Julian Rodriguez started making movies when he was ten years old. “The only actors I ever had were family and friends. I have never had a budget. I always just used stuff around my house and made the best of it.” A graduate of Bonita Vista High School with a 4.11 GPA, Julian tells us his skills as “a filmmaker, photographer, and writer” come from reading many books. And clearly, from hard work: Julian’s YouTube channel (Samrod Productions) sports 28 original short films, with Julian billed as the “writer, director, producer, animator, cinematographer, costume designer, production designer, actor.” One of his films, What Makes Us Matter, was officially selected at the All-American High School Film Festival in 2021. Described as “an effective leader who inspires with the quality of his work and gets the best out of individuals,” Julian also led his high school’s TV broadcast as the anchor. Julian is attending Cal State Los Angeles in the fall and will study Television, Film, and Media. “I see each shortcoming as an opportunity to be more creative and adventurous. The more challenges I have faced, the better I have become as an artist.’ His entrepreneurial spirit will, no doubt, blossom.

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