We had the good fortune of connecting with Joel Valdes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joel, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Before doing filmmaking full time, I had an office job that was comfortable but left me feeling too drained to dedicate time to following my dream. Quitting that job was a very risky choice, but I’m so happy with my decision and all the doors that have opened for me now that I dedicate all my time to my craft. I now get to work with many driven and like-minded people to tell stories that are important to us.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work focuses on telling stories about people that are often overlooked by society. Over the last year, I directed two short films that portrayed different experiences of immigrants in America. I’m proud of those movies, and really excited about the next project I’m working on. The next film deals with sex addiction and masculinity, which is another topic that I feel should be talked about more openly. I have been collaborating with an amazing team of producers to go through the pre-production process, and we will start shooting in the Fall. Our movie’s website is lipslikefire.com and we’re all really excited to keep sharing out updates on how the production is going. The website also has a donation button for anyone who would like to provide support!

Collaboration of ideas is my favorite part of the filmmaking process, and I think that embracing the community aspect of filmmaking has made my artistic journey immensely fulfilling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love checking out the art in the city, and luckily it’s very easy to find. Whenever I get free time, the first place I think of to visit is the Menil collection. The surrealist art that they have there is beautiful and it inspires me artistically every time. A great spot to eat is Sparkles Hamburger spot, one of my favorite hidden gems in the city. It’s tradition now for me to go there with my friends when we want to celebrate something, and it’s a treat showing it to new people.

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?
My filmmaking partner, Rey Francis, has been a huge part of my filmmaking journey. He is a very talented actor, and is knowledgeable in many other fields of the film industry. We have collaborated on many projects together, constantly bouncing ideas off each other to make the best work possible. We are currently working on a thriller short film that we co-wrote, titled “Lips Like Fire”.

Website: lipslikefire.com

Instagram: Joel_and_valdes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe25Hyne0vk6wYTFhOWIG6A

Other: Click the link below to follow and support my upcoming film! https://linktr.ee/lipslikefire

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.