About

Quick notes

• Venezuelan cinematographer based in Los Angeles.
• Trilingual (Spanish/English/Italian).
• American Film Institute (AFI) alumnus, 2022.
• Available to work in both commercial and narrative formats.
• Past work includes commercial clients such as: Airbnb, New Balance, Nike, Live Nation, Fabletics, Zara, Brooks, Oscar de la Renta, Discovery Channel.
• Musical clients: Neon 16, Rawayana, Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, Backstreet Boys, XAVI, Danny Lux, Humbe, Lizo.

Awards and festivals

• AFI Fest, LA Shorts, Paris International Film Festival, Film Quest, UTA Showcase finalist, Cannes Shorts Award, Viet Film Fest (Object of Desire).
• DGA Best Director Award (Object of Desire).
• 2024: most viewed video, Becky G.

Not the spark notes

Shooting for me has always been about feeling. What does a story need aesthetically to achieve a feeling? The look needs to be motivated, I think. That’s one of the reasons I mainly prefer to shoot film. It allows me to take more chances. Trust more in my skills of observation and light understanding. Also artistically, I don’t feel confined to a screen. One gets to understand reactions, and actions. Shooting becomes more organic. Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, a gorgeous yet chaotic city, made me understand beauty in a dark way. I saw things I wish I never did. I was raised in a communist dictatorship. Exposed to the manipulative nature of humans from an early age. This made me reject authority. It forced me to search for a different way to look at things.

After leaving Venezuela by myself at age fifteen I arrived in Toronto, Canada. A magical place, dark and cool. My creativity was nurtured by the city, embraced almost. I think my style is heavily influenced by my time here. I had never lived in a place where you could walk around the streets past 12pm and not have to look over your shoulder. I attended OCAD University where I got a bachelor of design with a minor in photography. While in school I worked as a dishwasher and later as a cook, that was where I had my real education. I was working with pirates. Hot fire, 17 hour days, knives and rude language. I was enchanted by this world. I found it beautiful. It was not until later that I discovered film. A place where all my experiences could serve as inspiration. A place where they could all live together.

After that I worked in advertising, Wieden+Kennedy and Leo Burnett, this was short lived. Soon after I started shooting stills and motion, mainly for fashion and music. I got the chance to work with some amazing artists within the Latin community. I then joined the American Film Institute in the cinematography department, to further my knowledge and understanding of narrative filmmaking techniques.

I’m always looking for new people to collaborate with. Shoot me an email, or give me a call.

When I’m not shooting, I’m skating around the city trying to find cool things to look at.