Meet Carlos R Diazmuñoz AMC | Director of Photography/Cinematographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos R Diazmuñoz AMC and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos R, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I actually started in aeronautical engineering. My artistic parents and family never pushed

me to pursue being in the film industry at all even though I did work in advertising as a very young kid. I did it for fun only but it was hard since grade school kids made fun of me for being in commercials on national television in Mexico. I was called a showoff and was bullied a bit about it. I laugh now thinking about it since I did get to be side by side on a national Pepsi commercial with one of my favorite soccer stars back then in the Mexican soccer league who later on became the FIFA president. It was obviously enviousness since I never bragged about my work in advertising. I was also dubbing commercials with my brother Martin and acting as well in my uncle Ricardo’s plays that he directed and wrote back in the early 70’s. 

When I moved to Los Angeles the first time back in 1984 to continue paying for my own college education in aerospace, I drove by a huge Hollywood film production on Sunset Blvd. I made a split second decision to change careers and study film. I grew up with artists as I mentioned and it just came naturally to pursue being a cinematographer. My late father called me the next day asking me if I wanted to study film in Mexico City with my brother and stepsister in a private film school. He had no idea that I had made my career change the day before. It was amazing how connected my father and I were. Now I am back to Los Angeles since 2016 in a whole different situation with a very extended career and extremely happy I made a career change

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As Director of Photography/Cinematographer since 1989, I can say that my experience definitely sets me apart from others having worked in over two thousand productions since the start of my career. I truly started in the film industry when we used to truly film with 35mm and 16mm film motion picture cameras. The discipline learned while filming has changed radically today with digital cinema cameras since you can shoot endless takes and the film cost is really not an issue as much. When I made the important career change of being a 1st assistant cameraman to DP/Cinematographer, it was in Houston Texas working for a corporate production company that shot everything in Betacam SP video. I had a great showreel as a cinematographer already but I loved being a first assistant cameraman. I felt it was a poor decision for me to move to Houston without researching fully what the film industry was like in Houston but it was more of a personal and romantic outlook for me at that time. We also had no internet at the time and things were not as easy to research as they are today. I really had no idea how to use a video camera back then but became very efficient utilizing my film expertise and discipline as far as lighting and composition. With the help of other extremely helpful freelancers and their knowledge in the video realm, I feel that I was a great asset to the production company that brought in many Telly awards for our corporate work. 

When digital cinema became a standard for most productions, I welcomed the change without hesitation due to my valuable experience back in Houston. Some colleagues fought the change but had to adapt no matter what sooner or later to digital cinema. 

I am extremely proud of many projects to be honest. One of the many productions besides my first feature film in 2004 named “Addicts” directed by Manuel Fernández, was working in “Fear the Walking Dead” season three in 2017 as 3 unit cinematographer for episodes one and three. It was incredible to have been part of such a huge Hollywood production. I was also the second unit in a Wisin and Yandel music video featuring Jennifer Lopez called “Follow the Leader” directed by Jessy Terrero. My work in music videos back in the early 90’s for Rap-A- with the Geto Boys’ late Bushwick Bill and his song “Ever So Clear” was the #1 music video of the week in MTV’s show Yo’ Raps. That was an exciting day for me as I watched it on MTV when it was announced. Scarface was also a Geto Boys’ member and the music video “Streetlife” was intercut with scenes from the feature film “South Central” in which Oliver Stone was executive producer. “Streetlife” was the 7th song in the soundtrack for “South Central”.

I am also extremely proud of the independent productions I have worked on such as the incredible documentary of the monarch butterfly migration “The Buttery Trees” directed and written by Kay Milam. It took us many years to accomplish it with the challenges that any independent productions encounter as far as financing it. Another independent project that I am extremely proud of is “Una Great Movie”, a narrative feature film produced, directed, written and edited by Jennifer Sharp who was also a supporting actress. It is a 96% true story as she states her life in the Hollywood film industry. It can now be seen in Amazon Prime and Tubi with advertisements. I am also very fond of a documentary short film I directed, produced, edited and was cinematographer as well for a grade school friend who is a very talented painter whose name is Juan Sebastián Barberá. The documentary short film was a complimentary DVD that was included in a book printed in Spain named “Painted Histories and Love Poems”. 

Another project that I am very proud of is also a very recent shoot from 2021, it is a short film directed and written by a dear friend of mine Rodrigo Rodriguez. It is a farce of the illegal immigration system at the Texas border named “American Alien” in which a real out of space alien gets caught up in the system. I was also a colorist besides being Director of Photography and it is getting ready to hit the short film festival route. 

My latest narrative feature film named “Crossed Destinies” is getting ready to hit the festival circuit and be signed by a distributor. I am very excited about this film written and directed by Francisco Álvarez. 

I would not say my career has been easy as the hours are extremely demanding and not for everyone. If you are passionate about your career, you can overcome the strenuous challenges and pull through no matter what the obstacles are. The outcome has been very rewarding having projects that have won several awards at film and advertising festivals including a nomination to best cinematography in the Mexican Film Critics Awards for the feature film “Me Late Chocolate” ( I Fancy Chocolate) starring Karla Souza, directed, produced and written by Joaquin Bissner whom I met back in lm school in Mexico City back in 1984. 

The lessons I have learned along the way are to be a good listener, be humble, keep on top of the ever changing technology in the industry, be a great planner in pre-production but also be able to improvise when needed. Amicability and respect also have to be combined with extreme internal focus and every job has to be unique. Always be conscious of the budget and don’t be demanding on impossibilities, be a producer’s ally at all times and not an egocentric enemy. An excellent cinematographer can make artistic “magic” happen no matter what the budget is. Composition is extremely important as well as being a good observer of nature and being educated on the master painters from our past and in modern days. Visit museums, take in what you see and don’t be quick to use your smartphone to capture the moment, take it in and contemplate first.

I like to add that working in the USA and Mexico has brought the best of both countries in my profession. Each country has extremely advantageous aspects while shooting so I can combine the best of both cultures in any high-end or independent production demand. 

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?
This question is very easy as I am an avid cyclist. It is very important to balance your life instead of being focused only on working 24/7. I would definitely invite them to ride from Santa Monica pier to Torrance and back, but it is a 42 mile ride on a dedicated bike path next to the ocean. If they are not up to that, we can go hiking to see the Hollywood sign or have a beach picnic as well. A walk in the mostly unknown Venice California canals is also a must. Hollywood boulevard is always a brief and important attraction. Cultural visits are very important to the Hammer Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Getty Museum, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum and the fairly new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures as well. Los Angeles has amazing sushi as well and amazing international cuisine in many restaurants so dining out is marvelous. A week-long trip would be barely enough but extremely productive and satisfying. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

One of the main credits definitely goes to my late father, mentor, colleague and best friend Carlos Diazmuñoz Gómez. When I started working behind camera in the film industry and being his 1st assistant cameraman, I started calling him Chief and it became his nickname for almost everyone including our family. Chief’s dedication, professionalism, humbleness, dedication, passion and perfectionism is reflected in who I am today. 

We shared the set many times for decades as I evolved in my career to be a full time Director of Photography/Cinematographer. I was extremely fortunate to work with Chief in many advertising campaigns when he was directing as well. My late father was very demanding yet easy going and being his son did not give me the right to work with him since I had to prove that I was capable of deserving my job positions with him. I was so happy to be able to refer him to be alongside my team as well in shoots with two camera units including our second motion picture together where I was first unit Director of Photography and he came on board as second unit Director of Photography. Our first motion picture together was when I was acting at age 6 with my brother Martin and our cousin Fermin. My late father’s oldest brother Ricardo wrote the screenplay, his youngest sibling Eduardo wrote the music score and Chief was the Director of Photography. 

Another key person in my life has been my talented uncle Eduardo Diazmuñoz. Eduardo is an amazing symphony conductor and composer with a trajectory that is admirable. Not only has he won a Latin Grammy with the Symphony of Bogota, he has also conducted and been a music professor in Australia, the USA and Mexico amongst others. Eduardo has set the bar extremely high on what hard work, passion and dedication can be achieved therefore, he has been a mentor for me as far as aspiring to reach for the stars in my career. 

I also need to mention an admirable woman that I met in Mexico City whose name is Oliver Araiz. Oliver is a production company owner, a production designer and executive producer. Her elegance, kindness, culture and extremely good taste, taught me many valuable aspects in my career. One of our many highlights was to film together with Chief and Eduardo, a music video for the Carlos Chavez symphony in Mexico City. The production value was amazing with the symphony in locations such as the pyramids of Tehotihuacán, the museum of anthropology in Mexico City and the castle of Chapultepec also in Mexico City. 

And last but not least, it is my endless work since 2004 as a board member and current president of the world renowned Mexican Society of Cinematographers known as the AMC. The camaraderie amongst our colleagues who are some of the top Directors of Photography in the world, has been extremely rewarding and a passion project for me for almost 2 decades. This position has brought me to meet many amazing colleagues from other societies around the world including members of the American Society of Cinematographers known as the ASC. 

To culminate this story, I was invited to the International Cinematographers Film Festival Manaki Brothers in Bitola Macedonia in August 2022 representing the AMC and Mexico. I was honored to be one of five jury members in the oldest and first cinematographer’s film festival in the world and presented the bronze award at the closing ceremony of the prestigious festival. 

Website: http://cinema3.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crdiazmunoz/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crdiazmunoz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlos.r.diazmunoz/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzMSBwMM_8Udk_eSQif57Gw

Other: Mexican Cinematographer Society https://www.cinefotografo.com/ Mexican Cinematographer Society free bimonthly Spanish digital magazine named 23.98fps https://issuu.com/23.98fps free registration https://www.cinefotografo.com/registro-23-98fps/

Image Credits
Photo Credits #1 “Jalisco Mexico Tourism” advertising campaign, directed by Paco Álvarez featuring singer Patty Cantú. # 2 “Una Great Movie” narrative feature film written, directed, and produced by Jennifer Sharp. Supporting actor José Casasús and leading actress Numa Perrier. #3 “The Buttery Trees” feature length documentary written and directed by Kay Milam. # 4 “Me Late Chocolate” directed and produced by Joaquín Bissner. Leading actress Karla Souza. #5 “Painted Histories and Love Poems”, documentary short directed and produced by Carlos R. Diazmuñoz with artist Juan Sebastián Barberá. # 6 “American Alien” short film written and directed by Rodrigo Rodriguez. #7 “Addicts” narrative feature film, written and directed by executive producer Manuel Fernández. #8 “Crossed Destinies” directed by Paco Alvarez with leading actress Getsemaní Vela.