DEAD END
Written & Directed | Horror
Logline: Trapped inside a family minivan, a father is forced to reckon with the consequences of his actions as his family slowly disappears.
Dead End marked my return to directing after spending several years focused almost entirely on feature screenwriting. It had been some time since I stepped behind the camera, and this project became a way to reassert my voice as a director while challenging myself with a contained, high-concept story built on tension and atmosphere. Designed to take place almost entirely in confined spaces, the film allowed me to showcase my ability to direct performances, movement, and escalating dread within strict physical limitations.
The production took place during a period of intense uncertainty in Los Angeles, with wildfires affecting the city and surrounding areas as we prepared and shot the film. That backdrop influenced both the urgency of the shoot and the tone of the story itself. In addition to making the film, I documented the entire process through a social media docu-series, sharing the creative and logistical realities of production in real time. This was the first time I had ever taken an audience behind the scenes in this way, and it became an essential part of the project, allowing the film to live beyond the screen and connect directly with viewers throughout its creation.
- Official Selection: FilmQuest Festival
- Official Selection: The Cordillera International Film Festival
SUPER MA
Written & Directed | Drama
Logline: A struggling single mother yearns for stability and purpose. Caught in a moment of peril, she must unleash her inner hero and get home safely to her son.
This was my second film made under the film collective Assorted Kinds. It was the first time any of us in the collective had directed a film with an action sequence. Made on a shoe-string-budget, me and my producer, Brittany Zion Estrada, were determined to deliver a heartfelt, high quality, and exciting short film. After winning the Sony Pictures Cine Sony Short Film competition, and securing a paid licensing deal, I believe we delivered. Some of the judges for the Sony Pictures competition included actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama, Coco cultural consultant and producer at Nickelodeon Lalo Alcaraz, The Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez, and Ana Bond, SVP & MD, International Production, Latin America and US Hispanic, Sony Pictures Television.
- Official Selection: Oscar® Qualifying 45th Cleveland International Film Festival
- Grand Prize Winner: Sony Pictures Cine Sony Short Film Competition
- Stage 32: Finalist in Short Film Competition
- Official Selection: HBO New York Latino Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Drama: Cordillera International Film Festival
- Vanguard Winner: Official Latino Film Festival
BRUISER
Written & Directed | Vertical Crime Thriller
Logline: GUS, the second-in-command of a crew of criminals, babysits his boss's teenage daughter. Gus discovers that a hit has been placed on his head by the boss himself. Trapped between loyalty and survival, he must protect the girl from the same men sent to kill him.
Bruiser was born out of a desire to experiment in the rapidly growing vertical storytelling space and reconnect with the raw, hands-on energy that first made me fall in love with filmmaking. The project felt like being back in college again, where I took on nearly every role myself, from writing and directing to camera operating and editing, all alongside a small group of close collaborators. Shot over a single weekend on a $200 production budget, the process was fast, scrappy, and creatively freeing, allowing us to focus purely on storytelling without overthinking scale or polish.
As vertical series continue to evolve into a legitimate form of narrative filmmaking, I felt compelled to create something that treated the format seriously while embracing its limitations. Bruiser went on to win the $5,000 First Place Editorial Award through ReelShort, one of the largest distributors in the vertical space. The recognition affirmed that meaningful, character-driven stories can thrive in new formats, and that resourcefulness and urgency can still lead to impactful work.
- ReelShort Vertical Film Competition: 1st Place Editorial Award
BAD COP,
WORSE COP
Directed & Co-Written | Comedy
Logline: Two of the worst cops in the world have been on a case for five years. Tonight’s the night they finally catch the suspect... maybe.
It’s interesting what can come from just picking up a tiny camera and shooting something silly with your friends. During the pandemic while everyone was at home waiting for the world to get back to normal, me and two of my talented acting friends decided to create. Painters need to paint, writers need to write, actors need to act, and directors need to shoot. So, I went back to my college-day-roots, picked up my Sony a7sii, used a RODE shotgun mic, and directed, shot, co-wrote, and edited “Bad Cop, Worse Cop.” Instead of going through the film festival cycle, a process I had already gone through multiple times, we decided to put the film online for everyone to watch and enjoy. I thought it was a funny project, but I really had no idea if anyone else would think so, too. The outpour of people who reached out to me saying how hilarious they thought our film was meant so much to me. It proved that sometimes you don’t need a 40+ person crew in order to make something entertaining. The film proved to be so funny that 3 Arts Entertainment got wind of the project. I’m now co-developing a feature length version of “Bad Cop, Worse Cop” with 3 Arts Entertainment.
TILL DAWN
Written & Directed | Drama/Suspense
Logline: A rageful father, down on his luck, struggles to provide for his family. During a family dinner, turned deadly-home-invasion, he must tap into his rage and protect his family from a deadly art thief.
After a 2-year-hiatus due to the pandemic, I was itching to direct another film. The world seemed so uncertain at the time. Political and social turmoil, a global pandemic, and the state of the Hollywood industry. The road ahead seemed so bleak. However, two of my colleagues were looking to produce a new film project. Because of my track record, they agreed to finance my newest project. It was the first time I didn’t have to solely rely on my own wallet to finance a film. I was charged up to create on a larger budget and push myself even more as a director. Working with a more named cast such as Eddie Martinez, (The Sinner, Narcos:Mexico, Kill Chain), Lynn Chen, (Grey’s Anatomy, Saving Face, Shameless), and Scotty Tovar, (Finestkind, The Mosquito Coast, Empire) was such a joy. It really showed me how much I love working with extremely talented actors. I even got to work with seasoned stunt coordinator Eddie Perez, (Shameless, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Deadpool). The film went on to get a “Dances with Films” premiere at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theater. It also went on to receive the “Outstanding Director” award at the Official Latino Film Festival and receive a licensing agreement with Avenida streaming.
- Official Selection: Dances With Films
- Outstanding Director: The Official
Latino Film Festival
DANCE WITH
ME, MIJA
Written & Directed | Drama
Logline: A regretful father and optimistic prostitute share a night of insightful and hopeful conversation despite their setbacks in life.
Being 23 and straight out of college with no experience directing a Los Angeles film set was certainly intimidating. But I was determined to direct by any means necessary. So, I presented my script to the Assorted Kinds film collective. The organization unanimously voted, and we were set to bring my script to life. From making student films with a 2-person crew, to now directing a crew of 20+ people, it was certainly a huge learning experience. I’m happy to say that the film went on to secure an official selection with the Beverly Hills Film Festival, place as a Finalist at the Official Latino Film Festival and win the “Audience Choice Award” at the Flatland Film Festival. In that same year, I had written my follow-up script “Super Ma,” determined to further test my ability as a writer/director.
- Official Selection: Beverly Hills Film Festival
- Audience Choice Award: Flatland Film Festival
- Finalist: Official Latino Film Festival
