Meet Luis Arturo Tapia | Director, Cinematographer, and Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luis Arturo Tapia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luis Arturo, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve been drawn to filmmaking as far back as I can remember. My parents used to show us old home movies on our little 8mm projector, and as soon as I could hold I camera I started making my own little films, recruiting my brother or friends to pitch in as actors or crew. The truth of it is, I simply love to tell stories through film, and I love the process of making films. It’s technical and creative. It requires collaboration. And when it all works, it produces a kind of magic that I find addictive.

It wasn’t until I was a few years out of college that I realized I could make a career out of filmmaking. I was in Shanghai, with a really interesting job at a strategy consulting firm, but I was spending a lot of my free time writing scripts and hanging out on Chinese film and TV sets as a bit-part actor. After a chance introduction to a like-minded French cinematographer in Tokyo, he and I decided to quit our jobs and start a little video production studio: Daedalum Films.

We started out making documentary and fiction shorts and putting them online, and that turned into opportunities for paid commercial work. We had the good fortune of timing: it was the mid 2000’s, international brands were pouring into China, and everyone needed video content. We had the chance to work for a lot of great brands, and eventually expanded to work beyond Asia, taking on projects around the world.

Last year I decided to return to the US, with a desire to gain experience in the advertising world. Since May 2022 I’ve worked at BBH USA, running their internal production studio, Black Sheep Studios. It’s a thrill to work alongside some of the top creative talent in the world, and to be a part of the team that brings those ideas to life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I tend to gravitate toward documentary storytelling. I love pursuing a real story through a camera lens. Mostly I am trying to satisfy my own curiosity. I’ll come across something and simply want to know more, and I’m compelled to share what I’ve learned. I’ve documented all sorts of subjects: online vigilantism in China’s burgeoning Internet days, an up-and-coming band making their first album, the workaday life of a golf pro on the bubble, the public and behind-the-scenes life of a megastar, to name just a few. Most recently I’ve been working on a film about an elderly Hong Kong woman’s attempts to protect an imperiled herd of wild water buffalo.

I strive to document real stories in an authentic way, with an elevated aesthetic. I like shooting on cinema cameras, and often prefer to use a single focal length. To film a documentary in this way is a challenge that brings me a lot of joy. I came across a quote from Robert Bresson that I feel best sums up my aspiration here: shooting is to “Put oneself into a state of intense ignorance and curiosity, and yet see things in advance.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I grew up in Dallas, but left in 1998 to go to college and continued onwards to spend 20 years in Asia. I returned last year and have been getting to know the area again. It’s changed a lot, but also a lot of my old haunts remain.

Oak Cliff and Bishop Arts are a lot of fun. My family and I love heading there and spending an afternoon. The Texas Theater is probably my favorite cinema–I screened a short film there years ago and it was such a great experience. Eno’s Pizza, Lockhart Barbecue, and El Si Hay are particular favorites, and Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters is our go-to for roasted beans. My wife and I spent a lot of time in Thailand over the years and were thrilled to discover the Buddhist Temple of Dallas’ weekend Thai Market, which has the best Thai food we’ve come across so far in town. There are a lot of great burgers in town but I’ve always been partial to Jake’s on Skillman. And it took some searching, but so far the best Taiwanese Beef Noodles I’ve found are at King’s Noodles in Richardson–and I am obnoxiously picky here. And my whole family love’s that there is a real Hai Di Lao Chinese hot pot restaurant in Frisco. If you’ve never had it, go try it!

I live near White Rock Lake, and going for a jog or bike ride around the lake is one of my favorite ways to get some exercise.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d have to shoutout my original business and creative partner, Arnaud Kamphuis. He and I took a crazy leap together to quit our jobs and dive into the unknown and try to build up a business around video production. There were some lean days in the beginning. Having someone to face the challenges with was really important. He eventually moved on from Daedalum Films, and he’s now doing amazing things with Web3.0 based in Paris, but we keep in touch and are always looking for chances to work together.

Website: www.luis-arturo-tapia.com

Instagram: @taiande

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisarturotapia/

Other: www.daedalumfilms.com, www.motherofbuffalo.com

Image Credits
tom brady 1.jpg – ESPN, 17.070.AS3C ANA DIS JD BTS LITTLE PIRATES A clean (Resolve)_US_422.00_00_35_09.Still002.jpg – Disney. 20170905 Trailer v2.00_00_21_14.Still002.jpg – Faye Wong documentary GLP for SOD.jpg – Global Logistics Properties MoB Still for SOD.jpg – Mother of Buffalo documentary YSL for SOD.jpg – Yves Saint Laurent Nodey for SOD.jpg – Nodey music video IPO.jpg – Alibaba