We recently connected with Jerry Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Jerry, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

After graduating from college in my hometown in Laredo TX, I moved to San Antonio to attend The Art Institute in 2016. In my last year there I made my first short film Betrayal, a crime drama about a brother saving his sister from gangsters. The film was played in over 20 film festivals and won over 23 awards including best crime short and best original screenplay.

The project meant so much to me because the film is based on what I love, mafia films. I was inspired by the films of Martin Scorsese such as Goodfellas, Casino and The Departed. Scorsese is also one of my main influential filmmakers that inspired me to become a filmmaker.

I knew that I was going to make a crime drama as my final exam film for The Art Institute. The first thing that came to my mind was a hitman. Then I started to work around it. A hitman is left for dead after his friends kidnapped his sister. I wanted to make the film really intense as possible. It took 7 months to make it. When it was shown in December of 2019 in a art house theater in San Antonio everyone loved the film. We even won Best Cinematography. It was a great experience and I can’t wait to do this again.

Jerry, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a 33-year-old filmmaker, screenwriter and producer currently working on short films in Austin, TX. I was born in Laredo, TX. I have a little brother and parents who were teachers at Laredo College for over 40 years. After they retired in 2020, they moved to San Antonio and my childhood home being sold was the beginning of new chapter in our lives.

I have always loved entertainment since I was little. Before I became a huge fan of films there was Theater. Theater was my first love of entertainment. I remember during my time in Elementary School I would stare at the theater stage during my gym class. But It wasn’t just the lights and the settings, but it was the stories they wrote for the show. Musicals became my thing, enjoying the music and the singing.

When I was in the eighth grade in middle school, I joined a One-Act Play as a prop manager. Working in theater was one of the best experiences of my life. I’ll never forget when I was on the right side of the stage and looking at the actors doing their performances. Then I remember the feeling I had when all of us came on stage and bowed our heads when the audience were applauding at us. At the end our play won first place, beating plays from other schools.

I didn’t become interested in films until I was in high school, when I saw a film that would change my life forever. My aunt, uncle and cousin took me to see No Country for Old Men and I was amazed at how this thriller drama film was made. Then for the next several months during the awards season, it won countless awards. In the end it won four Academy Awards including Best Picture. That’s when I realize I want to become a filmmaker.

The Coen Brothers weren’t the only ones that influenced me, there was another. Martin Scorsese. His films Taxi Driver, Ranger Bull and Casino helped me to get my foot to the door of cinema. After graduating from college in my hometown in Laredo, I moved to San Antonio to attend The Art Institute in 2016. In my last year there I made my first short film Betrayal, a crime drama about a brother saving his sister from gangsters. The film was played in over 20 film festivals and won over 23 awards including best crime short and best original screenplay.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2019 I planned on moving to Austin the next year, then COVID came and ruined my plans. I had to wait a year and half to finally move to Austin. I continue working on more short films through my production company called Viva La Film Productions, with help from my friends from film school and new people I met through social media.

What sets me apart is I can honestly say that once my mind is set to create another short film, I am very quick on writing the screenplay and I do not waste any time on carrying it through to its final production. Most of my short films’ writing takes about three months and its productions takes about another 4 months. I normally wait about 6 months to a year before producing my next short film because I make sure my current short film is submitted to various film festivals. My determination to not slow down and just keep producing the next short film as soon as possible probably sets me apart from others.

I am proud of doing what I always dream of, which is making films. I am also very proud of working with amazing and talented people in the film business. These people I worked with are from multiple cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin. Not only did I meet them during my film school years but I met some on social media. I worked with actors that gave brilliant performances. I worked with some cinematographers that were very committed to my projects. They did excellent in shooting that were difficult to make. I also enjoyed working with other crew members such as sound mixers, film editors, PAs and makeup artists. I worked with most them multiple times for the past 6 years. I am very lucky to have wonderful teams working with me through out the projects.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My main mission is to have my upcoming short film to be shown in big film festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW and other festivals around the world. I hope that at least one of these festivals will accept my short film. I heard that getting into these big festivals is tough. It’s like trying to get nominated for an Oscar, but I am really hopeful and determined to get mine accepted.

Once it is played in one of these festivals I hope someone will approach me and ask what do I plan for this short film and my answer, extended into a feature film. Even if someone is not interested, I will still make preparations for making the feature film.

I hope this feature film will create job opportunities in Texas for those who want to work in a film. After its completion I plan to have the film be seen by a wide audience.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

While at the Art Institute I created through Facebook and Instagram my first social media contacts. I reach out to fellow classmates, friends and family posting pictures and videos about the projects I was involved in. I created posts every week, make new followers, liking and sharing their posts which increased my followers.

Every day I had to check the statues of my social media. How many followers I have, how many likes I have and comments. Most importantly I make sure I was up to date with any photos, videos and information.

My advice is to follow those who are in your field of work. Most of my followers are in the film business. Always have your work shown in your post through photos and especially videos. And continuously keep your social media active. Always create something new every week.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivala_filmproductions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015121115185
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vivalafilmsproductions6686