We recently connected with Camilo Diaz and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Camilo thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Film has always been an integral part of my life and upbringing. I was, and maybe still am, that child that would get lost in his own world. That world was based on the fact that I would experience moments in my childhood and think about them as scenes of a movie. This happened to the point that I would close one eye and act as if I’d be watching a movie in real time. When my mom asked me why I did that, I’d respond, “My eyes are like cameras and I’m constantly watching movies.” That same Christmas, she bought me my first camera and I never stopped making films. One of those “meant to be.”
Camilo, 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 constant espresso drinking filmmaker who co-owns a production company, CineAstra. My business partner, Aidan Guthrie, and I founded it in 2021 after making the decision to create our own independent films. These past two years have been a great ride having done Pilots, Commercials, Music Videos, Short-Documentaries, and two Feature Films. Our main objective when undertaking a project is to find the humanity of the stories we are telling. In this visual medium we can easily be awed by “cool” or “sleek” images, but the extra work we do allows us to go beyond that and touch on one of the basic human needs, connection.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
As a visual storyteller, I think we all have that mission or goal driving our creative journey. For me, it’s the idea of self expression and how I can at the same time portray a universal worldview. Creating a strong vision for every film or video you undertake is important because it not only allows you to be focused, but it gets you to communicate better with your crew and most importantly your audience.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?
The community is the most rewarding aspect. Whether it is a crew member during production or an audience member in a festival, each project tends to create a new community and that allows for a lifelong impact in my life.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://cineastra.
com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/camilocineastra/