Though early in his career, native Laredo filmmaker Diego Martinez is emerging as a distinct and disruptive voice in the city’s film scene. Last February, he released his latest short film, Ode to Phantom Limbs, continuing to refine his already impressive cinematic style.
Currently a student at Texas A&M International University, Martinez began producing “genuine” short films in college. His interest in film, however, began much earlier.
“It was in me already,” he said, recalling how he would rewatch his favorite movies repeatedly as a child, forcing his grandparents to start them over again.
He said his early influences ranged from Martin Scorsese to more unconventional directors like David Lynch, Andrei Tarkovsky, Ingmar Bergman, and Béla Tarr. “I guess I enjoy filmmakers who go against the grain,” he noted, a preference that would end up shaping his visual and narrative style.
Martinez also credits former teachers and close friends for helping him shape his artistic voice. At Harmony School of Excellence, English teachers strengthened his writing, while a history teacher encouraged his growing interest in philosophy. There he also met two of his closest friends, who have helped him with video projects since then. He also credited his parents, Ricardo and Nancy Martinez, and his girlfriend, Ana Elena Ramon, as key sources of support.
He explores themes of social critique using an experimental approach. “I’m very critical of systems,” he said, “and that could go as far as societal systems, social contracts, or interpersonal relationships.”
His first short film, There are Rules in This House, explored an abusive household through a horror lens. “I thought it was such an interesting dynamic as a system within that household,” he explained.
Following his interest in philosophy, Martinez tackled a more existential topic in his second short film, Project Static: To Understand the Frequency. In it, he follows an artificial person challenging a system that defines him as “nothing but code.”
It was in this project that he developed a distinctive style using unconventional filmmaking techniques. Slow shutter speed, step printing, and a narration that borders on poetry highlight the influence of neo-noir cinema and filmmakers such as Wong Kar Wai, whom Martinez cited as an inspiration for the film.
Much of this visual and narrative style was carried over to his most recent work, Ode to Phantom Limbs, which premiered in February at an event in partnership with the Laredo Film Society.
Martinez continued exploring social dynamics in this project, this time within a romantic relationship. “That was me dealing with a relationship I should have handled better,” he said, explaining the inspiration for the film. “With Ode to Phantom Limbs, it was like an ode to a part of yourself that’s no longer there, but you still feel it.”
Reflecting on the challenges of his new short film, he said this time he focused more on technical aspects and improving dialogue. He also learned about color grading, upgraded his audio equipment, and composed the film’s music himself.
He is currently working on Ode to Filmmaking, a documentary about the making of his latest project. “It’s a love letter to filmmaking,” he said. “I wanted to shine a light on the process, as well as the local film community.” The documentary will premiere at the Kill to Shoot Film Festival at Texas A&M International University in May.
He highlighted the role of the Laredo Film Society, which he discovered in high school. “I was thrilled to see that kind of representation,” Martinez recalled. “It was also inspiring just seeing stuff getting done here and seeing the local talent, too.”
Martinez has begun writing his next project and expressed his desire to continue improving the production value of his films and expanding their distribution, putting not only his name but also the Laredo film scene on the filmmaking radar.
(Born and raised in Nuevo Laredo, Enrique Fiscal is a filmmaker and student at Texas A&M International University. He has presented his work at several local festivals, where he has received recognition for his work. His latest short film, Olivia, is currently on the festival circuit and has been invited to participate in international film festivals.)
