Israel Luna's journey in the world of film began at the tender age of five, when he was first exposed to the cinematic masterpiece, The Exorcist. This experience had a profound impact on the young boy, who subsequently declared his lifelong goal to become a filmmaker. This bold announcement, made by a five-year-old, was all the more remarkable considering the humble background of his family and their small-town life in Wellington, Texas.
Years later, Luna made the courageous decision to leave his hometown and relocate to the vibrant city of Dallas. It was there that he became involved with the local community access cable channel, where he took classes and eventually developed his first project. The locally produced soap opera, Boobs, Boys and High Heels, aired two episodes and received widespread acclaim. Luna recognized this as his stepping stone, allowing him to hone his skills and prepare for his first feature-length film, Str8 Up.
Luna wrote and directed Str8 Up, which was shot in Dallas during the early months of 2001. This ambitious project, featuring a cast of hundreds and almost 50 locations showcasing Dallas' nightlife, provided Luna with invaluable hands-on experience. This preparation served him well for his next venture.
Before wrapping up principal photography on Str8 Up, Luna began writing another script, drawing inspiration from a recent real-life experience. He ventured into the horror genre, which had originally inspired him, and spent the remainder of 2001 developing his production company, La Luna Films, and the script he would eventually call 'Is Anybody There?'. The feature was shot in three weeks during late winter 2002, under the banner of La Luna Films, and added another dimension to Luna's credentials by bringing production in-house.
Luna then decided to expand the scope of his venture, creating La Luna Entertainment with his partner, Toni Miller. This new structure would enable them to explore new ideas, concepts, and projects across various fields of entertainment. La Luna Entertainment would not only produce projects under La Luna Films but also create, develop, and produce new concepts for major national and international television and cable networks. Furthermore, it would provide a platform for Luna to explore projects as a book writer.
