Landon Beltran (lower left and far right) sets up a video shoot for a documentary.
For Heritage High School student Landon Beltran, videography is more than fast-paced edits and viral clips. It’s about telling stories that connect his school community and documenting experiences.
Last summer, the high school junior and his brother-in-law, Jacob Flandez, began exploring photography and videography when they decided to take on their first large-scale project: A documentary featuring the school’s football team.
Titled “Heritage Patriots: The Weight of Legacy,” the documentary followed the school’s 2025 varsity football team as it worked to uphold the program’s reputation.
“The whole premise is based around legacy and connecting the present to the past,” Beltran said.
When they released the documentary in November, Beltran said they were blown away by the support of his peers and the Heritage community.
That response encouraged him to continue creating videos, including short-form, fast-paced edits that highlight key plays and a new docuseries he and Flandez are developing featuring the school’s basketball team.
Expected to span about seven episodes, Beltran said the series aims to connect students and build school pride, similar to the football documentary.
“That’s the biggest purpose I have for these videos,” he said. “It makes me really happy.”
Beltran’s videos have received millions of views on social media. A football video from a western-themed game reached more than 2 million views and 480,000 likes, while other projects, including a cinematic video for his 17th birthday, have surpassed 500,000 views and 80,000 likes on Instagram Reels.
Beltran said he has enjoyed working with Flandez as they develop their skills and learn to balance their responsibilities.
“He’s someone I look up to and he believes in me,” Beltran said. “That’s the best part of having him here.”
Heritage High School’s yearbook and film production classes have helped Beltran sharpen his skills. Through the classes, he has access to equipment and has learned the importance of planning and storytelling.
Beltran has also expanded his experience by documenting campus events. He recently edited a spring pep rally video and plans to create an Associated Student Body (ASB) documentary.
The 17-year-old plans to attend a four-year university and pursue a career in videography or a related field. He hopes to become a creative director or work in digital marketing.
“I finally found a passion,” he said. “This is something I like doing, and I believe your future career should be something that you actually like doing.”
Beltran said he has also come to recognize the impact his work can have on others.
“I never realized that videos do have a real impact on how others feel and think,” he said. “I truly hope I can make an impact on others.”
Jacob Flandez shoots video during a Heritage basketball game.
View Landon’s Heritage High football documentary here.
