We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andres Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andres below.
Hi Andres, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Being a filmmaker is a process that slowly tears you apart so that you can later reconstruct yourself, piece by piece, discovering chunks of knowledge you were missing before—like an old vase repaired with gold. When it comes to writing, directing, being a First AD, or anything film-related, the most essential skill—the gold that glues your pieces back together—is perseverance. It’s about having the strength not to give up, no matter how difficult it may seem.
What I’m trying to say is… it’s a marathon, not a sprint. To get somewhere in whatever it is you love, you have to ensure that you are not your own obstacle.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I come from a place surrounded by plantain trees, tropical weather, and warm people. It’s not necessarily a place known for its film productions, let alone for producing writers. Yet, this small city in the middle of nowhere is where my journey as a filmmaker and writer begins.
Falling in love with media was inevitable when I started volunteering at a Christian TV channel called Ebenezer TV. From that experience, my passion for cinema became rock solid as I began to understand the craft. This eventually led to my bachelor’s degree in filmmaking in Mexico and now a master’s degree in screenwriting in Los Angeles.
Throughout my journey in the film industry, I have developed as both a writer and a first assistant director. While these two disciplines are very different, they collide beautifully, giving me a well-rounded understanding of what a set requires and how to prepare for production. Being a writer allows me to delve into every element of a script, while being a 1st AD enables me to translate that understanding into orchestrating the dynamics and workflow of any set.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by many goals. In the beginning, I have to admit, what pushed me the most was proving myself to others—proving that I was good enough or capable of achieving extraordinary things, like becoming an amazing filmmaker or the face that would revolutionize cinema. But after a few years of chasing this and searching for my purpose within the world of cinema, I realized that what truly fuels me is connection.
I discovered that within cinema, I found my place. Here, I belong to something that fulfills me, connects me to others, and makes me feel less like a wandering soul in the vast universe and more like an accepted human being.
Through film, I found a space where I could express myself, be vulnerable, and release any wild or extravagant emotions—because that’s what art is all about.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Self-respect and ego are two very different things.
As my teenage years came to an end, I had the privilege of working in a few places where I was considered a prodigy. Don’t get me wrong—if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s arrogance, and that’s not what I’m trying to convey. However, because of this mindset, when I started working in film on a somewhat larger scale, collaborating with others became extremely difficult. I often felt a sense of superiority, which led to conflicts with my co-workers.
Eventually, these issues caused me to lose both my network and the trust of the people around me. That’s when it finally hit me—I had always believed that trying to assert my superiority was a way of taking care of myself and demonstrating self-respect. But in reality, it was my ego holding me back, preventing me from accepting that I was still in the process of learning—and I still am to this day
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Lu Mendoza, Kushagra Jain Ibeth Rodríguez Chris moreno