Bio
I’m Cesar Reyes, a Film Director and Production Designer originally from Lima, Peru, and now based in Los Angeles.
My path into filmmaking wasn’t exactly a straight line. I’ve worked in different fields, from manual labor and the food industry to graphic design and marketing. Each experience taught me something different about teamwork, organization, problem-solving, and, most importantly, how to bring an idea to life.
I eventually returned to school to study Film Production at California State University, Northridge. I began my career in the art department as a Set Dresser and Art Director before moving into Production Design. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to design worlds ranging from 1980s El Salvador and ancient Mesopotamia to futuristic laboratories, medieval markets, and completely imagined places.
Production Design is my passion. I love the process of taking a script and turning words into a visual world—figuring out how a character lives, what their surroundings say about them, and how locations, sets, props, colors, and details can help tell the story. There’s something incredibly rewarding about starting with an idea on a page and watching it become a real place that actors and audiences can step into.
I also enjoy the collaborative side of being a Production Designer. My experience as a director has given me a better understanding of the filmmaking process and what a director is looking for when telling a story. I enjoy working hand in hand with directors, listening to their vision, understanding what they want the audience to see and feel, and finding visual solutions that help bring that vision to life.
Directing is still my ultimate goal. I enjoy directing and want to continue developing my voice as a filmmaker, but I have a deep appreciation for the art department and genuinely love the work of Production Design. For me, the two disciplines complement each other. My experience in Production Design makes me a more visual director, while my experience directing helps me become a better collaborator and Production Designer.