Meet Japhet Velazquez

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Japhet Velazquez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Japhet, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

To keep my creativity alive I like to consume as much art as possible. From albums, movies and photography books I like to find inspiration in other artists and their process of creating and that motivates me to continue to find that creative breakthrough a lot of my inspirations have found.

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

My name is Japhet Velazquez I’m an LA based filmmaker from Arroyo Puerto Rico. When I started my journey in film I was living in San Antonio Texas making small short films with my friends for little to no money. Making these films with my friends helped me develop skills in all aspects of the moving making process, from finding locations, organizing schedules and dealing with on set issues in real time. As I furthered my development as a filmmaker I found the horror genre felt like home for me, it allowed me to explore interesting subjects about the human experience and our relationship to the human body. My love for horror only grew stronger as I dove deeper into the classics, not only from Hollywood but around the world. I found the process of working with practical effects allowed both me and the actors to really see and feel the horrors we work hard to create. Now attending my second year at the American Film Institute I am currently working on my thesis film that explores the horrors of the new technology that we as a society have built a dependence on. I look forward to pushing the limits with practical effects and giving the audience an experience they won’t forget.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When I first started my journey I never attended a film school or class, I just watched as many movies as possible. In the early days of my love for cinema I would choose a filmmaker and go down their filmography and watch as many interviews and director commentary that I could find on YouTube.

Being able to sell yourself as the product is very important. In the early days of your filmmaking career most people who will help you out are going to support the filmmaker and not the story. With four years of door to door sales experience I sharpened my communication skills and my biggest take away is to make sure when you are pitching to anyone who is willing to hear you out is to paint the picture of how their support will help you and help your journey as a filmmaker.

Finally one of the most important parts of being a director or any head of department is to be a good leader. Being a good leader is much more than telling people what do to but being able to lead a group of people to a common goal. Listen and collaborate, have patience and know what you want, the crew will love you for it.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

Being from Arroyo Puerto Rico my family has zero connections to Hollywood or the film industry but they gave me a lesson in cinema since I was a little kid. Both of my parents are film buffs and they shared that aspect with me and my sister and that eventually turned into an obsession for me. When I first brought up the idea of chasing a dream in filmmaking as any parent would react they were skeptical and worried, after dropping out of business school and finding work full time I dedicated my life to the dream and my parents also saw that and made the decision as well to support the dream. I’m very grateful for all of their help and for giving me the opportunity to chase this dream with their support.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @japhetdadon