Baby Steps: Marlon Torres
My name is Marlon Torres, I am an independent filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I graduated from San Francisco State University in 2007 with a degree in Cinema and a minor in Animation.
Where I’m at
I am currently making a living as a freelance filmmaker, working as a Director, DP, Editor, and Visual Effects artist. I run a small production company from my home studio and work with clients like Yahoo!, AOL, Marvel, Dreamworks, as well as other talented artists and filmmakers around the country.
I am currently making a living as a freelance filmmaker, working as a Director, DP, Editor, and Visual Effects artist. I run a small production company from my home studio and work with clients like Yahoo!, AOL, Marvel, Dreamworks, as well as other talented artists and filmmakers around the country.
Where I want to be in the future
Like most filmmakers, I’d like to be directing major feature length films in the future. My ambitions since leaving college have changed. When I first graduated, I considered myself lucky if I got any work related to film or video but now that I’ve gotten my foot in the door, my ambitions have grown to directing and cinematography.
Like most filmmakers, I’d like to be directing major feature length films in the future. My ambitions since leaving college have changed. When I first graduated, I considered myself lucky if I got any work related to film or video but now that I’ve gotten my foot in the door, my ambitions have grown to directing and cinematography.
How I made my Baby Steps
The first thing I did after graduating was create a show reel of the work I had done in college. After assessing my work, it seemed like I had a talent in cinematography so I specifically created a DP reel (http://torresstudios.com/wordpress/archives/49). It only took a couple weeks before I got my first job. I had applied for an editor position at an animation studio but when I came for the interview, they told me that they had already filled the position. But… they told me that the director was really impressed with my DP reel and they asked me if I was interested in filling another position. Having graduated two weeks earlier with a film degree, I was ready to jump on any opportunity so I said yes.
I then spent the next two years as a CG artist, working on animated films, TV shows, and video games. It was a great environment for me to grow as an artist and learn how to be a professional in the industry. After two years as an CG artist, I realized that I wanted to move on to a different challenge. Long hours in dark rooms finally took a toll on me so when 2010 rolled around, I made a new year’s resolution that I would make an attempt to be a full-time filmmaker.
I started the year off creating my World War II short film “The Bridge“: (http://torresstudios.com/wordpress/archives/62).
When it was completed, I decided to put it up on Vimeo instead of the traditional festival route. I figured more people would see it that way and I was right. It got featured on Vimeo and it quickly went viral. Doors began to open up for me. Thanks to “The Bridge”, I got an agent in Los Angeles willing to represent me, a few months later I got my first gig as Director of Photography for a feature film in New Orleans. This year I’ve been lucky to have been able to direct a few music videos from award-winning musicians, produce video for clients like Yahoo!, AOL, Business Wire and later this year, I will be directing my first animated TV series.My advice for aspiring filmmakers is simply to keep at it. I know too many people, including some extremely talented friends, who gave up on their dreams of becoming a filmmaker too quickly. It’s never easy in the beginning but you just gotta put your head down and keep walking forward. If you’re passionate, dedicated, and professional about your craft, you won’t need to look for work because work will look for you.
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Nice one Marlon! Thanks so much on behalf of all the reader(s) of this blog for sharing your thoughts and offering advice. You have done us a real solid.