SPOTLIGHT Q&A VCF Alumni Filmmakers Jose Galindo & Jose Mendoza Jr. ~VCF: How long have you 2 been working together?
JESUS:
Officially, Jose and I have been working together as a
team starting with the film idea Jose came up with in 2010. I liked
the idea and told him that if he wrote the script, I would produce
and direct it.
JOSE:
I have been working with Jesus and Galindo Productions for
Three years now.
VCF: Who or what inspired you to become Filmmakers?
JESUS:
Growing up in a agricultural town in central California,
there wasn’t anything there that challenged me creatively. My family was a migrant farm working family and I helped them pick seasonal crops. I was told picking fruit builds character, and I guess it did, as I knew I did not want to do that all my life. At an early age, I felt the need to tell stories and saw that film was a great way to express myself. I was fortunate enough to get into a private art college, California College of Arts and Crafts, in Oakland, CA right after high school. And the rest, as they say, is history.
JOSE:
I shared an idea with Jesus and he liked it so he had me
write a script. We started talking about shooting it and that was the first time I really worked on a set. I even starred in it so I would have to say Jesus was the one who inspired and encouraged me.
VCF: What was your very 1st Project?
JESUS:
My very first project is a Super 8 mmm short film I did
while at California College of Arts and Crafts. It was so bad, that I’m actually proud of it. It is called The Scooter and has never been released. After that I’ve made quite a few films ranging in 16mm to digital filming. Other than The Scooter short film, the rest of my short films have in one way or another been screened publicly and in film festivals throughout the country and worldwide.
JOSE:
My first project was a short I wrote called Addicted and was
so proud when it even got accepted to several film festivals and even won an award.
VCF: What motivated you to shoot your latest project?
JESUS:
My latest project, SAVE THE PLANET, was inspired by
taking public transportation in San Francisco, CA. I was in a dirty bus on my way to go eat lunch. I observed my surroundings and got inspired to write the ideas down on my smart phone. When I got home I wrote the script and it all came together. I wanted to show how living in an oppressive urban environment can change and make someone snap almost overnight.
JOSE:
I really liked the idea of SAVE THE PLANET so I took
a really active role in project learning so many new things and working with some great people.
VCF: Why did you enter VCF?
JESUS:
Before I submitted to VCF, I saw the previous year’s
VCF’s festival website to get a feel of what VCF is all about. I
decided then that Vegas Cine Fest would be good fit for my films, so I submitted my short films with the hopes of them being chosen. Fortunately, the festival organizers, Maria and Philip Marcus, saw something in my current short films and were accepted as Official Selections- ADDICTED was screened in 2011 and SAVE THE PLANET in 2012.
JOSE:
I had heard many good things about VCF and the founders
Maria and Phillip Marcus. After being accepted and attending I found the good words about them and the festival to be true and made some really good connections and also good friends.
VCF: Is there a specific type of Projects you life working on?
JESUS:
Up until now, I’ve been comfortable making dramatic
stories. All of my short films and my feature film are drama based. The only exception is my short film, ADDICTED, which is a dark comedy made of a character with an unusual addiction.
JOSE:
I would say I like working on comedies. I have always
enjoyed making people laugh and try to find humor in everything so why not share it with others.
VCF: What kind of Films should we expect from you in the future?
JESUS:
At the moment, drama and comedy films are lined up for
the near future. My next two projects is a follow up to Addicted, a comedy, and my second feature film, Four Crows, which is a drama with mystery and folklore. I would eventually like to work on other genres of film, such as horror and sci-fi.
JOSE:
Since I’ve had good luck with comedies I will be doing
more of them including the follow up to my first short addicted.
VCF: Any words of wisdom to aspiring Writers or
Filmmakers?
JESUS:
If you are serious about filmmaking, my common response
is to don’t give up. It’s easier said then done. As an independent filmmaker, it is very difficult to make films on a NO BUDGET budget. When you do make that film you are passionate about, get used to hearing the word “NO”. Don’t get discouraged. Keep knocking on those doors, and when you least expect it, someone will open that door and offer you an opportunity. If you want to make a name for yourself and use it as a sort of calling card, make short films. Submit them to film festivals. Put your films up on the internet. Use all the social media available. There are sites that you can upload your short films on the internet. Share it with your
friends. And my last final bit of advice is: BE PERSISTENT.
Don’t let anyone bring you down, as just the fact you made a film is a great accomplishment and no one can take that away from you!
JOSE:
I would tell them to get ready for every type of criticism
and don’t take it personal. Appreciate the kind words and learn from the harsh ones and most of all work hard and honest.
VCF: DO you have any Hero's & Why?
JESUS:
I would have to say my parents. My dad gave me sound
work ethics and taught me right from wrong. My mother was
nurturing. She instilled the sense of loyalty and pride into whatever task I took on. She was always supportive of my filmmaking journey. My parents have both passed on, but I share both of their traits, and has shaped me into a better person. And I thank them for that.
JOSE:
My hero’s would be my parents. They have given me
good work ethics and always encouraged me to be creative and accomplish what ever I set my mind to.
VCF: What are your favorite Movies & Why?
JESUS:
Some of my favorite movies are movies that make me
think about it long after I’ve seen it. Some are psychological
classics, such as Psycho and current ones, such as Argo. I like these films for some or all of the reasons such as the script/story, cinematography, acting, and directing. The key bond these films all have is that they have a psychological aspects to them. I guess that means I like psychological type films.
JOSE:
I would say I have a special place for westerns. They
remind me of the weekends I would spend with my grandparents and how I grew up.
