Daily Inspiration: Meet David Murillo Galiano

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Murillo Galiano.

Hi David, 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?
Four years ago, I met DP Roy H Wagner, ASC, and he decides to take me under his wing. He helped me get into Chapman University for film production and has been of great help and guidance in my first steps into the film industry. Last July, he put me in contact with Chip Vucelich, producer of a new upcoming Apple TV show called “Sugar” starring Colin Farrell. They told me they were looking for an assistant to the director, Fernando Meirelles (City of God, Two Popes, etc).

I was enjoying my summer in Chile, my home country, when I was told Fernando wanted to meet me. He video-called me out of nowhere, said he really liked my reel and website (which I had literally just finished) and told me the job was mine if I wanted it.

After dealing with additional paperwork for being an international student about to work full time, production asked me if I was in LA, if I had a car, and if I was ready to start working full time until at least November with them. I said yes to all of them, even though I was in a whole other continent, didn’t have a car in the US and was living in Orange County, and was enrolled in 5 classes for my next semester. So I did what I had to do: bought a flight ticket for the next day (Saturday), got to the US on a Sunday, bought a car out of Carmax that same Sunday, and the next Monday, I was driving to Paramount Studios for the first time to start my job. I drop from Orange to LA (if not further) and back five days a week from July to November. So there’s my story summed up. Loved the experience though, and I’m currently working with them in post-production of the show.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being so far away from my family is definitely a struggle I have a hard time with. I love what I do and I love working hard, so I like it when I keep myself entertained with work and activities to forget that I am pretty much by myself — a stranger in a strange land. But I can’t complain. I have great mentors and people looking out for me and always seeking to help, friends that care for me and job opportunities that I never expected to have after 1.5 years in the US

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a director and cinematographer studying film at Chapman university, but I love writing, shooting, editing and everything in between. I shoot narratives, documentaries and videography events; everything that has to do with me being by a camera I love. The experience of looking through a viewfinder and feeling that you are capturing something special is truly unique and I can’t get enough of. I like to think of myself as someone easy to get along with and fun to be around. I have experienced far too often how bad attitudes can ruin the atmosphere of a set, so I always try to have a smile on my face when I’m working and remember that people work better when they are happy. At the same time, I pride myself in being very hardworking and doing whatever it takes to do what has to be done like I did driving an average of 3 hours a day for five months when I was working for Apple TV. Sure, it sucked, but it is what I had to do, so I just did it. And the experience was well worth it.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
How important family is after spending one year with them locked home. Especially considering that it was the last year I had with them before moving out to study film in the US

Contact Info:

• Website: www.davidmurillog.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmurillogaliano/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFB6lrWQQlfaw5whhJozcKw