Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Correa.
Hi Alex, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As far back as I can remember, I always loved watching movies. At the early age of five, I had an obsession with rewatching old family memories recorded on VHS tapes. It was at the age of ten when I truly started to appreciate the importance of capturing a moment on tape. This realization came about because of a cheap camcorder that allowed me to share a core memory with my bedridden grandfather, who tragically passed away later that night. Every journey begins with a strong desire to bring together a group of people to create something to look back on. My journey began in 2015 when I asked all my high school buddies if they wanted to make a zombie movie with me. As my high school years went by and my persistent dreams of a life in the world of film, alongside my acting at the Randy Bowden Playhouse, continued, my next step was obtaining my BFA in Acting from Cal State Long Beach. During my time in school, from high school to the end of college, I made six short films, one feature-length film, and a web series. Through persistence and a stroke of luck, I secured a job as a cinematographer at a company called Reelarc just a week after graduating college. Alongside this incredible filmmaking opportunity, it was necessary for me to also participate in paid projects where I wasn’t necessarily the orchestrator. Since graduation, I have starred in films such as “FILI,” “Infiel,” “Dear TC, Please Love Me,” and “Sketch.” Through acting, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with prominent brands like Manscaped and Jenga.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been easy, and I can’t claim it hasn’t been challenging. One recurring challenge I face when creating a project is aligning everyone’s schedules to a mutually agreeable time frame for dedicating their free time to making films we are all passionate about. As a filmmaker who aims not to overly rely on others to respect their time, I’ve learned to handle most aspects of filmmaking myself. Whether it’s writing, directing, operating the camera/lights, editing, color correction, sound design, or more, there’s hardly anything in filmmaking I haven’t done multiple times, in addition to my roles as an actor in most of these projects.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an actor and an overall filmmaker, which means I’ve likely been involved in every aspect of creating a film from start to finish. I specialize in cinematography with an emphasis on acting. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting in 2022 from Cal State Long Beach, where I studied acting techniques such as Hagen, Meisner, Chekhov, and many others. The two films I’m most recognized for are “A Cinephile’s Greatest Nightmare” and “High Potency.” Both of these films are ones I wrote and directed and was fortunate enough to have featured in several film festivals. I’m particularly proud of “A Cinephile’s Greatest Nightmare” due to the immense effort, love, and overall fun I poured into it. The film revolves around a movie-obsessed individual whose fantasy takes a nightmarish turn when he enters the films he admires, only to be pursued by the cinematic icons he idolizes, now turned murderous. What might set me apart from others is my dedication to my craft and the fact that instead of waiting for opportunities, I proactively create them and invite like-minded individuals to join me.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Coming from a family with no ties to the film industry or any artistic field has posed significant challenges. Fortunately, I was able to secure those initial paid acting and filmmaking opportunities right after college because I had prepared for those make-or-break moments. Most people who offer advice on what you should do often base it on things they themselves wish they could have done or started earlier. I will offer advice based on a decision I made nearly ten years ago. Talk to your friends and family, share your interest in this art form, and express your desire to collaborate with them. The resulting product doesn’t need to be perfect; in fact, I would prefer it if it doesn’t turn out flawlessly the first time. If you can honestly say that you poured your heart into your first project, and it fell short of your expectations, I commend you for recognizing room for improvement. I assure you that you can do better, and I know you’ll be starving to create more. Remember, perfection isn’t attainable, but greatness is. As long as you give your all to your work and refrain from being overly critical of yourself when you believe you could have done better, remind yourself that you did your best in those moments. From here on out, those hiccups will become concerns of the past.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.procineum.com/alexcorrea
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_alexandrocorrea_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU0APRK06EysgIBsmYQNRMg
Image Credits
Bingcheng Pan, Glen Lipton, Timothy Kennedy, Sergio Gonzalez, Moyses Escobedo
