Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Cruz-Castino.
Hi Denise, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I wrote my first play when I was 8 years old. I didn’t realize that was a big deal at the time, but I can’t imagine most kids are writing plays at that age. Then, in 8th grade, I remember my English teacher making us read our stories out loud in class, and when I got to the end of mine, everyone gasped at the same time. They were in shock at my ending. I didn’t realize I wrote anything that special at the time. But again, I look back, and I realize those were signs I was a writer before I even knew I was. I actually started out doing acting first. You know, school plays and such. I did musicals, had some solos, did dancing, ballet, jazz, hip hop, things like that. I really enjoyed it all, but I never felt like I belonged with the musical theater kids because they’d be singing for no reason that had nothing to do with plays, and I just never felt like walking around singing around people other than for the musical performances. So, I thought, maybe I don’t fit in with this crowd. So that’s when I realized maybe I’m a writer. Maybe I like being a part of this but behind the scenes. After I graduated college at UCLA with a Psychology degree, I was planning on getting a master’s, so I took a year off and so got a job in Advertising as an assistant. It was supposed to be a stopover before my master’s degree, but I really fell in love with commercials and the people that were creating them. So, I became a Copywriter. And while I was doing that, I read The Artist’s Way, and it said, “All Copywriters are really Screenwriters,” and I thought, oh, they are? I better take a class then. So, I signed up at UCLA Extension, and in my first class, it was as if the heavens parted, and I knew I had found my calling. So, I have been an advertising writer and a Screenwriter, juggling both the whole time. I’ve since sold a short to Disney, but that didn’t get made. I’ve had a few other shorts sold and made, too; some have done the festival circuits. I had my first feature movie made, 5 Weddings, which premiered at Cannes and played in 52 Countries. So that was fun because it played in Burbank at the AMC, and about 30 friends and family came. So that was really fun to be able to share that with people who have been rooting for me all these years. I also sold some horror animation shorts to Dreamworks that were for children and played on Peacock’s streaming YouTube channel called Spine Chilling Tales.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. It’s taken way longer than I would like. I mean, I’ve sold things. And I had a feature movie made. I know a lot of people can’t say that. But I still would like this to be my full-time job and it’s not. I don’t know if it’s a struggle to say I’m working full-time and writing in my free time. It’s kind of what most writers end up having to do. But when it’s what you love, I don’t know if you think of it as a struggle. I think being a woman, being Latina, I do think doors don’t open as much. But it is what it is. I can’t complain about it. I just keep writing, keep meeting more people, and just hope that will keep moving my career forward. I have been leaning more into my Latina storytelling, and that seems to be opening more doors. In fact, my current writing partner and I have been writing more things like that, and now we have a movie with a producer and director, both Latino, and they are about to go out to the market with it. If I hadn’t leaned into my Latina stories, that wouldn’t have happened. So, I think, really, it’s about leaning into your truth that seems to be what opens doors. I can’t say I wish I had done this sooner because I wasn’t ready to tell those stories sooner. I think things happen when they’re supposed to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a screenwriter; I write TV and features, mostly comedies. I am Latina and Jewish, one from each parent. And because of that, I always grew up not knowing where I fit in. I don’t feel Mexican enough because I wasn’t raised speaking Spanish. I don’t feel Jewish enough because we were raised Catholic. Although I’m not really that anymore either. So then, where do I belong? So, I like telling stories about characters that also don’t know where they fit in. I think America is made up of people who are so many cultures, that these are stories a lot of people will relate to. Because I think no matter what your culture, I think people experience these same things. I think telling these types of stories sets me apart because my own way of looking into these worlds is my own perspective. I also love writing strong female characters. I think it’s important for younger women to be inspired by strong women so they can see women can do hard things and overcome their obstacles. I always have some sort of message in my stories, but through comedy, I feel like people can laugh and not be hit over the head with the message I’m telling.
I’m also finishing up my first novel. Which is a fictionalized version of my trip through Africa. It’s a very Eat Pray Love type of story. As far as being proud of what work I’ve written? That’s hard to say. I think I’m proud of everything I’ve written because it’s like saying what’s your favorite child? Maybe I’ll say I’m most proud that I had a movie made, and it came out in the theaters. But I’m also proud I’ve finished the first draft of my novel. I read only 3% of people do that. So, just finishing is pretty cool.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m about to direct my first movie this year. I’m excited to direct my own work. Whenever my projects have been made, I’ve always thought, huh, I would have done that differently. So, as a writer, it’s hard when your vision isn’t truly seen. So, I’m excited to be a multi-hyphen in this business. I’ve heard it’s important to have more than one skill, so I look forward to adding that to my resume and my IMDb. We already have the actress, who is so talented. So, I can’t wait. We’re just looking to nail down dates. Hopefully soon!
I also want to mention my all-women’s writing group, League Of Women Writers, or LOWW. They’re so amazing. We’re trying to help lift other writers, especially other women and diverse writers. Each of the women in the group is very talented. They have either won contests or placed in really reputable contests, or have had movies or TV shows made, some have been staffed. So have left the group, because they’re working now. That’s a good problem to have. But mostly, they’re just wonderful women. We just support one another in our writing, our careers, and just as women. I adore these ladies!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.denisecruzcastinoscreenwriting.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisecruzcastino/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cruzwriter
- Other: https://www.theloww.org/
