Join us for our weekly “Rock Reflections,” a series celebrating Trinity alumni. From 48 states to countries worldwide, our graduates are making an impact, and we'll share their stories on Trinity's website and social media.
This week's profile is about Paul Perez '93
Paul Perez ’93 was a member of the first Trinity Television (TTV) crew in 1992. That experience started him on his path to filmmaking success.
Paul came to Trinity from St. Aloysius Catholic School in Pewee Valley. Both his parents were Catholic. Paul’s father, a physician, Antolin Joaquin Perez, immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1969. Paul’s mother, Frances Ann Coyle, attended Sacred Heart Academy, graduating in 1963.
“My mom ran around with Trinity guys,” Paul said. “She said they were always gentlemen and safe to be with.”
Paul’s brothers also attended Trinity – Tony ’76, Carlos ’80 and Marc ’89.
Paul briefly attempted pole vaulting. He later discovered TTV.
“I was most interested in my camera and making sketches and movies with friends,” Paul said.
“I helped start TTV my senior year. Every morning before broadcasting the TTV news, we’d come up with a 15-second movie clip.”
TTV moderator Rev. Ron Domhoff H’98 was an inspiration to Paul.
“I was mesmerized by him talking about storytelling and camera shots. He encouraged me to go to Western Kentucky University to study film. He pushed me where I needed to go.”
Paul remembers his Trinity days as happy.
“Every teacher had great sense of humor,” Paul said. “I had a great time. Every day was fun. I never dreaded school. I have memories of talking and laughing with friends in the hallways. Teachers did a great job.”
Another of Paul’s favorite teachers was the late Dennis Lampley H’92.
“I had Coach Lampley for anatomy, and he said a word that’s in the script of one of my films,” Paul said. “The neck muscle that turns your head is the sternocleidomastoid. I cracked up whenever Coach said it.”
Trinity also instilled in Paul a desire to achieve.
“Trinity made me want to be successful in a career, with a family and friends, and in life,” he said. “I remember being taught how to be a gentleman.”
Paul also remembers going to football games with friends on Friday nights, intramural softball and coming out of his shell on Senior Retreat.
“The brotherhood and bond we created is priceless,” Paul said.
Hollywood calling
After graduating from Trinity in 1993 and before starting film school at WKU, Paul, with Father Domhoff’s encouragement, attended a filmmaking workshop at UCLA.
“There were about 90 students in the workshop, including two from Kentucky,” Paul said. “I started talking with a girl named Amity, who was from Kentucky and she was going to WKU. I told her that I was born the same day ‘Jaws’ was released in 1975, and ‘Amity’ was the name of the town in the movie. I thought it was fate we were both at the same workshop.”
Paul attended WKU as planned. He was there from 1993 until 1997. After running into Amity several times on campus, Paul felt she was being distant and thought it was because he was overweight.
In 1998, he went to Los Angeles for a year to learn Steadicam, a vest-like camera apparatus.
Paul’s next stop was film school at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in film and video production in 2002 and returned to Los Angeles to work for CBS’ hit show “Star Search.” In 2004, he became camera operator for “America’s Next Top Model,” which he did for 10 years in addition to other shows. His work took him to Paris, London and Cape Town.
In 2009, Paul returned to Louisville to care for his ill mother before moving back to Los Angeles. In 2013, he returned to Kentucky again to be producer for Richfield Video Productions in Shelbyville, which shoots United Professional Horsemen’s Association horse shows.
Along the way, Paul turned his film dream into reality.
‘Write about something big’
In early 2026, Paul’s film and love letter to Louisville, “On Borrowed Time,” premiered.
“Back during my days at Full Sail University, one of my professors asked us to write about something big,” Paul said. “I wrote a film based on asking out Amity and what would happen if I ran into her years later. The professor loved it.”
Paul was not overweight at the time, and his film budget would not allow for prosthetics. Knowing what he had to do, Paul gained 80 pounds in five months, going from 170 to 250 pounds – for three days of shooting in 2003.
Paul then lost 85 pounds in six months to shoot the scenes three years later when Paul reconnects with Amity, or Emily, her character’s name. He shot film for two weeks, put it aside and never got back to it.
Love letter to Louisville
In the summer of 2021, Paul’s brother Marc asked him to bring their mother’s ashes to San Francisco, where he was living.
“Marc said, ‘Let’s finish the movie,’” Paul said. “Both of my parents had passed away, my dad in 2015 and my mom in 2020. Four months after deciding to finish the movie, Marc was diagnosed with brain cancer. He passed away in May 2022. I had to finish it after he died.”
Paul shot a new ending in San Francisco.
“It took 23 years to make,” Paul said, laughing. “I wrote, directed, produced and did the musical score for the film. It’s a love letter to Louisville.”
Louisville music scene veterans Kimmet & Doug performed several songs. Scenes were shot at Dutch’s Tavern, Carolina Shrimp and Bluegrass Brewing Company in St. Matthews and The Bristol and Wick’s Pizza in the Highlands. Additionally, Louisville trivia and products, including Kern’s Kitchen’s Derby Pie, appear throughout the film. It was made with no crew and for less than $10,000.
Paul has been traveling and showing “On Borrowed Time” at film festivals. So far this year he’s been to Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas.
Paul’s next film, “Welcome to Louisville,” is about a Los Angeles film producer who left Louisville 25 years ago and writes a Hallmark-style movie based on the experience.
“His boss wants him to go to Louisville to supervise production,” Paul said. “He runs into a lost love and reunites with her and her family. But the movie does a one-eighty and becomes a horror film. The legendary Pope Lick Monster – the Goat Man – is actually real. The movie deals with the chaos of shooting plus the Goat Man revelations.”
‘Trinity made me a man who is able to share my feelings’
Paul remembers his early days in film at Trinity. But it was more than a practical experience.
“Trinity made me a man who is able to share my feelings,” Paul said. “That’s important in film and as a human being.”
Paul lives in Louisville. He has a girlfriend, Julie, who is a teacher.
“On Borrowed Time” is available on YouTube.
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