QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: The most exciting part of the film was seeing the actors bring the characters to life on set. Since the characters are modeled after my own family, it felt wonderful seeing our relationship and how we interact with one another represented by our talented cast. When we working on the more tense and emotional scenes, there would be a long pause of silence from the crew after we finished a take, like everyone had to take a moment to process what they'd just seen. That signaled to me that our team was successfully capturing the high stakes and emotional turmoil we were striving for.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?: I was very moved and impressed by the short film WAKE, which I saw at the Georgia Latino International Film Festival. Seeing that film has motivated me to keep making films that explore family dynamics and the difficult choices that families often face in pursuing a better way of life.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: Perhaps the most common (if not most obvious) question people have is "what is the current status of the DACA program?". Sadly, the answer is just as unclear and bleak as it was 8 years ago, when the film takes place.
A not-so-obvious question that I was surprised to hear at a recent screening was "what is the story behind the song that plays on the end credits?"

QUESTION#4: A magic movie genie is giving you an unlimited budget for your next production! However, you're only allowed to use it on either "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: While I would be tempted to go for above line to bring in big name talent for casting, I think I'd choose to focus the budget on below line resources. Working on set for Un Día Normal required plenty of troubleshooting and last-minute changes that our team had to figure out on the spot. As a first-time director and producer, I often turned to our crew for their input on multiple aspects of the shoot. It was very reassuring knowing that our crew had the experience and discipline to adapt as needed and figure out a way to get the shot. So for my next project, I would love to build a similar team that I can rely on to confidently overcome any hurdles on the project.

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: The reception that Un Día Normal has gotten has reassured me of the importance of telling these types of stories. Especially in the current political and social climate, it can be easy to lose sight of the human side of the immigration issue - especially when there's so much anger and misinformation steering the discussion. I had the chance to meet Ms. Denise Lyles Cook, known as the Oracle, at a festival in November, where she shared that her motivation to perform and create works of art was that "the things we do not talk about are the things that'll never get fixed". I was very moved and emboldened by those words, especially in the aftermath of the November election and what we know it will mean for immigrant communities like Southwest Detroit. For that reason, I want to continue making films that show real stories of immigrant families and their perseverance and resilience - to keep reminding audiences that despite any cultural, racial, and even political differences, we share many common traits as human beings, and that a little empathy for others can go a long way towards building community and more understanding.

Social media tags to share with our readers: #undíanormal #immigrantvoices #latinostories #defendDACA #heretostay #DACAdreamers #immigrantstories #forthedreamers #familyunity #madeinsouthwestdetroit #mexicantowndetroit