Meet Mike Garcia

We recently connected with Mike Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I’m not sure I can say that I’ve completely overcome Impostor Syndrome, but I can say, repetition is the mother of skill and the more you do something the more you will fill comfortable doing that said thing. As a filmmaker, you have to learn to enjoy the process and not be so beholden to the outcome. I love films, love the process of making films and for me, seeing a project from its inception to completion is the reward. Alleviating Impostor Syndrome is running toward you fear and running away from it. The obstacle is the way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a filmmaker; writer & director two feature films, short-films and music videos. Along the way of my filmmaking journey, I learned cinematography and editing, and have filmed and edited all my music videos and films since 2016. In the 2010 my brother Matthew introduced me to Sean Uyeoka, a work friend of his. Sean was a filmmaker as well and was making some cool short-films of his own on a Canon t2i. This was 2010, early in the digital filmmaking revolution and seeing what Sean was creating, filming and editing on his own was impressive and inspired me to do the same. After meeting Sean I made a few digital short-films and in 2014 I set out to make my first feature film ‘And the Past Recedes’ (2015), which I modeled the production of after Edward Burns’ film ‘Newlyweds’, which he filmed for $10k with a Canon 5d. With that model, he and the Polish Brothers showed that anyone that truly wants to make films, can make films. There weren’t any excuses after that. Like a lot of filmmakers I spent years waiting for someone to give me an opportunity, the money, etc., to make a film, but I had to change my mind set, trust the process and create my opportunities. Because as Mark Duplass says, “The cavalry is probably not coming.”

In 2015 I had the opportunity to direct the music video ‘Beneath California’ for the punk band RETOX, which features Justin Pearson from The Locusts. I was a big fan of The Locusts, and an even bigger fan of RETOX, so directing a music video for the band was a filmmaker’s dream fulfilled.

That same year I was also writing my next feature film, Rylo (2017), which I wrote specifically for my friend, comedian Alexis Prigo. It was great writing the screenplay and being able tailor scenes and dialog for Alexis. For Rylo, I based the films production after the Polish Brothers ‘For Lovers Only’ (2011) a ‘no-budget’ film, a Canon 5d and the two actors. The Rylo production was me, my Canon t2i and my actors. Stripping everything away to the bare essentials was a great experience, not always easy, but rewarding. The experience definitely made me a better filmmaker. I really like the film, It’s a fun watch and Alexis and all my actors did a great and currently working on getting the film distributed and out to the world.

In 2020 I revisited a script ‘Mija’ that I began writing in 2015 after the completion of ‘And the Past Recedes’. MIJA is the story of a talented, self-destructive artist on verge of hitting the big time. I had every intention of Mija being my 2nd feature film, but I was never able to complete the screenplay, always stalling out around the 30 page mark. Frustrated, I shelved the idea, moved on, but knowing that I would revisit the idea when the time was right. In May 2020 as we were in month two of Covid lockdown, I decided to revisit Mija, started from scratch and knocked out the 1st draft in 4 weeks. This is me manifesting, and though I don’t know her personally, I wrote the lead role of Girl in Mija specifically for actress/model Devon Ross. I’m putting that out in to the Universe. As of July 2023 we are in the early stages of pre-production on Mija, with a Spring 2024 production.

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?
The biggest obstacle I’ve overcome is getting out of my own way and start being my own best advocate as a filmmaker. You have to fully commit yourself being a filmmaker and not be afraid to fail. It’s about the doing, the writing, picking up the camera and filming. Completing a project. One project has always led to the next project. Without this mindset, none of my films and music videos would exist. The obstacle is the way. And you have to own who you are.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I think you always have to go all in on your strengths, but equally I think you have to go all in on your weaknesses as well. In 2016 after I made my 1st feature film, I had met Daniel Dart, lead singer of the punk band Time Again. Prior to meeting Daniel, I had relied on others to be my cinematographers for my projects, but Daniel believed in my skills as a filmmaker and really pushed me to learn cinematography/camera operating. And through Daniel, I was able to direct music videos The Crash Kings, actor/musicians Devon Werkheiser and Brad Carter, and Weezer guitarist Brian Bell’s band The Relationship. Meeting Daniel was blessing for which I’m forever grateful, because wat was once a weakness, is now a strength I can lean in to. Learning cinematography and camera operating has definitely led to more projects, than if I hadn’t developed these skills.

Once I had become comfortable in my skills with a camera, I set off and made my 2nd feature film, RYLO (2017), which I wrote for my friend and talented comedian Alexis Prigo. I modeled the production of after Polish Brothers film For Lovers Only (2011), which was a no-budget film shot with just a Canon 5d and its actors. I went out and made RYLO with just me, my camera (Canon T2i) and the cast I had assembled. We filmed over several months, Spring to Summer, which allowed me to edit along the way and by November of that year I had a completed 2nd feature film. I’m really proud of RYLO and hope one day that it can find an audience. It’s a fun little film.

January 2019, I had met musician V Torres, a fellow South Bay/Hermosa Beach resident. I had contacted her about directing a music video, we met, a really vibed. First off, I love her music, so directing music videos for her songs feels really natural. Previous directorial efforts, I had filmed using Canon digital cameras, but for V Torres’ music videos ‘Top of the Road’ and ‘Golden Hour’ I switched to shooting with my iPhone 8 Plus ProMax. We have a great connection, great energy and love both music videos we created.

And in 2022, I directed a music video for Francesca Brown’s song, ‘Wrong to Right’ that I’m really proud of. Francesca is a great country singer/songwriter. I shot that on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Later that year wrote & directed my short-film Cobain, which starred V Torres and Alexis Prigo, which I also shot on my iPhone 11. And like Rylo, the production of the film was me, my camera and my actors. The film is a comedy about the insecurities of being an artist. We’re currently submitting the film to festivals.

As a director, editor & cinematographer, I feel V Torres’ music videos are my best work overall as a director. Making films with my iPhone made me an overall better director, cameraman, editor and writer. So shoutout again to Daniel Dart for pushing me to learn new skills as a filmmaker.

As I look back, had I never leaned into my weakness or lack of skill as a cinematographer, overcome that weakness, I believe I would not have made my film Rylo, V Torres’ music video or my short-film Cobain. Leaning into strengths and weaknesses, I think both are important to do, but just leaning into strengths can make us complacent, while leaning into our weaknesses can and will make us stronger.

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Image Credits
All photos are personal photos, no professional pics.

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