Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Antonio Zapiain Luna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Antonio, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I took to filmmaking at an early age. As a child, I was mesmerized by the movies I saw and loved to perform on stage. I think it was inevitable I would end up pursuing something in motion pictures. I initially learned how to make movies around 8 years old. My friends and I grabbed our families’ video cameras and started taping our weird movie ideas. It was a blast realizing I could make my own movies and people would have reactions to them. From there, it became a process of consuming and playing in other art forms like music, painting, and photography. I have been blessed to have had supportive family, friends and mentors who fueled these interests. I used these experiences to support my filmmaking obsession. I quickly realized that my skills of cinematography and editing would allow me to completely realize my film ideas start to finish, so I took classes in school that would help me develop those skills. As a teenager, you have no money to produce these films but I did my best to use what I could to make shorts around my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. I think that is always the biggest obstacle for filmmaking. Cutting my teeth in this way taught me how to get the most out of what I had and still make it cinematic. I decided that I would pursue this as a career for my life, even with knowing the risks and difficulties the life of being an artist would come with.

Antonio, 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 got into the creative filmmaking industry because I felt that doing what I love is most important in life. Naturally, if I could find a way to make money, and sustain myself doing what I love — telling stories through visual mediums– then that is my mission in life. For work, I focus on applying the technical aspects I have developed in photography and cinematography, to assist others in realizing their ideas or promoting themselves. I get all types of clients from businesses to musicians. I pride myself in being able to adapt to the needs of any project, as well as elevate it using my own personal taste and expertise.

I am most proud of the short films I have made. I’ve tried to push myself to make artistically meaningful and cinematic stories within genre frameworks. I like to focus on stories about outsiders, imbuing them with an international appeal in mind. My goal is to leave an impression on an audience through evocative imagery and unconventional storytelling. Above all I want to be entertained. With independent short films, a person will watch it maybe once if you are lucky and so, within such a fleeting amount of time, I want the viewer to at least remember one image or moment for my films that will hopefully stick with them after the credits. Genres like horror and comedy are a blast to produce and allow for emotional highs that keep the audience engaged. Again, I am fortunate enough to have had collaborators, who have believed in my crazy visions, help me realize my films. I am eternally grateful for them. My neo-noir short REAR-VIEW and my sci-fi horror short BRAIN WAVE are both available to view now on my website.

I also love photography and spend much of my time going out and seeking still images to capture. I find it to be a grounding activity. The more spontaneous approach allows me to take in the world happening around and if I like the moment for it’s aesthetic quality, I can capture it in an image. Photography has its own philosophies and approaches that I find infinitely rewarding. I enjoy all types of photography from street photography to portrait and nature.

As for what my followers have to look forward to, I have a few short films releasing soon. ‘BBCITOS’, a slice of life film about two friends in a “will they wont they relationship”, is finishing up its festival run and will be available to view online soon. I am pleased with the reception it has got. Its definitely more of an easy going, chill, hangout movie. With ‘BBCITOS’ I had the privilege to direct two wonderful actors, MJ Garica and Angel Gabriel, in a scenario they wrote themselves. The story is relatable to me as a latino artist so I am proud to be able to have told a story that shares in that experience. Then, a ufo sci-fi rom com film I directed with Ian Geatz, “WE NEED SOME SPACE” is entering into international film festivals. For fans of midnight cult films and B-movies, keep an eye out for this project as it pays homage to those type of pictures, in a unique way. Lastly, I am in post-production on another film I collaborated on with the wonderful MJ Garcia, a horror comedy film called ‘BLOOD SUGAR AND BLACK FUR’. The film is strongly influenced by Italian slasher films from the 60s and 70s, but with a modern LA underground vibe. It probably the most ambitious film I’ve done yet, and not for the faint of heart. I am excited to share it with the world once it’s done.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the act of doing the work. In other words, experimenting. That is what its is to be an artist, more than it is about some sort of end result. Living in that rush of creative energy and going into the unknown is what drives my work, especially in a collaborative effort such as a film. As other creatives will probably agree with, ideas seem to come from somewhere else, like a radio signal from another dimension. Manifesting these ideas into reality isn’t always easy or clear. They need the intentional act of creative effort to truly live in this dimension. Then, having an audience sit and absorb a work of art feels like returning the ideas to the collective they came from. It’s that full circle moment. If an audience responds enthusiastically to the work, that’s a great blessing as an artist.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe the way our society can best support artists is by actively engaging and sharing with their work. Go see small film festivals, buy paintings from unknown artists, listen for a few moments to the guy singing on the side of the street. I don’t necessarily refer to just the digital domain, as great as that is. Engagement to me is being present and allowing an artwork to stir up an emotion inside of you. If you like it and think its worth something, support it through buying it or sharing it with others who might be interested. The more artists can be influenced by each other the better, so go out and take in a much art as you can with an open mind. Share it passionately with your friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.antoniozluna.com
• Instagram: lunatictony
• Facebook: Antonio Zapiain Luna