Meet Ron Santiano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron Santiano.

Ron, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
REDCAPE CINEMA PRODUCTIONS: After a trial run as an actor in the mid to late ‘80s, I found my desire for the industry shifted more for behind the camera, rather than in front of it, and ponder on how I was to accomplish this new goal. During the 1990’s, I had sidetracked into graphic design, were I ended up working at Universal Studio by the late 90’s. Their, I discovered The New York Film Academy had opened up at the lower lot.

In mid 2001, after being accepted to NYFA, I quit Universal Studio, and dedicated and immersed myself all things film-making for the next couple of years!

By the summer of 2004, I had graduated, with notable honors from the prestigious film school. Soon after graduating, I created Redcape Cinema Productions, an independent film company, first working on small promo videos and films to get my feet wet. Within the next couple of years, had created a string of notable short films catering to the action and comic-book genre, before deciding in 2006 to venture into producing my own original content, like the 2008 multi-award-winning feature film, ‘Prophecy of Eve’, which by 2013, had gone on to worldwide distribution with great success via DVD and streaming on Amazon Prime and other online streaming venues, making the top 10 list in several countries around the world.

Along with the success with our first feature, our other originals – short action films, Code-Name Dragonfly & Chronicles of the Order have seen equal success with multi-film festival awards and nominations. Currently, our newest action-packed production, the Sci-fi/Fantasy drama, ANGELICS: Ascension, which will be our most ambition production to date, has a tentative release of late 2018 to the masses. In the past 10 years, Redcape Cinema Productions has successfully garnered numerous fans from around the globe from our past productions, collecting a sleuth of film festival screenings, accolades, honors & awards. Along with the success of our own original productions, Redcape Cinema Productions also has over the years been sought after by many other independent film productions to aid them with our film-making skills. With our growing talent pool, resources and recent addition of new producing partners, Redcape Cinema Productions can offer to cater other independent projects with their film-making needs, from script to screen. Company website: http://redcapecinema.wixsite.com/filmprods

ART BY SANTIANO: A self-taught artist from early childhood. I first started drawing by copying comic-book superheroes, and continued on honing my skills throughout my junior and high school years, receiving recognition and honors for my display of my artistic abilities.

By the early ’80s, I discovered the world renowned ‘Playboy’ graphic artist, Patrick Nagel, and began studying his style. Became proficient in duplicating his style, that friends and family began to commission me to create portraits in the ‘Nagel’ style throughout the mid to late ’80s. It was not till the mid ’90s, that when I had finally developed two distinct styles of my own. One, utilizing a dark and metallic palette in acrylic paint, and the other, a more looser illustrative style, using vibrant strokes and colors working off of negative space. These styles got the attention, and was picked up by Ferguson Art & Design Gallery after exhibiting at the Las Vegas Art Expo. I stayed with Ferguson Gallery until late 2015, when I had decided to go independent again. At this same time I had discovered digital illustrations by way of my recently purchased iPad. I found the ease of use of the stylus pen and drawing app, gave me the near perfect color and strokes I needed to create new dynamic images that worked, and was a perfect match with the more looser, vibrant color style I had developed back in the mid ’90s. Now, with my new found discovery of digital illustration and my re-kindling of my art in the digital age, this past February I created my new online art store, Art By Santiano. The new online art store focuses on some of your favorite and popular female stars and celebrities of film, tv and media from the past and present. These images can be purchased in several different print sizes, from our most popular size 11×17, to the larger 24 x 36 posters, which truly allows the beauty of the art to really radiant the room it occupies. Besides the female celebrities portraits, commissioned portraits are also available for private individuals in the same style as my female celebrity portraits online. For details and pricing on commission portraits, please email at redcapecinemainc@yahoo.com. To visit online art store: ArtBySantiano.com

SANTIANO COLLECTION by VIDA: A new and exciting apparel extension of my artwork, which some images used are showcased in my online art store at ArtBySantiano.com. Back in Fall of 2016, I was surprisingly approached by a representative from VIDA, after reviewing my new online art store. The rep had described to me about VIDA and its mission, in connecting exciting new artist with their fine line of women’s apparel and accessories, to create unique wearable art. And that each item is custom made by one of their many talented skilled craftspeople from all over the world. Plus, a portion of each sale from an artist’s collection provides to support a literacy program sponsored by VIDA for their workers called ‘Literacy for Life’. As an artist, that alone was a major deciding factor for me socially! So with that, I agreed to participate and create wearable art under the VIDA brand. I am very proud and honored to have been personally selected by VIDA to create these fine, and custom made wearable art showcasing some of my art images on their apparels and accessories made and designed for today’s fashion forward women. My collection by VIDA can be seen at this link at https://shopvida.com/collections/redcapecinemainc

Great, 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?
For instance, on Redcape Cinema Productions first feature, back in early 2008 right when the recession hit. I was currently working for an advertising agency as a graphic designer, while I was producing my first feature production, ‘Prophecy of Eve’ at the same time. I had saved up and taken 3 weeks paid vacation from work to commit to work on my new production. As the production ran into the beginning of its 2nd week. I had found out from a fellow workmate, who was also an actress I hired on the production. That the advertising agency we worked for is closing, due to lack of clients staying caused by the recession. So, there I was, with a few dozen people on the set, ready to go and waiting for me to begin that day’s filming. And now knowing the bad news, that I don’t have a job to go to after my production. That was one of the toughest moments in my life. I had to complete the production somehow or some way with all the people I have personally selected and dedicated to work on the production. But dedicated to finish it. The following weeks, we all slaved on and worked through it, enduring the raining season, canceling and reshuffling scenes at very last minutes, filming very long hours and with very little sleep. But we all finished the filming, and on schedule. After the filming, I had the tough decision to give up my great apartment, knowing I had no longer had the means to afford it. But, one of my best friends, who also was one of the actors on set. Offered me a place to stay, so I can continue post productions to finish our first feature. But, his home was in San Francisco! So, with no job and no place, I packed up what I can, in my small sports car to the roof with just barely enough space to see the road from the driver’s seat. So, there I am, driving north on Interstate 5, looking at the road ahead, contemplating my next steps, and dedicating myself to finishing my first feature in a new city, with a possible new beginning. I had finally finished the feature in late summer of 2008. Entering it into multiple film festivals. Grabbing a handful of nominations and awards along the way, before being picked up for worldwide distribution. And, as they say, the rest is history! And also, have not had worked for another corporation since then!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
REDCAPE CINEMA PRODUCTIONS: An independent film company, that creates and produces its own original content i.e. features and short films in the current popular action, sci-fi, and fantasy genre for worldwide distribution via DVD, VOD and online Streaming venues. As well as being hired for our film-making skills to assist and aid in the completion of other film productions. Redcape Cinema was created back in 2004 after graduating New York Film Academy. I pretty much run and delegate every aspect of the company from the creative and business side, I guess I can be called the CEO besides being as well as a director, writer, producer and/or editor for many of our, and client’s projects. What makes me proud most of Redcape Cinema, is the recognition for our quality, creativity and helping push the faces of minorities, especially women, in the male-dominated industry through our successful female lead original contents, like our very successful first feature film, Prophecy of Eve. And we tend to continue that, with our latest Action/Sci-fi female lead feature film, ANGELICS: Ascension tentatively scheduled for a late 2018 release.

ART BY SANTIANO: An online art store, launched in late February 2017. The online art store specializes in the selling of art prints and posters, that showcases my current artwork style, celebrating the beauty of female celebrities of film, TV and media from the past and present. And since it’s launch, each month have been steadily gathering new customers and fans alike. Recently, was very honored and proud to have received 5-star ratings and reviews from some very satisfied costumers, who purchased art prints and posters online, as well as now, a growing number of devoted costumers have become collectors, with collecting 5 or more of my art prints and posters.

SANTIANO COLLECTION By VIDA: A unique women’s apparel line of fine bags, shirts, scarfs and accessories showcasing imprinted images of my artwork. Each item in the collection is custom handmade by very talented craftspeople hired by VIDA from around the world. Most proud of having this collection, beyond having my artwork adore the fine woman’s apparel and accessories. My proudness, is being able to collaborate with VIDA and their social awareness in helping the talented craftspeople who make each item by providing them a literacy program called ‘Literacy for Life’ that is supported by a portion of each item sold from an artists collection.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
As a visual artist, I’ve been very grateful to be able to have a list of benchmark ‘Proudest’ moments… Here are just a few highlights.

1. My first public art exhibition in 1989 in a gallery in Redondo Bench.

2. Accepted to the Las Vegas Art Expo and being picked up for representation in the early ’90s.

2. In the mid to late ’90s, had a short, but successful run publishing my very own publication called, FL!P Magazine, that catered to the young and progressive Filipino/Americans that went national coast to coast.

3. Being accepted and graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2004 and then creating Redcape Cinema Productions soon after.

4. Getting accepted to our first film festival for one our very first short film.

5. Writing, Directing, Producing and completing my first feature film, ‘Prophecy of Eve’ against many obstacles. And winning a handful of nominations and awards at numerous film festivals for all the hard work.

6. But, to date, this is my most proudest moment. Is when my first feature film was picked up for worldwide distribution and released to the public on July 22, 2014 for the masses to see. And to this date, it is still being distributed worldwide, and plans to head over to NETFLIX, HULU and other similar platforms in the near future.

Pricing:

• Art By Santiano art prints range from $10 (11×17), $30 (18×24) and $50 (24×36) not including shipping/handling
• Santiano Collection by VIDA apparel and accessories are priced very reasonable from $35 to $95, not including shipping

Contact Info:

• Website: http://redcapecinema.wixsite.com/filmprods • https://www.artbysantiano.com • https://shopvida.com/collections/redcapecinemainc
• Phone: 626.975.0397
• Email: redcapecinemainc@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redcapecinema/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/redcapecinemaprods/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/ron.santiano

Image Credit:
JoAnn Labrador

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