Meet César Fión Góngora

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful César Fión Góngora. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with César below.

Hi César, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

What a great question. I don’t know.

There’s no clear-cut way of going about it, or a magical solution that makes it go away, but along the way, I’ve tried to make it a little easier on myself as much as I can. My job as a Production Sound Mixer in the film industry requires me to be on my feet for 12 hours a day while carrying about 20 pounds of equipment strapped to my chest. On top of that, I have to listen to every single sound on set, all the time. That can be a lot, especially during big multi-day productions. Thankfully, I’ve learned a thing or two in the 5 years I’ve been doing this.

If I don’t have to be on my feet, then I won’t. From time to time, I can set up the boom pole on a stand and sit down while I work on the mixer, which is a massive help for long takes. The longevity of my career is closely tied to my physical health, so I do my best to take care of my back and shoulders. The more I care about my body, the longer I can keep working. Considering that I have to listen to loud noises throughout the day, taking care of my ears is a must, as silly as it may sound. Due to some previous health issues with migraines, I have a constant ringing in my ears that I need to be very careful with to ensure it doesn’t interrupt or hinder my work. Whenever I need to take a breather, sit in silence, or simply listen to anything but the sounds on set, I’ll gladly wait until I’m ready to continue giving the production my best work.

As I mentioned, there’s no clear-cut way to avoid burnout. It’s a constant effort to make sure I take care of my physical and mental health so I can continue doing what I love.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

For the past 10 years, I’ve been involved in the film industry, starting out in my native Guatemala at age 18. After moving to Los Angeles in 2022, I continued working as a Production Sound Mixer, also known as the “Sound guy,” as I had been doing for a couple of years at that point. In total, I’ve dedicated myself to sound for about 5 years, also working as a Sound Designer and Editor in the meantime. The past year has been a prolific one for me, having worked on over 50 different productions ranging from independent short and feature films to video game commercials and productions for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Canon.

Besides my work on set, I’m also a writer and director. I established my own film company, Calavera Film, in 2016, and I have written, directed, produced, and sometimes even acted in various narrative and documentary films. My work has been recognized at festivals in countries such as Italy, the USA, Mexico, Panama, Nigeria, and my native Guatemala.

Recently, I finished production on my latest fiction script, a take on the Wolfenstein video game series titled Wolfenstein: Legacy of Defiance, which will be released on YouTube in November of this year.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Film is my passion; I love it, and I love being a part of it. But I’d be lying if I said it was easy to get to where I am now, let alone to get started.

A massive part of my success is that I never threw in the towel. Through all the unpaid gigs, rejections, and missed opportunities, the thought of quitting never crossed my mind. I always knew what the goal was, and even after achieving it, I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Call it resilience; I call it stubbornness—but the good kind.

Having the job I do takes a toll on my body, a toll I have to be careful with so as not to hinder my own career. Even then, I’m aware that I’m very privileged to be able to do what I do, and I put my best efforts forward to make sure I deliver the highest quality of work I can. My job, as I often say, is very hard to get right and very easy to mess up, and I can’t afford to mess up. Dedication to my craft has gotten me this far, so I’m either very good at it or I just work too hard.

I’m an optimist by nature. I tend to see the good in everything, and even when the good is barely there, I still try to make the most of it. Sometimes that can be too much, but more often than not, having a positive attitude on set helps me get through the tough days, and if I can help others get through it as well, even better.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Bringing me into this world aside, without my parents I honestly wouldn’t have even started this journey. They have supported me every step of the way, from buying me my first camera to helping me get through college and beyond. I don’t think there is one singular thing they’ve done that has been the most impactful, because their constant support and love are truly what keep me going whenever I hit a rough patch or achieve a goal. Ever since I went into film, they have done their best to make sure I achieve my dreams, and that’s why I want to achieve them—to prove that their efforts, support, and love weren’t in vain.

Every time I step on a set, I think about them and hope I can make them proud.
Los amo.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Beatriz Santamaria Pinha
John Soto III
Victor Jones Valverde
Henry Kuo

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