• FUEGO is an award-winning Puerto Rican-inspired feature film in development that explores family, purpose, and discovering your inner fire through the world of salsa dancing. Inspired by creator Edwin FrankO's award-winning short film, FUEGO blends comedy, romance, music, and culture into a story about honoring family while finding the courage to pursue your own path.

  • FUEGO was inspired by Edwin FrankO's late father and his love for salsa dancing. While watching old family VHS tapes during the pandemic, Edwin realized his father's joy on the dance floor represented something much deeper: the importance of pursuing what brings you alive. That realization became the foundation for both the short film and the feature film, as well as Edwin's broader mission to create community through storytelling, culture, and education.

  • FUEGO is an original fictional story inspired by real experiences. While the characters and events are fictional, the film draws from Edwin FrankO's personal journey, his Puerto Rican and Mexican American heritage, the loss of his father, and his work as a filmmaker and educator. It is also inspired by his own struggles learning salsa dancing as an adult, where overcoming fear, failure, and self-doubt became an unexpected journey of personal growth. These real-life experiences helped shape the emotional heart of the story and its message about discovering one's inner fire.

  • The award-winning FUEGO short film is available to watch online on YouTube. It serves as the proof of concept that inspired the feature film and introduced audiences to the themes of family, culture, and finding one's purpose.

    Visit the Watch FUEGO (2022) page to watch the film and learn how it sparked the journey toward the feature.

  • There are many ways to support FUEGO and the mission behind it:

    • Make a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor to help advance FUEGO, storytelling, arts education, and community programming.

    • Explore investment opportunities to help bring the FUEGO feature film to life.

    • Attend a Sunset Social Club event and become part of the growing community.

    • Watch and share the award-winning FUEGO short film to help introduce others to the story.

    • Follow the journey on social media and stay connected as the project grows.

    • Partner with us as a sponsor, community organization, venue, artist, or creative collaborator.

    Every contribution—whether through a donation, partnership, investment, or simply sharing our story—helps expand opportunities for storytelling, cultural connection, arts education, and community-building.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Edwin FrankO is a filmmaker, educator, and community builder dedicated to creating opportunities where people can discover their own inner fire through storytelling, culture, and community. Inspired by the legacy of his late father and his own journey through filmmaking and salsa dancing, Edwin believes that pursuing a meaningful desire has the power to transform lives.

    A USC School of Cinematic Arts alumnus and current San Diego State MFA candidate, Edwin is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and founder of Sunset Social Club. His work spans films, educational programs, and cultural events that celebrate Puerto Rican and Mexican American heritage while bringing people together through shared experiences, meaningful stories, and creative expression.

  • What services does Edwin FrankO offer?

    Edwin FrankO provides video production, commercial video production, documentary filmmaking, music video production, event photography, event videography, creative direction, brand development, community event production, filmmaking workshops, storytelling workshops, keynote speaking, and educational programming for businesses, nonprofits, schools, artists, entrepreneurs, and community organizations throughout San Diego and Southern California.

    As a filmmaker and creative director, Edwin enjoys developing the campaign, story, and brand strategy before production begins. Whether producing a commercial, documenting an event, creating marketing content, teaching a filmmaking workshop, or producing a cultural event through Sunset Social Club, every project begins with understanding the mission behind the work.

    If your business, nonprofit, school, or organization is looking for professional video production, creative direction, educational workshops, event production, or marketing content that aligns with storytelling, culture, and community, Edwin would love to connect.

  • Edwin FrankO approaches filmmaking, education, and community building through the lens of transformation. Raised in Barrio Logan as a Puerto Rican and first-generation Mexican American, his path to becoming an award-winning filmmaker wasn't traditional. Before pursuing film professionally, Edwin found confidence through breakdancing, hospitality, and later salsa dancing, discovering that passion, culture, and community could become powerful teachers.

    Largely self-taught outside the classroom, Edwin believes people often don't lack potential. They simply need the right environment, mentors, and community to help them discover it. That philosophy shapes every film, workshop, and Sunset Social Club event he creates.

    Whether producing a film, teaching storytelling, or bringing people together through Caribbean culture, Edwin's goal is to create experiences that inspire others to pursue meaningful work, strengthen their communities, and discover their own inner fire.

  • Yes. Edwin FrankO partners with schools, universities, nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations to design custom workshops, curriculum, and professional development programs centered on storytelling, filmmaking, creative leadership, and community engagement.

    Rather than delivering a one-time presentation, Edwin enjoys building educational experiences that give participants practical skills they can immediately apply. Whether developing a filmmaking curriculum, consulting on a creative project, training educators, or guiding organizations through visual storytelling and media production, every workshop is tailored to the goals of the organization.

    Areas of expertise include:

    • Filmmaking & Storytelling

    • Media Production

    • Creative Direction

    • Community-Based Storytelling

    • Project Management

    • Brand Storytelling

    • Creative Entrepreneurship

    • Film Education Curriculum Development

    • Teacher & Staff Professional Development

    If your organization is looking to inspire creativity, strengthen communication, or build a storytelling program, Edwin would love to collaborate.

  • Edwin believes the strongest creative work begins with listening. Before developing a film, commercial, workshop, or community event, he takes the time to understand the people, purpose, and vision behind every project.

    Having worked both in front of and behind the camera as an actor, director, producer, and educator, Edwin understands the psychology of performance from multiple perspectives. He creates an environment where clients, performers, and collaborators feel comfortable, supported, and confident enough to do their best work.

    With a background in retail management, hospitality, and project management, Edwin also understands that successful productions are built on clear communication, thoughtful preparation, and trust. Known for his patient and observant approach, he listens first, asks thoughtful questions, and works collaboratively to transform ideas into meaningful stories, memorable experiences, and authentic human connections.