Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Angel Garcia.
Hi Luis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story in the film industry didn’t technically start up until I was in college; although I always liked watching movies just couldn’t go to see things in theaters due to my parents not understanding English and also not having an expendable income for DVDs or tickets; especially with how pricey theaters and physical media is.
As to my first point, growing up, I originally wanted to be a doctor, pediatric to be exact. That’s what I always said was my career goal, and it stuck through elementary, middle, and high school. I think it stems from a yearning to help people if I can, and a lot of my goals/purposes in life still stem from that.
During my high school years, I would work manual labor jobs with my dad, and that gave me a little extra to get a new item on the market called “Movie Pass,” which allowed me to go more frequently to the theaters. Still, I didn’t think of it being a possibility for a stable career with my family’s tax bracket. So, I kept my focus on becoming a doctor, which, at the time, I also started becoming stressed from research into institutions as well as their tuition rates. My parents worked hard for myself and siblings to have the bare minimum, and I couldn’t stand to let them help me with such debt even if they were so adamant of helping, but I focused on graduating first.
I had actually managed to graduate earlier at 16, which rushed me to look into the med field quicker than I anticipated and honestly threw me in for a loop with stress and other items on my plate. Fast forward, I eventually graduated high school as valedictorian and am now a freshman as said 16-year-old at the University of Houston. Even with the stress building up, I continued pursuing some pre-med classes while also doing the required pre-reqs for the state through my freshman and sophomore years. During these years, I was also more capable of going to the theater with “Movie Pass” and the later reveal of “AMC A-List” as going to see a movie became my sort of stress reliever.
These were the years that I really grew to enjoying films and enjoying the safety, comfort, and relief of everyday life that they brought as I went every weekend alone to watch whatever new was coming out! It is safe to say that it helped me through tough times mentally, physically, and even financially, as these passes allowed me access with a very reduced monthly price while still having enough of my paycheck to pay for tuition.
Once my junior year arrived that’s when I decided, “You know what, I really love films, and it’s helped me so much; maybe I can help others by creating distractions for people that need it,” and switched my degree to what UH could provide closest to film making; Media Production. After that, I began doing class film projects, of which, during one class, the Houston Grand Opera committee came and spoke about having a small competition with a prize at the end. At first, I didn’t think I could win, but we grouped up in class, and I tried my best writing, directing, and editing with my group. TO MY SURPRISE, WE ENDED UP WINNING!
After that win, I really did enjoy my time doing the directing and writing so I continued in this field. I made friends with who I could, and one of my now closest friends invited me to be Head Grip on his production, so I tested it out; even if it wasn’t directing, I did love my time being on sets and went on to be on others with whatever position they wanted me in, as well as doing my own VERY SMALL productions.
Now, I’ve worked with more than a handful of people from Huntsville to Austin and the general Houston area and done a few of my own projects. I’m currently doing postproduction on my latest short, and I love every single moment and hope to continue working to become a well-known director.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I love my time on sets, it hasn’t been the smoothest thing. Our industry is very difficult, for one, if you haven’t realized; unless you’re getting hired by big production companies or commercial jobs, you probably won’t be making a lot.
Secondly, because some people already have their own friends or groups, finding a job opening on set isn’t always available, whether paid or unpaid, especially in the Directing, DP, Or Writing position. “Birds of a feather usually work together.” If you know what I mean, which is fine, but it creates a closed community, in my opinion, which makes it harder for newcomers.
So during my time starting, the roughest thing I’d say was finding an opening without a reel, or references, which sucks because how do you show you might be good on set without references but can’t make references or reels because they won’t give you a chance on set because you can’t show them references??? If that makes sense? It’s quite the paradox.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in the film/media production field, and I’d say I specialize or prefer more my role in Film Directing and Writing more than any other position I’ve done before. I’d honestly couldn’t say what I’m more known for, but if I had to guess, it probably be my editing jobs or my camera operator jobs. But I have to say the most proud thing I do would be my editing and color grading, seeing as I’m a little color deficient, mixing my reds and greens (or in scientific terms, I have slight deuteranomaly). The thing that sets me aside from others, though, is probably my love for helping people and always being down to shoot a full project for cheap IF I read a great script and the person is genuine and open to me helping them from simple changes or genuine critiques, which I’ve seen MANY others NOT be open to.
What matters most to you? Why?
I will say the thing that matters most to me is probably to help people, whether in real life or through film. To be able to have people feel safe and seen or help them through a tough time by making something that distracts them for at least 90 mins of their lives would satisfy my life enough to even welcome death, which is a bit dark but a genuine remark I make even to my friends.
We have a need for jobs & the mundane to provide and to be alive, but we need the sustenance of art, music, and creativeness to give us reasons to continue living.
Pricing:
- $200/day for Cam op/DP Work
- $75 Kit Fee
- Always up for discussion per budget.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Loxers Studios
Image Credits
@Raul Alejandro Mendoza
@thenerdychicano
