Kenneth Castillo, sits with the Wilmington Wire for a Q&A to talk about how growing up in Wilmington has influenced his films and gives us updates on his latest project. I sat with Castillo last Monday after I met him a few years ago. I was glad to find out he was also from Wilmington and was excited to watch some of his films. Among them was “The Misadventures of Cholo Chaplin.” Inspired by famous silent film star, Charlie Chaplin and by Latinos in the U.S. Castillo created a culture mixing character: Cholo Chaplin. Once you watch an episode, its humorous plot and clever writing will have you hooked.
Check out the Q&A!
1) Did you grow up in Wilmington?
I lived in Wilmington for most of my life. I was about 22 when I moved.
2) Where did you go to school?
I went to Harbor College for a year. After Harbor, I went to LA City College to the Theater Academy there. I thought I wanted to be an actor. I did that program in a year and graduated from it. It’s where I learned about directing and acting. I didn’t think that the whole acting thing was for me but I really enjoyed directing. I met my current wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, at school. When we graduated we decided to start our own company, a theatrical company.
3) When did your interest for film develop?
The interest has always been there, but it took a while to get to the point of doing it on my own. My journey wasn’t a straight line. I basically started pretty late as a filmmaker.
I had always been interested in movies since I was young. I was watching films like Godfather and The Deer Hunter. Films that kids really shouldn’t be watching, but they caught my interest.
At Harbor College, I was involved in theater, and I knew the director there, Larry Heimgartner, and I was always interested in the arts.
4) How has it been trying to breakthrough in the film industry?
It has been good. I’ve been pursuing this since 2000 and it is 2011 now. I would say that the last 3 years were the best, because I managed to get funding for a future project after my last film. One project always leads to the next.
5) Is this what you do for a living?
No yet. There is not a lot of money in the independent film world. Even the most successful independent filmmakers that I know are working. It’s very difficult, but my goals are to built up fans, and get recognized.
A misconception people have is that if your movies are selling, than you must be rich. That is not the case at all.
6) Your film was featured at the Annual Reel Rasquache Art & Film Festival, what was the reaction?
The screening was great. I’m always nervous because I never know how an audience will react. Once a film is done, it’s a strange feeling of uncertainty, because you spend so much time on it, sometimes you just need distance from the film, which is when you just have to let it go and see what others think.
The great thing about my movies is that I take the audience on a different journey than what is expected. All my stuff is character driven. It’s not your typical gangster type film. They’re all very honest and authentic and the response from people is just that.
7) Has being from Wilmington influenced your work?
It’s been a huge influence. You write what you know. Growing up in Wilmington was very memorable. There are a lot of things that haven’t changed.
I drove by Red West and I remembered going there to eat pizza after baseball games at Wil Hal. I also remember John’s Hairstyles where I use to get my hair cuts. I have a lot of good memories of growing up in Wilmington, some bad but most of them are great. I have a script that’s going to be reflecting that and I want to shoot that next here in Wilmington and that would be with a major budget.
I grew up knowing a lot of interesting people and I haven't forgotten anything. As a writer, memory is invaluable because I write scripts from my experience. It doesn’t mean that any of my stuff is completely autobiographical but I would say that the characters all come from a real place.
8) One of your films is titled, “Ghost Town,” is that based from Ghost Town in Wilmington?
Oh, yeah. My friends and I use to ride our bikes around the neighborhood and when we would pass Ghost Town, it was a great view of the whole area. It looked almost like a movie set.
Friends and their older brothers were involved in gangs, I don’t like to say specific names of gangs, but it something we always grew up knowing about. So I kind of did this spin on it. I wanted to take that environment and make a love story out of it and that’s what “Ghost Town” is all about: It’s a love story.
9) Is there a central message that you’re trying to give through your films?
Yes, absolutely. All my films deal with self-expression, acceptance from the people around you, and self-love.
10) What’s the biggest challenge you've faced in pursuing film?
There’s so many (hahaha)!
There’s a "big vision" that I always have and sometimes it can be tough communicating it or persuading people to get on board with it.
The other struggle is that I’m a family man. It’s great to go to a movie set for 2-3 weeks and then come home to family. That’s a great feeling for me, but trying to maintain your responsibilities and pursue your dreams can be a struggle; a delicate balance.
I’m competing with guys that can dedicate their whole lives to film. They always look at me and say, "How the hell do you do what you do with two kids, a wife, and a job?!."
11) Are there any new projects you’re working on?
Yes, it’s called The Hearts of Men. We showed the trailer right after the screening of Confessions of a Gangster, and the response was amazing. Everyone was like, “When’s that coming out!?” We’ll probably have the screening in July or August. I’m trying to get a theatrical release for this one.
12) What advice do you give to people who are interested in pursuing film?
First of all, Film is a rich man’s game. My suggestion is always to just get a camera and start shooting, because there more you do it, the more you get better at it.
But there are three "rules" I live by as a filmmaker:
1st thing is never let your ego get bigger than your career.
2nd is don’t make promises you can’t keep. If you write a script don’t tell people you’re going to Sundance with it when you haven’t even shot a frame. Don’t tell actors that. Don’t even tell actors you have distribution until you have it, because once you break your word no one will believe you again.
3rd thing is never let more be said than done.
As a resident of Wilmington, I feel taking a Toxic Tour is a great way to learn important history about our town that is not always readily available. A Toxic Tour takes you around town providing a history of refinery explosions, scrap-yard fires, and soil contamination - something that's not provided in the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce's newsletters. Many people don't know the history of oil wells in Wilmington and the health problems they have caused. 
Trying to beat the summer heat? Taste something new and stop by the Chowder Barge, located off Henry Ford Ave just south of Anaheim St. in Wilmington. Look out for the blue Barge sign off the intersection. This pearl first sunk it's anchor in Wilmington after being ousted of the Long Beach Harbor in 1988.
The Barge has been serving warm clam chowder, sizzling hamburgers, and battered fish for many years. Upon arrival, be prepared to hear pirate tales of the seven seas; as well as port workers talk about their day to day work.
