Rising Stars: Meet Carlos Malache

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Malache. 

Hi Carlos, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Lima, Peru in 1992—there was a lot of conflict going on in the country at the time. My father is an aircraft mechanic, and was able to find work in the U.S. so we moved here when I was two years old. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas primarily. Growing up, my brother and I would make little skateboard videos—I think that was my first exposure to f something with filming something with a camera. He was much better than me at skating, so I guess you could say it was a natural fit, haha.

Eventually, I went to college at Wichita State where I studied communication and took some courses on video production. It really felt like a natural fit for me, so after graduating, I started working at a local CBS news affiliate as a commercial producer. After moving to Colorado in 2016, I spent some time as a Producer / Production Manager for an agency specialized in the automotive industry. There, I learned a lot of what allows me to do what I do now—I really enjoyed the time I was able to spend there and am grateful for the connections I made. I was able to pick up a lot in that short time, and it really informed my perspective on what it means to do this kind of work for a living.

I eventually left that job in 2019 and set out to start my own production company, RELIGHT creative, and have been a commercial director and cinematographer full time ever since. It’s been a crazy whirlwind in the last few years alone—becoming a father, ramping up a production company, and being a part of the wonderful community that is the Colorado film industry. I feel really lucky and grateful to get work with the people I do, and am excited for what the future holds.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been the easiest road, but I would say it’s been the most rewarding of any that I’ve taken. I wouldn’t change it. There is growth in struggle—and there will always be struggle. If it’s not one thing, it’ll be something else. It’s important to realize that everyone’s journey is unique, and to not get caught up in the comparison game.

Being a first generation immigrant really puts a lot into perspective, I think. The road is longer for us, at least to get to the same place as our peers simply because our starting point is so much further back. Not to say non-immigrants don’t have to work hard—I have many peers in the film industry who have worked just as hard if not harder to get where they are so no disrespect to anyone.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m moving more into a director role as of recently, so let me know if you need a director for a pitch! Haha. But seriously, I just want to serve people doing the only thing I really know how to do. It’s been a goal of mine to do more in the film community by helping those who are on their own journey of wanting to break into this industry. If I can bring some good into the world by sharing knowledge and guidance to people who come after me, I’m all for it. One of my goals for this year is to work with nonprofits and community organizations more, so if this is you—please reach out to me!

As for projects I like to work on, I am fascinated and interested by people. I love meeting new people—I believe everyone is a unique individual with a compelling story. Every last one of us. It just takes a little time and love and effort to find it. Obviously, I lean more into people-centric work and try to stay away from product-centric work since there are people much more interested and better than me at that.

To summarize, I enjoy telling stories that shine a light on the human spirit—stories that reveal the threads that connect all us to each other. At the end of the day, we’re all human, so I always strive to approach work with a humble heart and open mind—and try to create from a place of authenticity and a genuine desire to serve people.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Oh man, I listen to a lot of podcasts. Armchair Expert, Art vs Commerce, The Wandering DP podcast, Team Deakins. Getting to hear people’s thoughts and reflections in an intricate way is what I like the most about these podcasts—there have been many times something I’ve heard has sparked an idea or a story gap that I end up exploring in my creative work.

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@carlosmalache.com
• Website: https://carlosmalache.com
• Instagram: carlosmalachedp
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/carlos.malache