Check Out Fernando Pelaez Rovalo’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Pelaez Rovalo.

Hi Fernando, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Mexico City. From a very early age, I developed a passion for film and photography. Coming from a family of different professional backgrounds and aspirations (artists, engineers, architects…), I was able to receive different perspectives that inform my art today. However, I always felt different. The stories I wanted to tell were very specific to me, and I couldn’t find any other way to tell them than through the film itself. Given how tangible the medium is and that it doesn’t require anyone to have a pre-existing suspension of disbelief, it was perfect to make my imagination come to life. So, after I graduated high school, I made the difficult decision to leave my home in search of a film education in the United States. After six years of study and several film and photography shoots, I’m still working hard as I make my dreams come to life.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like anything in life, it’s never a straight line towards what you want. Having studied in the Mexican school system, there isn’t much aid or opportunities for someone who seeks to come to the United States to study in an American College or University. I was lucky to have received the support of my parents, but for every step someone takes here to go to college, it feels like there are always three more for everyone else looking to come here. At the same time, my field is one that’s very competitive, so dealing with rejection is always a factor. I remember in my first year of university; there was a class made to filter out the students who were unsure of being film majors. In the words of my professor, it was meant to get rid of students who “didn’t have it in them.” On top of that, we all just went through a global pandemic a few years ago, which for some international students felt like a strange place to be in since the government itself at the time was thinking of enforcing a rule that would’ve sent everyone back to their countries. We live in uncertain times, but one of the best parts has always been figuring things out as we go and realizing that for every difficult experience, there are things on the other side that are worth the trouble.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I tackle many fields but specialize in directing, cinematography, and photography. Among my colleagues, I’m known to be someone with a grounded style with touches of expressionism. Meaning I like to explore real stories with clean looks and compositions, but also try to find the beauty within what’s real and meaningful. In my work, I’m the most proud of the art that comes from unexpected places. One time, I was supposed to direct a film that took almost a year to plan. However, the week of the shoot, the COVID compliance officer informed us that there was an infected person working on set and that we would have to shut down. Given that those were the only days we could shoot, I had to come up with something that could substitute the previous plan. With no crew to help out, I decided to start from the beginning and use my parents as actors for a film that would end up going to film festivals and winning some awards. My parents are not actors, and yet both of them managed to get recognition for their work. That has to be the film I’m the most proud of. It’s personal and, at the same time, professional in many ways. I believe things like that set me apart. I try to find perfection within the limitations and don’t settle for less.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think my success comes from my understanding that I’m not owed anything and that sometimes things will not go my way. I believe that to do what I do, you need to believe that things will go your way, but at the same time, realize that if you don’t get what you want on your first try, it might be the next time. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is also to love the moments in between successes. At the end of the day, we all want to be successful, but we can’t and shouldn’t just live for that. Your life happens in the middle of every success, so you might as well enjoy the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fernandopelaezphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferpel.photo/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fernandopelaez4449