Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Salazar.
Hi Christian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Since I first saw Casablanca as a pre-teen, I fell in love with the art of filmmaking! From the way each shot is postioned to the creative choices directors make to tell a better narrative, I said to myself I want to one day be among the great filmmakers of the world, up there with the likes of Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. For that reason, I found myself wanting to break through the film industry, but I didn’t know how. Then, one day I met Angel Toro, an aspiring filmmaker who has experience working in the film industry before, and immediately, one of the things we had in common was our love for movies. I became aware he was working on his film “He Watches,” last year, but did not think much of it, let alone be involved in it since I was studying communications with an emphasis in journalism at Brigham Young University. Then, one day, near the end of my time there, he called me and asked me if I can be his producer. He has seen the videos I filmed for the BYU student news organization, The Daily Universe, and must have seen enough potential in me to hire me for that role. I accepted and that’s where I have been since.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road for me because I knew a thing or two about producing videos for journalism outlets, but filmmaking was a whole different playing field. I felt like I couldn’t fulfill such a big role until August when I went to a three-day leadership camp. That camp taught me to take responsibility for my actions that came with the role, so after that weekend, I became more proactive with my role, communicating more with the director and his assistant and making sure to keep them as well as everyone else in the production held accountable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the producer for the low budget independent horror-film “He Watches,” and I specialize in making sure I am allowing the director, Angel Toro, to fulfill his creative vision whether through making sure we are staying in budget, safety is prioritized on set, and helping him find the right actors to play each role. I am best known for my cheerful attitude and always putting my best foot forward. I am most proud of how I help Angel make sure he is not forgetting any important details before production starts and what sets me apart from others is that I keep my head up and keep my cool even in tough situations.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Angel and my brother have played a big role in my success because they have always believed in me even I did not believe in myself. During pre-production, everything was disorganized and I felt like I was not doing my job correctly and considered leaving the production altogether. However, the assistant director, Giovanna, reminded me that Angel hired because he saw something in me. That gave me the strength to keep going. As for my brother, I don’t think I have told him how I felt during pre-production, but I felt like he always had my back even in my darkest moments.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.salazar700
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-salazar-1a22061b7
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/%40hiddenpocketspodcast
