The tail end of a high-school student’s journey normally includes senioritis, but Miami Arts Studios‘ Narciso Reyes shows no signs of slowing down.
In fact, the 18-year-old broadcasting whiz has carved out a futurethrough his own media company and award-winning short film work. And it’s all been shaped before he’s old enough to drink.
What’s his secret?
“I’ve always loved the process of creating something, sharing it and seeing how people respond, whether it’s good or bad,” Reyes said. “That feedback pushes me to grow.”
Reyes’ eye for visual storytelling followed him out of Cuba when he immigrated to Miami in 2012 and started tinkering with editing platforms like iMovie to satisfy his thirst for video production.
He entered Miami Arts Studios’ 6-12 broadcasting magnet, a program designed to develop student journalists, with his passion fully intact.
Only the repetitive nature of news packages was slowly chipping away at his artistic hunger.
“In ninth grade, I honestly hated what I was doing,” Reyes said. “It was mostly standard journalism features and interviews, which didn’t feel like me.”
Indifference would continue for Reyes, as he chose to treat his work less seriously until a change of leadership reignited his love for more narrative-driven stories and filmmaking as a whole.
Devin Marsh, Miami Arts Studio’s current head of the broadcasting magnet, saw the potential in Reyes that was beginning to fade. He decided Reyes needed a mentor and gave him an ultimatum that would result in a major attitude adjustment.
“I pulled him aside and basically gave him a choice,” Marsh said. “Continue being the class clown or listen to me and let me help you. I told him if he followed my guidance, I would give him everything I have to share with him to guide him to success.”
Once the conversation ended, Reyes cut the jokes and showed a strong work ethic, soaking up Marsh’s wisdom to craft a new, fulfilling philosophy.
His first notable short film, “Shed of Secrets,” signaled a watershed moment in his amateur career, placing in festivals such as the iGen Film Festival and being featured on the Becon TV channel through their series “Short Cuts”.
That same film earned Reyes a third-place plaque and $1,000 at the 30th annual Palm Beaches Student Showcase of Films this year, proving his talent.
A newfound sense of purpose also drove Reyes to co-found a production company, Narrative Lens Productions, alongside his best friend and fellow senior Alec Gonzalez.
With plans to turn their brainchild into a top-tier service in the video production industry, Gonzalez is fully on board with Reyes’ vision and modus operandi.
“It’s definitely a different dynamic than just hanging out with a business partner,” Gonzalez said. “But when it’s time to work, it’s like flipping a switch into a different mindset. He is very focused and knows exactly what he wants so we make sure to keep each other accountable and avoid becoming stagnant.”
Juggling his professional and student lives is an act Reyes is aware takes “constant sacrifice,” yet his dedication to being prolific as a creative is something he isn’t willing to give up.
“It’s never perfectly balanced,” Reyes said. “But I’ve learned that discipline and priorities are everything. My goal is simple: to keep creating, to never stop learning and to never look back and think I should’ve done more.”
