“A young man with an old soul and a camera. See you at the movies! “
I am a film director and I love to act in every movie I make. I am known for my cameos and take pride in collaborating with my actors and crew. I always ask “Who is the Director?” So I am known for that phrase. I hope you someday know me as The Director. See you at the movies.
cody “the director” grande
Hi, I am Cody Grande, and I am an actor and a filmmaker. Now the real question is what made me want to make movies, and become who I am today? Well, growing up with movie lovers in my family was a huge infulence, yet when I was 16 in high school, I directed my first film project in class and I knew from that moment I wanted to be a filmmaker. Since then, I started making short films on my iPhone with my little brother, who had no acting skills at the time, so I helped him because I took theater in high school and even though I had little experience we both became instant performers.
Once we made a couple of our own home movies, I was ready to direct a short film with my friends and post to the public. Luckily, I had friends in my theater class who were able to join me in this project, so I started with them and released it to the public. It wasn’t a big hit at first, but enough to get the attention from my family who are my biggest fans. So much that they wanted to be in my next short film, and please note the majority of my family are not professional actors, so I had to help them out, however, let’s just say as soon as my family acted in my third short film called “The House of Clues” this is when I made a name for myself. The film was released and everyone at my school immediately loved it. I have met new people and made more friends and they all have asked to be in my next short film. People started giving me the nickname “The Director” and throughout my high school career I made 6 short films all on my iPhone. It turned out to be an incredible high school experience.
I have learned so much about filmmaking and the industry ever since high school when I was introduced to directing by an amazing film teacher, Richard Way. I credit him with a special thanks at the end of every film. Exploring various genres, learning about the art of storytelling, and gaining hands-on experience behind the camera opened my eyes to the power of visual storytelling and its ability to convey emotions and messages.
As I look back on all the short films I have made I see how much I have grown as a director, an actor, and as a person. My family, my friends and even my teachers have noticed my growth and dedication as an actor and a filmmaker. This is what I want to do!
Learning different types of styles from some of my favorite directors like, Wes Anderson, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, and my personal favorite Quentin Tarantino has been influential. To be honest Quentin’s movie Pulp Fiction inspired me to make movies. He just has a fun and entertaining style that I enjoy, and his dialogue never bores me. I try to bring that same creative style into all my films while making my own cinematic experience like Tarantino and other filmmakers aim to do.
It is in these projects that I find the opportunity to express my creativity, challenge myself, and bring unique stories to life. I am eager to embark on this journey, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences with the stories I have always dreamed of telling.
Cody Grande
"The Director"
Cody Grande 