Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Ortiz.
Hi Joshua, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born in San Francisco in 1989, but I didn’t get my hands on a camera until 2007 for my high school grad night at Disneyland. After several days of filming, I was trying to figure out how to view the videos that we filmed, and for some reason, I thought “format” was the way. It was not.
I learned a valuable life lesson that day— formatting deletes your footage.
In 2010, I was living in the Philippines and spent a few years making videos on YouTube. After years of portraying multiple characters and making terrible skits, I decided to try my hand at “serious” filmmaking. My siblings and I would make random short films, and sometimes our parents would make cameos.
In 2013, we moved to Orlando, Florida. I couldn’t afford film school, so I offered to film free behind-the-scenes videos at the University of Central Florida. This gave me a reason to ask everyone on set, “What do you do?” and it ended up giving me a good foundation of how film sets work. Another way I was able to practice was by volunteering at Clarita’s House, a local non-profit that helped the homeless near Disneyworld. My job was to document their stories and help spread awareness.
In 2014, I submitted a short film to Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s HBO TV Show Project Greenlight and it ended up winning Most Unique Short Film. I was convinced that it was my big break and that I was ready for Hollywood. I was not.
At this point, I knew how a camera worked, but I still didn’t fully understand storytelling.
In 2016, my family and friends helped me shoot a 48-hour film that ended up being in the top-10 international 48-hour films that year. It had a special screening at Cannes, and I was sure that it was my big break. It was not my big break, BUT it was around the time that I met Valeri, a talented pianist from Michigan.
Long story short, we started dating and continued to bond over our love of filmmaking. She slowly became interested in composing music for film/TV, and that was the start of our dream to eventually move to Los Angeles.
Two days before the lockdown, on March 14th, 2020, we got married in Napa, California. From there, we decided to drive to Las Vegas and stay there until we found jobs in Los Angeles.
Almost every month in 2022, we would take in-person meetings in LA, and it eventually led to Valeri getting a job as a composer’s assistant and I got a job as the in-house filmmaker at Universal Studios Hollywood. I spent a year and a half at Universal Studios Hollywood and was able to direct commercials and videos that can still be seen around the park.
In 2024, I have been working with Netflix Golden and Rideback Rise to direct content that helps promote BIPOC creators and talent.
In my free time, I am developing three feature-length scripts and hanging out with my wife, our greyhound Ophelia, and our bird Maria.
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?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but this most recent transition in my career has been particularly challenging.
The decision to leave NBC Universal to pursue my film directing career was very hard. It’s been very slow in the industry the last few months, and every day, I wonder if I made the wrong decision. However, my wife has been very supportive of the decision, and we’re working together to figure it out.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am trying my best to write and direct content that my younger self would have enjoyed. Looking back, I realized that I didn’t watch a lot of movies growing up, and I would love to make films that only I would be able to make.
Whether it’s about golf, basketball, growing up as a Filipino-American in the Philippines, I feel like I have several unique perspectives on the world that I would love to share.
I am most proud of our dog, Ophelia. She recently learned how to politely ask to be walked.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One of the best things I’ve done in my career is being open to working with non-profit organizations that align with you as a person. I have been able to meet amazing people just by helping make content for organizations that need the help. By always being willing to help, you will attract the right people who want to do the same for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joshuajortiz.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/joshuajortiz
