Meet Mauricio Herrera Manzur | Filmmaker & Screenwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mauricio Herrera Manzur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mauricio, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was a young child, I was naturally inclined towards the creative arts. I owe this to my parents who always encouraged me to explore my creativity by buying me LEGO sets and enrolling me in music and painting classes. Despite being doctors themselves, they fully supported my artistic pursuits. But it wasn’t until I watched Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” that I realized my true calling – making films. There was something about that movie that captivated me and inspired me to become a world builder, telling stories that blend realism with fantasy. I initially thought that pursuing Industrial Design would allow me to create and build new worlds. However, after seeking guidance from my mentors, I realized that my true passion lay in the field of filmmaking. Although I initially believed that I would excel as a camera operator, and I did, but I found myself becoming more invested in the art of storytelling, which led me to explore areas such as directing and writing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a Mexican filmmaker in the United States, I have faced several challenges due to cultural differences between Mexico and the US. However, with the help of my professors, I have been able to embrace this cultural change and use it to enhance my art to tell more diverse stories. Additionally, I have found mentorship to be an important aspect of my life and my art. Having a mentor has provided me with valuable insights and helped me learn new tricks and techniques that have allowed me to improve my craft more effectively. Without my mentors, I may have graduated with a completely different major and never pursued a career in film at SCAD in the USA. Another big aspect that sets me apart is my work culture and how I approach a problem. There is never “We can’t do that” but always a “let’s figure out a way to do that”. Always trying to find that balance between creativity and teamwork to solve any of the complications we might find. As I approach my graduation in the summer of 2024, I am excited to see what opportunities lie ahead. I am particularly interested in how the 2023 WGA strike will impact the industry and how it may benefit writers in the future.

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?
As I reside in Savannah, GA, and have been studying at SCAD since 2017, I would love to take my visitors on a tour of the institute that shaped me. In addition to that, I would also like to show them around the city of Savannah. I highly admire the picturesque views that Savannah offers in places such as River Street, Forsyth Park, the Historic District, and even places away from downtown such as Wormsloe or Skidaway. For breakfast, I would suggest Mirabelle Savannah which offers delicious waffles and a beautiful view of The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. For lunch, I would recommend any of the great restaurants located on either Broughton St. or River Street. Although I am not much of a party person, I would still take them for a drink to Peregrin at the Perry Lane Hotel, as it has one of my favorite views of the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, I would like to thank my parents who have supported me throughout my undergraduate degree and now during my master’s, despite it being far from their own beliefs. I am also grateful to my siblings for inspiring me to pursue a creative path, and for teaching me the values of resilience and hard work, which have made me a better student and individual. Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to my friends and professors who have supported me unconditionally in my craft and have constantly pushed me to become a better version of myself, helping me to improve as a filmmaker.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-herrera-manzur/

Other: https://vimeo.com/mauricioherreramanzur https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10878530/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Image Credits
Quinn McHugh Fluet Kristian Robateau Chen Du Talissa Wright