NATALIE RODRIGUEZ is an award-winning director, screenwriter, and author. She is also an advocate for mental health and recovery awareness and has worked with organizations like The Mighty, Anxiety Resources Center, and OC87 Recovery Diaries. Some of her articles and blogs have been published in Hello Giggles, HuffPost Blog, Thrive Global, and more. Her novels, “Elephant,” “Skeletons,” and “The Extraordinary Ordinary” book adaptation have established a following and gained positive reviews from around the world. Her short and feature films have won and screened in the U.S. and internationally, including at film festivals such as Culver City Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, NALIP: Latino Lens, Stage 32 Screenwriting, and others. She also spoke at events, sharing her experience of being a Latina filmmaker, at Hispanicize, Google, and YouTube.
In 2017, she founded Extraordinary Pictures, a production company focusing on films, television shows, digital series, and social issue projects ranging from diversity and wellness. The company has produced a variety of short films and feature films of different genres, including comedies and dramas. Natalie's first directorial feature films, “The Extraordinary Ordinary” and "Howard Original” were independently received well and distributed by Indie Rights. For further information on previous and upcoming projects, be sure to follow her on social media or visit her website: natchristinerod via IG
https://www.nataliecrodriguez.com/- Directing-Writing-Producing Reel
Young Dario (animated TV/Web Series Show): In this twelve-episode Groundhog Day style story, a young Hispanic boy, named Dario, encounters various life situations. He turns to his Grandmother ('Abuelita'), who guides him through the travails of childhood.
**Roles: Director, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Critics Choice International Film Festival 2022; Best Actor, Julio Macias
-Critics Choice International Film Festival 2022; Best Women Director, Natalie Rodriguez
-Critics Choice International Film Festival 2022; Best Series / TV Pilot / Web Series
-Critics Choice International Film Festival 2022; Finalist Animated Film
-Rio de Janeiro World Film Festival 2022; Semi-Finalist
-Shockfest Film Festival 2022; Official Selection
-Studio City International Film Festival 2022; Official Selection
-Golden State Film Festival; Audience Award for Best Animated FilmHoward Original (feature): A washed-up screenwriter encounters with more than just selling a story, a studio rejection, and writer's block when his pet cat comes to life. (Based on the 2017 short film, Howard Original).
(Now streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Google Play, Roku, YouTube Movies & more)
**Roles: Director, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Official Selection at Culver City Film Festival (Winner of Best Screenplay from Another Medium Form)
-Official Selection at Silicon Beach Film Festival
The Extraordinary Ordinary (feature): Three young adults with a history of mental health issues learn how to cope with triggers when old wounds resurface. After being attacked in high school, a college student named ERICA moves to California to pursue her passion in polaroid photography, in hopes to recover from her trauma by finishing a project. She learns how to cope with her own trauma and wellness after befriending ALEX & BIANCA, who have a history of their own.
(Now streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, Google Play, Roku, YouTube Movies & more)
**Roles: Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Official Selection at the Awareness Film Festival (AFF)
-Official Selection at Glendale International Film Festival (GIFF)
-Official Selection at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival (LADFF)
-Winner of 'Best Film About Women's Empowerment' at GIFF
-Winner of 'Best Performance (Maddison Bullock)' at the LADFF,
-Best Director Nominee at GIFF
-Best Female Director Nominee at GIFF
-Best Feature Nominee at GIFFThe Demotion (short): A twenty-something year old reckons if he should reach out to a now former mentor.
**Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Story Idea By**
The Extraordinary Ordinary: Erica & Alex (short): A photographer and a musician confide in each other when one of them has a panic attack.
**Director, Writer, Editor, Producer**
-Official Selection at HollyShorts Film Festival
-Semi-Finalist at the NALIP: Latino Lens
The C-quel (short): The saga continues with Omari and Calvin who awaken after a hard night of partying and dealing with the aftermath of heartbreak and loss. Sequel to "The D" (2017).
**Roles: Director, Writer, Producer**
The D (short): A twenty-something-year-old cannot enjoy a kickback that his friends force him to have because his ex-girlfriend starts blasting "revenge" posts on social media.
**Roles: Director, Writer, Producer, Editor**
-Official Selection at Indie Nights Official Selection
-Best Shorts Competition, 3rd place, Awards of Excellence, Short Film
-IndieFEST Film Awards, Nominated, Award of Recognition, Women Filmmakers
-Best Actress Nominee (Brittney Grabill) at Cinema Blend
I, Alone in Me (short): A man's journey through the abyss of dreams, filled with anxiety, loss, grief, anger, and hope.
**Director, Cinematographer, Editor*
Howard Original (short): A writer encounters with more than just selling a story and writer's block when his pet cat comes to life.
**Director, Writer, Cinematographer, Editor*
-Official Selection at Culver City Film Festival
-Semi-Finalist at Oregon Comedy Film Festival
-Winner of ‘Best Short’ at Culver City Film Festival
The Extraordinary Ordinary: Bianca & Erica (short): Three college students bond over life and discuss the stigmas that come with mental health disorders and recovery.
**Director, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer**
Wilson (short): Two sisters confront an unresolved family matter after the death of a loved one.
**Director, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer**
Apricots (short): The bond between two sisters is put to the test when one of them must say goodbye to the other.
**Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Official Selection at Fan Boy Film Festival
Code Red (short): A young girl gets her period for the first time and must confront a family tragedy.
(Song courtesy: "Good Times, Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin)
**Director, Writer, Editor, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Official Selection at Fan Boy Film Festival
-Beverly Hills Film Festival, Nominated, Best Screenplay - Best Screenplay
-Hollywood Screenplay Contest, Won, Gold Prize - Short Screenplay
The Scars of Our Lives (short): Two strangers encounter at a bus stop and realize that they share a similar past when one of them sees a scar on the other's wrist.
**Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Producer**
-Official Selection at Fan Boy Film Festival