Tampico / Biography

Tampico was raised in San Ysidro, California, a few kilometers away from the Mexican border. As a teenager his goal was to make it to the NFL and become a star wide receiver. He lettered in his first year at UCLA but soon found himself disconnected with sports and more interested in academics. He quit the team abruptly in the middle of his sophomore year to focus on scholastics. He double majored in Economics and Political Science.In 1998 he started making experimental films with a digital 8 camera he received as a birthday present. He also shot a few small documentaries. Many of his films went on to win festival awards and he decided to take his work to the next level. He was awarded a scholarship to study cinematography at the Filmakademie in Baden-Wuerttemburg, Germany.Since graduating he has worked as a cinematographer, as well as a commercial and music video director.