local storiesFebruary 8, 2023

Check Out Mike Garcia’s Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Garcia.

Hi Mike, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a filmmaker, writer & director of several music videos, short films and two feature films, And the Past Recedes (2015) and RYLO (2017). Along the way of my filmmaking journey, I learned cinematography and editing, and have filmed and edited all my music videos and films since 2016. Like most filmmakers, I started out making short films, music videos and then a feature film, but I wasn’t the kid that asked his parents for a camera when he was 10 and made films with the neighborhood kids, though I had been a film lover from as far back as my memory can go. My dad is a cinema enthusiast, and my love of film comes from him. I love film, and making films is my love letter back to cinema. I had spent a years like a lot of filmmakers waiting for someone to give me an opportunity, the money, etc., but once I changed my mindset and committed myself completely to filmmaking, to trust the process and create my opportunities, the doors started opening. Because, as Mark Duplass says, “The cavalry is probably not coming.”

After making a two a short-films, I set out to make my first feature film And the Past Recedes in 2015. I modeled the production after Edward Burns film, Newlyweds (2011). I was able to put together a small budget, cast, crew and a 15-day shooting schedule. There were some definite challenges before and during the production, but my overarching goal everyday was to get to the finish line, get that last shot and have a feature film in the can. I edited every day after filming and in 4 months I had a completed first feature film. That was my main goal, the follow through, committing fully to the project and completing it A to Z.

After completing And the Past Recedes, I had met Daniel Dart from the punk band Time Again. He really believed in me as a filmmaker and pushed me to learn how to be my own cinematographer and camera operator. And for that, I’ll always be grateful because of the opportunities that came my way for directing music videos and that having the skill to be your own cameraman, made me a better filmmaker.

I made 2nd feature film, RYLO (2017), which I wrote for comedian and friend Alexis Prigo. I modeled the production of after Polish Brothers film For Lovers Only (2011), which was a no-budget film shot with just a Canon 5d and its actors. , so I went out and made RYLO with just me, my camera and the cast I had assembled. We filmed over several months, Spring to Summer, which allowed me to edit along the way and by November I had a completed 2nd feature film. I’m really proud of RYLO and hope one day that it can find an audience. It’s a fun little film.

January 2019, I had met V Torres, a fellow South Bay/Hermosa Beach resident. I had contacted her about directing some music videos

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest obstacle I’ve overcome is getting out of my own way and start being my own best advocate as a filmmaker. You have to fully commit yourself being a filmmaker and not be afraid to fail. It’s about the doing, the writing, picking up the camera and filming. Completing a project. One project has always led to the next project. Without this mindset, none of my films and music videos would exist. The obstacle is the way. And you have to own who you are.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a filmmaker, writer & director of several music videos, short-films and two feature films, And the Past Recedes (2015) and RYLO (2017). Along the way of my filmmaking journey, I learned cinematography and editing, and have filmed and edited all my music videos and films since 2016. Like most filmmakers, I started out making short-films, music videos and then a feature film, but I wasn’t the kid that asked his parents for a camera when he was 10 and made films with the neighborhood kids, though I had been a film lover from as far back as my memory can go. My dad is a cinema enthusiast, and my love of film comes from him. I love film, and making films is my love letter back to cinema. I had spent a years like a lot of filmmakers waiting for someone to give me an opportunity, the money, etc., but once I changed my mindset and committed myself completely to filmmaking, to trust the process and create my opportunities, the doors started opening. Because, as Mark Duplass says, “The cavalry is probably not coming.”

After making a two a short-films, I set out to make my first feature film and the Past Recedes in 2015. I modeled the production after Edward Burns film, Newlyweds (2011). I was able to put together a small budget, cast, crew and a 15-day shooting schedule. There were some definite challenges before and during the production, but my overarching goal every day was to get to the finish line, get that last shot and have a feature film in the can. I edited every day after filming and in four months I had a completed first feature film. That was my main goal, the follow through, committing fully to the project and completing it A to Z.

I made 2nd feature film, RYLO (2017), which I wrote for comedian and friend Alexis Prigo. I modeled the production of after Polish Brothers film For Lovers Only (2011), which was a no-budget film shot with just a Canon 5d and its actors. I went out and made RYLO with just me, my camera and the cast I had assembled. We filmed over several months, Spring to Summer, which allowed me to edit along the way and by November I had a completed 2nd feature film. I’m really proud of RYLO and hope one day that it can find an audience. It’s a fun little film.

January 2019, I had met V Torres, a fellow South Bay/Hermosa Beach resident. I had contacted her about directing a music video, we met, a really vibed. First off, I love her music, so directing a music video for her songs feels really natural. Previous directorial efforts, I had filmed using Canon digital cameras, but for V Torres’ music videos Top of the Road’ and ‘Golden Hour’ I switched to shooting with my iPhone 8 Plus ProMax. I love the songs and love both music videos we created, and feel it’s my best work overall as a director. Making films with my iPhone made me an overall better director, cameraman, editor and writer.

During the beginning of the lockdowns, I revisited a partially written screenplay I had named GIRL about an anti-social artist/painter who has the talent but lacks the social skills to be successful. It’s my favorite script that I’ve written, my best writing and I look forward to making it a film. I don’t know her, but I did write the GIRL screenplay specifically for model, actress & musician Devon Ross. Maybe the stars will align and she’ll read this because I can’t imagine anyone else starring in the lead role aside from Devon.

Also in December 2022, I completed my short-film, which I wrote & directed and V Torres starred in as lead actor. January we started submitting to film festivals.

That’s my story.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Los Angeles/South/Bay is great, there isn’t anything that I dislike, but the L.A. traffic, but who likes traffic and I don’t dislike it enough to say that it’s a black eye on L.A. Next to my love of films and filmmaking, I love music. I love the music/bands that have come out of L.A. and all the bands that come though on tour. I love our music scene.

Contact Info:

Website: https://mikegfilms.weebly.com/
Instagram: @meismikeg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meismikeg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-garcia-68a8bb167
Twitter: @meetmikeg
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAm8-_qDR6GZbvOycbNNCoQ

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