Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Blanco & Hannah Umpenhour.
Hi Gabriel & Hannah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Gabriel Blanco: I was born in New Jersey and found a passion for film and content at an early age. After graduating from high school in 2015, I flew down to South Florida to begin my career. My time in Miami was spent making connections and working at various film festivals around the city.
Once I was accepted into UCF, my art began to flourish. I led an experimental film crew, “The Sunspot Cinema Collective” as acting student president.
I have directed and shot numerous experimental films and narrative shorts, including a horror short that is currently in post-production! I now work various contracts around Orlando, including a show called The College Tour, which sends me around the country!
All in all, I’d say it’s been chill.
Hannah Umpenhour: I really kind of just fell into it. I’ve always been creative and sought after a career in the arts. I stumbled into film school in 2018 at the University of Central Florida with my passion for editing and wound up developing my love for working productions.
By the end of my degree, I had worked on 15+ student sets and 2 indie feature films ranging in positions from Assistant Director to Production Designer. I now work for Adrenaline Films, a film studio here in Orlando, as Production Coordinator on The College Tour.
We were lucky enough to meet each other along the way! After taking classes and working together on a variety of productions, we fell for each other and started dating! We now live and work together with our magnificent cat, Maxwell (named after The Beatles’ Maxwell’s Silver Hammer- Gabriel’s choice, go figure).
You can catch our most recent on-screen credits at the Atlanta Festival for Gabriel Blanco’s short, They’re Still Here, or on The College Tour, streaming on Amazon Prime, Roku TV, and Apple TV.
Recently, I finished production on season 21 of Law & Order and now work various contracts around Orlando, including a show called The College Tour, which sends me around the country!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
G: I don’t think a smooth road exists in this world, haha!
H: Yeah, everyone has to find their own path and pivot whenever an obstacle comes along.
G: I spent the first few years of college in a pretty bad place and wasn’t sure what I wanted to accomplish or if I even could accomplish anything. Hannah helped me get out of that place and kinda pushed me in a more positive direction.
H: Thankfully, I’m pretty lucky to have an amazing support system. My Mom, Dad, and two sisters (and Maxwell and Gabe) have helped me through everything- my time in college and my transition into the real world. There isn’t anything I could’ve done without them.
G: Also, running sets is not easy.
H: Yeah! It’s difficult and takes time haha!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Hannah: I specialize in the film as both an Art Director and 1st Assistant Director.
I’m definitely split between the artistic/creative side of set building and design, and then the organization/scheduling part of it. I honestly wish I could do it all. When it comes down to it, no matter what position I am in on set, I’m constantly appreciating the work being put in, and I’m always learning more from my experiences on set and from everyone around me.
I am most proud of how far I’ve come in the industry- just coming into it 2 years ago. I’ve made amazing connections I will always cherish, and am just getting started in my career coordinating a new episodic streaming series.
Gabriel: I graduated from UCF with a BFA in Film in both Narrative and Experimental Art. I have a bit of an erratic streak, as I am constantly dipping my toes in new art. Since graduating, I’ve worked as a Director, Writer, Gaffer, and Director of Photography.
Recently, I’ve started traveling around the country for a new streaming series on Amazon. I’ve simultaneously been putting the final touches on my horror short film, Complex. Nowadays, it’s rare for me not to be near a camera.
Hannah: I’ll speak for both Gabe and myself when I say, we are both insanely excited by and dedicated to our craft. Gabriel is always helping to push me to be more creative and reach for new opportunities when I would otherwise be too afraid to.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Hannah: Of course! As I mentioned, my mom and dad, Tracy and Charley Umpenhour, and my two older sisters, Savannah and Lauren Umpenhour. Just the same, Michael Safarty- who is basically my brother now, has all become a part of my most amazing support system.
My family has helped me in every way possible, each of them shaping the woman I am today. From playing “teacher-student” with my sisters when I was 6 (they forced me to do fake homework), to Michael helping me ace my SATs, and my parents constantly being there to help guide and support me, I would be nowhere without them.
Gabriel: Gotta thank the family for putting up with my “magic tricks” at the ripe age of 8. That was probably the first sign that I would end up in the entertainment industry. My best friend Yovany Tamargo, who I grew up with and helped me gain my confidence with a camera.
We spent a lot of weekends making Youtube videos, vlogs, and skits all around our New Jersey hometown. And of course, I have to thank Hannah for keeping my head up, pointing me in a positive direction, and being the reason I get out of bed.
Contact Info:
- Email: GBSA201@gmail.com / umpenhourh@yahoo.com
- Website: thisisgabeb.com / hannahumpenhour.weebly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahumpenhour/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisgabeb201?lang=en.
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpaemjPE83CSpoL-Da7RaEg ……… https://www.youtube.com/user/ThisisGabesVlogs
- Other: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisgabeb?
