Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Valverde
Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s not your ordinary story of how I got to where I am. I immigrated from Ecuador at a very young age. In my late teens, I was not the best student. I would get in trouble at times, and I got into so much trouble one time that the world stopped for me. I had to resolve many issues, mend hearts, and become something in society when everything and most people had no hope for me. Watching movies and learning about filmmaking made me happy at my lowest point. I went to film school and got involved with internships to put me on set. I worked as a production assistant, met mentors who gave me a shot and acquired a crazy amount of credit card debt to buy film equipment. I was putting everything on the line to make it in this film world. It has not been successful; I have crashed and burned a few times, but we all need those. The jobs eventually got bigger, more equipment, and I can honestly say that I love what I do. I primarily work as a Cinematographer. I also do camera operating, and in the past couple of years, I have gotten into Gaffing. I started my film production company, Albacora Pictures Inc., back in 2013 and haven’t looked back
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Crash and burn! Of Course! It has not been a smooth ride. There was a point where I had almost 30k in credit card bills, and I could not bring them down. There have been times when mistakes have been made on my end that have affected a project. Sometimes, tempers have gone off the handle, and friendships on the job have been compromised. Also, there is a big uncertainty of work; sometimes, you are so busy that there are no days off. On other days, your neighbors probably ask themselves why this guy is at the park with his daughter on a Tuesday at 11 am. It’s not easy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Albacora Pictures is the video production company I started in 2013. I usually collaborate with other freelancers on more significant projects and handle smaller jobs myself. The list of jobs varies from documentaries to travel series, promotional videos, and concerts; it’s always different, and that is an aspect I enjoy a lot. I believe what I am mostly known for is interview work; I am not sure what sets me apart from everyone. I give it my all every time. I have so many shoots I am proud of; I would say the latest music video that I produced under my company and also as the Director of Photography with the artist Sukihana is what I am most proud of. It took a lot of effort, and I assembled a team I enjoyed collaborating with; our services are preproduction, production, and post. I specialize in Cinematography and Camera Operator, but I also offer lighting as a gaffer.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking… Early on in my career, I took a lot of risks when purchasing gear, with uncertainty about the return on that investment. Some investments worked out better than others, but it all worked out overall. From my experiences as a risk taker early in my career, I now analyze all new equipment I purchase to ensure I will get a return on that investment, so I learned from my risk-taking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://albacorapictures.com & https://michaelvalverde.tv
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albacorapictures
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4451591
