We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dominick Parungao. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dominick below.

Dominick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

The most notable thing my parents have done to positively impact my life was simply listening to me when I told them filmmaking is my path. In high school, my parents and I had created a plan to set me up for the STEM field, meaning I signed up for many different AP courses. And I hated it. Slowly losing interest in my Calculus, Physics, and Macroeconomics courses, I found solace in a TV Media course that was offered and I put all my energy into creating projects. And I loved it. Nearing the beginning of my senior year and needing to choose a career path, I knew my heart was in film; however, my parents were still driving down the road towards my nursing future. Being the ripe age of seventeen and not wanting to disappoint my Filipino parents, I was genuinely afraid of being perceived as incapable of deciding an “unattainable” future on my own and chasing a dream over practicality. But in my heart, I knew that this was what I wanted. I presented my parents with one of my favorite TV Media projects and afterward, I nervously told them that this is what I wanted to do with my life: make films and tell stories. To my surprise, they listened to me and did as much as they could to help me prepare for a path I wanted to walk down (of course they encouraged me to have a backup minor in Business, but I digress). Years later, their unwavering support has allowed me to pursue filmmaking and they have shown me that they will always be by my side every step of the way. And it has meant the world to me.

Dominick, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! My name is Dominick Niñal Parungao, and I am a Filipino-American filmmaker based in NJ + NY. I recently graduated from Montclair State University this past May attaining my BFA in Filmmaking. Being at university allowed me to practice my craft in varying departments on set whether it be directing, cinematography, assistant directing, or producing. Currently, I have been on the road of freelancing for film, videography, and live show work, and have been loving what I’ve been doing since.

I consider myself an up-and-coming storyteller, excited to share their voice with the world. I love narrative filmmaking and the art of storytelling. Understanding the inner workings of a story and the deeper themes between the lines always informs the direction of how I tell that story. Ultimately, I aim to tell stories of the moments many people may not see in the mainstream and shed light on them through film.

The journey toward filmmaking has truly just begun, and I am eager to learn more and more each day. There are an infinite amount of stories and storytellers in the world, and I intend to find my own unique voice in this diverse sea of creatives. Finding my voice and just figuring out what I have to say has been a constant struggle for me in this industry. However, a saying my mom would say rings in my head every time I start to feel this impostor syndrome: “Why wait for tomorrow when you can do it today?” Every day matters, and each day I find new styles I want to incorporate into my own voice. I am incredibly proud of how far I’ve come as a creative, and yet there’s still so much more along the way.

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

I grew up during the golden age of YouTube (the early 2010s), so I decided to make an account in elementary school and start posting videos with my friends. Since then, I have set out on a task to make my younger self proud of what I’m doing while also satisfying my present self in the path I’m taking. I want to be able to show my younger self that the impractical is actually practical and dreams can be reached. I want to tell that kid that his older self grows up to work on movie sets and tell the stories he’s always wanted to tell. I want to show him that anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it. I need to make him proud.

Having this philosophy has really pushed me to go out of my comfort zone and pursue this dream fifth-grade me would never have believed was possible. However, I have to make sure that I’m being fair to my present self and accounting for what he wants too. Now that I’m starting my journey, I’m unraveling what I want in life and what I see in my near future. I want a family and settle down with the person I love the most. I want to travel the world and gather new experiences through different cultures. I want to be geographically close to my family so I can see them every Christmas Eve. I need to make him proud.

It has always been a goal to figure out this balance between pursuing these passions my ten-year-old self had set all those years ago while also satisfying my current wants and needs. It’s up to me to continue walking down the path I deem fit and hope for the best.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I feel like this is one of the most cliche answers, but it truly is the most rewarding when a project is finished and I get to celebrate with all the talented people that made it possible. To me, everyone that I get the privilege to work with on any given project is family. No other individual is going to understand the trials and tribulations we went through to make this project happen, and what an honor it is to be able to share these specific memories with fellow crew and cast members. This deeper sense of collaboration and connection is incredibly hard to beat for me.

Celebrating with your film family at a premiere, festival, or even just in a friend’s living room is a feeling like no other. The energies of the cast and crew around you in that room, the cheers and applause as the credits roll, the tight hugs and huge congratulations in the theater lobbies, and the late-night diner runs after the screening: priceless. Being a creative surrounded by all these talented artists has allowed me to have these experiences and share these memories with them, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dominickparungao.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominickninalparungao/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-parungao-3357b0246
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dominickninalparungao

Image Credits
Richard Cruz, Nur Guzeldere. Reilly McHugh, Peter DiProspero, Raymond Kleinschmidt