Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Cesar Flores.
Hi Julio, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Art has always been an important factor in my life. Music moved my soul and the rhythm of my heart. Pictures show me many perspectives to see something. Paintings explored my imagination. Dancing showed me the eccentric and magical movements that the human body is capable of doing. Poetry demonstrated the beauty in the words. And finally, films had always guided my soul and explored my feelings.
I was born in the big, chaotic, and surrealistic Mexico City. Currently, I’m a filmmaker/photographer based in Los Angeles. Although my path started years ago. Every time I try to remember my childhood. I also remember the fascination I always had with the cameras. For me, cameras were majestic creatures, capable of capturing moments in life, capable of showing the perspective of whoever grabs the mythical machine.
My fascination for art. Has always been burning inside of me. Since little I always knew that art is the path I should follow when growing, although it was hard to realize it. There has always been taboo surrounding art. “People who study art don’t have money”, “You will starve to death”, “you’ll have to do side jobs”, etc. These are some of the many taboos that people have told me when I say I want to study film. Even though the comments that people gave me were frenetic. I decided to not listen and follow my dreams. Currently, I’m about to start my last year in film school. I have already been here a bit more than two years here in LA. Being here helped me work more on my writing, photography skills, and filmmaking. My time here also helped me get closer to more professional sets and a bunch of photography gigs that helped me elevate my skills.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been extremely difficult. Cause I have family that had always supported me. Nonetheless, like I said before. There is a lot of people who will always try to make you change your mind. These people will exist while growing up and trying to find your path, and even when you start following it. When growing, I knew art was for me, but it was hard to accept it. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, I remember always having this question in my mind. A question that made me stay awake for hours, just thinking about it. I don’t know why I was so afraid, but I remember that just thinking of who could I bee, gave me hope. And, do you know that thing, then people give you ideas like; “Maybe you can be an accountant”, “or a doctor”, “or teacher”, “or layer”, “or even continue with the family business”. People gave me all of these ideas and although they were all perfectly valid. They were not really what I wanted to do. They were not my image, visions, and essence.
That was until I decide to stop listening and follow what has always felt connected with me, my spirit, and my soul. That was the movies. It was hard to accept that “normal jobs” were not for me. But when I decided to stop listening and follow my emotions, I felt free. Since that moment, I knew what I wanted and that none will stop me from achieving it. I decided to study filmmaking. To follow my dreams and work as hard as I could. Currently, I’m about to finish college in a year. I’m excited for the next phase of my life. It’s been hard to get to LA and study something that a lot of people are trying to achieve. Although this path had let me do hard work. To focus on myself and my craft. All of this hard work have given me experience and knowledge. Also a lot of opportunities to work in more professional sets, to photograph influencers and creative people, to create more mature work, and to let my creativity exploit.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Like I said before, I’m a filmmaker/photographer. When filmmaking, I focus more on the directing side. Although I also do Writing, Assistant Director, Editing, and Script Supervisor. Filmmaking is the craft in which I developed more of my creativity and Ideas. But also photography is something important to me. It has helped me developed a more unique eye when framing a shoot or imagining scenes in my head. Directing is my main side cause is where I fully develop my ideas. Teamwork is something important for me cause collaboration brings more interesting and unique ideas. Although I like following my unique vision, accepting ideas but in the path that my vision goes. Editing is also something I enjoy, the cause is the place where a film can be created again. In terms of style, vision, and thems, my art mostly develops deeper.
When I get an idea, it’s impossible to get it out of my head until I at least try it. I’m confident when making decisions cause I like to follow my unique vision. I feel attracted to stories that talk about life and death, poetry, human interaction, love, and sex, but also more experimental things, surrealism, and fantastic imagery Most of my films talk about the human’s innermost desires, like love, sex, fear, acceptance, indulge, etc. I like putting characters that struggle within their inner selves. For me, a movie has to have depth. Cause a film without depth is like an unsharpened pencil, pointless. Movies reflect the human soul and spirit. They should entertain, but most important, they have to make you feel. That’s what I always try when creating, I firstly create for me things that make me feel. If it makes me feel, I know that it will make at least one more person feel. I apply this same concept when taking pictures. I mostly do portraits and landscapes, and in both, I try to capture the inner essence of the object or person that is being photographed. Art is one of the little things that get to the human soul, it’s more than just entertainment, it’s a spiritual path.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Los Angeles is a really interesting place to be creative, to try things, and to fail. The city has its own essence. The city is filled with creative people and entrepreneurs. It’s exactly that vibe, the one that allures me to Los Angeles. Although it can also be harsh. Competition may be at its max, people will try to get you down, but if you have a goal, the city will always give you opportunities to grow. Meeting people anywhere is one of the big advantages. You can literally meet someone at a Starbuck who will help you in your projects. Networking is a big advantage, although being careful is always good advice. Los Angeles for me is mainly a really inspirational place to be. It has so many interesting locations, creatives, people, and essence.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julioalfcesar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julioalf.cesar/
Image Credits:
Picture 1 Model: Kaylin Mally Picture 2 Model: Sebastian Feichtinger Picture 3 Model: Mónica Mondragón Picture 4 Model 1: Valeria M. Model 2: Andres Romano Picture 5 Model: Leonardo Atilano Picture 6 Model: Stuy Dollaz Picture 7 Location: Chiapas, Mexico Picture 8 Location: Chiapas, Mexico
