He’s gone.

The Deadman’s Lens is a series of rediscovered floppy tapes found in the home of the late Jorge Barahona. Through these tapes, we delve into his thoughts, ideas, and reflections captured before his passing.

May his memory live on through his work, inspiring and bringing clarity to those who watch. Rest in peace, Jorge.

4 Hard Truths Every Aspiring Filmmaker Needs to Hear

I don’t want to sound full of myself, but throughout my life, I’ve been told I’m talented. Filmmaking has always come naturally to me, and it’s something I deeply enjoy. Over time, I tied my identity to the idea that I’m a “talented artist who creates amazing work.” My mantra became: “Look at me. Look at my art.”

But that mindset, steeped in ignorance and ego, left me stagnant. I stopped growing.

This is a cautionary tale for young filmmakers out there. Talent is not enough. If you’re not careful, you can fall into the same traps I did. Here’s what I’ve learned—and what I wish someone had told me sooner:

1. Never Half-Ass Your Work

"Every project deserves your full attention, no matter how small or unpromising it seems."

In the past, I’ve half-assed projects. I convinced myself that if the client wasn’t paying me much—or at all—they didn’t deserve my best effort. I’d resort to shortcuts, the equivalent of shooting everything on my phone with no thought to blocking or transitions.

But by doing that, I robbed myself of growth. The headaches and challenges? That’s where the skill points are earned. Every project, no matter how trivial it feels, is a chance to refine your craft.

Yes, some gigs are thankless. But even then, you can practice transitions, experiment with editing techniques, or improve your blocking. Strive for excellence—not for others, but for yourself.

2. Don’t Alienate Yourself from Collaboration

"You can be good alone, but you can be great with others."

Ego has been one of my greatest enemies. It’s prevented me from truly collaborating and listening to other perspectives. But filmmaking is inherently collaborative—it thrives when multiple voices contribute to a shared vision.

Let others in. Be open to ideas. Greatness doesn’t come from one person dictating—it comes from building something bigger than yourself.

3. Do the Work Yourself

"You have to participate in your own rescue."

Insecurity held me back from showing my work. I’d sit on unfinished projects, waiting for someone else to step in and take over. But the truth is, nobody is as passionate about your work as you are.

You can’t wait for others to care or take action. Be the catalyst. Be the example you want others to follow. Passion and determination are infectious—attract like-minded individuals who push you forward, but never expect them to do the heavy lifting for you.

Write your scripts. Edit your footage. Own your process. Nobody’s going to hand you the finished product.

4. Finish What You Start

"Be impeccable with your word. No matter what, get it done."

My biggest downfall has always been not finishing. I overthink, crumble under the pressure of my own expectations, and end up falling short.

But I’ve learned that perfection is the enemy of progress. The key is to take it step by step. Don’t get lost in the enormity of the task—just focus on the next thing, and the next, until it’s done.

Completing projects is how you grow, how you learn, and how you prove to yourself that you’re capable.

This is what I tell myself, day in and day out. Maybe one day, my words will carry weight, but for that to happen, I have to commit.

I’m tired of disappointing myself. The only way forward is to keep creating, keep learning, and keep finishing.

The Failed Filmmaker

I never thought I’d end up here. My vision of myself was always so much more.

There was a child in me, full of dreams and confidence. Ignorance was my greatest ally. That child was free to explore a world of endless possibilities, unfazed by the consequences of his recklessness.

I always believed that by 30, I’d have a family and be living the dream—working as a successful Hollywood director.

I constantly shoot to hone my skills, but I'm too fearful to release the work I create.

Now, I reflect on where I am in my life, and the weight of failure presses down on me. I see myself becoming a bitter man, the kind who always says, “If I had tried, I would’ve been successful.”

This man I’ve become—alone and bitter—engulfs me with his insecurities and resentment. He is exactly what I’ve always feared I’d turn into.

But today, I seek to destroy him—to tear myself away from those thoughts and continue venturing into the unknown. Life is a game of stamina, and with every level, you grow stronger, wiser. Though I’ve failed, I’m starting again—but this time, I know how to navigate.

The child grew up, but he didn’t want to. Life, however, doesn’t wait. It forces you to adapt, even when you’re not ready.

The Art of Becoming: Rediscovering My Filmmaking Voice

It took me years to really sit down and rediscover who I am as a filmmaker. For a long time, I chased trendy stories, the next big thing—a big production, a studio. I would watch movies and mimic them, but in the end, it just left me unsure of myself.

A lot of this stemmed from my lack of confidence. What helped me the most was breaking away from those ideas and exploring different mediums. I found photography, and that changed everything. Photography helped me focus my ideas, really look at the frame, and reexamine it. I learned to understand it as a whole. But more importantly, it taught me to enjoy the process.

That’s key: fall in love with the process, fall in love with the idea, fall in love with creating.

Once I hit that stride, I could create freely without feeling confined by my insecurities. Because, in the end, all I really want to do is create—without restrictions.

Through that freedom, I started noticing patterns in my work, trends that naturally emerged. That’s when I began putting pieces of myself into what I was creating, and for me, that was everything. It’s so important to put a bit of yourself into your work.

And in doing so, I finally found it—my style.

The hardest part for me was realizing that your style is you. That’s what defines it. You have to put yourself into your work.

To Leave or Stay: The Dilemma of Wanting More

I’ve lived in El Paso, Texas, my whole life. This city has given me amazing people—people I hold dear to my heart. No matter where life takes me, El Paso will always be home. But there’s a part of me that yearns to leave.

For so long, I’ve been afraid to take the leap. I don’t want to risk destroying what I’ve built here—years of hard work and dedication to creating something bigger than myself. But the truth is, I want more. I crave more. And I’m not sure I’ll find it here.

I want to explore. I want to see what’s out there. But the thought of leaving scares me. It terrifies me. Still, I feel it’s necessary. Risks and action have to happen because the longer I stay, the further my dream of becoming something more drifts away.

Yes, there’s the argument that you can have it all and stay, but the world is so big. Here, I feel isolated, like I’m living a life of delusion—creating this narrative in my head about how great I am.

The truth is, I don’t know true greatness. I live in this illusion to comfort myself, to make myself believe I’m something greater than I am. But deep down, I know that to truly find greatness, we have to seek it out. We need to surround ourselves with it.

At least, that’s what I think. I’m not entirely sure yet, but I do know one thing: my time here is fading.

El Paso, I will always love you.