We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sergio Serrano Castillo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sergio, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

A writer/director needs to dive into every topic in life to bring that knowledge and experience to stories. That’s why I try to watch as many films, TV, and documentaries as I can. The same happens with books, newspaper articles and news, meeting and talking with people, or traveling. These activities open my mind, allow me to explore new areas of knowledge, and bring me the capacity to implement them into my narrative.

Since a very young age, I felt captivated by stories to the point that I consider myself a “collector of stories.” I love to read, to write, to listen to others, etc. That helped me to find my passion for storytelling and establish my voice as a writer/director. This is important because is a signature that is present in every piece of work that people can identify. It’s your stamp, the particularities that define you as a creative.

You can learn some theoretical concepts or rules about this job. These are just small milestones in a large pathway. But creativity is free to interpret, to elaborate, and to approach. At the end of the day, true learning comes through experience and a bunch of “try and fail” moments to find your way of doing it. You will shape your personality and your vision as well.

If I look back on my life, I wouldn’t change the learning process or the way that led me to this point. Every step has a meaning and gives you a background that is important to feed your creativity. I took advantage of every opportunity life has put in front of me and I don’t imagine a way to speed it up. I believe you need to flow and find your passion, giving you time to explore yourself. Try, try, and try. Don’t force anything, which would be counter-productive.

The most important point in my learning was to be willing to keep doing it, be proactive, take the initiative, and know what I want. Of course, I encountered some obstacles in the way. Sometimes mental blocks or doubts come. It’s stressful and annoying, but by focusing on my goal I find the solution.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m from Spain. I graduated in Advertising and Public Relations and I worked in advertising agencies and TV.

Since a very young age, I became interested in stories to the point of wanting to dedicate myself to telling them. I always followed my passion and kept writing every kind of text, from small ones to play scripts. In 2022, I published my first novel (‘Sonrisas maquilladas’), which is the beginning of a trilogy. That encouraged me to jump to the next level and merge my creative writing with my other passions: Film and TV.

I came to Los Angeles to study “Entertainment Studies” at UCLA Extension and improve my skills. I enjoyed it a lot and gained knowledge and self-motivation to follow up on my career. During the process, I met a lot of interesting people who became my friends.

Finally, through networking, hard work, and perseverance, I shot two short films in 2023 as a writer/director. The first one, titled ‘The Last Moment’, has won several awards within the Film Festival Circuit. The second one, titled ‘How Can I Help You?’, is currently in Post-Production.

Now, I’m working on two feature films that I have ahead as a writer/director.

My communicative vocation, and my predilection for cinema, television, theater, and literature have formed an ideal cocktail to impregnate my stories with palpable realism, unmistakable sensitivity, and my charisma.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Creative work is always driven by a purpose. Mine is to present a story that resonates with me to other people so we can enjoy and exchange our thoughts about it. Additionally, I do what I do because it’s my passion and I love to share it with others.

My main goal is for people to enjoy my work. All my stories have a deep background to reflect on it. If the themes exposed help people to know more about a certain topic, to have self-consciousness, or to think about their lives and the society we live in, I would be more than happy.

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

Move feelings to people.

Creativity is a space to explore, imagine, and feel. I enjoy writing my stories in solitude because, in those moments, I transport myself to another universe. I explore new worlds, imagine new scenes, and feel what the characters feel. Moreover, I know more about myself and my limits.

Once I have the work done and it’s time to share it with people, the most exciting and rewarding part is seeing their reactions and how it made them feel. That makes me thrilled because they give my work multiple nuances and interpretations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sergioserranocastillo.com/
• Instagram: @sergio.serranocastillo
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15814002/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-serrano-castillo-b70354ab/