Today we’d like to introduce you to Zak Cardenas.
Hi Zak, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Zak Cardenas, I began my journey very very early in middle school theater class, after graduating high school in 2010, not knowing where to go to use my creative juices, I went to college as an undeclared major.
In 2011 I begin taking actors training for 2 straight years non stop. At the time, Social media wasn’t a prevalent source of casting calls as it is today, I wasn’t aware of Actors Access/Backstage/Casting Networks/Agencies. Because of that, I didn’t know how to find opportunities at the time. All of that was foreign to me. I had thought that to be a successful actor you have to be in LA or New York. Living in San Antonio, TX it was a pipe dream for me. But I never gave up. All I knew was acting, and I just kept training and training.
In 2012, I started to school for graphic design at SAC, I didn’t really enjoy it that much, but it served as a good foundation and knowledge for my future, little did I know. But acting was still my dream, I was still training at this time. While at SAC, I remember seeing a poster about a film program that got my interest immediately.
In 2013, after a semester of graphic design courses at SAC. I went to film school at NVC with the intention to create my own opportunities where I started to learn the basics of what goes on behind the camera. I shot and edited student films, and I acted in a few as well. Upon graduating, I had a fulltime job as a video editor for TV that I held for 9 years. During my time there, I was freelancing with other video production jobs, whether being a Camera operator for live events/films and editing.
I have worked on virtually every type of project from short films, commercials, short social media content, talk shows, TV shows, conferences, concerts, football games, graduations, weddings etc.
Around 2015 I learned about the world of Actors Access/Backstage/Casting Networks/Facebook groups. I got headshots and started submitting, but was mainly working on my own films.
During that year I also started learning VFX. I learned it to use for my own films. I never liked having limitations, if I wanna blow up a building, I’m gonna blow up a building (with VFX not real life of course lol) or if I want a location that doesn’t exist or would normally cost 10s of thousands to obtain, I wanted to be able to use my skills to create that on no budget. I wanted the only limitation to be my imagination, that’s where I’m at now 11 years later. Learning Houdini, Unreal Engine, After effects, Blender, Embergen, Liquigen.
I have also taken films from 0 to completion without a crew. From acting, audio, cinematography, editing, VFX, directing, writing etc. At first, I did those films solo out of necessity, as I didn’t know anyone who worked production who would like to work together. Now it’s more a preference. I like smaller crews for my films. Whether it’s just a crew of 2, myself included in that number, or just by myself. I’m open to work with others of course if there is something of value they can add to the production, something that is beyond my skill set.
That really started for me since the very 1st project I ever worked on at college. I was in a not so good team for a final commercial for the semester that we had to shoot and edit. The 2 guys I was with, did not care about the project, or have any sort of creative eye (were not film majors and I never saw them again after that class). It ended up being the day before the commercial was due, I was not about to fail due to their unwillingness to help. So that was when I 1st took a project from 0 to completion without a crew. I remember that evening after class, I called all of my friends, asked all of them if they want to be in a commercial. Just dance around for 2 hours while I film it. The majority of them fortunately said yes.
I remember going to the Lab Tech to rent out a camera to film, and he looked at me funny. The 1st thing he said was “Where’s your team?” I told him “I don’t know” he said “well we can’t give you gear if your filming alone” So I was fortunate enough to get a guy who was working on his final project to come with me to rent the gear, even though I shot it solo. After a few hours, I went up to edit. I had no idea what I was doing at the time. This was my 1st time really editing something from zero. Was again lucky that the lab techs were nice enough to teach me how to edit. I stayed until they closed, then arrived the next day at 5am. I arrived before the lab tech who used to say no one arrives before him did. Edited it until the literally the last minute. My group members came in. They looked at me, and said “how’s it going?” I was trying to keep my cool after what I just went through knowing he was going to get the benefit from it for doing nothing lol I just showed it to him. He asked if he can make some adjustments, he did. But I hit control Z after he did lol he made it not look so good. Showed it to the class got an A.
That was how I started working alone, now I work alone mainly for preference sake unless someone can provide value to something that I cannot do on my own, I remember hearing people tell me it’s not possible to do, that it takes a large team. But I’m doing it, and have done it on every film I’ve created so far. At most, just 1 person with me. But 99 percent of it is solo.
How I paid for my equipment is also unconventional lol I’m a tournament/league bowler who averages 210. During a period of time. I was winning a lot of tournaments and used that money to pay for my equipment. While also working full time as an editor, and working another 40 hours at a part time job as well (80 hours a week) The people at my part time job thought I was crazy, they even drug tested me at the time. ( I don’t do drugs lol) I was and still am, just ambitious.
During all of this I have still taken various actors training from different instructors such as PASA, Actors Comedy Studio, Vic Trevino, and Nova Arts, the Online Actor. And to this day, continue to learn, to not only use those skills to act but to also direct.
My video skills have positively impacted my acting, and vice versa. It all compliments each other. I would recommend every actor know video production.
I regularly audition for roles, I have booked 3 vertical films, 2 commercials along with 2 other short films, 1 feature, and a TV series within a 12 month period, and just had 3 auditions done today.
Finished 4 films in 1 year. (Superman fan film, 2 Solo Leveling fan films, an Attack on Titan Fan Film, that are on YouTube and an original film titled “Planet of the Weenies” that is currently in distribution.
Wrapping up a Star wars fan film as we speak. Currently casting for final roles for that one. Actors are very hard to find it looks like. I am not sure why, I create opportunities for actors to act in, but the turnout in San Antonio is very very low. 95 percent of the actors I have worked with are from out of town. I know the talent is here. Just need them to show themselves.
If you’re an actor, and are reading this, if you see a casting call I put out, and are interested, please reach out 🙂 regardless of experience level, I’ll more than likely give you an audition if you fit the look
If you’re a filmmaker who is looking for someone to edit your film, let me know. I’ve edited a 2 hour feature in 1 week and a 30 minute film in 1 day. Results may vary depending on complexity and organization.
I’m an actor who is a filmmaker (Video editor, cinematographer, VFX artist)
I’m also a bowler 🙂
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The main obstacle now is getting paid for films. Most independent filmmakers do not have a good source of funding. So most of my money comes from videography (Corporate. weddings, conferences, concerts)/vfx work/acting. And getting an agent for acting, but I have been booking a lot without one already. I would like to get with a talent agency that can help elevate and grow me to the next level. Been training for many years, I have a long resume for acting beyond just my own films.
Paying the bills comes first of course until I can find a way to make money through my own films. The problem is, most people wouldn’t trust a guy doing it all by himself. But that is why I am making the short films I am making prior to my 1st feature film, also making shorts first to not only build a portfolio so people trust me, but also to network with actors. If I have a hard time finding 7 actors for a short film, how would I expect to find a 20 to 40, or even hundreds if you count extras for a feature film?
It took me a year to find 7 actors. (Crazy I know)
Paid or unpaid it does not matter, for my Superman Fan Film, I was paying my actors. and still had almost no interest at all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I kinda answered this in previous questions, I am an actor/director/writer/ video editor/cinematographer./vfx artist
What do I specialize in? Really all of those skills. I try not be a jack of all trades, master of none, but to be a master of all skills.
What am i known for? Probably for my action films, mainly my superman film that is the most popular, if you google superman fan film, mine is the top one to show up. I’m hoping my star wars film I am completing gains popularity as well
What am I proud of? My skills I have gained, and to be able to create anything I can imagine with little to no budget with no other crew
What sets me apart? the same thing that I am proud of, I don’t need to depend on anyone to do anything for me. I can take films from 0 to completion with no crew, including VFX. The only one I’ve personally heard of who was able to do that was Robert Rodriguez
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Ai. It is going to create a change. What that is, it is too soon to say. What I am hoping it doesn’t go to is, people typing prompts and calling themselves vfx artists, or filmmakers when they did absolutely nothing.
But unfortunately that looks like that is where things are headed. The thing I spent countless hours learning, being able to be done by typing a prompt. I don’t like it
Ai will mean the end of everything production if it keeps progressing, no actors, no editors, no cinematographers, no vfx artists. Literally nothing except a person typing a prompt calling himself an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zakcardenas2.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zakcardenas/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zak.cardenas/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-cardenas-7a5b06108
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zakattack321
