Daniel Naranjo-Rodriguez
Student / Future Creative
Daniel Naranjo-Rodriguez, Student / Future Creative
“Since I can remember, I have been doodling. I’ve always had an interest in drawing and painting. I think I inherited that from my dad; drawing is one of his hidden talents.” Daniel Naranjo-Rodriguez has been captivated by various artistic mediums from a very young age. During a brief stint as a child actor, he was much more interested in what was going on behind the camera. The art forms that capture his interest, illustration, photography and filmmaking all have one thing in common: The ability to convey messages through images is of the utmost importance.
Far from being a Jack-of-all-trades, Daniel has set his sights on a career in one particular field. “I have a passion for the visual aspect of filmmaking. Cinematography checks all my boxes,” he says. “Being good at drawing means that my storyboards have more detail and look more professional,” he adds.
For Daniel, cinematography offers the most significant creative range. “What captivates me is creating visual compositions and creating stunning images by playing with colour and camera angles,” he explains.
Daniel has committed his passion for image-making to study. Now in the final year of a Media & Communications degree at Goldsmiths, the journey is almost complete. “My degree has allowed me to develop a more critical perspective and understand the theories and debates around media.” Before this, he has been moulding his craft through in-depth, hands-on study in Creative Media Production.
“The BTEC allowed me to get a clearer picture of what it’s like to work in film and television as a freelancer. But more importantly, the course allowed me to develop communication and teamwork skills, which are crucial to a career in the industry.”
The combination of natural talent and an aptitude for communication earned him an award at college as Student of the Year. What might appear on the surface to be an effortless career path was in fact a journey filled with great personal transition.
In 2013 Daniel arrived in the UK from Colombia. As a youngster with a basic knowledge of English, Daniel had to develop communication skills almost from scratch. “I went from being the popular class clown to the shy foreign student,” he confides. Working in youth-led film productions and winning awards for those projects gave him the confidence to break through those cultural barriers.
Daniel has many artistic inspirations, but what motivates him is the example set by his parents, not only to work hard, but above all for personal satisfaction. “The feeling I get after watching an excellent film is what inspires me. I’d like for my work to instigate social change and leave a positive mark on people’s lives.”
Interview by: Tega Okiti
