Today we’d like to introduce you to Luis Dave Cerda Meregildo.
Luis Dave, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Early Steps & Television
Pre-2025
Before stepping into the director’s chair, I performed as an individual dancer on Dominican Got Talent. I built my foundational filmmaking experience by working as a location producer, casting director, and co-producer for university film projects at INTEC and CHAVÓN.
Directorial Debut: Carmen
May 2025
I directed your independent short film Carmen, organizing four premiere events, including a major screening at the UASD Facultad de Artes. This project established the groundwork for your exploration of coming-of-age narratives.
Expanding the Universe: Princess
August 2025
I produced Princess, a short film written by Nicols Cleto. Principal photography took place in early August, further cementing your focus on youth-driven stories.
Feature Development & New Eras
2026
I am currently developing Valentina, a feature film co-written with Verónica Castellanos Rodríguez that completes my thematic trilogy. Alongside this, I’ve spent the summer of 2026 prepping technical scripts, talent agreements, and sponsorships for new short films like The American Teacher and Angel Dark.
Festival Selections & Screenings
Festival de Cine Fine Arts “Hecho en RD” (2026): His short films Carmen and Princess were selected to screen as part of the official selection showcase for emerging Dominican cinema.
UASD Cinema Showcase: His short film Carmen held featured festival screenings at the Facultad de Artes of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD).
My projects stand out because of a highly curated aesthetic and deep theoretical foundation.
Visual Style: I draw heavily from Indie Sleaze, Y2K Girly, Messy French It Girl, Soft Grunge, and 90s/00s Americana. You pair this with strict technical execution, planning shoots around 35mm formats, anamorphic processes, and cameras like the Sony FX3 alongside cinematographers like Santiago Alejandro Crime Ortiz.
Thematic Influences: My narratives are heavily inspired by coming-of-age classics like The Virgin Suicides, Thirteen, and Spring Breakers, channeling the moody, nostalgic artistry of creators like Sofia Coppola, Lana Del Rey, and Lorde.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The Reality of Low-Budget & Independent Production
Scrapping for Resources: Securing financing, finding food sponsors, and technical equipment for short films and upcoming features requires relentless hustle. Raising funds for projects like Carmen, Princess, and Valentina means wearing every hat at once—acting as your own pitch deck designer.
Logistical Friction: Coordinating multi-location shoots, securing permits, and managing talent contracts on tight schedules creates constant high-stress situations on set. When shooting independent work, any sudden delay in location access or equipment availability threatens the entire production timeline.
Managing Multiple Roles: Balancing my identity as a creative director/screenwriter with the pragmatic demands of executive producing and casting demands a lot of mental energy. I am not just telling the story— I am managing the crew, keeping budget sheets afloat, and driving the project to the finish line.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an independent film director, screenwriter, executive producer, and creative strategist based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. My work centers on telling raw, evocative youth stories that capture the complexity of growing up, identity, and modern isolation.
Visually and atmospherically, I specialize in blending distinct subcultural aesthetics—ranging from 1990s and 2000s Indie Sleaze, Y2K, and Soft Grunge to Vintage Americana—with rigorous cinematic techniques. I focus heavily on 35mm formats, anamorphic lenses, soundscapes, and precise color palettes to create immersive visual worlds.
What I Am Known For
I’m best known for leading a movement that bridges youth subculture, film theory, and independent cinema in the Dominican Republic:
The Youth & Nostalgia Trilogy: Crafting a narrative arc across short and feature films—beginning with my directorial debut Carmen (2025), expanding through Princess (2025) and Angel Dark (2026), The American Teacher (2026), Culto Oscuro (2026), and culminating in the upcoming feature Valentina.
Cultural Initiatives: Founding platform spaces like the Festival Film Party Grunge Tumblr (originally Festival de Cine Nostalgia Juvenil), which celebrates alternative youth culture and gives young audiences a dedicated cinematic outlet.
Theory-Driven Aesthetic: Combining cinematic influences like Sofia Coppola, Wong Kar-wai, and Lana Del Rey with formal semiotics and structural storytelling.
What I Am Most Proud Of
I am most proud of my independence and ability to build complete creative ecosystems from scratch. Directing Carmen and bringing it to life with multiple premieres, including a major screening at the UASD Facultad de Artes, proved that high-concept narrative cinema can thrive outside traditional studio pipelines. Taking ownership of every phase—writing, directing, producing, casting, and soundtrack selection—gives my team and me full artistic autonomy.
What Sets Me Apart
A Singular Visual Identity: In a regional industry often dominated by commercial genres, I prioritize atmospheric, youth-centric visual storytelling anchored in specific subcultures.
Substance Behind the Style: Every aesthetic choice is rooted in narrative intent and semiotic theory, ensuring that lighting, wardrobe, and soundtrack serve the emotional reality of the characters.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Visual Inspiration & Archives
Aesthetics Wiki & Tumblr Archives: Beyond basic mood boarding, archival Tumblr blogs (tracking 2010s Indie Sleaze, Soft Grunge, and Y2K subcultures) serve as digital museums for costuming, color theory, and subcultural authenticity.
YouTube Visual Essay Channels: Channels like FinalGirlDigital, Broey Deschanel, and CinemaTyler offer deep dives into film aesthetics, coming-of-age tropes, female gaze, and sound design theory.
Film Language: A Semiotics of the Cinema by Christian Metz: The core text for understanding cinema as a formal sign system, helping turn lighting, framing, and wardrobe into narrative symbols.
My Favorite books are Dynospian such as: Twilight, The Hunger Games, Hush Hush, Fallen, Divergent, The Maze Runner, Shadowhunters, The Vampires Diaries andThe Darkest Minds.
In the Romantic / Coming of age books are: Heated Rivalry saga, The Fall out of the stars, Looking for Alaska, Papers Town, If I stay and Pretty Little Liars.
Pricing:
- Production Film – $200.00 USD
- Direction Film – $250.00 USD
- Director of Casting $150.00 USD
- Designer Producer $140.00 USD
- PA – $120.00 USD
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dreamyboynostalgic.wixsite.com/sadnostalgicboy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadnostalgicboyproduction/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luisdave.cerda/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-dave-cerda-meregildo-986a11280/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sadboynostalgic/featured
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sadboynostalgic
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/sadnostalgicboy/
