We recently connected with Cecilio Martinez and have shared our conversation below.

Cecilio, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time, I believe I would still start my creative career at the same time that I did. I’m currently 51 and have been seriously pursuing filmmaking and photography for the past ten years. I believe that it is never too late to follow your passion. Growing up, I was always drawn to the arts. I remember as a kid getting underneath my dad’s truck bed camper to create a make-believe studio and grabbing bricks to make artwork. However, I also had a passion for science and nature, which led me to pursue a degree in Geology.

Despite my scientific career, the arts kept calling me back. In my early 40s, I found a passion for filmmaking, which later evolved into a love for photography. Over the past decade, I’ve created over 20 short films, with several being nominated for best film and even winning awards. My photography has also been featured in calendars and magazines. One of my proudest moments was at the Austin Revolution Film Festival, when my short film “Unrest” was nominated for TEXAS FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR and Best TEXAS GENRE FILM.

Had I started sooner, I might have had more time to hone my skills and build my portfolio. However, starting later provided me with more life experience, maturity, and financial freedom to afford to pursue these creative projects. Looking back, I think I started at the right time.

Cecilio, 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?

Back in 2014, I decided to take a leap and enter the San Antonio 48 Hour Film Project. Filmmaking had always fascinated me, and I knew it was something I had to try. My first film was far from perfect, but it sparked a fire within me when I saw another team’s entry—a small group that created a Hollywood-quality film that left everyone in awe. I thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” From that moment on, I was determined to reach their level of excellence. For the past ten years, amidst balancing family and work, I’ve dedicated my spare time to mastering every aspect of filmmaking. I immersed myself in learning writing, cinematography, editing, acting, sound design, and directing. I took classes, collaborated with other filmmakers, and absorbed every bit of knowledge I could. Today, I proudly look back at over 20 short films, with 8 wins and 16 nominations on IMDB. I’m currently working on two new short films and on a writing team for an urban legends feature film called “Periculum – San Antonio.” I am also currently working with a filmmaker named Michael Roth on his short film, “86’d,” we are aiming to enter the film into prestigious festivals like Sundance and SXSW. Filmmaking has truly changed my life. My brand, CM9 Films, means the world to me and with the success I’ve had recently I’ve decided to start my own production company, Maverick Lens Production LLC. My goal is to bring a unique vision to every project, always striving for something fresh and new. My journey, which started back in 2014, has come full circle, and now I get to share everything I’ve learned with future collaborators and projects. If I can do it, you can too.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I used to think I could handle filmmaking by myself. I believed that having a few crew members and cast was enough. I didn’t understand the roles, hierarchy, or importance of having the right crew for a successful production. Looking back, I realize that was due to my inexperience and ignorance in filmmaking. Now, I fully appreciate the need for key production crew members in all my projects. Every role, from the boom operator and production assistants to the director of photography, is essential for creating a successful film.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is collaborating with others who share my vision and have a collaborative spirit. It’s challenging to find people you can trust with your vision, especially in filmmaking where there’s a hierarchy. Usually, the director’s vision takes precedence, but sometimes it’s the producers’ or even the studio’s vision in bigger productions. When it’s unclear whose vision it is, conflicts can arise.
That’s why it’s so refreshing to work on a production where everyone is contributing to the vision rather than questioning it. I learned the importance of this in a Group Improv Class through the “Yes, and” approach. It’s about fostering a collaborative spirit by not creating obstacles or boundaries, but by adding to and enhancing the idea. “Yes, that’s a great idea, and we can add this to make it even better.” I love that!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cm9films/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cm9films
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/cm9films
  IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8622401/