Known for his work across cinematography, directing, and editing, Ruiz-Healy returned home to find his house occupied by squatters
Indie filmmaker and award-winning cinematographer Fidel Ruiz-Healy is recovering from a devastating home robbery that left his Santa Monica residence uninhabitable and stripped of nearly all his professional equipment.
Ruiz-Healy, known for his work across cinematography, directing, and editing, returned home on Sept. 16 from a work trip to find his house ransacked and reportedly occupied by squatters. According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by friends and collaborators, “every single crevice” of the home had been turned over. Alongside trash and discarded weapons left behind, extensive damage was done to the plumbing, including cut wires, rendering the home unlivable.
Most concerning for the filmmaker is the loss of virtually all of his camera equipment — the tools that form the backbone of his career and sole source of income. The theft included high-end gear such as a RED Dragon camera package, Leica R and Nikon AIS lenses, tripods, lighting meters, hard drives, and a MacBook Pro. Several items belonging to colleagues that Ruiz-Healy was storing were also among the stolen equipment.
Compounding the loss, insurance coverage on the equipment had lapsed just weeks earlier, on August 30.
Ruiz-Healy, who has since found temporary housing, is still taking on film work, but friends say the loss of equipment presents a serious barrier to his livelihood. “Any filmmaker understands that your equipment is everything. Therefore, this situation requires immediate attention,” organizers wrote on the fundraiser page.
As of Friday, more than $20,000 has been raised through over 250 donations on GoFundMe, putting the campaign within reach of its $22,000 goal. Supporters have continued to share the fundraiser, highlighting Ruiz-Healy’s reputation as a generous collaborator and “an all-around great guy.”
Santa Monica police have assigned a detective to the case, and neighbors have been alerted to report any leads. Organizers shared photos of the aftermath to show the scale of the damage and say they are continuing to adjust the fundraising goal to account for the full cost of replacing equipment and essential items.
Those wishing to contribute can visit the GoFundMe page titled “Help Indie Film Legend After Home Robbery.”
