Perth Amboy made me, New York raised me, Washington Heights saved me and now the Bronx loves me. I am a half Dominican, half Puerto Rican performer, storyteller and all around creative.

 

Mostly self-taught and self-made, I’ve written plays, poems, movies, and one-man shows.

I’ve also danced salsa semi-professionally, acted in some things, and even taught myself some very involved technical-behind-the-scenes-creative stuff

(Photoshop, Davinci Resolve etc.) in an effort to help me move my work forward.

 

project highlight:

1st feature film

“My Mother’s Son”, 2021

"My Mother's Son" is a raw and deeply personal look at the rocky relationship between me and my mother, Josie, who, in January 2021, celebrates 24 years of being heroin-free. But that's just the half of it.

Watch below or (watch here)


Jose Batista-Ayala • Still & Motion Picture Creative • For Hire (REEL)


Portrait photography Highlight


WEDDING VIDEO Highlight


Creative Resume

Theater

“Lose Control Comedy Troupe”

Viya Unlimited & Chulisi Enterprises

Various Lead Characters (over 55 live shows)

“FRiENDAMiGO, The Play”

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director & Supporting Actor (12 performances)

“Drunk on Love” One-Man Show

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director & Performer (2 shows)

“The Cruising Monologues”

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director & Various Lead Characters (5 shows)

“POET+OMEDY: A One-Man Dramedy”

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director & Performer

2015 Original LGBT Expo (The Jacob Javits Center) 

Original LGBT Expo

Featured Main Stage Spoken Word/Performance Artist

RAW Artists Presents: “BOLD”

RAWArtists.org 

Featured Main Stage Spoken Word/Performance Artist

Queens Lit Crawl

Charlie Vazquez

Featured Spoken Word/Performance Artist

“The Funny Flight Attendant”

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents 

Writer, Producer, Director & Performer (7 shows)

Television/Film

Respect Talk Show 

Russell Alkaway & Gloria Messer (MNN) 

Appeared as self

“B Original” Music Video

Tha Heights Band 

Supporting Actor “Old School Rapper

Smiley Face Comedy Show 

SmileyFace Productions                      

Various Lead Characters

Discovery ID Show, “Diabolical”   

Atlas Media Corp 

Extra in show, “Guy at Bar”

“Beyond the Lights” Promo

Relativity Sports

Extra in various shots

“Taboo Short Film

Labyrinth Media

Extra in shot “Dancer at Club”

“Team Salsa Nueva York” Docu-Short Film

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, Appeared as self

“The Cruising Monologues” Short Film

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, Actor

“True Blue” Short Film

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents

Writer, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, V/O Actor

“My Mother’s Son” Feature Documentary 

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents                

Writer, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, Appeared as self

“Emotionally Drained” Short Film                           

Jose Batista-Ayala Presents               

Writer, Producer, Director, Filmmaker, Editor, V/O ACTOR

Dance

NJ, 2004: 1st Place, Latin Dance Competition

Jersey’s Finest Dance Troupe                                

Choreographer & Dancer – Bachata, Merengue, Salsa on 1 & Hip Hop

NY, NY 2005: Showtime at The Apollo

Jersey’s Finest Dance Troupe                                

Choreographer & Dancer – Salsa on 1 & Hip Hop Dancer

NY, NY 2006 – 2007: Multiple Performances,

Including The National Puerto Rican Day Parade

The Carolyn Hulse Dance Troupe                            

Choreographer & Dancer – SEMI-PROFESSIONAL Salsa on 2

NY, NY 2008: Multiple performances,

including The National Puerto Rican Day Parade

The 2008 Salsa Mambo Festival in Palm Springs, California

Siempre En El Ritmo Dance Company                      

Choreographer & Dancer – SEMI-PROFESSIONAL Salsa on 2

NY, NY 2013 – 2014: Multiple Performances,

Including The New York City Dance Parade

Hostos Community College National Coming OUT Day                                     

OUT Salsa NYC                                  

Choreographer & Dancer – SEMI-PROFESSIONAL Salsa on 2

NY, NY 2015:

New York International Salsa Congress “Old Skool Room”                                               

Team Salsa Nueva York                      

Choreographer & Dancer – Salsa on 2

AWARDS

2015 BRIO Award for Spoken Word

The Cruising Monologues (Short Film)

April 2020: Festigous Monthly film competition - award winner

May 2020: The QTPOC Pride arts and film festival - official selection - Oakland premier

May 2020: Independent shorts awards - award winner

June 2020: Los Angeles queer film festival - official selection

June 2020: Top shorts - official selection

June Indie short fest - official selection

August 2020Reeling: the Chicago LGBTQ international film festival - official selection Chicago premier

August 2020: NewarkIFF - official selection NJ premier

January 2021: Rainbow cinema awards LGBT film festival - SEMIFINALIST

MY MOTHER’S SON (FEATURE DOCUMENTARY)

2022: Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) – Uptown Award (Feature Film) – Official Selection