Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Díaz.
Mario, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always loved telling stories. At first, I did it by drawing comics, and when I was 10 years old, I started using my mom’s camcorder to shoot short films with my friends as the main actors. Film directing and Hollywood were always on my mind.
Madrid, Spain is where I grew up. There, young people are often discouraged from choosing an artistic career, so when I said nine years ago that I wanted to study filmmaking, some of my classmates laughed at my decision. In Spain, at that time, the Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking was only offered at one university in the entire country.
I graduated from the science track in high school and soon left my degree in Media Studies to pursue my dream. I enrolled at ECAM, the Madrid Film School, where I was awarded the Warner Scholarship. The school has a system very similar to the American Film Institute, where each student studies a specific discipline of filmmaking through hands-on practice, taught by active industry professionals.
After graduating, most of my classmates quickly started working as assistants on film sets, but I decided to take a step back and think. If my goal was Hollywood, I couldn’t pour all my energy into working on Spanish productions. So, I decided to continue studying and specialize in visual effects, which could eventually lead me to work with a company in Los Angeles. At the same time, I never stopped directing short films in my free time, since storytelling is my true passion.
By chance, I met Los Angeles Barea, a film director and CEO of Sinamor Films, based in Hollywood, who at the time was looking for someone to create the visual effects for her project Green Superheroes 2030. I happily accepted the job. From that collaboration, I went on to work with more creatives living here in Los Angeles. I started with visual effects but eventually took on other responsibilities like animation and editing. Honestly, I still have the same drive and excitement I had on day one, and I love learning something new every day. For example, I recently edited Sinamor Films’ upcoming documentary short Bubbles, for which I also created the animations and VFX. It’s currently touring festivals.
I’ve been lucky that the people I’ve worked with have often liked my ideas and given me a lot of creative freedom, which I really appreciate because I truly enjoy creating.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I firmly believe that to get where you want to be, you have to do favors for the right people. It’s not always about money, sometimes you have to believe in the project. But to do that, you must really understand who you’re collaborating with. There are people who just want to take advantage of what you can bring to the table and then forget about you in an instant. It’s happened to me several times, both in Spain and in Hollywood.
It’s very important—not only in film but in any industry—to be wise enough to read people’s energy. That’s key to making the right decisions and knowing who you’re working with, so you don’t waste your energy. I feel that this entire journey has been worth it, and I’m happy to say that, despite everything I’ve been through, I’ve managed to keep my values intact.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the moment, I focus on visual effects and editing. I’ve created visual effects and graphics for advertising spots and numerous short films. I’ve also done the entire VFX for a miniseries, Putos Modernos (2023), and for three feature films. One of them, the already mentioned Green Superheroes 2030, was recently released on Amazon Prime Video in September, where I was also in charge of the opening credits and graphics. I’m happy to say that it has won fifteen awards around the world so far. At the moment, I’m working on animations for the documentary A SONG TO LIFE: Confessions of a Filmmaker in Grief, by journalist and filmmaker Chelo Alvarez-Stehle.
I’ve also directed short films such as Some Hunt by Night (2024) and Goodbye, My Friend (2024), as well as music videos like “Venga, va” by Bajocero and “tú, por ti” by Garbí. I handle both the editing and the VFX for everything I direct.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
In a world where people are so obsessed with appearances and success, I’ve often had to remind myself of what really matters. Two books have been fundamental to my personal growth. One is Many Lives, Many Masters, which talks about the true purpose of human beings in this world, to grow and learn. The other is The Secret, which teaches that to achieve the things you want, you first have to control your emotions and master your mind. Whoever controls their own mind controls everything.
This may be obvious to some but, talking about useful things, I can’t leave out my favourite film app — and every movie lover’s favorite — Letterboxd. It’s super useful for organizing films and keeping track of the ones you still need to watch.
Last but not least, calisthenics, walking and meditation have helped me a lot in keeping a positive attitude. I also feel that going out for walks to clear your mind is something everyone should do whenever they can. It makes you live longer and definitely improves the quality of your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mariodiaz.blog
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariodiazdelgado
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-d%C3%ADaz-delgado-2b0b96267/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarioDiazDelgado
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/es-es/name/nm12402878/
Image Credits
Miguel Elcano, ECAM
Rebeca Amieva
Cortesía de Fundación Telefónica – Ricardo Domingo and #meetingdecine
