ALEXANDRA HIDALGO
Director, Producer, Editor
Alex was born in Caracas, Venezuela and immigrated to the States at 16. Her experience of redefining her identity and making a home in a new country has been one of the most influential in her life, which is why, while working on her Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition at Purdue University, much of her research deals with gender, race and immigration. Alex also explores the spaces where film production and academia meet as a way to bring scholarly ideas outside the university setting. Lift the Lamp is her first feature film. She has made short documentaries dealing with the contributions of scholars of color and queer scholars to rhetoric and composition, as well as the Venezuelan middle class’s fascination with breast implants.
As cofounder and editor-in-chief of agnès films, an online community of filmmakers and academics, she seeks to promote feminist and female-centric film production and scholarship. Her main goal for Lift the Lamp is for it to humanize immigration for its audience. So much of our current immigration discourse is based on fear of depersonalized, abstract and unknown others that we forget the vital contributions immigrants have made and still make to this country. Here’s hoping that Daphnie, Yatna, Melainie and Teboho’s incredible stories will help audiences rediscover the beauty and magic of immigration.
SHANELE ALVAREZ
Director of Photography, Producer
Shanele Alvarez is a freelance cinematographer who finds in filmmaking a means of expressing her passion for culture, education and photography. Her educational pursuit began at San Francisco State University, where she received an undergraduate degree in Intercultural Communication. She then received a Master’s degree in Screenwriting from California State University Northridge and her MFA in Film Production with a focus in Cinematography from the University of Miami. While at the University of Miami, she won a Special Award for Screenwriting and Cinematography from the International Student Film Festival. Immediately following graduation, Shanele joined the ranks of the production company, The People’s DP, where she worked under Cliff Charles as his 1st assistant on a wide range of projects. She eventually became producer and director of photography of DPTV, an online cinematography magazine and supplemental web presence of The People’s DP. Shanele's most recent projects include serving as director of photography on Lift the Lamp, as well as on several short films including, Smiley and The Florist, currently showcasing in the festival circuit. As a camera operator and 1st assistant, she has worked on projects for Spike Lee, HBO, ESPN, Discovery, Cisco Systems, Glamour Magazine, the Office of Minority Health and Island Def Jam.
After speaking with Alexandra Hidalgo, Shanele was so encouraged by Alex’s passion and determination to humanize immigration through this documentary that she wanted to help produce it. Shanele believes it’s important to make people aware of the benefits of immigration to this country, especially in today’s society, where it is often frowned upon.
JOSEPH MORALES
Sound Recordist, Boom Operator
Joseph Morales was born in the South Bronx, one of two children, to parents who themselves were the children of Puerto Rican immigrants. Both sets of grandparents came to the United States during the wave of immigration from Puerto Rico that followed the Second World War. Joseph grew up during the late 1980’s and early 90’s, the tail end of one of the most tumultuous periods in the Bronx’s history. With violent crimes and drugs running rampant in addition to tough financial times for his family, his imagination became his primary source for entertainment. It would be fueled by a modest stack of VHS movies and the few over-the air-channels available at the time. Along with his older sister, he would often invent characters and stories that they used to entertain themselves for several years.
Joseph’s love of creativity would follow him into his academic life, where he excelled in writing courses and other creative exercises. After 13 years of parochial schooling, Joseph went on to study Film and Creative Writing at Hunter College. He graduated in 2009.
Upon finishing school, he dedicated himself entirely to working in the film and television industry, as he’d dreamt of doing from a young age. Currently, he has settled into a technical position as a Sound Recordist and Boom Operator, working on multiple web series (The Mel and El Show, Pop Up NY) and short films (Not Dark Yet, The Lemon, Temma), as well as a few indie features (Gut, Murder Dance). Recently, he has done promotional work for CBS News New York, and the U.S. State Department’s international PR campaign. Ultimately, his goal is to provide future generations with the same fuel for the imagination that was given to him through film and television.
Joseph was interested in Lift the Lamp because it was his first chance to work on a major nonfiction project. Additionally and more importantly, it is a nonfiction piece that has serious substance, seeking to provide an honest examination of an extremely relevant topic today.
MICHELLE FRANCES MULLER
Behind-the-Scenes Camera Operator, Stills Photographer, Second Camera Operator
Michelle Frances Müller was born in Germany to German and Filipino parents. She holds an M.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Albert Ludwigs University and spent a year of her degree at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain. Looking to enrich her college experience, Michelle also had educational stays in Peru, Bolivia, India, as well as Morocco, where she lived with a Berber family. During her travels she worked with issues of immigration, rural education, urban migration and sustainable development.
While at school, Michelle became interested in film and took various courses in film and TV production. Her student film work earned her various awards, including first place in the film competition of the New Media Center at the University of Freiburg. Michelle also received sponsorship for her film work from the Media and Film Society and Foundation, which supports young filmmakers and screenwriters in the Baden-Wuerttemberg region in Germany.
After graduation, Michelle worked as a production and still photographer intern at Bigfoot Studios in the Philippines. As part of her engagement at Bigfoot, Michelle worked as production assistant, behind-the-scenes camera operator, underwater camera operator, as well as participating in location scouting for the various projects shot at Bigfoot. She is currently living in China.