Rising Stars: Meet Miguel Flores-Gayle of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Flores-Gayle.

Miguel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My creation journey back in 2012 by accident, I had just started working in the medical field after graduating and was on my journey to become a Nurse Practitioner so that eventually i could become a brain surgeon. The year was end of 2011 early 2012 i believe and the iPhone 4s had just dropped, the first iPhone to shoot in 1080p. My best friend at the time was an aspiring artist and I had a crazy idea “lets shoot a music video” he asked if i have ever done it before and i said “how hard can it be this phone comes with an editing app and it shoots in HD” (whatever that meant to me at that time)…we shot the video and surprisingly it came out decent for it being my first time, Tae Gifted – Closer Freestyle, ill never forget it haha that video changed my life i believe i uploaded it to youtube back in 2014 just so that i never forgot it and see how far i came along…. From that video i started doing more and more eventually getting the attention of my cousin who was actually going to school in San Diego State for a film degree we partnered up and i started helping him shoot weddings, event recaps for clubs and the Kappa Frat parties leading to the school hitting him up to do a commercial for them by then we had been at it for some time now the pay for a 4 hour shoot paid me more than what i would make at work and well my career path at that point had become dreadful from just being in a negative work environment with not only the patients but also my boss at the time i just wasn’t happy anymore the year was 2017 and i found such a joy in creating that i sat with God and asked if this was my gift the bible talks about… it was clear as day that it was, i just didn’t fully see it yet, i quit my job and I vowed from that day that if this was i would do everything in my power to give back to the world using that said gift and make it a better place even if somehow i helped at least one person that was enough for me. i had been creating for about 5 years and was heavy in the music world, I met Allie Kay who at the time was making music she’s always been such a dope artist to me and i wanted to show the world her potential the right way… we dove into creating constantly everyday and during that time Randy Savvy was producing and engineering her music, at the time i also started shooting for RJMRLA for about 2 years even going on tour with Young Thug and again just being fully embedded in the music world not thinking deeper into where i was headed… one night in the studio Allie asked about my childhood what it was like being an immigrant… as someone who came to america when i was 7 years old i told her i remember seeing my dad ride horses with his friends around town Randy looked back at me and said ” You know that’s literally what we do in compton ” in disbelief i looked at him and question it…. “IN COMPTON ?? oh i HAVE to see this ” so did i pulled up to Richland Farms met everyone and instantly grew a connection with everyone simply because the horse brought us all together, i became the homie at the Ranch with the camera Compton Cowboys was barely becoming a thing and well i was simply documenting what became my brothers and sister…. we started shooting for big brands and as Randy and my bond grew so did the brand. I like to say he was the brain and i was the eyes showing the world what he would think… in thee most genuine way because again i’m simply the homie with a camera it was never a gimmick or an act just real raw everyday life things we would get into that clearly intrigued people…. COWBOYS IN COMPTON ?? who wouldn’t want to know more you know… all i’ve ever wanted to show was how amazing these group of people were that were all brought here by the love of the horse which then translates to wanting kids in compton to experience that same love especially in compton…. Compton Cowboys had a platform and that platform exposed how streets raised us and horses saved us we became the hometown heroes and in that moment i realized my purpose…. That prayer and conversation i had with God came full circle i was uplifting a community through my lens, through that Gift i found i had back in late 2011… i realized i had kids depending on me who didn’t even know it, i would think to myself “man if i dont show the world this amazing organization we won’t be able to continue to fund these horses that literally take these kids off the streets and in some boots!” ive been in the mission ever since and along that road ive been blessed to work with such amazing individuals from working with Dr. Dre documenting the road to the superbowl to Directing the launch ad for Gin & Juice, documenting the Andretti Racing family to, finally Directing and producing our entire in house commercial/marketing add for our Compton Cowboys x forever 21 collab…. 8 years later and we are the leading Cowboys in this space for anything equestrian…. you know before the beyonce effect its been us and i think its safe to say that the world knows this…. heck i mean beyonce herself knows it this is what has gotten us the opportunity to work with her we really them boyz… them Cowboys… Them Compton Cowboys 😏

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
if anyone ever says the road to following your Passion, Gift, Purpose whatever you want to call it is smooth i can assure you they’re lying but that’s where the beauty lies…. overcoming each and every road block, i love a challenge and the satisfaction i get from accomplishing something that seems impossible at one point fuels me and keeps me going! all that ” Struggle ” becomes worth it when my creation… whatever it may be (photo or video) brings life and happiness to someone whether through a smile or again exposing them to the world through my lens… and giving them a voice… a platform..

ive always been protected, favored and blessed by God every struggle has been really more of a lesson something to carry with me to the next roadblock to help me figure out how to overcome that speed bump or “struggle” as you say

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Im Direktor Gayle a cowboy with many hats but at the core im a director, cinematographer and photographer, aside from just that i’ve became what i guess you can call a brand facilitator… i’ve always liked connecting the dots and making sense of relationships i’ve made.. i don’t think we meet anyone for no reason so lets make our introductions make sense who do i know that can push you to the next level and vise versa

I’ve also creative directed most of my creations, i’ve been a one man bad for so long that i guess you can throw editor, colorist, producers, social media strategist, social media manager….. the list truly goes on every creation i’ve done people are truly amazed at how i did it alone….. i’ve always hated limits so the moment someone would say ” I Cant” i stop the conversation and go figure it out myself and just do it

i specialize in making the impossible possible… creating something real and genuine out of thin air… out of an idea and bringing it to life in a way that puts that person there…. you don’t only see my work you truly feel that shit deep in your soul….

what am i known for as far as my work? being that Cowboy Director who pulls up to sets with my cowboy hat and no its not a fashion statement not only that but the fact that i shoot from a horse definitely sets me apart from anyone else i mean again its always just been me…. i am the production and the word i cant does not exist to me….

my proudest moment wow i actually have a few my camera took me to my first NFL game it just happened to be the superbowl in LA where i was Dr. Dre plus one haha i was apart of it not just there to see it from that we got my official directing debut with the Gin & Juice commercial which was inspired by pulp fiction and Goodfellas…. documenting mario andretti and his family on the journey to putting Cadillac in F1…. traveling to Argentina to shoot on a horse for Lilly Collins for canon… seein my work in the Grammy museum… umm as well as having my work be part of the black cowboy exhibit at the autry museum to literally what we’ve built with the Compton Cowboys and the Kids we have uplifted… the list is still being written

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Be light to anyone… especially those in darkness…. you can be the change to spark something in the next person and that alone is enough to live life with purpose

Pricing:

• dont take one penny more or less than what YOU are owed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @direktorgayle
• Other: https://www.eldirektor.com/

Image Credits
Tiffany (Justrock) Brown
Ellary Allis
Kaden (Scenebylight) Demedeiros
James Stirling
Christian Garcia