Today we’d like to introduce you to Camilo Diaz.
Camilo, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was seven years old, I was still living in Cartagena, Colombia and my mom sent me a videotape camera for Christmas from the United States. At that time I was becoming more interested in film, but after I got that camera, I never put it down, making many short films with my friends. A couple of years later, I watched the great classics like The Godfather and Citizen Kane to then find more films from all over the world. Basically, I took that saying, “If you want to be a writer, read, then write.” As a boy, I watched those films and then tried to replicate them, eventually I felt comfortable enough to create my own stories, and that is what has led me to today.
I moved to the United States in 2005, my first encounter to American culture was the South, and was welcomed with open arms as an immigrant. I lived in Birmingham, Alabama until 2015, then moved to Atlanta for college. At the time, I did not want to be in Atlanta, but it literally took a Tom Cruise film to make me realize the great potential to grow in this city, I was first an extra, then got hired on as a Production Assistant on American Made. So thank you to the Assistant Director who saw something on a just out of high school kid. Being on a professional set taught me how everything ran, and when I started making shorts in college, I would always take from that experience.
I am always thankful around the very supportive people that accompany me in this journey. It really takes a village to create a filmmaker. Every time that a great opportunity presents itself, like being able to be a part of Sundance Institute Screenwriting Intensive held in Macon, Ga or any of my shorts getting accepted to festivals around the world, it is not just my singular success, but also of those who have helped me.
Has it been a smooth road?
It is never a smooth road in the film industry so when you embark on that boat you have to know that. In my eyes, it has been a smooth road simply because expecting something to go wrong is part of making films, having that Plan B, C, and D, sometimes even Z is very important. We are problem solvers, and that is what drives our work. What I am most grateful about is that it is a collaborative medium and all the friendships I have made along the way have been long lasting. Every time I begin a new project, I can always say that the person next to me is truly my friend and an important creative mind on set. That allows for great magic to occur.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Terminus Pictures – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Terminus Pictures has always been interested in making narrative projects. As part of the company, I not only write-direct the work we put out but have gone into the freelancing world to help out individuals realize their projects. We have mostly done short films, and have had great collaborations with other production companies like Neon House, Potluck and Red Axe Media.
We are now on the process of producing our first feature, Working Title: Decadent Love. That is what we are very proud because all our years have been put to this moment. All the shorts that we have produced allowed us to learn what it would take to work on a bigger project.
It all began as a film club at Georgia State University our goal was making a short each semester, but once the club closed Atlanta Based Director of Photography Lukas Bryant and I kept making shorts and working with other filmmakers from our school.
Perhaps the reason for our success is our love for film. In a world where everything is about making content to release on the web we are still of the mindset that film belongs inside the black box with light shining on a wall. We continue to do our work for the communal experience. Oh and we LOVE shooting on film. We have three projects on 16mm and hope to continue making work on celluloid thanks to the support of the Kodak Film Lab in Atlanta. (A list of our work is on my IMDB page)
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is a very diverse city with a very supportive film scene. As Filmmakers we have a responsibility here in Atlanta to make quality work so that we can continue to help our city grow. One day I’m directing, the next day I’m Camera Operating for my friend DP.
If you want to live in Atlanta, have a budget for fixing your car tires because you never know when that nail is going to hit one of them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5129470/
- Email: camilodiazfilm@gmail.com
- Instagram: _master_in_disguise_
- Twitter: imac2296
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1bIVAxHPE
Image Credit:
Noah Clement, Andrés Lugo, © 2019 Sundance Institute | Photo by Maryann Bates
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