Meet the Team
- Zeke Soliz (Director / Editor)
A graduate of the Creative Media Institute in Las Cruces, Zeke juggled postproduction deadlines with his final semester classes—proving that a little academic pressure can fuel a big creative drive. - Esteban “Stev” Molina (Wildland Firefighter / Angler)
Born and raised in Silver City, Stev knows New Mexico’s waterways like the back of his hand. When he’s not battling forest fires, you’ll find him scouting ideal trout habitat. - Santiago “Santi” Archuleta (Environmental Engineer / Field Producer)
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Santi’s expertise in river ecosystems was key to locating and landing each species—especially the ever-challenging cutthroat.
Meet the Species
- Rainbow Trout
- Brown Trout
- Gila Trout
- Brook Trout
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (the holy grail)
Q&A about the A-ROD Project
TU: What is the A-ROD Project? What’s in the name?
Zeke: “It’s a film following three anglers racing to catch all five trout species in New Mexico—rainbow, brown, Gila, brook trout and Rio Grande cutthroat—within 24 hours. The ‘Grand Slam’ of trout inspired the title: a play on baseball icon Alex Rodriguez (‘ARod’) and, of course, our fishing rods.”
TU: Most of you are recent grads or still in school. How did this film fit with your studies?
Zeke: “We filmed over summer, which was great for avoiding class conflicts. But I edited it during my final semester, so that proved challenging at times—huge thanks to my postproduction team and the Creative Media Institute faculty and students for pitching in!”
TU: Was the goal more about fishing, filmmaking or something else?
Esteban: “My cousin Zeke and I had dreamed of this film since childhood—capturing our perspective, not just chasing views.”
Zeke: “I wanted to challenge myself as both filmmaker and angler. We hit plenty of hiccups, but our team tackled them head on.”
TU: What were your biggest obstacles—weather, time, terrain?
Esteban: “Figuring out what the cutthroat wanted to eat was our biggest hurdle. We underestimated them!”
Santiago: “The cutthroat was by far the toughest—but that’s why the 24-hour deadline was necessary: to keep us sharp.”
TU: Most exciting or rewarding catch?
Esteban: “The Gila trout—growing up around them made that moment extra special.”
Zeke: “Landing the brown trout relieved me—I thought it would be our toughest.”
TU: If you could redo it, what would you change?
Santiago: “We’d pack everything before the clock starts. We lost many minutes stopping for snacks and supplies—next time, we’ll be all set beforehand!”
TU: How do you hope viewers respond?
Esteban: “I want to inspire audiences to seek spontaneous adventures—and to protect our natural world while they do.”
Zeke: “Whether you’ve fished before or not, I hope you feel the pull of Mother Nature and get excited to preserve her. And to stop waiting—now is the time to chase your passion!”
TU: Do you think this project will inspire more young people to explore fishing or conservation?
Esteban: “I believe this project will evoke younger people to start getting involved with all the moving parts that come with fishing, including conservation. Additionally, I hope this project encourages some older anglers and conservationists to stay open to new perspectives—and to see how the beauty of fishing and conservation reaches and affects everyone in ways that are constantly evolving.”
TU: How can others get involved in similar adventures?
Esteban: “Round up some friends, take a day off and find a place where the world can’t touch you for a while.”
Zeke: “No plan? No problem. Just drive, explore and document on your phone. And if you need company, I’m game!”
TU: Advice for aspiring filmmakers or anglers?
Esteban: “Don’t get sidetracked by other people’s opinions—stay true to your vision.”
Zeke: “Prioritize safety above all, then remember to live in the moment. You might not get another chance like this.”