We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jose Salazar. Check out our conversation below.
Jose, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’ve felt so much pride lately in sharing my personal inner-growth, not only as an artist but as a person with human emotions and constant struggles with mental health. Previously I never liked to admit that I harbored such strong feelings- fears, anxiety, etc… as I saw that as the stereotypical “weakness”. In hindsight, this avoidance was not to create a facade of strength, but rather to hide from the necessary work I had to do to align with my higher self.
Through my inner journey, I’ve come to embrace those very emotions running through my nervous system as they provide the DNA which makes me unique and unapologetically myself. It also lends me that secret sauce used to cook up my creations. Just letting those around me know that their own battles are one-hundred percent validated and acknowledged can make all the difference in their lives. If only one individual finds something meaningful in my story, that’s all the fulfillment I could ever ask for.
It’s frightening being so raw and vulnerable; kind of like a reptile molting, you leave yourself exposed. But nonetheless, this is a journey that all of us are going through in some capacity. Choosing to be that light for anyone who needs it, I feel is my purpose. And for what it’s worth I’ve had several people reach out and say they’re inspired by my progress, using that as a source of strength for their own life. That’s everything to me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jose Salazar, I’m an independent filmmaker and content creator. I’ve been creating for the past ten or so years, and my ambitions have led me down many different avenues. I attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg and met several amazing people that really pushed me to find my own voice. Initially I was trying to get into the Game Design program but it leaned heavily into the drawing aspect, which I was more eager to get into the directorial side. I saw digital filmmaking as an exciting alternative and a good way to tell my stories.
My good buddy Rick and I started a YouTube channel called 2 Ronin Pictures that ultimately ended up finding its footing in content centered around short films inspired by video games. Being a huge gamer growing up, it was always the emotionally evocative atmosphere in games that captivated me. You have such a wide array of feels traversing these worlds with these characters and overcoming obstacles, getting closer to your objective. There’s such a high level of spiritualism within video games that mirror our existence here. But to go back, it’s these types of reactions I like to elicit from my audience.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The need for gratification through attention was (and still can be) fueling my ego. It became the main motivation for my passion to create. Without a doubt this lead me as far as I am today- that hunger to be known and praised reminded me to keep pushing the envelope. I almost lost the purity of being an artist. It’s the ‘act’ of creation that is more meaningful than the ‘result’ of creation.
For me, it’s high-time to let go of that reliance on any one else other than myself to feel gratitude.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Trust the journey and more importantly trust yourself. You have no idea how magical this ride is going to be and you alone have the ability to live out your fairy tale life. Remember that you are moving at your own pace and everything will fall into place when it needs to.
Put yourself in the situations you only ever dreamed of. Make them happen, not for anyone else but for you. And don’t be afraid to fall down, that’s the most important part of the journey. All this said, you have to put in the work both physically and mentally.
The whole game (as with everything else in life) is a great balancing act so take care of yourself just as much you put out for others. Lastly, never forget how special you truly are and how loved you are for simply being you.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
The number one thing that I hold firm that tends to alienate others is the belief that all the power and energy you can ever need comes from within- from YOU. Nobody or nothing else will validate or save you. So many times we are told by society and institutions that you have to surrender to the higher, external forces, so much so that we marginalize our own importance because you focus so intensely on that external need. I always just want to shout ‘YOU are that higher force, YOU are your own savior.’
There is energy in nature around us and yes, I do believe there is a certain presence that guides us, but ultimately it’s pointing us back to be our own light. I get passionate about this because I’ve felt the energy I gained once I practiced self-love, empowering myself. More people deserve to feel that and see their own worth.
I say it’s a superpower not in the mystical sense, but in the ability to be the hero of your own life.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
This one makes a smile because it’s been one of those long lasting triggers of anxiety. It’s so easy to lose sight of everything else and zone in on this particular goal that it becomes your lifeline. You give it that power to control you, thus setting yourself up for disappointment once something doesn’t go as you’d expect it to.
To give a very practical example, when in the process of making a film it’s always ‘once I finish this project’ or ‘after we finish the hardest day of shooting’ then everything is going to be great. And hey, for a while it may feel like you’re on cloud 9, but sooner or later you’d be longing for something more. ‘Aw man, if only this gets picked up by a distributor or gets 1 million views…’ that goal post slowly creeps further back. All of sudden you’re left with same gaping hole that you had once you started the endeavor.
Just like any feel good romantic movie, once the protagonist gets with the love of their life, you kind wonder ‘well, what’s next’. That’s kind of how I approach these goals/desires, once they come to me everything else is kind of just the first day of the rest my life.
This taught me a very valuable lesson: that the beauty of it all is on the way up the mountain- those people you meet along the way, the obstacles you overcome, the thrill of being in that moment. There’s always going to be a taller peak on the horizon so enjoy where you presently are. Always be grateful for the present moment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @2roninpictures
- Facebook: 2 Ronin Pictures
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/2roninpictures
Image Credits
Obey Ace, Ian Flick, Xavier McKnight
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
