Emerald Pictures Signs Director Carlos M Rodriguez

Emerald Pictures has added filmmaker Carlos M Rodriguez to its roster of directorial talent. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised traveling the globe with his parents, Rodriguez gained an early, immersive perspective as a true international citizen, shaping his understanding of what makes people tick.

With a background in art direction and production design, Rodriguez brings a rich cinematic vocabulary to his work, from clever visual jokes to beautifully composed frames. His offbeat humor brings a unique rhythm and pacing to his films, giving them a weird and quirky edge. Keen on blending his history with visual arts and an appetite for diverse forms of storytelling, Rodriguez primarily focuses on creating unexpected stories that incorporate authentic cultural perspectives—whether real or fantastical—and comedy. 

This signature style is immediately recognizable in his Clio-winning work for Amazon, “We Go Places,” which he also art directed. In it, a small enclave of extraterrestrials is delighted that Amazon delivers even to the most outer limits of space as they gleefully unbox and redecorate.

Rodriguez recently directed “Too Good To Be True” for Fiat, demonstrating his ability to create comedy gold out of thin air—literally—as two friends drive off in an invisible Fiat 500C. Those spots have earned him many accolades, including many ADDY Awards, Young Ones One Club Awards, Telly Awards, and many shortlist mentions, including YDA and 1.4 Awards. In addition to his commercial work, Rodriguez is also the director of short films “My Darling,” “Belief,” and “Am I Here?”

“When I first met John and Mara from Emerald Pictures, they took the time to get to know me and connect with me on a personal level,” remarks Rodriguez on signing. “What drew me to them was their intimate, personally involved approach and how selective they are about directors, finding people they trust and believe in.”

Co-founder of Emerald Pictures, John Duffin, elaborates, “We can't believe we're Carlos's first official signing! We're honored that he has entrusted us with this exciting, rapidly evolving area of his career. Coming from Chihuahua, Mexico (where UFO sightings are a normal part of everyday life), his sci-fi novel upbringing has given Carlos a unique voice that blends the bizarre with humor. Combined with his experience as an art director on campaigns for brands like Shazam and Levi’s, he’s an extremely talented emerging director with a passion for making great films. We can’t wait to see what he makes next!”