An interview with the Director of Ruiz, screening at the 2024 Mosaic World Film Festival.
1. What drew you to create this film?
I think one of the biggest things that drove me to create this film was really meeting Kcey’s family. I fell in love immediately with her sister, mom and father as well as her best friends. They had so many beautiful memories of Kcey that I knew needed to be shared on film. I saw myself and my sister in Kcey and Maya which is another aspect that drew me in closer to this story. I have spent many years dealing with grief through film, exploring how it is that we cope with traumatic experiences and loss and this film was created to show how we keep those who have passed on alive through the stories we tell one another.
We have two deaths, one physical and the second when our name is no longer said. I wanted to make sure that Kcey Ruiz’s name would never be lost.
2. What does filmmaking mean to you?
As a historian and documentary filmmaker, I am able to practice creating history today for those in the future. Documentary and film as a whole is a way to create a time capsule of the events happening today or in the past. I want to have my hand in creating films that inspire and also represent people, films that connect us and empower us. Filmmaking is my entire being and I would not trade the work I do for anything in the world.
3. What advice would you give students or beginners that want to make films?
My best advice is just keep practicing, hone your craft. I began editing small projects when I was just a child and continued to work on that skill. Everyone has a voice and stories that they want to tell, it is our job to bring life to these stories and project them onto the screen. So, keep practicing, keep building your portfolio and don’t be afraid to take a chance on a project and yourself.
4. What films do you watch again and again?
There are countless films that I will watch over and over again but two that come to mind immediately are “Perfect Blue” and “No Country for Old Men.” As an editor I think that these two films exemplify the craft and push what it means to edit film even further. If you have not seen either of these films I highly recommend a few watches of each.
Thank you Jesse!
You can get tickets for the #2024mwff here: https://filmfreeway.com/MosaicWorldFilmFestival/tickets