Denise Cruz-Castino
@cruzwriter.bsky.social
Writer/Director. Writer of 5 Weddings feature film. Sold shorts to Disney and Dreamworks. Family comedy in development. Movie, TV, novel, and ad writer. Lover of dogs and brownies. Send both.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4830605/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4830605/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Pinned
Well that's a wrap. Two days of shooting my short. It was so fun! I loved my crew. I loved my amazing cast. My DP will make my film look brilliant! My producers believed in me and my project. We had fun. What more could a female director want?
But where is everyone? I feel lost without my team 😂
But where is everyone? I feel lost without my team 😂
Got feedback back from my producer on my romcom first draft and it was so amazing! Barely any notes. I'm beyond thrilled and excited. yay!
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Got feedback back from my producer on my romcom first draft and it was so amazing! Barely any notes. I'm beyond thrilled and excited. yay!
Just tried to email some business associates, Have wonderful holidays everyone and my phone changed it to, wonderful vodkas and I don't know, maybe that is a better way to say it.
December 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Just tried to email some business associates, Have wonderful holidays everyone and my phone changed it to, wonderful vodkas and I don't know, maybe that is a better way to say it.
Feature romcom script due Friday to my producer. I will have a draft but I really wanted an extra week so it was more than a vomit draft. Producer said yes, take an extra week. phew! yay! Now I can make this first draft way stronger. So happy!
December 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Feature romcom script due Friday to my producer. I will have a draft but I really wanted an extra week so it was more than a vomit draft. Producer said yes, take an extra week. phew! yay! Now I can make this first draft way stronger. So happy!
They are not kidding, give things to the busy person. Went on a two hour hike with dog and friend. Then...worked on freelance...then, read pages for writing group...then, read pages for novel group, now finishing up pages for my paid screenwriting gig. I'm going to hit 90 pages today. woot woot!
December 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
They are not kidding, give things to the busy person. Went on a two hour hike with dog and friend. Then...worked on freelance...then, read pages for writing group...then, read pages for novel group, now finishing up pages for my paid screenwriting gig. I'm going to hit 90 pages today. woot woot!
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
Who controls what IP isn't what's at play with this new merger: it's about who gets your attention & dollars. It means fewer shows & fewer movies as not to step on each other's dicks.
1/3 of Hollywood is already out of work from past consolidation. How many more voices will they run out of town?
1/3 of Hollywood is already out of work from past consolidation. How many more voices will they run out of town?
December 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Who controls what IP isn't what's at play with this new merger: it's about who gets your attention & dollars. It means fewer shows & fewer movies as not to step on each other's dicks.
1/3 of Hollywood is already out of work from past consolidation. How many more voices will they run out of town?
1/3 of Hollywood is already out of work from past consolidation. How many more voices will they run out of town?
I had to get the new Final Draft because I had to buy a new computer. And I had heard the newer FD's crash. And mine just did and didn't save my latest scene. ARGHHHH!!!
a man is crying while laying on a couch with his eyes closed .
Alt: a man is crying while laying on a couch with his eyes closed .
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I had to get the new Final Draft because I had to buy a new computer. And I had heard the newer FD's crash. And mine just did and didn't save my latest scene. ARGHHHH!!!
Just had a meeting with producer on my short film I wrote and directed and met our new editor. yay! It's been slow-going with the editing. But think we found the right one this time. Excited to see it done! #filmsky #screenwritingsky
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Just had a meeting with producer on my short film I wrote and directed and met our new editor. yay! It's been slow-going with the editing. But think we found the right one this time. Excited to see it done! #filmsky #screenwritingsky
I don't want to shock anyone in Southern California. But I went for a 30-minute walk in the rain with an umbrella and rain boots, and guess what? I didn't melt. #teamUmbrella
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I don't want to shock anyone in Southern California. But I went for a 30-minute walk in the rain with an umbrella and rain boots, and guess what? I didn't melt. #teamUmbrella
How come social media X asks me to verify I'm human when I sign in, when the majority of the posts are from bots. Do they have to verify they're bots?!
November 21, 2025 at 2:11 AM
How come social media X asks me to verify I'm human when I sign in, when the majority of the posts are from bots. Do they have to verify they're bots?!
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
17 TV projects, including the reimagined hit series Baywatch and season three of Fallout are FILMING IN CALIFORNIA as part of our California Film Tax Credit Program.
This will generate $1.2B in the Golden State and thousands of new jobs in the world’s entertainment capital!
This will generate $1.2B in the Golden State and thousands of new jobs in the world’s entertainment capital!
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
17 TV projects, including the reimagined hit series Baywatch and season three of Fallout are FILMING IN CALIFORNIA as part of our California Film Tax Credit Program.
This will generate $1.2B in the Golden State and thousands of new jobs in the world’s entertainment capital!
This will generate $1.2B in the Golden State and thousands of new jobs in the world’s entertainment capital!
Love when you’ve got the first few pages of a new script written. Especially when it’s a script you’ve been hired to write. Having fun so far writing this new romcom. Here we go!
November 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Love when you’ve got the first few pages of a new script written. Especially when it’s a script you’ve been hired to write. Having fun so far writing this new romcom. Here we go!
Texting my male writing partner about film stuff and then he's like okay gotta get back to my wife and our TV show and he writes, ciao. And I'm trying to write, bye. And my phone wanted to send a kiss. Okay iphone! Trying get me in trouble! Sheez.
a man in a black sweater is standing in front of a chain link fence with the words `` c mon man '' .
Alt: a man in a black sweater is standing in front of a chain link fence with the words `` c mon man '' .
media.tenor.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Texting my male writing partner about film stuff and then he's like okay gotta get back to my wife and our TV show and he writes, ciao. And I'm trying to write, bye. And my phone wanted to send a kiss. Okay iphone! Trying get me in trouble! Sheez.
Sometimes in LA I think, I want to live in the cold where there's snow. And then I'm cold when it's in the 50's and raining in LA. 😂
November 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Sometimes in LA I think, I want to live in the cold where there's snow. And then I'm cold when it's in the 50's and raining in LA. 😂
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
WGA Members and Aspiring Writers:
Please beware of a link circulating for a “WGA TV Career Launch ScriptFest.” This is NOT affiliated with the WGA and could be a scam. Do not give them your money.
Please beware of a link circulating for a “WGA TV Career Launch ScriptFest.” This is NOT affiliated with the WGA and could be a scam. Do not give them your money.
October 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
WGA Members and Aspiring Writers:
Please beware of a link circulating for a “WGA TV Career Launch ScriptFest.” This is NOT affiliated with the WGA and could be a scam. Do not give them your money.
Please beware of a link circulating for a “WGA TV Career Launch ScriptFest.” This is NOT affiliated with the WGA and could be a scam. Do not give them your money.
My short film that I wrote and directed, Coming Home, is up on IMDb! My first directing credit! Yay!
www.imdb.com/title/tt3785...
www.imdb.com/title/tt3785...
Coming Home (Short) | Short, Thriller
Coming Home: Directed by Denise Cruz-Castino. With Ana Price.
www.imdb.com
October 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
My short film that I wrote and directed, Coming Home, is up on IMDb! My first directing credit! Yay!
www.imdb.com/title/tt3785...
www.imdb.com/title/tt3785...
I have an amazing writer/director Jessica Silvetti who has written graphic novels with her husband. This is the 2nd one of the series:
Shockheaded Peter is a fantasy-horror graphic novel think Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm Street with Tim Burton vibes. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ebk...
Shockheaded Peter is a fantasy-horror graphic novel think Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm Street with Tim Burton vibes. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ebk...
Shockheaded Peter #1-2 - A Graphic Novel in Three Parts
A girl is troubled by her desire to join the disturbing crusade of a fantastical Stranger - Reimagining the 19th century macabre tale.
www.kickstarter.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I have an amazing writer/director Jessica Silvetti who has written graphic novels with her husband. This is the 2nd one of the series:
Shockheaded Peter is a fantasy-horror graphic novel think Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm Street with Tim Burton vibes. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ebk...
Shockheaded Peter is a fantasy-horror graphic novel think Labyrinth, Nightmare on Elm Street with Tim Burton vibes. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ebk...
All writers deal with rejection. I love the way he deals with rejection. #writersky #filmsky
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
‘Stay true to yourself – and fly closer to the sun’: what I’ve learned from 50 years of rejection
As a writer, I have been rejected thousands of times, and it initially led to shock, denial and anger. Then I accepted it. Here’s what you can gain from doing so too
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
All writers deal with rejection. I love the way he deals with rejection. #writersky #filmsky
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Got one script request today. And one place that loved my work but said thanks, but no thanks. Send us your next scripts. Part of this biz right? I guess as long as you're still in the game, you're in the game. Until one day...
a cartoon of a baseball player getting ready to swing at a pitch
Alt: The Simpson's cartoon of a baseball player hitting a homerun
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Got one script request today. And one place that loved my work but said thanks, but no thanks. Send us your next scripts. Part of this biz right? I guess as long as you're still in the game, you're in the game. Until one day...
Went to the SimiFilmFest today and was blown away by AWD block of talented female directors. Great storytelling and filmmaking. Go women! #filmsky
September 7, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Went to the SimiFilmFest today and was blown away by AWD block of talented female directors. Great storytelling and filmmaking. Go women! #filmsky
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
If you are a California voter be on the lookout for anti Prop 50 mailers like this one. I received one of these and It’s a trick that was created by Charles Munger Jr. and a bunch of others. Munger Jr. has spent $10 Million to defeat Prop 50 aka the Election Rigging Response Act.
Mailers already being sent to California voters against redistricting plan
If you've received mailers urging a "no" vote on California's redistricting response to Texas, you're not alone.
abc7.com
August 27, 2025 at 5:45 AM
If you are a California voter be on the lookout for anti Prop 50 mailers like this one. I received one of these and It’s a trick that was created by Charles Munger Jr. and a bunch of others. Munger Jr. has spent $10 Million to defeat Prop 50 aka the Election Rigging Response Act.
Just some Vermont beauty I saw when I brought my kid back to college for another year and another season of playing college hockey.
August 26, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Just some Vermont beauty I saw when I brought my kid back to college for another year and another season of playing college hockey.
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
Thanks for reading my #TheGildedAge S3 finale coverage! I’m threading the rest of my previous interviews and features here in chronological order:
August 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Thanks for reading my #TheGildedAge S3 finale coverage! I’m threading the rest of my previous interviews and features here in chronological order:
I'm so glad Gilded Age is finally finding its fans. Can't wait for season 4! I've been a fan of this show since the first episode.
Spoilers in this article.
Spoilers in this article.
Go behind the camera of The Gilded Age Season 3 finale with my interview with Director Salli Richardson-Whitfield now on @denofgeek.bsky.social!
www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-gilde...
www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-gilde...
The Gilded Age Season 3 Finale Director Unpacks That Big Romantic Moment
The Gilded Age season 3 executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield discusses the historical context of Peggy and Wiliam's story.
www.denofgeek.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I'm so glad Gilded Age is finally finding its fans. Can't wait for season 4! I've been a fan of this show since the first episode.
Spoilers in this article.
Spoilers in this article.
Reposted by Denise Cruz-Castino
Proof that bullying people for using AI works and we should bully them as hard as possible.
Being seen as too risky due to social fallout for Disney's investors really is the writing on the wall for AI in creative spaces
I don't like praising Disney but this is a genuinely a good call for reasons the investors probably cannot comprehend
I don't like praising Disney but this is a genuinely a good call for reasons the investors probably cannot comprehend
Disney Scrapped Dwayne Johnson Deepfake For ‘Moana’ & AI-Generated Soldier For ‘Tron: Ares’: “Company Couldn’t Risk The Bad Publicity”
Disney scrapped a couple of AI ideas for 'Moana' and 'Tron: Ares' due to the controversy over use of the technology.
deadline.com
August 4, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Proof that bullying people for using AI works and we should bully them as hard as possible.