Film and Media Studies (FMS) alumna, Nicole Mairose Dizon (2016) is a first-generation Filipina American writer/director/producer from Baldwin Park, CA whose work explores class, strivers and the overlooked with elements of thriller and surrealism. After she graduated UC Irvine (Cum Laude with the Chancellor’s Award of Distinction, no less), she worked at ICM, Scott Free and on various scripted and unscripted shows. More recently, Nicole created her short film, Morena (2022), which opened Gold House and UTA's 2023 Filipino/x American History Month Showcase, and served as a Showrunner's Assistant on Amazon's upcoming Blade Runner 2099.
For her recent production of The Pit, Nicole collaborated with three other UC Irvine alumni. A love-letter to the LA neighborhoods Nicole grew up in, the film follows a miner consoling his grieving son, Iggy. After spending a day together around their hometown, Iggy rediscovers the beauty of life and connection through his father’s eyes. One of the six films selected to be showcased in the Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award 2025, The Pit is currently eligible for two prizes: the Jury Award, selected by leaders in the arts and entertainment industry, and the Audience Award, chosen by the public. To watch The Pit, and to vote for the film, please click here.
We were lucky to catch up with Nicole and learn more about her inspiration, her process, and her time at FMS.
Tell us about your film, The Pit. What drew you to this story?
The Pit follows a miner consoling his grieving son, Iggy. After spending a day together around their hometown, Iggy rediscovers the beauty of life and connection through his father’s eyes.
I was really moved by the fellowship's prompt of “togetherness” and deeply inspired by my hometown. Born and raised in LA County, there’s a side that most people don’t know about. I grew fixated with the nearby massive quarry and mines in Irwindale. After more research, I learned they’re mining aggregate–the material of our freeways and roads. The freeways make up the fabric of our city; they allow people from every walk of life to venture off into the vibrant immigrant communities on the east side to the quintessential California beaches on the west side. We can easily stay within the comfort of our communities and interact with people of the same background, but I love to think about how we make the intentional choice every day to travel on our freeways as far as necessary to see the people we love and explore different intersections of life in Los Angeles.
What is something you've learned about filmmaking while producing The Pit?
With the film's low budget, I had the gift of wearing multiple hats: writer, director, producer, editor, music producer and even production designer. I learned that wearing that many hats inevitably results in imperfections in some areas. That's the beauty of art. There were unexpected moments of spontaneity and discovering the story all over again on set.
How did your time at FMS prepare you for this project?
I owe so much to the FMS department for instilling an indie ethos and my love for cinema and storytelling. The industry's still recovering from double strikes and productions moving out of LA. It's more challenging than ever to get any films made. Through UCI, I had the means to connect with classmates and foster relationships that have supported me beyond undergrad.
I worked with 3 other UCI Alumni on this film. My Costume Designer, Malcom Morales, is a longtime collaborator on my films. Katrina Vergara reached out and offered her help when she saw I was in the early stages of prepping. Jimmy Hua (FMS minor) mentioned to me in 2023 that he was interested in dipping his toe into film. When I was crewing up, I circled back with him in late 2024. You never know where your collaborators will come from, but you can count on UCI classmates to pull through.
Please enjoy a collection of behind the scenes photos below.
