David Quintero doesn’t believe in rigid paths or perfectly mapped creative journeys. A Creative Director working across film, photography, digital manipulation, and writing, his approach to making work is driven less by structure and more by instinct, discomfort, and an unshakable pull toward storytelling. Based in Los Angeles and working as a freelance creative, David’s projects often explore themes of fear, chaos, and uncertainty, not as obstacles to overcome, but as essential forces that give work its emotional weight and authenticity.
From growing up immersed in iconic sci-fi films to nearly pursuing a career in bioengineering, David’s path into the creative industry has been anything but linear. His process embraces risk, welcomes losing control, and rejects formulaic creation in favour of visceral, human expression. In this interview, David shares how early experiments with filmmaking and theatre shaped his outlook, why fear plays such a central role in his work, his thoughts on AI’s growing influence on visual media, and what he believes truly separates exceptional creatives from the rest.
How did you first get into the industry?
I would say my industry includes anything media, this could anything from posting online to being on the ground at an event shooting content. So to answer this question I got involved with creating short films in middle school, but I did not start posting work, I started studying at UCSD from 2018 - 2022. There I learned not only to master my craft but to consider the general rules when it comes to creating are more guidelines than rigid posts.
I’ve always enjoyed going against the grain.
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I am based in Los Angeles and I currently work as a freelance creative: shooting, editing, and producing visually striking content.
What is your personal background and what role did it play in your career?
I am hispanic and my parents are both immigrants. Aside from being occasionally drawn to Spanish work, there’s no significant effect of my background on my professional life. I was drawn to film because my dad was always watching movies when I was kid. He raised me on Terminator, Star Wars, The Matrix, and I even watched the debut of Return of the King in theatres at the age of three. I even ran out of the screening when the large spider was on screen.
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
I have to admit I am still on the very fringes of this industry. However, going back in time and thinking about what could have happened. If I had done a bit better in high school in my STEM related subjects I hopefully would have been accepted into my bio-engineering major at UCSD and would have pursued a career in creating prosthetic limbs. I have always had a passion for putting things together. The only difference is now my creations have more to do with emotions and thoughts than the physical world.
Can you explain your creative process? What makes it unique?
Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I am doing, but I know exactly what I am aiming for. This approach has been the source for my greatest struggles & my best achievements. One of my personal inclinations is to get possessed by a certain vision that I have no ability to ignore. It does not matter if the concept is executable or not, I know when I have the means I will find the way.
In mentioning this I would admit one of the most important parts of creating is the initial conception, which is hard to schedule and predict. Then after I have a rough vision and executable plan, I step into the field with raw performers, who initially know very little about the project but usually grasp the essence of the work through the act of performing. To me this way of communication, through the work itself, feels more natural and authentic than curating the entirety of the work in a sterile and controlled environment. I do focus on certain details and perfect how elements may interact with each other but I find throwing some elements together on scene can be more interesting and culminate in unexpected results.
Finally after we have done all the work necessary in the field, it is time to carve and shape the product into a digestible form for the audience. Of course my manner of work would prefer to blind and dazzle the viewer into confusion but for better reception, responsible trimming and focus points help the viewer find their way through the story. However I prefer to give consumers of my work multiple exit points to shape their perceptions.
How would you describe your style?
This is a hard question to answer especially considering all the mediums I work in: photography, digital manipulation, video, painting, and creative writing. Thinking very carefully about my body of work, some of the most prevalent themes I find are chaos and fear. I have personally always resisted formulaic and controlled approaches to creation. I like being a little lost along the way. I feel like my loose sense of borders show just how liberal I am with my limitations. What naturally aligns with chaos and has always excited me was the way we deal with fear and how it completely shapes a work.
I believe fear is one of the few emotions people cannot ignore and try even harder to suppress. Taking that into account I personally imbue my work with factors of uncertainty and discomfort to bring about certain reactions. Even through the process of creation, I find myself feeling a bit lost and welcome it because I believe it is when we are comfortable losing control that the work can truly manifest into something almost alive in its own right. It is difficult creating new and intriguing work when there is no room for risks and unexpected outcomes.
Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
Ironically for someone who works primarily with digital media some of my biggest influences are authors. One book I have been obsessed with since high school was the Shining by Stephen King. He has such remarkable skill in imbuing normal situations with such deep and unexpected emotions that there are several instances from that novel that I still remember to this day.
Another author worthy of a mention is Orson Scott Card and his series centering around Ender Wiggin. In these novels he grapples with so many philosophical themes and science fiction concepts that it can sometimes feel like reading a text book for class. However his still of writing is so fluid and masterful that each character has a unique and important role to the story. One of his most memorable and touching lines that I remember is when an important character stands in defiance of an angry mob to protect some innocents, and simply says, “Kill me first, you like murder, kill me first.” I just get so emotionally involved remembering his work and the many adventures it's taken me on.
Even though I may not aim to create works as expansive as these, I do hope one day I can rise to the level of expertise that they have for writing.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
I would say when you’re starting off and building a portfolio of work, do what scares you. This may seem in character coming from me but being pushed to your limit is the only way you can truly grow. If you always attempt things that are easy and not very challenging your rate of growth will always be very slow, and not worth the time, unless you put all your effort in. It also will affect how potential clients and collaborators will see you. Of course technically proficient and nice looking work can be appreciated, but everyone can offer a “new look.”
What is more valuable than cool, trendy work is work that steps away from the crowd, willing to do new things that others are afraid to attempt or things that have been done before but at your capacity can come off rough and imperfect. It is okay to not always have the shiniest outcome, if you put aside optics for growth.
Can you share a memorable experience from your career journey that shaped your approach to creativity?
My memorable experience is when I first decided to get into creating stories. When I was accepted into UCSD, I did score high enough to be admitted into their bioengineering program and that left me a little lost.
So when I was starting school I took a theater class to try something new. The final project in this class was to produce and perform a 10 minute play at the end of the quarter. When we were given this project I went to our prechosen group of 30 peers and volunteered to be the director. Fortunately no one objected and I took this endeavour to see if I had what it took to really create something.
After I worked with my team to write, rehearse and finally perform our story, I was so pleased that our project was not only acceptable but celebrated by the class. After this challenge, I accepted to pursue a life long goal of creating stories in any way I could.
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
This question is tough because motivation is not really a part of the equation. If I have a project to do whether assigned or self declared that task is my sole priority. Not because I am so good at choosing my priorities but because the work I choose to do I do because I don’t see any alternative to doing it. I must do it, it's just the only path I see. To be inspired is a bit different. I cannot just manifest every visual aspect of my work. To make it more manageable, I either go to socials like Instagram or tiktok & pinterest for more specific and curated ideas. I will admit, as of late there are too many good ideas to do and I wish I could sit at my desk all day trying new things.
As someone with experience in the industry, what trends do you foresee shaping the future of creativity?
I hate to admit it but I don’t think we can afford to ignore how AI generators will forever change the visual media landscape. We already see a flood of generated content on socials, and I predict it is a short while till it penetrates our television screens and films.
Taking that into consideration I believe even if it makes doing what I do completely untenable, I will still cram a few hours of the early morning or late night to bring the stories in my head to life. It isn’t a choice for me. Of course my income may not always coincide with it but stories are my life and I don’t know how else to live it. I do know AI can never replace the human spirit, it is just sad to see industries accepting the validity of AI creations.
I will be here when AI has forgotten what it has replaced.
What do you think sets apart truly exceptional creatives from the rest of the pack?
When I create my two biggest struggles are knowing when to apply the critiques of others or staying true to my vision as I see fit.
This is a hard decision to undertake because for some creators they attach their work too closely to themselves and take criticism of their work and equate it to themselves but this is rarely the case. I think feedback from trusted individuals can elevate the work to heights that could not be reached on their own.
The second part of this after being able to listen to accurate and applicable feedback knowing that even though it is valid the person giving the criticism does not completely understand the goal for the final product. I often face times when I get told to change a certain aspect but I cannot because doing so would ultimately change the goal.
To me masterful creatives know what feedback is presently necessary and when feedback is not going to elevate the work in the intended manner.
At the end of the day this is your work, and so long as the product is as you intended then the goal has been reached.