Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodrigo Moreno-fernandez
Hi Rodrigo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Rodrigo Moreno-Fernández (Writer, Director, Producer, Editor) is based in southern Texas. After immigrating from Mexico in 2006, the self-taught filmmaker made his directorial debut with the indie feature THE WHOLE. He received the ‘First Time Director Award.’ from the London Independent Film Awards and the ‘Best Screenplay Award’ from the Reel East Texas Film Festival.
His short films Ramona and Strings also received awards and accolades including The 2023 Best Texas Filmmaker at the Austin Revolution Film Festival and The Indie Spirt Award at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema in 2023.
Rodrigo spent seven years as an illegal immigrant until he managed to secure deferred status during the Obama administration, allowing him to stay in Texas and work. Married with a three-year-old child with no papers or money, Rodrigo could not attend film school. He taught himself to film and tell stories by reading everything he could get his hands on and by listening to other filmmakers discuss their processes. Despite his struggles, he saved enough money to buy a second-hand camera, and he started making videos; for himself and later for those that might hire him for commercial work. Through this, he learned (by trial and error) how to light, shoot, and block actors, and he also learned to write scripts. Eventually, his commercial work began winning awards.
One day he asked his wife permission to use their life savings to make a movie. She said yes, and from then on, became his producer. Together they managed to produce one feature film and two short narratives. Rodrigo’s work has been programmed into festivals around the world. He recalls not having a work permit for his first invitation to a festival and could not confirm his attendance as director because of it. Today, he is proud to hold 22 awards for his work and, more importantly, to call himself a filmmaker.
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?
Life struggles I believe everyone has their fair share of them. I can tell you that I am not the exception, but I guess I can tell you a story about wanting to be a filmmaker.
I grew up in Matamoros, Mexico. My father was an avid reader and an artist at heart, but unfortunately, he was not able to express himself other than the occasional writing here and there at the local newspaper and as a radio spokesperson. Perhaps he is best remembered as a teacher.
Me, on the other hand, since very early in my life, I was always drawn to movies and telling stories. I remember coming up with tales on the fly. I used to keep my schoolmates intrigued throughout a good period of time as I told them how, inside the pyramids, there were portals that take you to different places in the galaxy (I later saw Stargate; who knows, maybe they stole my idea.Lol) or how there were humans that shed their skin after they lived for more than 150 years and rejuvenate to become immortal.
So, when I first came to my dad and told him I wanted to be a filmmaker, like any father, he worried that I wouldn’t earn enough money to support a family following a pipe dream. So, he made me choose another path. Perhaps it was a path that I always dreaded or filled me with anxiety.
Throughout the years, as I was not able to fulfill my dream of being a filmmaker, I kept writing and hoping someday I could pursue a movie career. All that time, my father saw me struggling with everything and getting myself in trouble as none of the jobs and career paths were successful.
Many years later, our family got the devastating news about my Dad being diagnosed with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer. Obviously, this was a tremendous life-reflective stage of my father’s life. In which he analyzed the meaning of his life. Soon, the cancer got so worse that my father started to slip into unconsciousness as the pain meds did their job. But, in one of his last lucid moments, we had a conversation that perhaps was pending for many years. At that moment, my father asked me to forgive and encourage me to follow my dream. He realized that the real meaning of life was to pursue one’s happiness not through economic achievements but through enriching our souls. I will never forget that moment. Days later, he died, and as I laid him to rest, I started drawing my new path, one that led me to film my first movies and pursue a career as a film director.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc:
I am a filmmaker. I’ve been fortunate to have written and directed four films for which I’ve won more than 30 awards around the world, including Best First Time Director by The London IFA, Texas FIlmmaker of The Year by the Austin Revolution Film Festival, Best Emerging Filmmaker by the San Antonio Film Festival and The Indie Spirit Award by the Idyllwild Film Festival in California.
As a screenwriter, my scripts have been in the top 10% of the Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl’s Fellowship, as well as finalists at the Oustanding Screenplays Competition, The Golden Script Competition, and the Screenwriters Network – SWN Screenplay Competition Goldman Award.
But probably what I am most proud of is my latest movie, “El Lloron,” in which I had the chance to collaborate with talented individuals like my Producer, Mickey Sumner, Lead Actor Bobby Soto, Renée Victor, and the talented Valente Rodriguez as well as Brenda Patricia Garza which helped us cast the project. The film premiered last October at the renowned SCAD Savanah Film Festival alongside Oscar-nominated movies like: “The Brutalist,” “Emilia Perez,” “Anora,” and many more.
I was also honored, to be able to participate as a TEDx speaker at last year’s McAllen TEDx event, in which I discussed how imagination has played a big role in my life.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Not many people know I spent 7 years in the US without papers. Perhaps those years were very much formative in my life and made me realize the value of belonging somewhere. When you come to this country, you could feel the cultural shock so strong that you might think you don’t belong anywhere, so you must re-learn how to integrate and make an effort to feel part of a community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rodmorf.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodmorf/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rodmorf/
