Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabe Castro.
Hi gabe, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2011, I moved to Philadelphia to pursue my passion for film at Temple University. Originally from a small, rural town in Central Florida, my arrival on Temple’s campus was a revelation. The sheer diversity of faces stopped me in my tracks. Never had I seen so many faces that looked like my own. It ignited a profound connection to the city’s vibrant tapestry of neighborhoods, cultures, and history. After graduating in 2014, I found myself smitten by Philadelphia and began setting down roots that have since flourished.
My journey here has been enriched by my history with PhillyCAM. These experiences granted me invaluable access to the city’s cultural centers and creative population.
Now, after 15 years, I proudly call myself a Philadelphian. I am beyond appreciative of the filmmaking and mediamaking community of Philadelphia and am involved in many organizations to support that community. I collaborate with cinéSPEAK as a journalist, contributing to my own column that weaves community organizing with filmmaking in the city. Additionally, I have served as a member of the screening committee for the Philadelphia Latino Film Festival. Moreover, my involvement with the Independence Public Media Foundation’s grant committee allows me to champion media initiatives that enrich our city.
As a member of both Termite TV and SIFT film collectives, my commitment to Philadelphia’s filmmaking community runs deep. These connections anchor me to the city’s cultural pulse, fueling my passion for storytelling and advocacy alike.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the things I love about Philadelphia’s Independent Filmmaking community is how supportive it can be. In other cities like New York or LA, there’s an insidious, cut-throat competitive atmosphere that makes growth difficult. It can feel suffocating and isolating. In Philly, opportunities are shared. I can’t tell you how many times I’d been recommended for gigs because someone wanted to share opportunities they’d had.
That being said, there still seems to be a hierarchy amongst filmmakers. Beginners and indie creators exist on our own plane, competing for the same funding opportunities and other support. But when those indie creators are no longer at the beginner level, there’s no natural progression to the next level. They remain on this intro level, forcing the beginners to compete with more established, yet not-established-enough creators. There’s an exclusive quality to some bigger opportunities, organizations, and film scenes that make it difficult to get in.
I’ve been lucky to form many of my relationships within the world of community media, which has provided me with the most diverse workshops, productions, and films I’ve ever seen. Outside of this utopia of community media is an aggressively white, male space that makes many productions inaccessible and uncomfortable. There simply isn’t enough opportunities out there and the ones that exist, often go to the same people.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a nonbinary, Latine, Philadelphia-based multimedia creator specializing in the horror genre. My work mostly focuses on dissecting horror media, exploring the real-world influences behind our cinematic fears. Horror exists on the fringe of genre work, and with that comes a freedom of expression we don’t often find in other genres. I serve as the producer and co-host of “Ghouls Next Door,” a media literacy show centered around the horror genre. This program educates and entertains audiences, equipping them with helpful media literacy tools and compendiums that inspire them to watch films with intention. This project has also provided me with the opportunity to direct, write, and act in three films. My experience in guerrilla filmmaking has taught me to create compelling stories with minimal resources, never compromising on quality or narrative depth. Each of my films was a testament to resourcefulness, completed within two days or less, with limited funds, support, and crew.
I am also the Member Programming Manager at PhillyCAM, Philadelphia’s Public Access TV and Radio Station. I’ve dedicated nearly a decade to empowering my community through people-powered media. My role revolves around equipping filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and skill levels with the necessary tools and knowledge to bring their visions to life. For me, filmmaking is synonymous with sharing—be it truths, fantasies, dreams, or fears. It’s a communal experience that unites us.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’ve always been interested in media and creating film. In middle school, I worked at the local flea market on the weekends. I saved every paycheck so that I could buy my first video camera. Without any real knowledge of how to make films, I forced my friends and family into in-camera-edit films (I had no access to editing software). One of my first films was a murder mystery where my brother, my friend, and I had to play several different people! This evolved into working in the news programs in middle school, and later, the film programs in high school. I never stopped forcing my family and friends into films, though my editing was much improved. I’d always loved the horror genre, so the majority of those films were spooky in nature. I made several zombie films that are hidden away on secret YouTube channels. I went to Temple University for Media Studies and Production, my love of film growing into broadcasting and television.
As I grew into the filmmaking world, I fell in love with media literacy and understanding the power we hold as creators. My love for horror has only grown, and I’ve become an educator, emphasizing the power of fringe media. I still make independent films, and they always star my best friends and me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theghoulsnextdoor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theghoulsnextdoor/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GhoulsNextDoor
