Meet the Founder: Ricardo Aguirre, Jr.

“Make the film you have to make, not the one you want to make.”

For Ricardo, storytelling is a lifelong calling. Born and raised in the Bronx, he grew up enamored and inspired by the performing arts, comedy, music, movies, television, and plain-ole entertaining people. His diverse journey—as a college athlete and a dance teacher—shaped Ricardo’s unique understanding of dedication, coachability, teamwork, and creative expression. He further refined his passion by earning a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts, with a minor in English, from Mercyhurst University and a Master’s in Documentary Filmmaking from The City College of New York.

After spending over a decade working within the film and media industry, Ricardo grew tired of waiting for the right opportunity and “permission” to create. In the fall of 2025, he took a leap of faith and established Vansen Productions, Inc. to build a home for the stories that need to be told. He has since brought his distinct perspective to the screen with his debut short, La Palabra, and his first feature film, Thrilla.

“Our goal at Vansen Productions is to tell poignant, heartfelt, and overlooked stories. We believe the audience's time is valuable, and that respect is at the heart of everything we produce.”