Check Out Cresencio’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cresencio.

Hi Cresencio, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Yuma, Arizona to two of the most hardworking parents anyone could ask for. I grew up just across the state line in a quiet desert town called El Centro, California – the kind of place most people have never heard of, but that shaped who I am.

My life changed when I was 7 years old. My parents sat me down to watch Superman, the 1978 classic directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve. That movie didn’t just entertain me – it rewired my imagination. My parents saw the impact immediately. They even bought me a pair of Superman pajamas. But what they didn’t know was that films would go on to change the course of my life.

Like a lot of filmmakers, I dreamed of having a camera to shoot my own stories, but I knew we couldn’t afford one. So I did the only thing I could — I watched movies obsessively. Especially on Friday nights. I’d flip through the TV Guide just to see what HBO would premiere at 8 o’clock. To me, that was film school before I even knew what film school was.

Then came a new chapter in my education: my dad introduced me to the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema — Cantinflas, Lupita Tovar, Pedro Infante, María Félix, Jorge Negrete… all legends in their own right. It opened up another world for me, one that reflected my roots, my culture, and the beauty of storytelling in our language.

Now, at 45, my life looks very different than the one that little kid in Superman pajamas ever imagined. I’m married to an amazing woman, and together we’re raising a beautiful blended family – two hardworking stepsons and my two boys, ages 4 and 7, who remind me every day why I keep pursuing this dream.

I eventually earned my associate’s degree from the Los Angeles Film School, and today I work as a courier for FedEx Express. It’s honest work, and it’s taught me discipline, patience, and grit. The road to where I want to be has been long, unpredictable, and anything but easy – but it’s still there, and I’m still walking it.

And one thing I never expected along the way was to become an award-winning writer. The stories I’ve created, stories straight from my heart and my culture – have been recognized at film festivals around the country. Every time I receive an award or a finalist placement, it reminds me that the dream I was once too embarrassed to say out loud is finally becoming real.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — the road has been anything but smooth.

When I was 29, I reached a point where I knew I had to get serious about my life. I found the Los Angeles Film School, and that was the moment everything shifted. A big shoutout to my sister, Veronica, who co‑signed my loans. Before she signed, she asked me, “Is this really what you want?” And it was — more than anything in the world. She knew how deeply film lived inside me, and without her, I never would’ve started that journey.

But those 24 months weren’t easy. Half the people I knew — even some family — chuckled when I told them I wanted to make films. Their advice was basically, “Give up. Just be a regular Joe. Just work. That’s what we Latinos do.”
But that wasn’t enough for me. I had a 300‑page notebook filled with characters and stories I had been writing for myself for years. My heart was already in it.

One early Saturday morning, I got off the Red Line in Hollywood with a film and lighting kit I had rented from school. I was helping shoot behind‑the‑scenes footage for a friend’s thesis project. Sheriffs were checking for passes – and I didn’t have one. They ran my ID and told me I had a warrant for unpaid train tickets.

I explained everything — that I was a full‑time film student, working weekends just enough to pay for my phone and maybe two or three meals a week. I was also helping a regional Mexican banda group, so big shoutout to Los Elegantes de la Banda for supporting me during that time.

But none of that mattered in the moment. I spent five nights in jail. And during those nights, all I could think was, “I’m going to get kicked out of school… everything I’ve worked for is about to disappear.”
The only person I told was my good friend Doug Porter – the same person I handed the equipment to right before they arrested me.

When I finally got out, a relative looked at me and said, “This is a reality check, Cresencio. Get your shit together.”
And they were right — but not in the way they meant it.

This wasn’t a sign to quit. It was a reminder of how bad I wanted this. How far I was willing to go. How hard I was willing to fight.

The road has been long, painful, beautiful, and unpredictable. But that’s what makes it mine. At the end of the day, the path you choose comes down to your heart – and whether you have the courage to follow it, no matter how rough it gets.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a screenwriter. That’s where my heart lives. I specialize in writing emotionally grounded, character-driven stories that blend genres – whether it’s fantasy, action, dark comedy, or drama. But what really defines my writing is that it always comes from something real. Something personal.

One of my short screenplays, My Name is John, is a sci-fi story about an immortal being who came to Earth 2 centuries ago. It’s a story about observation, purpose, and what it means to belong — and won Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Golden State Film Festival

Another short screenplay I’m proud of is Gift of Hope, which started as an idea and evolved into something deeper – a spiritual, emotional story about love, grief, and what we do with the time we’re given. It won 1 award for best short screenplay and became finalist twice.

But the project I’m most proud of is my 7‑episode fantasy series called PACO, which tells the story of a 7‑year‑old boy in 1885 Jalisco, Mexico, who gains superhuman powers after sacrificing himself to save his family. It’s a story rooted in my culture, filled with ancestral spirits, bandits, and mythic stakes — but at its core, it’s about family, courage, and legacy.

Each of these stories has received recognition on the festival circuit, which is something I never thought would happen when I first started. But more than the awards, what makes me proud is that they all come from a place of truth – whether it’s a memory from my childhood, a connection to my heritage, or a question I’ve wrestled with in my own life.

What sets me apart as a writer isn’t just my background – it’s the heart I put into every single scene. I write to heal. I write to honor my parents, my children, and all the people who’ve ever felt like their stories didn’t matter. Because they do.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
For me, it’s perseverance. Life has thrown a lot at me – financially, emotionally, personally – but I never stopped writing. I never stopped dreaming. And even when the world tried to tell me to quit, something in my heart kept saying, “Keep going. You’re not done yet.”

I’ve had moments where I was broke, tired, and doubting everything. But I kept showing up – as a father, as a worker, and as a storyteller. I think success doesn’t come from having the perfect plan or the perfect timing – it comes from how much heart you’re willing to put in when no one’s watching.

What’s helped me the most is staying honest in my work, staying humble in the process, and writing from a place of truth. I don’t try to be like anyone else. I just try to be real – and I think audiences connect with that.

At the end of the day, heart will take you farther than talent. If you’ve got heart, and you’re willing to work, you’ll find your way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soccergoalkeeper23/

Image Credits
All images taken by me and my 7 year old son on my Iphone.