Meet Luke Valdes-Rodriguez

We recently connected with Luke Valdes-Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.

Luke, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome is a battle that constantly comes and goes as a screenwriter and independent filmmaker. What allows me to beat imposter syndrome is when I realize that I’ll never know my potential if I listen to negative thoughts that hold me down. The answer to beating imposter syndrome is just going out there and doing it.

When I first moved to Hollywood to pursue filmmaking, I started freelancing in production. I was on set as a PA but wasn’t in a writer’s room or directing a movie. It doesn’t happen that fast. So I started writing. In my first year in Hollywood, I wrote three feature screenplays. I entered them into contests, placed as finalists in some, and received positive feedback. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were moments of self-doubt, times when I questioned my abilities. However, I forced myself to write and received awards and reassuring feedback, which kept me going.

My journey in directing was similar. As a new college grad, I couldn’t land a directing job at a studio. But I didn’t let that stop me. I started making my own short films, and the more I made, the more I realized the value of collaboration. I worked with incredibly talented individuals on multiple projects, from short films to comedy sketches, and even an independent comedy pilot. If I had succumbed to my negative thoughts, I wouldn’t have experienced the joy and growth that comes from working with others.

My mindset of creating my own projects on an independent level was instrumental in my journey. It allowed me to build a portfolio that not only proved to myself but also to others that I can write and direct. This portfolio was my ticket to an opportunity where I was hired to write for reality TV shows. It’s a testament to the importance of showcasing your work, as it can open doors you never thought possible.

Although I write for reality TV shows, I still battle imposter syndrome. It’s something that sticks with you as a writer, no matter how far you’ve come. There are days when I question if I’m good enough, if I truly belong in this industry. But I’m prepared to keep fighting it by showing myself and others what I’m capable of. I can write screenplays and direct films, and as long as I keep creating, nobody can take that away from me.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m currently a writer for unscripted television shows and am working towards writing and directing narrative feature films.

Over the past few years, I’ve been on a journey to build my portfolio and collaborate with fellow filmmakers who share the same aspirations. My screenwriting portfolio includes a variety of shorts, features, and pilot scripts, each reflecting my distinct voice and vision.

What gets me most excited about writing and filmmaking is bringing my imagination to the screen. There’s something magical about picturing something in your head, putting it on paper, then working with a film crew to bring it to life. Collaboration is truly something special, and working with other creatives is the best part of the job. It’s a great feeling when you can work with a camera operator, producer, or actor and achieve something you’re all happy with. It excites me to discover that other filmmakers like my ideas and creativity, but it’s even better when I see what they bring to the project. Seeing their perspective, hearing their ideas, and incorporating their flavor into the story makes filmmaking unique. It’s not just the writer and director who make it happen; it’s everyone who’s involved in the project. Working with a talented cast and crew is a blessing for any writer/director, and it’s my favorite part of independent projects.

Another aspect I love about independent filmmaking is that everyone puts so much passion into the project. We’re all working on independent projects because we want to and chose to be there. We all want to express ourselves and make the best possible product imaginable with all the odds against us. We still have to finish on time. We don’t have much money to do so. We don’t have a studio or major financier to back us up or give us all the necessary resources. We put together what we can with our zero budget and network of passionate filmmakers and create movie magic.

I’ve always been passionate about telling stories in the thriller genre. I love building suspense and keeping the audience on the edge of their seats as they explore the gritty worlds I’ve created. My education in psychology is something I implement in all my scripts, whether creating realistic characters and scenarios based on human behavior or diving into the complexities and creating a likable character who happens to be a sociopathic villain. Studying different personalities, human behavior, crime, and violence allowed me to find my niche when I started building my screenwriting portfolio. I found myself loving the idea of writing chilling crime stories and psychological thrillers.

My next project is an exhilarating thriller short film that will serve as a proof of concept for a feature film. I’ve poured a wealth of my real-world experience into this script and am thrilled to see it come to life. It explores themes of vulnerability, manipulation, self-improvement, classism, and male societal expectations. I’m currently in pre-production for this project and can’t wait to share the short film with everyone on social media. I’m eager to embark on the journey of getting it off the ground and directing the feature version.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three most impactful qualities are a positive attitude, working in various departments, and a resilient work ethic. If young filmmakers have these qualities, then they’ll be able to go far in the industry.

Working on a film set can be highly stressful, but maintaining a positive attitude can make a world of difference. Positivity not only makes the day go by faster and more efficiently, but it also fosters a collaborative environment in the entertainment industry. You’ll be constantly working with various people, and a positive attitude can make these interactions smoother. Long days, ranging from 12-18 hours, are a norm, but a positive attitude can make them more bearable. It will draw people to work with you, knowing that they’ll be able to get along with you and get work done without any stress.

Having experience in various departments is something I recommend for many different reasons. If you want to be a writer/director, that means you won’t be constantly working, especially when you’re starting out. Working in multiple departments when you start gives you more range to be hired, but more importantly, it expands your knowledge as a filmmaker. If you want to direct, having experience in multiple departments gives you insight into how the pieces move together on set. Carry that knowledge and experience with you when you eventually become a director. You can lead a crew more efficiently because you know what will slow down each department, ultimately slowing down the day and costing you money. For example, I started as a PA and worked as a grip on set. That experience allowed me to understand the time and effort spent setting up each scene, building the lights, carrying around the stands, and how a sudden change from the director can be very costly. Getting experience as a young filmmaker will give you more opportunities and allow you to become a more well-rounded filmmaker.

Hollywood is known to be a cut-throat industry. Nothing is handed to you. And there’s always a ton of competition that you’re going to be up against. Young filmmakers have to aspire to be the best of the best. Having a resilient work ethic is necessary to become the best. You don’t wake up with loads of experience and a mastery of your craft; it takes challenging work. Reading books on filmmaking, listening to podcasts, watching movies, reading screenplays, daily writing, and creating your short films are all things I recommend to build a resilient work ethic. Working on set, working hard, and showcasing this to your boss will get you far. You’re never promised the next gig or even the next day on set. A strong work ethic is one of the most important qualities for succeeding in entertainment and life.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

The filmmakers I’m looking to collaborate with are producers and actors. I have an incredible group of fellow filmmakers in LA. Still, we’re constantly looking for producers who are passionate about the stories we tell and want to help put together impactful stories. Making a film is a lot of work, from organizing pre-production to distributing the final film. Having a passionate producer to help writers and directors along the way is a critical partnership.

Actors bring characters to life and give the audience someone to fall in love with. As a director, I always challenge myself to work with the best possible actors I can find to elevate the story with their impressive performances. I admire actors who bring their perspective to the scene and give the characters something I didn’t see when I wrote it. Quintin Tarantino said to never give direction to an actor before they give the performance their own take; you never know what you’ll get from them if you instruct them first. And I use this whenever I am directing something because it’s true. Actors are remarkably creative people. So, I’m constantly looking to work with talented actors who deliver astounding performances from their script interpretation. From there, I enjoyed working with what I wrote, how I intended to direct them, and their fresh take on the performance.

Producers are another great partner with whom I’m looking to connect. I’d love to collaborate with story-driven producers and do whatever it takes to maintain the script’s integrity. Without producers, films couldn’t be made. Producers who are passionate about the story create great films. I’d love to connect with producers who thrive in thriller, horror, and drama. It’s always a joy to have a partner alongside you to build the world around your story and put together a dedicated team who’s just as passionate about your story as you are.

If any producers or actors are interested in working with me to tell chilling thriller stories, they can visit my Instagram page to see the portfolio that I’ve built and connect with me there. I’m always looking for fresh opinions and new collaborations to join me in my next story.

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