I’ve always been fascinated by stories—especially the kind that blend myth, mystery, and a sense of adventure. I grew up loving all sorts of these type of legends, myths and stories. I created my own, regalling my family with my own superheroes, vampires, and space rangers. That passion led me to wear many creative hats over the years: author, comic book writer, podcaster, screenwriter, composer, voice actor, and most proudly—filmmaker.

My journey into filmmaking began with Seekers of the Lost Worlds, a feature-length science-fantasy adventure that I wrote, directed, and produced with my wife Rita De La Torre. It was a deeply personal project that explored lost civilizations and ancient secrets, and it gave me my first taste of what it means to bring a vision to life on screen. It made it on to Amazon Prime and won the Honolulu Film Festival Best of the Festival award in 2018. I’m not sure what was running against it because honestly it wasn’t very good – but it was fun, my wife and I co-wrote, co-directed, and produced the film with the help of friends and professional actors who would quickly become friends.

Since then, Rita and I have continued to push the boundaries of storytelling through two creative ventures I’m incredibly proud of: Ancient Memoria and Fugazy Films AI.

With Ancient Memoria, I focus on telling powerful, historically accurate animated docudramas that resurrect forgotten voices from the past. Series like Isabella: Rise of the Warrior Queen and The Defiant Stand of Boudica combine my love of history with a cinematic visual style inspired by Western anime. I want these stories to educate as much as they entertain.

On the flip side, Fugazy Films AI is where I let my geek flag fly. It’s a studio built on generative AI filmmaking tools like LTX Studio, Veo, Hailuo, Hedra, and ElevenLabs. Through Fugazy, I’ve reimagined beloved genres and icons—from Indiana Jones and the Fires of Atlantis to Hotel California: Abduction and Highlander: Resurrection. These films mix retro aesthetics (like 1950s Super Panavision or synth-heavy 80s grindhouse) with cutting-edge AI to create something totally fresh.

But I’ll be honest—integrating AI into my workflow wasn’t a decision I took lightly. I wrestled with the moral implications, especially given the heated debates surrounding AI and creative ownership. Some say AI “steals” art. But here’s how I see it:

AI doesn’t steal any more than a film student studying Spielberg or a painter studying Monet does. It observes, abstracts, and generates based on patterns—just like we do as human creators. The difference lies not in the tool, but in how it’s used. That’s why I believe the conversation should focus on responsible use, transparency, and respect for creators, not the rejection of the technology itself.

To me, AI is a tool—powerful, yes, but still a tool. And when wielded with care and intention, it becomes an incredible ally in democratizing creativity and expanding the boundaries of what independent filmmakers like myself can achieve.

Outside of film, I’ve authored speculative fiction novels like Ancient Rising and Nightmares from Eberus, created the comic series Star Mage for IDW Publishing, and produced audio dramas such as Continuum Force and Vampires of White Chapel. I even spent time as a sports columnist and was once nominated Best Sportswriter in Tampa Bay.

Through it all, my mission has stayed the same: tell great stories, honor the past, embrace the future, and create worlds people want to live in—even if just for a moment.

Thanks for being part of the adventure.