Life & Work with Cassandra Ruiz of LOS ANGELES

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassandra Ruiz.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I live to tell stories. My passion for storytelling led me to live abroad in six countries, where I sought to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange. In 2019, I edited a mini-documentary for NASA and helped launch their NASA en Español Instagram account. I later worked for the Reykjavik International Film Festival, eventually becoming Head of Tech and Lead Projectionist.

While in Iceland, I collaborated with HERO Productions and Goodboy Creative on major projects like League of Legends and Valorant Masters and Worlds events. I also completed my first short film during my time there.

Since moving to Los Angeles two years ago, I transitioned into Assistant Directing (AD) and completed my first feature film in 2023. In 2024, I became a producer for one of the top 200 YouTube creators globally. I continue to edit at least one short film every year and, more recently, began shooting concerts.

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?
The road to your dreams is never easy — and that’s exactly what makes it worthwhile.

I was fortunate to film a feature during the strikes, but by the end of 2023, work had nearly disappeared. I had to adjust and adapt, which eventually led me to YouTube. My passion for writing, directing music videos, short films, and features still drives me, and I continue to take on creative projects on the side, even when there’s no money involved.

One day, I hope to be a full-time director, writer, and colorist — and every project I take on brings me one step closer.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a multi-disciplinary creative who believes great storytelling lives at the crossroads of image, word, and feeling.

Known for my distinctive color grading and analog-inspired visuals, I shape digital and film projects with a tactile, emotional edge. I’m a published poet, fiction writer, and lyricist, bringing a deep sense of story to everything I create — whether it’s a music video, a narrative short, or a feature film.

Recently, I’ve been asked more often to DP, trusted not just to capture moments but to shape the entire visual language of a project. I also edit and am often called on as a last-minute producer, someone who can pull a team together, find solutions fast, and deliver under pressure.

Above all, I create because I have to — and I move between disciplines because every project demands something different to come alive.

What matters most to you?
Everything matters.
Every detail shapes the story, whether you notice it or not.

Communication is a living thing — it has to be nurtured, refined, made better — because every feeling, every voice matters.

There are many truths to every story. Truth is not a single point; it’s a shift in perspective.

I want to create work that helps people see something differently — to feel like they’re dreaming, even as they’re wide awake.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hiofae.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiofae
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-ruiz-78a5a099/