Meet Samuel Vargas | Film Producer & Director

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

Hi Samuel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in Envigado, Colombia, which is located next to Medellin. I come from a family and a city that is full of artists, and it has had a great impact on my life as an artist. I have always been very creative since I was a child and have had a passion for all forms of art. I started with drawing, then moved on to painting, sculpting, music, and even tried to become a guitar player and singer. I also had an interest in dancing, but through all those stages, I found a huge admiration and love for acting and cameras.

I did theater acting in my old school in Colombia, Benedictinos de Santa Maria, from the age of 12 to 15. When I was around 11 or 12, I started going with my grandfather to photography classes that he was taking, and I learned a lot about visual composition. It was in 9th grade when I found my love for filmmaking. During that school year, my Spanish teacher, Derney Rueda, assigned the entire class to make a 60-minute movie based on a book that we had read in class. My group put me in charge of the project since I had some knowledge about equipment and productions from being a YouTuber at that time. I had to wear many hats and do a lot of work, but it was fun, and it made me realize that this is what I want to do for life.

I’ve learned that being organized, dedicated and passionate about what you’re doing is the key to success. I owe this valuable lesson to my family, community and the time I spent working in the activities office at Felix Varela Senior High School. They taught me how to be a leader and helped shape me into the film producer I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a film director and producer who specializes in producing projects for other directors. I have directed and produced several short films of different genres. I believe that film is a medium that combines almost every art form, and it is a great source of inspiration for other artists. My work has been featured in notable film festivals such as the Miami Film Festival, OutShine Film Festival, and Independent Shorts Awards. One of my short films, “As I Promised You,” has received more than 271K views in less than a year, which makes me proud.

I have achieved my current position through hard work, dedication, and prioritizing my future. I have worked with many talented individuals who have challenged me to be a better version of myself and believed in me.

Along the way, I have learned some valuable lessons like the fact that not everyone shares the same mindset as you, you are never too old to follow your dreams, and comparison is the thief of joy.

I aspire to be known as someone who never gave up and believed that nothing is impossible in life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My dad, Juan Pablo Vargas, who died when I was 9 years old. The last words that he told me are “Nada es imposible en esta vida, lo único imposible es detener la muerte” (Nothing is impossible in this life, the only thing impossible is to stop death).

My mom, Martha Isabel Carrasquilla; my grandparents, Gabriela Velez, Hector Fabio Vargas, Jose Flavian Carrasquilla, Martha Nelly Marin; my aunts and uncle, Andres Felipe Vargas, Marylin Vargas, Evelyn Carrasquilla; and honestly my entire family, because they support me so much.

The following teachers and professors from high school and college: Derney Rueda, Jennifer Alvord Gambale, Alexa Acosta, Monica Babich, Ece Karayalcin, Josh Ellis, Agustin Gonzalez.

I would love to shoutout more people but I imagine there’s a limit so I’ll finish with Chris Molina, Chad Simon Mow, Leda Barham, Eric Avila, Nicole Santiago, Christian Tejera, Alejandro Lopez, Carol Nuñez, Samuel Salazar.

Website: https://samuvargas05.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuvargas05/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLvlQKsj_zqIJMzQ897yDg

Image Credits
Ana Karen Garro, Lazaro Duran, Linda Dominguez, John Paul Amaya