LOS ANGELES – Surrounded by the sound of sewing machines and scissors is how Carlos Alberto Hurtado remembers his childhood.

For 30 years his father owned Santa Cruz Designs, an upholstery and drapery business in Los Angeles.

“I grew up in drapery, I’m the kid who never got out of the drapery business,” says Hurtado.

In fact, he still works there managing the business end of the company unless he is directing films. As a child, Hurtado’s father would take him to the movies, an experience that had a lasting effect on him as a young boy.

“We’d watch Space Camp, we’d watch Goonies, and those were things that really made me happy that I really loved and when I was 18-years old I said what can I do that’s going to make me happy, that’s going to make other people happy and it was watching those movies and that’s when I decided to be a director,” said Hurtado.

As student at Loyola Marymount University Film School he was awarded a Kodak Grant for a short film and co-nominated for a Student Academy Award, but he took a 9-year hiatus to manage the family business.

“It was only about five or six years ago that I decided to come back to film and I’ve always been having this amazing and encouraging supportive foundation from my parents and sisters to pursue my dream and that’s why I’m back and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing today,” said Hurtado.  

His first film after coming back was Hollygrove, a short documentary that won an award at the Cannes Film Festival. Since his return, he has won more than 50-awards at both national and international film festivals.

Hurtado’s latest project is CRY, a fashion film that has already won awards at the La Jolla Fashion Film Festival and the Croatia Fashion Film Festival. Despite his success, he is still not ready to completely leave the family business.

“I love working with my dad, he’s my best friend and my hero,” said Hurtado.

His dad says he wants to see his son fulfill his dreams and jokingly said he was trying to kick him out, but he doesn’t want to leave.

So while he is well on his way to making his dream a reality, he may still be hanging around the family business for years to come.