

Today we’d like to introduce you to James C. Velasquez.
James, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey into filmmaking was a slow and steady process, especially as a first-generation Filipino-American. Born and raised in Northern Virginia and the Washington, DC area; a path into the creative arts was narrow and rigid given the other career paths in that area. Growing up, I was captivated by how films, sports, and entertainment drives us emotionally that they fed so much imagination into my everyday life.
My ambition since middle school was to be a filmmaker, producer, or even actor. However, my mother for all the right reasons, especially as an immigrant parent, only wanted me to take a career path to have a stable job. During my college orientation, they asked for all of the theatre majors to go to one side of the room. When I got up from my chair, my mother pulled my shirt and said, “Where are you going? No, you’re not doing theatre, they don’t make any money. You go do THIS major.” As anticlimactic as this may sound, this led me to graduate with a major in Finance. I had to honor my Mom’s wish and prove to her that I can do well in an office job but I also knew that if I saved up for a couple of years, I could fund my move to Los Angeles and finally pursue my dreams.
After three years of working at Brand USA in Washington D.C, the time finally came in the Summer of 2016. I finally found the courage in myself to move to Los Angeles. For my first five years in LA, I worked for advertising agencies servicing clients such as FOX TV, FOX Sports, World Market, Lexus, and The Cheesecake Factory. I was honing in on my professional development but finding ways to chart my path into filmmaking. Finally, in the Fall of 2021, I enrolled full-time into an MFA in Filmmaking program at the New York Film Academy – Burbank location. Since then I’ve worked on 20 short films with many talented filmmakers. I am currently in production for my next short film, The Teleprompter (2023), which is where The Morning Show meets Black Mirror. Overall, it’s been a long road that had so many detours, but I am grateful for all of it because it continues to make me the best “me” I can be.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been really a rough road. In fact, multiple rough roads. The struggles were evident in my first 4 years living in Los Angeles. I was wrapped up in the financial security mindset and I spent those years employed in advertising agencies, working for the guaranteed salary but not my passion. The opportunity to work for big brands while networking with ad industry professionals is what I will always be grateful for. However, it pained me inside when I thought to myself, “why can’t I make this jump into the film industry?”. I asked myself the question over and over again with no answer, which led to sporadic months of deep depression and regret. The fear of starting over, the fear of being broke, and the fear of failing with no return consumed me. I wasn’t happy with what I was doing in my career in an office environment. At times, I wasn’t happy with myself. My wife, Rose Mary, was with me in my darkest times and she helped guide me through every storm that we encountered. She is the main driver of shaping me to be a better person and I really look up to her.
When the COVID pandemic put a halt on normal life in 2020, it gave me time to reset with how fast life was moving. We started to understand how valuable and precious life is. Especially that year given the tragedies that occurred. In August 2020, I had surgery to remove a benign tumor below my ear. Laying on the surgery table and being put under, it really hit me that tomorrow is never promised. After the surgery, I finally said enough is enough. As Simu Liu once said, “I finally gave myself permission to pursue what I truly wanted”. In September 2020, I began my education in filmmaking taking a 4-week producing workshop, and a month later, started a podcast called “How WE Bounce Back”. The goal of the podcast is to elevate voices in the community, on how different people overcame adversity, and ensure that people are not alone when times get tough. In a way, the podcast helped make me socially conscious of the demons inside of me, and hearing people’s incredible stories of overcoming their struggles strengthened my own healing.
As I was finally making headway into my film career, my life and my heart shattered into pieces. In late January-February 2021, my father was ill with COVID and died in early March. My father was a hero to me having served 22 years in the US Navy. Since I was born, he was the one that always believed in me and said that I could be anything I want in life. Since his passing, I’ve grown to understand that the choices I make are rooted in the wisdom he gave me and his unwavering support. 2021 was the year of immense pain that later catapulted me to pursue my career in filmmaking full-time, and I’m always thankful to my Dad and my wife Rose Mary for that.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently an independent Film Director & Producer. My background in a business profession, specifically in digital advertising allowed for a seamless transition into producing as I hone in on my creative side. I am most proud of my first independent short film, Too Late to Sing? (2022), which I wrote, directed, and produced in the first half of 2022. This is a family dramedy about a 50-year-old Filipino father and husband at a life crossroads who wants to pursue his passion as a singer despite the issues that may occur at home. The film received the Best Ensemble Award at the Scarab Film Festival. In regard to other projects, I served as the 1st Assistant Director for An Ideal of Liberty (2022), written and directed by Noel Paganotti, which was selected for the Utah Film Festival. I also served as the 1st Assistant Director for a SAG Production, Dad’s Gone Wild, written and directed by Evie Abat at #TSW Creatives, which is currently wrapping up post-production as of February 2023.
I believe my life experiences and being able to creatively showcase that through films, podcast discussions, or just speaking them out has set me apart from others. My life experience as a Filipino-American, growing up struggling with my Asian identity in a White and Black community, going to college in West Virginia, and now waking up every day in Southern California. It doesn’t matter where it is, every path that I walk is a path that I love to illuminate and bring positivity, joy, and fun to the people that share their time with me.
What’s next?
I’m currently in production for another independent short film, The Teleprompter (2023). The story is about a popular Latina activist becoming an anchor for a local news show but is haunted by a teleprompter that puts her under immense pressure to deliver. This is a story where The Morning Show meets Black Mirror, so you will get speculative fiction, suspense, and dramatic satire with the film. I am also serving as 1st assistant director for three more independent shorts this Spring of 2023. My previous independent short film, Too Late to Sing? (2022) is going through the festival rounds and will be available to stream in 2024. I also plan on relaunching my podcast/talk show, How WE Bounce Back Season 3, in the Fall of 2023.
In the long-term future, my goal in filmmaking is to uplift and inspire audiences to show that the impossible is truly achievable for every single person that seeks it. I hope to have the opportunity to elevate stories on a global scale for underrepresented communities. Combining this with my understanding of digital ad tech and how digital platforms continue to evolve allows me to tap into experimental productions and develop innovative ways of distributing authentic stories.
On the surface, my goal is to always put smiles on people’s faces, in times of joy and in tragedy. As I just mentioned, I have had many diverse experiences on both the East and West Coasts. However, I still have a lot to learn with so many different cultures around the world. To drive storytelling in new ways, such as the Filipino-American underdog taking on huge obstacles in an industry that has not seen many people like us succeed. With the collaboration of many talented filmmakers and professionals, I hope to be a major contributor for not just to the Filipino community but to everyone. Ultimately when life does come full circle for me after filmmaking, I hope to empower future generations with stories of overcoming real-life adversity and foster a better world for the future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jamescvelasquez.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamescvelasquez
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/james.c.velasquez
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-c-velasquez-61babb47
Image Credits
Team One, Sara Eustaquio, Trey Branch