A Conversation with Director Ángel Manuel Soto

March 18, 2021

A DGA Latino Committee Virtual Event

On March 17, the Latino Committee’s meeting featured a conversation with Director Ángel Manuel Soto.

Moderated by Director/Latino Committee Co-Chair Edward Ornelas (The Resident), Soto discussed topics including his career as a filmmaker, Latino underrepresentation in the industry and social activism through film. Following the moderated portion of the event, he took questions from the online audience.

Soto made his feature directorial debut with La Granja (The Farm) which sheds light on the tough realities facing the people of Puerto Rico. He went on to create several groundbreaking narrative VR pieces such as “Dinner Party” and “Bashir’s Dream.” More recently, Soto directed the 2020 Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominated-feature, Charm City Kings. He has been a DGA member since 2018.

ABOUT THE COMMITTEE:

The Latino Committee was created as a networking group to advance career and job opportunities for Latino DGA members by improving craft skills, networking, and making Latinos better known to the Hollywood creative community. The current LC Co-Chairs are Directors Regina Ainsworth and Edward Ornelas and Second Assistant Director Alicia Zaragoza.

Click here to visit the Latino Committee webpage.

See video from this event coming in the gallery below.

Pictures & Video

View slideshow

FULL TALK: (55:20): Director Edward Ornelas moderates a conversation featuring Director Ángel Manuel Soto wherein they discuss Mr. Soto’s directorial style, what draws him into a project, and how authenticity drives his creativity.

HIGHLIGHT: Director Ángel Manuel Soto explains why he likes to shoot “oners” to maintain the connection between action and drama, especially within his film Charm City Kings.

HIGHLIGHT: Soto describes how he builds trust in his rehearsal process with actors using an example from La Granja.

HIGHLIGHT: Soto talks about how the verité style of documentary has influenced the breadth of his career.

Director Ángel Manuel Soto discussed his career during the March 2021 Latino Committee meeting.

Director/Latino Committee Co-Chair Edward Ornelas serves as moderator of the discussion with Director Ángel Manuel Soto during the March 2021 Committee meeting.

Clockwise from top left: Latino Committee Co-Chairs Alicia Zaragoza and Edward Ornelas (moderator), Director Ángel Manuel Soto and Committee Co-Chair Regina Ainsworth.