Manuel Velásquez shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Manuel, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Others plus me included, we are always comparing ourselves with others. We often feel small when we see others triumphant in social media. This is very silly, we compare our process and compete with other people who are also feeling static or lost artistically. We should focus in our own goals and avoid this effect of excess of information.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Manuel Velasquez, ADFC. Cinematographer and coproducer. I live in Barcelona but work basically everywhere. I lived and worked in LA, NY, and Bogota as well. Shot 6 feature films, and have been twice nominated to the Colombian academy awards for my cinematography in 2 movies. I have two companies, Golden Mile Films in Colombia, and Schengen Films in Spain which are focused on coproducing the cinematography of the movies that I am invited to film.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was a child I had a viewmaster and I played with it all the time. Got quickly passionate about watching stories happening through a viewing device where the page was visible when you pointed it towards the light.
Also my mother told me to say hi and say goodbye to the sun at sunrise and sunset so this created a huge relationship with sunlight.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Save money every month and invest in financial actives, but also if I wish to be kinder, I would tell myself to take care of my health and enjoy every second, not trying to skip phases and think that the future will be better, understand that the present iswhat we have. But also this question makes me think that as artists we are often unconformists and this makes us a bit pesimists of what we have achieved, so Iwould advice myself to enjoy the process and trust my instincts,let me know that many dreams we have became a reality.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Not 100% I rarely show my weakness, my difficult moments, the struggle of an independent artist. My public face shows only success never shows loss… This is something I am considering to show more but I don’t have the courage neither know how to do it without worrying the people that care about me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Thank you for the beautiful question, I would stop procrastinating and loosing time watching other people in social media. I would focus more in enjoying every day, so I will do that anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.manuelvelasquez.art
- Instagram: @manuelcine
Image Credits
Photos by various photographers and friends, particularly Sergio Mantilla
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
