Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Angel Duran.
Miguel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been wanting to make movies since I was about five years old. My parents took me to see La Bamba, and that changed my life. It made a huge impact on me because it was about Ritchie Valens, a Latino kid from my community of Pacoima.
When people say representation matters it truly does because I am a product of that statement. I’ve done my very best to present Latinx folks and people of color on all screen sizes. I’ve been truly blessed to share our perspective on a variety of topics like immigrant rights, farmworker justice, profiles on artists and good old fashion documentaries.
Start Now Studios came to me at a moment of need. I was in a dark place and was feeling empty inside until I made a choice to focus solely on projects where the star was a person of Latin ancestry and our contributions to this country. This occurred in 2012, and I haven’t looked back since.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When you take the road less traveled, it’s bound to be a bumpy ride. This biggest obstacle is securing funds for the projects I’ve done and want to do. Luckily I’ve been able to align myself with organizations and people that really respond to the projects I’ve done. I’ve been able to raise funds through Indie GoGo and traditional sources like pitching sessions where I’ve secured some funding.
The biggest obstacle for any entrepreneur is believing that you can be successful in your business. As a film director, I had to convince myself that I have something worth sharing to the world and that I could make a living out of it. That’s fairly hard when you live in LA where everyone is either a filmmaker, actor or somehow connected to the entertainment industry.
Start Now Studios – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Start Now Studios is a next-generation production company focusing on creating original content. Our stories primarily focus on communities of color, and we strive to produce documentaries, movies, and commercials that make an impact in this world.
I’m the owner and founder. I primarily direct and edit. For the past ten years, I’ve created dozens of projects ranging from documentaries to short films.
A project that is close to my heart is a 30-minute documentary called The Valley in the Struggle that talks about the San Fernando Valley’s participation in the farmworker movement in the late ’60s and early ’70s. I got a chance to work with acclaimed actor Jacob Vargas.
I’m most proud of my current project, Immigrant Voices of America, a docu-series sharing the personal stories of immigrants and their pursuit of the American Dream. I was able to raise a substantial amount of money through Indie GoGo, and it’s expected to be complete in June 2019.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe true success is measured by the hearts you impact. Financial success is great and helps a lot, but you can’t take your money and belongings with you when you die. All you can take is the thoughts and deeds you’ve done on earth so why not make a positive dent on this planet?
I tell stories about my community because we’ve been left out of the conversation in this country, so I do my best to represent Latinx folks through the moving image and hopefully inspire the next generation of content creators. That’s how I measure success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 224 N. Maclay Ste 8. San Fernando Ca, 91340
- Website: www.startnowstudios.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsmiguelduran/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miguelangelduran84
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