We had the good fortune of connecting with JC Gutierrez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JC, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Making art is beautiful. And I’ve always surrounded myself with art and with people who love art. However, I’ve discovered that to truly make art that impacts people and that shatters expectations and pushes boundaries, you have to make yourself uncomfortable. You have to work day and night—being meticulous and tireless. It’s going to take more effort than most people are willing to give, if you wanna make something unique. Art is beautiful. But there is a whole bunch of blood sweat and tears that should go in to every detail of your work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what sets me apart from other artists is the hours I put in, and the passion I carry in everything I do. I also want the art that I make to deeply affect people, not just entertain them. I got to where I am by ceaselessly pursuing the path of educating and training in my craft. I started acting at a young age, went to school for it, and transitioned to writing and directing in college. Nothing has been easy. And while acting and directing came naturally for me, staying humble and spending the time to learn as much as possible was the key to my success. Some lessons I’ve learned along the way is to never burn any bridges, take your time to create something worth sharing, and always be honest with yourself and your art before you look to anyone else. What I want people to know about my story/brand is that I am deeply inspired by human resilience and spirit. There is so much suffering in the world and so many ugly things happening, and human beings find a way to laugh and sing and love, and that’s what I want to make films about. Hopefully when people watch films they will laugh and cry and be disturbed and entertained, but most of all be reminded of how powerful the human spirit is.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ok, first stop is the beach. I’ve always loved it and Miami has some of the most beautiful beaches in America. Day at the beach maybe some tacos on the sand? Then probably hit up Morty’s for the seafood: crab legs, oysters, calamari, etc. Then we’re definitely going to Wynwood because everyone has to see the walls and galleries and art junkies walking around. I would also take the time to visit coral gables because I think it’s a beautiful neighborhood with a lot of history and culture, and great restaurants! It’s also an absolute must to eat some authentic Cuban food on Calle Ocho followed by a cafecito or colada. Miami also has some beautiful parks and the perfect weather for a picnic! And if they wanted to go shopping before leaving there are so many massive and awesome malls like Aventura, Dolphin, Bayside, etc. Overall Miami is an incredible city with tons to do and you can’t go wrong with any of the tourist attractions.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Everyone who worked on the film, and lost sleep with me, and encouraged me and supported me and made me feel like making this deeply personal film was worth it. I couldn’t have done it without every single person who was there. Thank you.

Website: https://vimeo.com/492892280

Instagram: jcfilmproductions

Youtube: JC Gutierrez

Other: Watch ‘Til Death: https://vimeo.com/492892280 Password: short

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