Exclusive Interview with Carlos Gallego -Film Director & Producer
Carlos Gallego is a Mexican director and producer, born in 1993.
A lifelong cinephile with a taste for the absurd and the subversive, his work often blurs the line between stylized storytelling and raw observation. He is particularly drawn to dreamlike atmospheres and nonlinear narratives that explore the surreal — using cinema as a space to question reality and emotional logic. His path as a director spans commercial campaigns, music videos, and the 2019 short film 50-50. From the sweaty underground punk scene to the fluorescent guts of a tuna canning plant, Carlos has explored a wide range of visual languages and environments — all while shaping a distinct voice in contemporary filmmaking. Known for blending striking visuals with irreverent tone, his work dissects modern identity with humor, melancholy, and a touch of chaos.
NY Glam: How long have you been working in film as a director and producer?
I started working as a videographer when I was 17, shooting institutional videos, and a couple of restaurants, then I worked at an AD agency after college and later attended the EICTV film school in Cuba after the I properly entered the film world in 2019, I have been working in film and advertising ever since.
NY Glam: What was your directorial debut, and how did it shape your journey in filmmaking?
My first short film was “50-50” a play on the concept of Quantum Immortality and Schrödinger’s cat, in a way it really freed my creative vision because I realized that in today’s world I can write about anything. It really fueled my idea of using different genres in unorthodox ways.
NY Glam: What is your most recent film about, and what inspired the story?
Hotcakes is about how those small gestures of love you have in a relationship, the “inside jokes” become empty and futile once the spark has ended. It was inspired by my own breakup with a former girlfriend.
NY Glam: How did you approach casting for this project?
I wanted it to feel loose and fun so I had coffee dates with the actors separately where we discussed our own relationships and we read and discussed the script until I finally landed on those who represented the view points on the characters that more closely resembled my vision and feel for the material.
NY Glam: As a producer, what were the biggest challenges you faced during production, and how did you overcome them?
Since I was surrounded by close collaborators and friends the production was pretty light and fun, financing was the main obstacle, I started a funding campaign with friends and family and partnered up with “Custom Cinema” a film rental company in CDMX who helped greatly with gear and equipment. Also capturing live bees was a challenge haha.
NY Glam: What was the most important lesson you’ve learned from this project, and how did it impact your creative or producing process?
I would say that the healing power of exploring catharsis through art, and finding healthy ways of expressing pain through directing with an al around view of the situation.
NY Glam: Tell us about other films or projects you’ve worked on. How do they reflect your evolution as a filmmaker?
Since I have by far directed more ads than fiction I’d say it’s been a journey of finding small lessons and challenges when I’m restrained, to have new things to explore when making my pieces.
NY Glam: How do you balance your creative vision as a director with the logistical demands of producing?
I find it easier to do both things at once, it frees me from the super common occurrence of having to negotiate with a producer in order to safeguard the essentials of the creative side. I can manage resources myself in order to sacrifice what I deem expendable and keep whatever my vision need intact. But having an solid production team behind me is essential to not be preoccupied with logistics specially while filming.
NY Glam: What role have film festivals played in your career?
Since my first film didn’t really have a festival run this is my first experience with festivals, which I hope can connect me with key people to keep filming my stuff.
NY Glam: Is it harder to get started in the industry, or to keep going? What have you personally had to overcome to sustain your career?
Getting started is easy if you’re okay with not getting paid for a while and learning the ropes. But maintaining a high role as producer or director can be challenging in an industry as superficial and nepotist as this.
NY Glam: How would you describe your directing style, and how has it evolved over time?
I think collaboration is the most important thing for me, everybody has an area of expertise and if your vision is clear you can nurture it with the ideas of your collaborators instead of feeling challenged by someone else’s take on things. I like my sets to be fun, we’re all very fortunate to be able to play the most expensive game ever so keeping things playful and open to experimenting is key.
NY Glam: What would you say has been the key to your success as both a director and a producer?
Being relentless, and never compromising on my values.
NY Glam: What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the film industry in either of these roles?
There’s this belief that in order to direct you have to earn your keep in other related roles like AD, or producing but I’ve found that no one is eager to give you opportunities, the industry is very closed knit and it’s up to you to create the spaces to direct what you want to make. So write and shoot, anything. If your thing is producing then I do believe the way is paved by finding someone you can shadow and grow in that way, getting more credibility and experience; production teams are bigger and more varied.
NY Glam: What’s next for you—any upcoming projects in development?
I’m currently looking to star a business outside the industry to free myself from advertising, and I’m developing two feature films, one a satire on insurance companies and the other a meditation on toxic masculinity and the search for a proverbial “perfect woman”.
NY Glam: What are your long-term goals for your Production Company or creative studio?
I’d like to be able to consistently put out new work, that’s it.
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