Miguel Lopez de Leon on Directing & Acting in New Feature BELLOW

My name is Miguel Lopez de Leon, and I direct, act, write, produce and edit my own films. To date, I’ve made 21 films. Three of those films are my feature films WALK SILENT, BELLOW, and REACHING AWAKE. The other 18 films are short films. I got into directing out of necessity.

I was in preproduction for my first short film WAIT. I was having a difficult time getting a group of people together who were all available on the same dates. Eventually, I just decided to do the whole thing myself, and figured it would be a great learning opportunity.

Now, even after making twenty-one films, I’m still doing things the same way, and I love every minute of it! It’s a lot of work—not only to direct and act in a film. But to also be the writer, producer and editor. But I really do enjoy it! As a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. My formal training is in acting on stage and in front of the camera. So it is very exciting to learn how to do the work required in other parts of film production.

BELLOW Trailer. Miguel Lopez de Leon

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I would describe my directing style—both directing myself and others—as practical. I am open to adapting to what is needed for the shot or scene. There is so much about being the director, actor and producer. It is not just about getting the scene the way you want. Also to do it in a certain time period. You’re fighting changing natural light, or exhaustion, or just a long schedule. I’ve learned that a lot of directing and producing—as simplistic as it sounds. It is doing the best job you can for the actors and the scene. Also continuously pushing forward so that you complete the film.

That’s a very practical way to approach filmmaking. From everything online, it seems like your feature film BELLOW is your current focus. What went into the filming process for BELLOW?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): Bellow is a feature film that I directed, acted in, produced, wrote and edited. It’s basically a thriller about an exhausted man trying to survive a relentless haunting. The character I play, Chris, has severe trouble sleeping, and no matter what he does or where he goes, a supernatural entity seems to follow him and haunt him. As the film progresses, we delve deeper into Chris’s situation as the spirits terrorizing him become more and more extreme.

I tried to shoot BELLOW the same way as I did all my other films, especially my feature films, which just requires a lot more organization and planning. I chose to make the film black and white, and to even edit it in a way that was a throwback to shows like the original black-and-white Twilight Zone TV series. I just enjoy that sense of nostalgia, and I think that for this particular film and subject matter, it enhanced the overall vibe of the film.

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Sounds very nostalgic indeed! Going down this same path, without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the BELLOW script. How did you come up with the idea for the film?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): Aside from being a filmmaker. I am been a novelist for a long time. I have written ten novels. For well over a decade I had book tours, booths at book festivals and comic cons. Book launch events—the whole thing. My books were predominantly in the fantasy genre. So, I incorporated many supernatural elements and themes into the stories. Also had characters that dealt with loss, loneliness, and grief, as well as overcoming adversity. I incorporate those same themes and elements into my films.

For BELLOW, I wanted to do a thriller to explore a man dealing with a supernatural entity from the first scene. As a result, was experiencing a specific type of loneliness and isolation.

That’s great that you could incorporate some of the same themes that you used in your books into your films. Let’s change it up a little now. Online, it seems like lot of your films are screening at film festivals. What are your goals with your feature film BELLOW?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): As of now, I make my films so they can screen at film festivals. I really love and appreciate the independent film community, and enjoy going to festivals all over America and meeting other filmmakers and seeing their work on the big screen. I also regularly make vlogs of some of the film festivals I go to.

Some of the great festivals I’ve attended where my films have screened at this past year have been the Portland Comedy Film Fest (Portland, Oregon), International Mobile Film Fest (San Diego, California), Shawna Shea Film Fest (Worcester, Massachusetts), Studio City Film Fest (Los Angeles, California), Zepstone Film Fest (Salt Lake City, Utah), and the L.A. Indie Horror Fest, and Golden State Film Festival (Both in Los Angeles, California).

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BELLOW just screened at the Culver City Film Festival in Los Angeles, and will be screened in March at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, in Idyllwild, California. At the upcoming Idyllwild Film Festival, BELLOW has received nominations for Best Actor (for my performance as Chris in the film), Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

That’s great—congratulations! What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): Right now, I’m attending the screenings of my films at film festivals and promoting them as much as I can. Aside from BELLOW, my other feature film WALK SILENT is also making the festival rounds. My short films are also being screened regularly, most notably my films INNER VOICES, GHOST LEAVE, SEANCE, NOVEL IDEA, and FILM IDEA, seem to be especially well-received.

Having made twenty-one films so far, what would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his or her journey?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): I would be so hesitant to presume to give advice to a fellow director, but what really helped me at first was to make a short film completely on my own, and to not only direct it, but to also act in it and be the writer, producer and editor as well. When I did that on my first film, it really gave me a great education about all the other jobs that are involved in filmmaking and how they interconnect with one another. I now have such a deep respect and better understanding of what people who do these jobs are focused on, and what they are going through while making a film.

That experience really does sound like a great education in filmmaking! Well—thanks so much Miguel! We’ve really enjoyed getting to know you more! For our last question—how can people see more of everything you’re working on?
Miguel Lopez de Leon (ML): Thank you so much! I’ve really enjoyed our interview! All my info is on my website, including links to my IMDb and social media, as well as production stills, interviews, movie trailers, and film festival vlogs.

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