back story and added a few extra ideas. It went no where at that time, so I decided to dust it off and submitted it to film festivals. Currently the screenplay has achieved 16 awards and accolades. Most recently, I was shortlisted as one of two LGBT screenwriters and achieved Nominee status at Cannes Film Awards.
My third major project; 1. Fashion designing, 2. Writing, 3. … the one I’ve been working on since the age of twelve, Unity.
As I’ve mentioned the redesigned wedding for LGBT couples. I work on composing music, producing and directing music videos that hint at various ideas in the Unity manuscript. Until the Unity documentary and manuscript get green-lit.
Of everything I’ve accomplished, never in my wildest dreams, could I have ever imagined being an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts recipient, let alone being honored 7 times.
It humbles a person to know that the hard work is recognized and appreciated.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Anytime you follow your heart and what feels like a God given direction, it’s never as smooth a road as we wish it would be.
I now believe and know, there are road bumps or obstacles in our way to test us. How will we react to… ?
I believe it’s our reactions to the struggles that ultimately help determine the best direction for ourselves.
Personally speaking, the constant doubt while pushing forward was always unnerving. Just trusting the process without knowing the outcome was a form of hunger that fed the soul.
I’m sure a number of your readers can relate.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Ohhhh being a creative! Or as District Attorney Kim Ogg called me during a brief encounter, “A Left brainer”. 🤣❤️
What am I known for… it depends on which group of people you speak with. Some know me for designing and some know me for film festival achievements and others know me for writing.
My first and foremost love is designing. As a fashion designer I’ve been blessed in being able to design for the likes of Olympic Gold medalists Carl Lewis, to Winston Churchill’s great grandson Jonathan Sandys. From Reality show couple to one of Destiney Child’s original members, to TV/stage and movie. The design journey is one I am blessed beyond belief to have been able to make reality.
The writing journey, writing was something I always thought was out of reach for me. I was horrible at spelling and reading for many years. Growing up my focus was always designing pieces that made people feel beautiful and proud in my creations. I never thought I would be a writer let alone an award winning writer / screenplay writer.
Music, I honestly wasn’t aware that my piano training at an early age would play into my life, later on. It greatly helped once I wanted to become a drummer in Jr High School on into High School. And it really helped co-producing music for a couple of artist on into composing music for Unity documentary soundtrack.
I could have never predicted achieving 147 awards for music that I’ve composed. To go from redesigning the wedding for LGBT couples to composing the music for the documentary that would explain said redesign. To being asked to compose a song for an animated movie… secretly my mind was blown.
With Beauty and Grooming Chapter 9 (second release) winning over 46 decorations, in April I was honored by being awarded Video Music Producer of the year 2024 by Fashion Art Media Awards from Aberdeen Scotland.
On top of all of this, management I had at one point, asking about screenplay writing.
To go from writing to avoid being depressed, to photographs on the beaches of Galveston and the table book being award Best Inspirational of 2016, to achieving 16 awards and accolades for a screenplay, is overwhelming. Especially after being shortlisted and receiving Nominee status at Cannes Film Awards…STUNNED!
The official Unity Journal was released simultaneously with “Beauty and Grooming Chapter 9”.
By May 2024 the Unity Journal achieved three Finalist awards.
Best Cover Design Nonfiction, Best LGBT+ Nonfiction, Best Specialty Book.
With the designing, writing books to screenplay, music, Honorary Doctorates, to hopefully silver screen soon, to redesign wedding for LGBT couples… I think what I’m most proud of is not giving up on my dreams or myself.
Many nights have passed that I find myself thinking what if thoughts. What if this or that doesn’t work? What if I’m doing this or that wrong? What if I mess up? I realize those questions to myself take away my focus. I take a deep breath and keep pushing forward.
“Thankful” – table book award: 1
“Thankful” screenplay: script decorations: 16
Let them Eat Cake – music video decorations: 101
Beauty and Groom – music video decorations – 46
Unity Journal – book decorations: 3
Honorary Doctorates of Fine Art: 7
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Discipline and Tenacity.
To go into business for yourself, no matter what the business, you have to be 1. Disciplined and 2. Tenacious.
If you don’t push yourself, there is absolutely no one around you with a list of need to dos.
There is no boss with a stack of projects for you to complete by week’s end. It is 100% on your shoulders.
If you fail… it is you that fails. Like wise, if you achieve… it is you that achieves.
For me, this makes for a very busy schedule and I love it!
(Some of the clothing in photos, designed and made by…me.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.earnestdiaz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earnest_diaz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030791186481
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Earnest_Diaz
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@earnestdiaz?si=lN2RPvERWb0sztb1
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/earnest/5986299
Image Credits
Photographer: C. Elzinga
