We were lucky to catch up with Miguel Hernandez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Miguel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on has to be Volador, my first short film. It’s pretty much a collection of everything the past 15 years of my life have meant to me. It goes from my childhood in Morelia, Michoacán, to my experience immigrating to the U.S. at 17, chasing better opportunities in filmmaking.

Volador is about learning to exist between two worlds and figuring out how to find beauty in the present instead of constantly looking back. Moving to Grand Rapids was tough. It felt nothing like home, and for a long time, I struggled to find a space where I could fully be myself. The idea of going back to Mexico was always on my mind. But no matter what, I kept creating. I focused on projects that excited me, and somehow, through that, I found people who shared the same love I had for creating.

That’s why this short means so much to me. While making it, I ended up learning the exact lesson I was trying to tell. This film helped me find my people—the friends who made it possible and who, in the process, became family. We told this story together, and I’ll always be grateful for that. Volador isn’t just a film to me; it’s proof that storytelling can build community, and that sometimes, home isn’t a place—it’s the people who make you feel like you belong.

Miguel, 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 Miguel Hernandez, a 20-year-old guy with a Mexican background. Both of my parents were immigrants and met each other in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that’s where I was born but raised in the city of Morelia, Michoacán. One of the things that I have loved the most is community and collaboration—since I was very young, being surrounded by friends to play with, learn from, and create has always given me a lot of energy. Nowadays, I’m so lucky that I get to do that for a living.

For as long as I can remember, thanks to both of my parents, I have always been surrounded by what you could probably call art. My mom always encouraged my little brother and me to do all types of crafts alongside her, while my dad, a man who always dreamt of being a musician, introduced us to his love for live music, fashion, and movies from an early age. Because of this, I had the fortune of expressing myself in many different ways, but the one that resonated with me the most was photography and filmmaking.

By the age of 18, after moving to the United States and experiencing my junior year of high school, I had already made videos for the school basketball team and directed my first-ever music video for a song called Higher Way. That project was a pivotal moment in my career—not just because it set me on the path I’m on today, but because it showed me my creative potential and how special the people around me are. We made the short film with barely anything, and the team was built thanks to my cousin, Rico Padilla, the person who I now live with and that has inspired me the most.

Thanks to Rico, I was introduced to someone who I collaborate with every time and who gave me the opportunity to pursue filmmaking full-time: Omar Arredondo, the owner of Aves Films, a production company inspired by the freedom of birds, where creativity and collaboration are the main priorities. Omar was also the main producer of Volador. He’s not just someone I’ve worked with—he has become one of my best friends, and I’m incredibly grateful for his presence in my life. He also comes from a Mexican background, born and raised in the beautiful Mexico City. He has been a constant reminder of how important and magical it is to keep my culture as part of my identity, how powerful it is to embrace different perspectives, and that being Mexican is not just about where you were born but about how you express yourself in the world.

Working at Aves Films has taught me more in two years than I could have ever learned in ten anywhere else. What makes it so unique is that we get to tell stories that bring people from all over the world together—celebrating our differences and shared dreams through our projects.
The people who make up this team are people I am so thankful for. They constantly remind me of the importance of unity, and that’s probably what I’m most proud of. I’m grateful that I’ve allowed myself to be part of something bigger than just myself. I think this is what gives me the most hope in what I do—in a way, it feels like everything my team and I create has a purpose in this world.

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

I believe everything begins with a need for expression. If you value and respect the role of art in your community, the least you can do is seek it out, support it, and engage with it. It’s important to start locally if we eventually want to make a global impact, after all, every cultural movement begins with a small, dedicated group of people uplifting each other’s voices. This could mean attending a local concert, purchasing pottery from a friend, or simply expressing appreciation for a photographer’s work. It feels like word of mouth is a powerful yet deeply authentic way of sharing art—it fosters connections, builds community, and creates a sense of belonging that brings out the best in all of us.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are a few creatives who have deeply influenced not only the way I create but also how I approach my surroundings and values. Many of them are Spanish-speaking, as Spanish was the only language I spoke when I first started my career. Among them, Roberto Martínez and his podcast Creativo that incredibly motivated me to express my curiosity for conversations and start expressing myself through video, as well as Hermann Neudert, a music video director to whom I owe a lot! These two dudes didn’t just teach me practical skills and industry insights—they also embody values I admire and strive for as a human being. Outside of their work, they inspire me as people, using their creativity to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mazahdz.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: @mazahdz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091545944758
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-hernandez-2764ba282

Image Credits

Shafi Subhan