Me, Dad, Niu-York

The idea for 'Me, Dad, Niu-York' came from frustration. For some reason, most of my new film ideas are too ambitious and difficult to execute with the limited resources, crew, and time I have available. After moving to New York, I started meeting local fellow filmmakers and realized I didn't have any recent work that could show them my current skills in areas like cinematography, editing, sound design, and color grading. I wanted to create something fast, simple, and personal – something I could make with just my Sony FX6 in the right hands.

It was great timing, too, because my online film school gave me the assignment to create a short narrative film in one month. I decided to use this idea to meet the deadline and finally have a piece that could showcase my relevant level of skills in film. The writing process flowed easily because it came from something very real to me. The script is essentially what I would say to my dad if I were recording him an audio message myself. I haven’t seen him in over two years, and this film became a way for me to express what it feels like to be separated from someone so important. It reflects on themes of distance, immigration, and longing for home – something that I, and so many other immigrants, and refugees experience every day.

My original plan was to be behind the camera, with a Venezuelan actor lined up to play the role. I even translated the script into Spanish to make it fit the context of a Venezuelan refugee in New York recording a message to his loved one.

But the actor had to cancel the day before we were going to shoot. I had to step in and play the role myself, not for the first time in my film experience... In fact, I'm glad it happened because it led me to find some incredible cinematographers who operated the camera while I acted. They really understood my direction and even contributed their own creative ideas, which made the whole process smoother and more collaborative.

The film explores the emotional conflict of chasing dreams while feeling disconnected from your roots and the people who mean the most. In the protagonist’s case, it’s his father, and the photos he takes throughout the film become symbols of his memories, emotions, and attempts to capture a sense of belonging in a new world. The story isn’t just about me missing my dad – it’s about anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t quite know where home is anymore.

In the end, what started as a quick visual showcase project evolved into something much deeper – a personal film-reflection on how it feels to be torn between two worlds. I hope the film speaks to people on a deeper emotional level and resonates with both filmmakers and general audiences alike.