Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Perez Vidauri
Hi Patrick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in East LA, the third of four boys. My dad worked in Aerospace and was able to move the family to the San Gabriel Valley when I was five years old. I grew up in the Diverse community of Hacienda Heights. I actually went to school with Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas. I got involved in school plays, and there was an agent in the audience who told my mom had talent. I attended acting classes from a young age and caught the bug. I continued to audition and perform in plays throughout high school and college. I attended Columbia University in New York City and totally fell in love with the art of theater and film.
I’m not sure when the dream to become a filmmaker formulated in my head. But I started making short films with my brothers when I was just a kid. When I graduated Columbia, I came back to Los Angeles and immediately volunteered at the public access cable station. It was there that I learned camera, editing, and storytelling by volunteering and producing a number of shows.
It was around this time that Robert Rodriguez directed El Mariachi; I read his book “rebel without a Crew” and was inspired by his exhortation that if you want to learn something, you gotta go out there and do it. I made a dozen short films over the next few years Using my cousins and friends as actors. This culminated in my directing my first SAG 35 mm short film, entitled “short-changed.” That was back in the year 2000, and I thought my career was about to take off.
Well, as they say, nothing worthwhile is easy. Even though I won a number of awards and people thought my short film was great, no offers were forthcoming, and I was unable to start a career as a director.
I considered my options and applied to film school. After two tries, I was able to gain acceptance to the master’s program at UCLA film school. This was the catalyst for the beginning of a career in the industry, although not as a director. I got a job as a translator on my network TV, and I was able to parlay that into becoming the producer of online content.
Nowadays, I often tell people who want to be a director that the best option is to make a career in a field adjacent to what it is you really want to do. That’s work for me. Over the next 15 years, I worked as a producer, editor, writer, always directing whenever I got the chance. I became quite a good editor and joined the editor’s union, cutting mostly unscripted TV…
I said yes to every opportunity that came my way. One day, I got a call to translate a film into Spanish for the Will Ferrell, I jumped at the chance. The film was called Casa de mi Padre, And Will Ferrell wanted to do it entirely in Spanish. After I translated the script, I asked who was going to teach Will Ferrell Spanish. When they said they didn’t have anybody, I volunteered myself for the position. It was great experience, and I learned a lot on-site working with such a talented casting crew.
When I went back to my editing job, I realized that particular company was a dead end, my wife and I had been saving to rehab a bathroom in our house, and she suggested “why don’t we use the bathroom money, and you direct a movie instead?” That’s exactly what we did. For under $50,000 I made my first feature film called Lola‘s love shack a group of teens coming of age in East LA. This film caught the attention of a film financer who called me and invited me to make another movie with him. This is how I came to make my second film, entitled “In Other Words,” which we made less than half a million. The acting, cinematography, and story were really top-notch. The film was picked up by HBO!
Now, all my hard work begins to pay off. Over the next few years, my films continue to grow its scope size, and honors began to roll in. My third film, Divorce Date, sparked a bidding war. My fourth film is getting distribution as we speak.
And now, the biggest film of my career is about to hit the festival circuit. It is a culmination of everything. I have learned how to tell a story and how to make a comedy that is funny while also being human, touching, heartwarming, and real. The film stars multiplatinum superstar Luis Fonsi, who had a worldwide phenomenal hit, Despacito, a few years ago. It is executive produced by Oscar-nominated Edward James Olmos. It features a great cast. It’s called “Say a Prayer”
Besides honing my abilities as a filmmaker, I have always been consistent in reflecting the diversity of characters to reflect the kind of community. I grew up in. For me, there was never a time when I wasn’t surrounded by friends whose parents immigrated from all over the world. And so, this is what I like to see in my films. Additionally, the portrayal of Latinos on film television is something that has bothered me since I was a child. I will never portray Latinos as maids, gardeners, drug dealers, or gangbangers. All of my films have been comedies. Comedy has unique way of being instantly recognizable as good or bad. It works people laugh, if it doesn’t, they don’t. Don’t analyze it later and consider whether you like the movie; your funny bone makes an instant judgment call. Comedy also can be subversive and introduce ideas and possibly even change people’s perspectives in a way that is not strident or soap boxy,
As we enter an era in this country with an ever-growing Latinx population, I want to make sure that representation is inclusive and uplifting and that we are not portrayed as foreigners, murders or rapists, but we are seen as friends, neighbors, and professionals that we are in the real world.
I am now in my 25th year of becoming an overnight success. Couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife, Cristina Nava, who writes, produces, and directs alongside me. Well, I have pursued my dedication to this craft single mindedly, I also find my greatest joy in raising my three kids, being a father is extremely fulfilling to me. My greatest success in life has been raising three intelligent, thoughtful, compassionate kids.
I love the art and craft of storytelling, and I hope to continue to make movies well into the future. People like Clint Eastwood inspire me. I want to keep directing well into old age as long as I am able. The journey of creation discovery is exhilarating; the path is long and can be brutal, but for me, this is my calling, this is my vocation, And I’m happy I’ve been able to achieve Whatever success has come my way. Through diligence, hard work, talent, and a little bit of luck, great things are possible.
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?
When I decided to be become a filmmaker, I thought I’d give it a few years to see if I could pull it off before I bailed out and went to law school. Turns out that I’ve been at this for decades, I’m just beginning to see real success.
There have been many successes but also many obstacles along the way. The first would be that nobody in my family was in the arts at all. My uncles and cousins are mostly teachers, lawyers, dentists, contractors. Regular Working professionals. So, taking a leap into the arts with something I did without any guidance from any family members whatsoever.
Early in my career, the tools on my trade came to kill me. I Was traveling in Mexico to make a short film. My brother was driving a car when we were hit by a bus. My large metal tripod came flying through the air and smashed me in the face. It wasn’t until I saw my brother’s reaction that I realize that I had been gravely injured. I was rushed and put on a concrete slab where there was a man dying on the slab next to me. When they realized I had money, they rushed me to a private hospital where plastic surgeon sewed me up. I had a broken brow, bone, and nose. A few inches lower, and I may have lost my eye. Well, I recovered, I wrote a script, and when I was fully recovered, we shot it in a small town in Mexico. This is one of the formative moments of my existence, Overcoming obstacles and triumphing despite the odds.
Another incident that comes to mind is after the birth of my first child I was working as a pro producer, and editor, whatever I could find. I had heard of a producing opportunity and went in for an interview. When I got there, they told me that the position had been filled, but they were still looking for editors. I’ve volunteered myself. They knew how to use the Avid editing system, and I said, “Of course I do.” Actually, I had never used it before. So when they said I should go back to one of the machines and do a test edit for them. I told him I had another appointment, and I would be back on Monday. Over the weekend, I taught myself avid. And I returned on Monday, I cut a scene for them and got the job. I believe you always have to say yes to opportunities and figure out how to achieve it later.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for romantic comedies. It’s not something that I planned on, but after working with Will Ferrell, the guys from Saturday Night Live, I realize comedy wanted me. One thing about comedies is that they are fun to write, fun to direct, and fun to edit. There’s a lot of laughter. And when it works in the room, you know it. Takes her almost ruined because the casting crew Almost can’t hold their laughter, I have been able to use comedies to not only make a fun entertaining and romantic film, but also to shed light on topics and subjects that I think are important, without sounding too heavy-handed or strident. In my career, I made plenty of dramas, thrillers, and darker matters. I hope one day to return to those genres, but for now, I am enjoying my career as a comedic Director.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honestly, the number one quality from my success I believe has been persistence. When I started in this field over 25 years ago, I was involved in plenty of volunteer and professional groups. I would look around the room and know That more than half of the folks interested in becoming filmmakers we’re going to quit at some point. And I was not going to quit ever. The truth of the matter is that it’s about a 90% rate. There are very few of us from those early groups who are Still at it. But we are a tight group of comrades who have suffered the slings and arrows of a very difficult career path, And we’re still here.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @patperezworld
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.perez.vidauri?mibextid=LQQJ4d
