Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex D. Lugo
Hi Alex D., can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Puerto Rico to a family of actors. My parents actually met on a tv set. My father, Daniel Lugo, is a renowned Puerto Rican actor with a distinguished career spanning over 60 years in television and film throughout Latin America, as well as on American projects like Miami Vice, American Made, and the recent reboot of Fantasy Island. Growing up, I spent a lot of time on sets and stages, watching my father perform alongside actors like Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Tom Cruise, and others. My mother, Maygualida Montes, was also an actress in Venezuela before retiring when I was born. I also have three older siblings, one of whom is an actress and another a photographer.
We moved to Venezuela when I was just 21 days old, then to Los Angeles when I was five, and finally settled in Miami when I was ten. Miami, specifically Kendall, is where I truly grew up, where I spent my formative years. Naturally, the arts were always very important to me, but I was also a very curious child—drawn to math and science. From the time I was three years old, I knew I wanted to be an actor. Music was also a significant part of my childhood. In high school, I was heavily involved in the band and theater programs, playing the saxophone and acting in school plays.
When it came time for college, I faced an existential crisis. I knew I wanted to be an actor, but with my father as my acting coach, I wasn’t sure how useful a degree in acting would really be. I initially enrolled at Florida International University (FIU) as an ‘Undeclared STEM’ major, putting off the decision. A pivotal moment came when I had to write a research paper for my ENC 1102 class about how my major would support my career goals. Through research, I discovered that many actors, such as Ken Jeong, Denzel Washington, Rowan Atkinson, and Natalie Portman, had studied fields other than acting. I interviewed my father as part of the research, and he emphasized that as actors, we portray people from all walks of life, with varied educational backgrounds, disciplines, historical contexts, and religions. Therefore, the more you know about literally anything, the better prepared you are. I also read an article that emphasized that for actors, having another area of study isn’t a Plan B, but part of Plan A. This philosophy deeply resonated with me and became my guiding light.
In the end, I decided to major in mathematics and computer science—fields I was deeply interested in and that could potentially lead to jobs flexible enough to allow me to work from home and still pursue acting. In addition to my regular studies, I was part of the Honors College at FIU, which fostered an interdisciplinary approach to learning. This allowed me to take classes in art history, theater, music, and even study abroad in Italy. These experiences opened my eyes to the interconnectedness of the world and the notion/possibility of the renaissance man. In particular, I was inspired by the life of Da Vinci – an incredible artist, but also an inventor, scientist, and mathematician.
Throughout this time, I also became deeply involved in the South Florida film community, acting in student and independent films to continue honing my craft and growing my resume. These experiences taught me a lot, not just about acting on camera, but about filmmaking as well. Many of the friends I made through these experiences later became collaborators on my own projects.
Towards the end of college, I landed an internship at Goldman Sachs in NYC. Initially, I was hesitant to pursue it; it felt like I was going in the wrong direction. If my goal was to be an actor, why would I go work at a bank? That’s when I remembered the lesson I learned during my freshman year while writing that research paper—it’s not a Plan B, it’s part of Plan A. I decided that if Goldman was going to pay for me to spend the summer in NYC, I could use this as an opportunity to take acting classes in the city—a win-win situation.
I enrolled in the Stella Adler acting studio and spent that summer working at Goldman during the weekdays and studying acting in the evenings and weekends. During our internship orientation, one of the Goldman executives shared some words with us: “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable—it’s the only way to grow.” Those words defined my summer and have stuck with me to this day. I learned so much during the internship, forged wonderful friendships, fell in love with the city, and grew immensely as an actor. I ended up returning the following summer for a second internship/more acting classes, and after graduating in 2018, I moved to New York and joined Goldman as a full-time software engineer. Despite the demanding schedule, I made it a point to continue acting in theater productions during the evenings and weekends, balancing both worlds and pushing myself to grow in both careers.
In 2020, the pandemic pushed me to move back to Miami and work remotely. This was a big change of pace, as I had gotten used to the hustle and bustle of New York—running from work to rehearsal, day in and day out. Being cooped up inside, I started watching a lot of movies again and reconnected with my love for cinema. Inspired and eager to take the next step, I founded my production company, Vitruvian Films, named in homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Then alongside my best friend, Felipe Castilla, we began planning our first short film— They Prefer Richards.
Shooting They Prefer Richards was my film school. I produced, co-wrote, and starred in the film. The story was a dark comedy about an ill-fated and awkward guy dealing with the heartache of a recent breakup while simultaneously trying to step out of the shadow of his more charismatic twin brother. As an actor, it was a fun challenge to portray two very different characters in the same film (the twin brothers), and I got the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of acting alongside my father, who had a small cameo in the film. As a filmmaker, it was an incredible learning experience. I always say it’s a miracle that any film ever gets made! We faced many obstacles, from figuring out how to believably pull off the “twin” effect with one actor to rescheduling the shoot three times due to COVID and an unexpected hurricane. It truly takes a village to make a film and overcome all of the challenges, but with the right people, anything is possible. We had a phenomenal team, made up of many of the friends I met while acting in college projects. The film went on to have a successful festival run, winning several awards, including my first Best Actor award and Best Dark Comedy at the Independent Shorts Awards in LA. Since then, I’ve continued to work with the same talented team for most of my projects, building on the strong creative bonds we formed during that initial experience.
Towards the end of 2021, after wrapping up our second film (The Blood Stone) and as the situation with the pandemic was starting to improve, I was eager to make the next moves in my careers. As a software engineer, I had gotten to enjoy the flexibility of working remotely, but wanted to work with a more modern technology stack than what the traditional world of finance was comfortable with and so when Goldman announced the return to office, I decided to make the move to fintech and took up a fully remote position at Square.
As an actor, I was yearning for more opportunities as well. I was considering moving back to New York, where I had already started building a network before the pandemic, but my good friend and fellow actor/filmmaker, Chase Gutzmore, urged me to consider Atlanta. He had made the move a few years earlier and thought I would thrive there. After doing some research, I discovered an acting showcase taking place in Atlanta, where actors could perform a scene in front of a panel of eight different agencies for a chance to be considered for representation. I decided to sign up and use this opportunity as a deciding factor—if I got signed, I’d move to Atlanta; if not, I’d move back to New York.
I prepared my scene, flew out, and performed. As fate would have it, I caught the attention of three different agencies. I ultimately decided to sign with Atlanta Models & Talent (AMT) and made the move to Atlanta at the beginning of 2022, where I reside to this day.
Around the time of my move to Atlanta, the tech world began to heat up. The dawn of the generative AI age was upon us, and I became fascinated with the technology. I began experimenting with tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT, as well as exploring OpenAI’s APIs. It felt like magic. For the first time in history, technology was becoming conversational—you could communicate with it just like you would with a human. A new frontier was opening, bringing with it a world of possibilities.
I began building small apps that integrated the technology to learn how it worked. I read research papers, listened to lectures, and followed podcasts about AI, sharing what I learned with my co-workers. Finally, at the beginning of 2023, when the opportunity arose to work on an AI hackweek project at Square, I jumped on it. That project led to several more AI initiatives, and soon thereafter, I became one of the go-to generative AI experts in my organization. I was promoted to Senior Software Engineer and had the opportunity to speak at several internal and external events about the emerging technology, including the 2023 NYC AI Summit.
Back on the acting and filmmaking side, I had just wrapped up producing and starring in my first Atlanta-based short film, The Will & Clark Show (written and directed by Chase Gutzmore), and was ready for the next project. One night, while on a trip to Miami, I was brainstorming project ideas with Felipe. Our conversation somehow shifted to AI and its potential impact on the film industry and society at large. That’s when inspiration struck! I was already spending so much time researching and working with AI—what if we repurposed that knowledge to make a film about AI? And so, that night, the idea for Project Penelope was born.
Project Penelope brought together my passions for technology, acting, and filmmaking. It is the fourth and latest short film I produced with Vitruvian Films and the first I directed. The film is a sci-fi drama that explores the power of love, loss, and the true nature of consciousness. It tells the story of two AI scientists, a married couple, on a mission to resurrect their deceased six-year-old daughter using the power of artificial intelligence.
As filmmakers, Felipe and I drew inspiration from films and shows such as Ex Machina, Rabbit Hole, Black Mirror, and Love, Death & Robots. We began the journey in January 2023, and over the course of nine months, we immersed ourselves in AI research, assembled our cast and crew, developed our production plan, and iterated through 25 drafts of the script to refine our vision. We then shot the film over the course of four days on location in Fort Lauderdale and spent the following six months collaborating with our post-production team to finally bring the film to life.
As an actor, Project Penelope was the most challenging film I’ve taken on. In the film, I play Jonas, a passionate and ambitious scientist diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, determined to use every breath he has left to complete his work and bring his daughter back to life. In the months leading up to the shoot, I worked with the phenomenal acting coach Sara Mornell to craft the role, immersed myself in research about lung cancer, and underwent a strict diet—shedding 27 pounds in just three months.
Bringing Project Penelope to life was one of the most difficult, yet rewarding experiences of my life. We premiered the film in Fort Lauderdale in May of this year followed by a screening at the Atlanta ShortsFest the month after. We’re just a few months in to our festival tour and the film has already screened at 5 festivals, including the Oscar Qualifying San Jose International Short Film Festival, and has garnered 2 Best Sci-Fi Film nominations. I also had the honor of receiving the Best Actor Award during our LA premiere at the 2024 North Hollywood Cinefest.
And that brings me to today! Project Penelope and The Will & Clark Show are both continuing to screen at festivals around the world. My team and I are currently in discussions about several upcoming projects, including a feature film adaptation of The Will & Clark Show and a sci-fi/tech-themed web series.
Another upcoming project I’m particularly excited about is an app I’m developing called FilmPro. FilmPro is an AI-powered film production management platform designed by filmmakers for filmmakers. The app leverages artificial intelligence to help filmmakers handle routine logistical tasks involved in production—such as scheduling, budgeting, and generating production resources like script/character breakdowns, call sheets, loglines, synopses, and more. At the core of the app is an AI co-producer equipped with the context of your script, notes, and production details to help organize and manage your production. With FilmPro, the goal is to help independent filmmakers save time, money, and energy on the logistical side of making a film so they can focus more on the creative side. At a time when many creatives fear AI, I want to harness this technology to build tools that empower filmmakers and their creativity rather than replace it.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to keep blending my love for filmmaking, acting, and tech. Whether it’s new films, cool AI tools like FilmPro, or any of the exciting projects on the horizon, I’m ready for whatever comes next and all the challenges that come with it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has been anything but smooth, but each challenge has been a valuable learning experience.
Rejection
Rejection is a way of life for artists, and it’s something you have to learn to accept. For every 20 auditions I go on, I may hear back from just one if I’m lucky. The same goes for submitting projects to film festivals. That constant rejection can weigh on you, and it’s why many actors and filmmakers end up quitting. You have to adopt a stoic mindset and focus on what’s in your control. It’s crucial to separate your worth as an artist from whether or not you get the role. One thing I’m very grateful for in this regard is having had the example of my father growing up. Years before I even started my career as an actor, I used to help my dad prepare for his auditions, many of which he never heard back from. My dad would go an entire year without booking anything, and then the following year, he’d book several major projects. That’s the life of an actor—it’s not for the faint of heart.
Resets
I’ve had to reset and rebuild a few times in my career: first when I moved to New York after college, then during the pandemic when I returned to Miami, and most recently when I moved to Atlanta. Going from being a “big fish in a small pond” in Miami to other cities where the industry was much more established and competitive wasn’t an easy transition. But each time, it’s proven to be a major catalyst for growth—both personally and professionally.
Time and Stress Management
Juggling my work as an actor, filmmaker, and software engineer while balancing my personal life hasn’t always been easy. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and learn to delegate responsibilities when needed. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with so much going on, and that’s when procrastination or imposter syndrome can kick in. Learning to manage these challenges has been an ongoing process throughout my career. I’m still working on it, but learning to say no, prioritizing sleep and exercise, and using productivity tools like to-do list apps have really helped me stay on track.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve covered most of this in my life story, but to recap: I’m an actor, filmmaker, and software engineer. I’m also the founder of the film production company Vitruvian Films. I love finding connections between seemingly unrelated things—whether they are disciplines, genres, people, or cultures. I’m particularly passionate about the intersection of the arts and sciences, blending left-brain and right-brain thinking. This exploration is at the core of my work and is what I believe sets me apart.
Work I’m most proud of: Project Penelope (details in life story section)
Upcoming project I’m most excited about: FilmPro (details in life story section)
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Absolutely, I’ve been very fortunate to have incredible support throughout my journey.
My Parents
My parents have always been there for me, believing in my dreams and supporting me every step of the way. My love for acting and film started with them.
Felipe Castilla
Felipe is one of my best friends and my creative partner. From dreaming about making movies to actually making them happen, we’ve been at it for over a decade. We’ve worked on numerous projects together, including They Prefer Richards and Project Penelope. His artistic vision has always inspired me to keep pushing boundaries.
Chase Gutzmore
Chase is a great friend, collaborator, and fellow actor/filmmaker. He was one of the first actors in my circle to start making his own films in order to play the roles he wanted. Chase was one of my inspirations for starting Vitruvian Films and kicking off my filmmaking career. I’m so grateful to him for encouraging me to move to Atlanta and for introducing me to the actor/film community here once I made the move. He was also the writer and director of the third film I produced, The Will & Clark Show.
Atlanta Models & Talent (AMT)
Signing with Atlanta Models & Talent was a huge milestone in my acting career. The team is incredible and goes above and beyond for their actors. I’m truly grateful to have them in my corner.
Adolfo Rangel
Adolfo is my cousin, one of my best friends, and my partner on FilmPro. He’s an incredibly skilled software engineer and the person I usually nerd out with about AI and tech stuff.
My Friends
If there’s one thing I’m hyper-aware of, it’s that I’m incredibly fortunate to have amazing friends. Their support and friendship mean the world to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: Vitruvian Films Website: https://www.vitruvianfilms.com
FilmPro Website: https://www.filmpro.ai - Instagram: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexdlugo
Vitruvian Films Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitruvian_films - Twitter: https://x.com/alexdlugo
- Other: Link to Project Penelope Trailer: https://vimeo.com/user58112359/project-penelope-trailer?share=copy
Image Credits
Yody Sanchez, Ariel Ramon, Martin Villa
