Diego Velasco, a multifaceted writer and director, was born in the United States, but his formative years were spent in Venezuela, a country that would later become the inspiration for his critically acclaimed feature film debut, La Hora Cero.
Velasco's subsequent feature, The Whistler, is a captivating and suspenseful thriller that draws inspiration from the intriguing Venezuelan legend of the same name. This highly anticipated project was meticulously crafted by his wife, the talented Carolina Paiz, whose impressive credits include her work on the critically acclaimed television series Orange Is the New Black and the popular Netflix original series Narcos. Paiz's impressive resume also includes credits on various other projects, showcasing her versatility and talent as a writer. The Whistler is produced by Dillon D. Jordan, a seasoned and experienced film professional with a long list of credits including The Kindergarten Teacher and Skin, in association with PaperChase films.
Notably, Velasco's professional endeavors extend beyond the realm of film, as he has made a profound and lasting impression in the television industry. One of his most notable accomplishments in this domain is the direction of the immigration episode for the final season of the Emmy Award-winning series Orange is the New Black. This episode, which garnered widespread critical acclaim, was particularly praised by The New Yorker, who described it as "brilliant." Moreover, Velasco has also had the opportunity to direct episodes for Jenji Kohan's upcoming Netflix comedy, Teenage Bounty Hunters, which is scheduled to debut in August. As of now, he is concurrently fulfilling dual roles as both producer and director for Social Distance, a groundbreaking Netflix anthology series that was created and produced entirely remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
