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

Michel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I remember the very first time I knew I wanted to be in the arts. I was in 8th grade. My school was putting on a production of 42nd Street at the Sarasota Opera House and I was in the main chorus. There were six of us. None of us knew how to tap dance so we had been practicing for months during lunch and after school. Finally the opening night came. I still remember the smell of the stairs and the dressing room: wood, middle school body sweat, paint, and hairspray. There was so much joy. Everyone was laughing and getting ready for the opening number. It was all so fun.

And then something even better happened, something magical. There was a big number right before the intermission where the six of us had to dance on these thick wooden coins. It was a fast moving number, a show stopper. I was at the front of the stage slightly right of center and tapping my little feet as fast as they could tap and smiling as big as my cheeks would allow, hoping for dear life not to fall off. And then in an instant this ease fell over me. I knew we had been perfect, all of us in sync. I don’t mean just those of us on stage. It was all of us–the audience, the crew backstage, everyone experiencing this one moment together. It was as if the molecules in the air changed and time slowed down. I felt this pull in my stomach and in that moment this was all that existed. I knew then this was what I wanted to do.

For a really long time I thought all I ever wanted to be was an actor. Then one day, late into my twenties, I told a friend that I was interested in making a short film, not exactly as the director. I didn’t even think I could direct at first actually. I had never done it. The next day my friend sent me her script and that was it. I knew I had to do this too. Ever since then my passion for filmmaking and all aspects of storytelling has just continued to grow and blossom. Every day I grow more curious, more immersed in this world and I feel like I’m that 12 year old girl all over again.

Michel, 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?

My name is Michel Dominguez Beddome. I am a first generation, Mexican-American female filmmaker. I co-founded M&MDB Films with my husband Michael. In the last 5 years we have made 8 short films and a web-series along with our amazing community of filmmaking friends. Many of our short films have gone on to film festivals like the Indie Memphis Film Festival, Coney Island International Film Festival, Queens World Film Festival, Lady Filmmakers, New York Shorts International Film Festival, and many more.

I made my directorial debut with the award-winning horror short film “What’s in the Woods?” (written by Maggie Colligan) in 2020 which went on to win “Best Horror Short” at Venice Short Film Awards, Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Oregon Short Film Festival, and Atlanta After Dark Film Festival.

Our latest short film, “Cheery Up, Baby!” premiered at the 2023 New York International Short Film Festival and has been making the rounds with a showing at the 2024 Queens World Film Festival, 2024 Katra Latinx Film Festival, and a month-long exhibition at Culture Lab LIC: “Shattered: A Visual Journey Through The Mind”, curated by Dawn DeVito in New York City. Next it is headed to the 2024 Queens City Film Festival in New Jersey in October.

I am a Texas born, Florida raised, NYU Tisch alum, and current New York City dweller. I grew up in the loving home of two Mexican parents who continually support my obsession with the arts and storytelling. ¡Viva Mexico!

I am so proud of all the work we’ve done. We make projects that range from horror to comedy to music videos to heartfelt musical style dramas. I constantly strive to imbue our work with my culture and heritage in ways that feel honest and sincere. My biggest aspiration is to keep going, keep making projects with our wonderful community, telling stories that we love, and of course, to make my parents and my familia proud.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

To be in a creative career, you have to be resilient. Creativity is so subjective and the truth is not everyone is going to like what you make or even understand you as an artist. There is so much rejection and there can be so much doubt, especially when you’re first starting out. Add a touch of underrepresentation and sometimes that mountain can seem impossible to climb.

I have gotten reviews of a film on the same day that were polar opposites where one person loved it and felt so moved by the story and the other person was just not that keen on it. I have been told by people over and over again that something might not be possible or not to get my hopes up or that I just wouldn’t be able to do it. I even had one teacher tell me I would never get into NYU for acting. I am so grateful that it worked out in the end and that I’ve had the opportunity to continue down this path.

I remember when I first wanted to direct “What’s in the Woods?” there were a lot of bumps in the road because no one would take a chance on me. It was so incredibly disheartening to hear people I trusted and respected politely tell me that it wasn’t right for them or just flat out avoid me. A lot of nights I would cry, but every single morning I would get up and keep doing the work. I think this is why I love this project so much. Not only am I proud of the film itself, I am also proud of the person I came out being because of it.

I will always be so incredibly grateful to my husband, Michael; to the writer, Maggie Colligan; and to the people that took a chance on me for the project. Without them I don’t think I’d be the person I am today or doing the things I love to be doing today.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It has really been such a rewarding journey.

There’s a certain self-discovery in being an independent filmmaker. When I first began I was not all that confident that I could do anything other than act. Now I do something creative every day. I write now, short films, a feature, poems, little paragraphs, an idea for a children’s book. I could sit at the computer all day editing going from one frame to the next until I know it’s just right. I have ideas even when I’m not thinking about having ideas, I can express myself in a more articulate way than I ever thought possible. Not everything pans out of course, but sometimes that’s the magic of it. I love going back to the drawing board and having conversations with other creatives about what could be improved or what can really make something pop or what about this or that, and really just getting to play around. When you find the people you love to work with it all just clicks.

That’s the thing that takes you places. This love of exploration, community, self expression.

Our festival run for “What’s in the Woods?” happened during covid so it was quite the debutante season for us. There were a lot of zoom panels. I will never forget two of those director panels in particular. One was a panel that consisted of all female horror film directors. The other was a panel where I was the only woman on a screen with squares full of men (all very lovely people). Every day is so different, an adventure really. You never know what’s going to resonate with a person or who you’re going to meet.

I love that I am able to continually discover so much about myself every day and that I get to bring all that to the table, to represent people like myself that may not see themselves or their culture on screen and to join other creatives that are also paving the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mandmdbfilms.com/michel
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheldbeddome
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mandmdbfilms
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/mandmdbfilms

Image Credits

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