Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier Colon Rios.
Javier, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and ever since I was little, I always loved to tell stories even though I was very shy – which I still am. In school, if there was any chance of turning my homework into a video project, I would. I loved picking up a camera and making home movies about traveling with the family or events. I would quickly go up to my room and edit these videos on the computer – which was extremely slow. Even though these were home movies, I always tried to edit something that made sense, that had some type of story. When I graduated high school, I didn’t have the good grades to get into the communications program at the university that I wanted. At least I got accepted into a university on a random career path with the plan to transfer to another university and study film. After spending a year studying something that to this day, I don’t have a clue what it was, I was able to transfer and start my education in Telecommunications.
While completing my undergraduate, I wanted to take more film-related courses. I had the opportunity to study editing in NYC and San Francisco. The day after my graduation, I asked myself: “What now?” It took me a year to decide what to do with my life when suddenly I saw an ad on some website to apply to the American Film Institute for $100 and I thought: “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Well, the best thing happened. I got accepted into the American Film Institute to get a Master’s degree in Film Directing. I had realized that I was a storyteller, even when I was editing, I was telling stories and as an editor. I always found it hard when directors weren’t giving me the right material to tell stories and with that, I slowly changed my career as a director.
During my time at AFI, I had the opportunity to be an intern at Salma Hayek’s development company “Ventana Azu” and at the same time, I worked on different projects in LA. And all this time what I really wanted to do is make my own films. In 2009, I realized that If I wanted to make a feature film it would be better to go back to Puerto Rico and start my career as a feature film director. I didn’t want to wait in LA for a chance to make it when I felt that I could make it back home. Very shortly after getting to Puerto Rico, I started my own company, Spanglish Films, and started working as a director for different projects. I also worked as a film professor, something that I never thought I was capable of doing, but soon realized that after all the years of studying, I had something to give back. As a professor, I had the chance to teach in Puerto Rico, LA, New Orleans and Connecticut. In 2012 I wrote and directed my first feature film “I AM A DIRECTOR” which I made with some friends and a very low budget but that film made it into festivals around the world and got distribution on Starz, The Sundance Channel, Croatia RT and Canal + in Spain.
In 2016, I co-wrote and directed my second feature film “YO SOY UN POLÍTICO” which was sold to HBO and is currently on Amazon Prime. After more than six years in Puerto Rico, destiny brought me back to LA. My wife was working in LA and after co-writing our feature, I moved to LA with her. Back in LA, I have had the opportunity to continue my career as a film director and work as an editor working with different companies. I have directed short films and two webseries. I have also had the chance to shadow television directors on “Jane the Virgin” and “Good Trouble.” While doing that, I directed my third feature film, “Inside the Circle” which is currently looking for distribution. I am currently in post-production of a web series called “Seven Sitters in July” that addresses mental health that was created by my wife and I had the chance to produce and direct two of the episodes. 2020 has been a bit crazy for all of us but I have continued to develop my feature films and series that will hopefully get to see the light of day.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think it’s almost impossible to have a life without any struggles, and even more a career with none. I cannot say that I have suffered to be where I am today, I definitely have had my low moments and doubts about the career that I decided to embark in. My dad passed away the year that I graduated from high school and that’s something that really affects your life as it moves forward. After my dad passed, I wrote a short film about that experience, which was the first short film that I shot in Puerto Rico and a short that jump-started my career in numerous ways. I also have had problems in productions, like we all do. For example, in my second feature we lost our investor one week and half before shooting and if it weren’t for so many amazing people in my life, that movie couldn’t have been made. Two years ago, I lost almost all my hearing from my right ear and that of course, has been a challenge to be able to interact with people, except with people that I don’t like – It is sometimes better that I can’t hear them – In life, you have to take all your struggles as something that you need to overcome but I consider myself lucky to have overcome everything that’s come my way. They’re chapters in my life that by being surrounded by friends and family, I can always overcome.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Between my directing jobs, I have been lucky enough to keep working as a film editor in different projects, which has been a passion of mine since I was very young. The thing that I must be proud of and what people know me for must be my first feature film “I AM A DIRECTOR.” It started as a web series that I had written as a feature film – if that makes any sense. Some friends and I decided to shoot the first couple of pages just for fun to upload on youtube but we had such an amazing time that we decided to keep shooting the script. We had such a small budget and so many limitations that it showed me that sometimes sheer passion and the will of a filmmaker supported by friends is more important than the budget of a film. Of course, I would have loved to have made it with money, but it would have never been so special to me in that case. I think what sets me apart from others… Hmm…I would like other people to answer that for me. I would love for them to say that I’m great to work with, that I have a great sense of story and that I have a good sense of humor cause in this business, you have to have it or it could eat you alive.
What matters most to you? Why?
For me, what matters the most is family. Nothing else exists in this world that comes close to that bond. I have been lucky enough to have a loving family that has helped me through every step of my career, a lovely wife that I can share my goals with and support. Being able to tell stories that can have an effect to different audiences is also something I really care about. There’s nothing like you coming up with a story, writing the story, filming the story, being part of the editing process and seeing it on a big screen and everything is quiet for a second and then suddenly you hear a laugh or someone crying. It’s such an amazing feeling that you have as a director when you have the power to touch someone and have some type of effect on the people that are watching your film.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.javiercolonrios.com
- Instagram: javiercolonrios
- Facebook: javiercolonrios
- Twitter: javiercolonrios
