Paul Duran-Lemos
Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist and technologist whose work lives at the intersection of traditional cinema and emerging media. Originally from Villa Rica, Georgia, Paul’s creative foundation was built on indie game design and development—a background that continues to fuel his fascination with how audiences interact with story.
A graduate of the Los Angeles Film School with a focus on Cinematography and Directing, Paul’s toolkit is intentionally broad, spanning editing, coloring, and documentary filmmaking. He views the edit bay as a site of discovery, where "footage puzzles" are assembled to find the organic truth within a story. His work, which ranges from award-winning AI projects to live-action shorts, is defined by a constant push to move the medium forward using everything from Hi-8 to XR.
When he isn't directing or editing for a Downtown LA art studio, Paul explores his passion for technology through photography, documenting the very hardware that shapes our digital lives.
“There’s a gap between the sensory and the abstract and that’s where you find truth.”
the qualia quandary
(ai filmmaking)
“Qualia” ([kwah-lee-uh] plural; singular: quale) is a philosophical term referring to subjective experiences.
These can be anything from the warmth of your cheeks before your first kiss to the cold strain on your eye from reading this in the middle of the night.
At Qualia, we bridge the gap between the sensory and the abstract.
Each film, each project, is a collage of these unique, subjective moments that define our existence.
Qualia is more than a production company; it’s an embodiment of the ephemeral, the intangible, and the deeply personal.
Through our work, we aim to capture the essence of these fleeting experiences, transforming them into visual and auditory narratives that resonate on a deeply human level.
We believe that every project should not only tell a story but also evoke the raw, unfiltered sensations that come with it. This philosophy is at the heart of everything we create, making Qualia a true reflection of the myriad subjective experiences that shape our lives.