OUR TEAM
CO-WRITER / DIRECTOR
Rommel Eclarinal is a Filipino filmmaker based in Austin, Texas whose primary interests are stories from developing countries, particularly the Philippines. His films explore the lives of the marginalized and the displaced. These films have screened in film festivals around the world. His film North of Ojinaga, described by Film School Rejects as “a beautiful meditation on immigration,” tackles the intricate relationship between global capitalism and illegal immigration in the U.S. Shot entirely in Texas, North of Ojinaga serves as a stylistic precursor to his latest endeavor – Seahorse. Currently a film instructor, Rommel created and developed the rigorous filmmaking and film studies program at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. Rommel holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Film Production from the University of Texas at Austin.
CO-WRITER / LEAD ACTRESS
Natalie C. Houchins is an award winning writer and actress from Austin, Texas and has degrees in Acting, Playwriting, and Gender & Sexuality Studies from Northwestern University. In addition to her acting credits, she has written several short films, two feature films, including co-writing Seahorse with director Rommel Eclarinal, and a web series entitled Kahla and Natalie Reach Enlightenment. Her work largely explores the complexities of identity, specifically as it relates to gender and sexuality. Seahorse is her first feature film to be produced. She is based in Austin.
PRODUCER
Javier Bonafont is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker who began his career producing projects in Hollywood such as Baby On Board (1991) and Hammer Down (1992) before moving to Austin to pursue an MFA in order to create more independent, innovative films. In Austin he has produced the live action/animated sci-fi feature Mars directed by Geoff Marslett, shot entirely at the Austin Studios, It’s in the Blood starring Lance Hendrickson, as well as commercials, shorts and PSA’s. Beyond producing, Javier has also become known also for his production design and has accrued a number of credits from Berndt Mader’s Five Time Champion, Boneboys, and the SXSW award winning Loves Her Gun. He has recently completed a 3D sci-fi webseries Hard Reset as the inaugural 3D project at UT’s new program. He aspires to make films that matter regardless of size or budget.
PRODUCER
Charles Mulford is an award winning producer and production manager. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio-Television-Film and several award-winning short films under his belt, he turned his attention to feature films. In 2010, he production-managed Scenes from the Suburbs, a collaboration between Academy Award-Nominated director Spike Jonze (Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are) and the Grammy-winning band Arcade Fire. Since then, Charles has produced two feature films, Two Step (2014) and Found Footage 3D (2016), which have both been distributed domestically and internationally to critical acclaim. Most recently, he produced two series for Austin City Limits (2017) and Robert Rodriguez (2018).
CINEMATOGRAPHER
After graduating from UCLA's MFA film program, award-winning director and cinematographer Ángel Granados served as an in-house cinematographer for the American Society of Cinematographers and American Cinematographer Magazine in Hollywood. With 20 years of professional narrative, documentary, and still photography work in 16 countries, he now serves as a Lecturer at UCLA Department of Film, Television and Digital Media, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Austin Community College, and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City. He also regularly lectures on visual storytelling for the Austin Film Society and regularly produces legal day-in-the-life and settlement films.