Biographies
Meet our Executive Producer Team
Teresa Longo
Teresa Longo brings depth, emotional elegance, and a grounded presence to COLORS OF THE SUN in the role of Helen, a quick-witted and empathetic mature volunteer in Albuquerque’s only AIDS Ward. With a background in both independent film and theater, Teresa’s work is marked by authenticity and a powerful ability to communicate silent emotional truths. As an executive producer, she helped guide the project from early development through production.
Michael L. Miller
Michael L. Miller portrays Reverend Maxim, a conniving and manipulative man whom Michael brings to life with chilling conviction and emotional precision. With numerous film and television credits, including Fright Night (2011), Vengeance, Longmire, and Deeply Superficial, Michael delivers a performance that is both unsettling and deeply human.
As an executive producer, Michael provided crucial creative support throughout the project, helping to anchor the film’s intensity and emotional authenticity.
Macario Flores
Macario Flores brings profound sensitivity and emotional truth to his role as Edward, the young man whose 1985 interviews with LGBTQ+ community members form the foundation of COLORS OF THE SUN. As a first-time lead actor, Macario steps into a character shaped by queer history, loss, resilience, and the urgent need to bear witness.
In portraying the film’s central figure, a man navigating allyship, grief, and the responsibility of preserving stories from the early AIDS crisis, Macario delivers a performance layered with empathy and respect. His work honors the real voices that inspired the film.
Joaquín Madrid Larrañaga
Joaquín Madrid Larrañaga plays Kevin, a man dying from AIDS who is determined to find a partner for his lover, Jared, before he passes. Feeling he cannot let go until Jared is safe, Kevin fights against time, fear, and the weight of unspoken love. Joaquin, who is based in Los Angeles, was so moved by the script that he flew out at his own expense to take on the role.
While primarily known as a producer, including credits on All That Could Have Been and I Hate You, T. Monroe; Joaquin has also appeared in several short films. His portrayal of Kevin captures the tenderness, urgency, and heartbreak at the core of COLORS OF THE SUN.
Edward D Padilla
Edward D. Padilla is a filmmaker and screenwriter whose work is rooted in emotionally intimate storytelling and character-forward narratives. Serving as Director, Executive Producer, and Screenwriter of Colors of the Sun, Padilla approaches filmmaking as an act of empathy; examining love, loss, and connection with restraint and lyricism.
His storytelling favors quiet moments over spectacle, allowing performance and atmosphere to carry meaning. Colors of the Sun reflects his ongoing interest in stories that live at the intersection of personal truth and broader social experience, offering audiences work that is both deeply specific and quietly universal.