Hey! My name is Duncan and I am a 24-year-old Mexican-American filmmaker, writer, analog photographer, musician, and double Aquarius who loves avant-garde films, literature, and making new, life-long friends!

I usually live in Chicago full-time, but I had to unexpectedly move back home to NC to take care of my mom/family in 2023. Moving from Durham, my parents settled in Ocean Isle Beach while I flew back to Chicago to sell, pack, and store what I couldn’t bring home with me and I’ve been here ever since. I’ve been able to travel some for the film festivals I’ve participated in as well as to see friends, though, so there are definitely silver linings to it all.

You'll most likely find me watching films (when I'm not directing, writing, producing, editing, and shooting my own!), reading, and buying/shooting tons of film. :,D

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I travel to photograph and experience the world around me. I love doing this so much that the money I have in my bank account usually struggles to stop me. Having a free place to stay while I do this traveling, though (among hosts who share that same passion as I do), lightens the monetary burden I'm under and frees me from stress when planning on what I'll be doing next in the world of unknown travel plans.

Currently, I'm traveling around and showing my newest film at film festivals and need a place to reside as I attend and explore a city I usually have no connections in!

Interests

• animals
• writing
• literature
• poetry
• avant-garde art
• photography
• film making
• tattoos
• cooking
• walking
• trivia
• movies
• reading
• music
• live music
• alternative music
• jazz
• philosophy
• art
• films
• nature
• film photography
• film
• vegetarianism
• funk
• people watching
• exploring new places
• comedy
• rap
• making music
• making friends
• community
• experimental music
• exploring nature
• art museums
• communism
• screenwriting
• chicago
• film editing
• drumming
• walking in nature
• public transportation
• experimental art
• experiencing new cultures
• public transit
• experimental film
• drum corps
• marxism-leninism

Music, Movies, and Books

My list for all of these would be far too long, so here's a list of who I've been listening to recently, my favorite film directors, and what I'm currently reading:

Music: Alice Coltrane, Arthur Russell, Young Thug (I have a picture of him in my wallet 24/7, funnily enough)

Directors: Tarkovsky, Akerman, Kiarostami (in that order!)

Book I'm currently reading: "Criticizing Photographs: an Introduction to Understanding Images" by Terry Barret (even though I’m a screenwriter, I pretty much only read nonfiction!)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I met Nelson Mandela's grandson, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, when he came to Chicago and he complimented the book I brought him to sign!

"This is one of the greatest books I have ever read...it would be my honor to sign this for you," he said to me.

I will never, ever stop riding that high of knowing I chose well and I'll happily tell you what it was if our paths ever cross!

Teach, Learn, Share

Essential viewing to understand a bit of my worldview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RakEPolGKlQ

And here's the trailer to my latest work, if you'd be interested: https://vimeo.com/danalco/symphonie-fantastique-trailer

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm a vegetarian, was raised to never wear shoes in the house, still take COVID seriously, and I would be thrilled to take professional portraits of you as a massive thank-you for letting me stay with you, if you choose!

Countries I’ve Visited

Bahamas, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States