Two films that have marked your life for better or for worse…
Although there are many, I would highlight the Academy Award-winning film Parasite and, in animation, Coco, as I have a strong emotional connection with Mexico and am devoted to la Virgen Guadalupana. Almodóvar's films were a major reference during my graduate studies in Cultural Studies and have also been key to my development as both an actor and filmmaker.
What do you think about Acting/ filmmaking schools?
New York Film Academy changed my life forever. The opportunity to participate in a summer intensive and work on projects at the Universal Studios Lot was wonderful. Filming short films with emerging directors from various countries—13 in total—was intense (in just one month) but rewarding in my role as an actor. I believe that experience inspired me to continue creating in other roles, such as filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and composer. Currently, I am featured as one of the standout actors on the New York Film Academy website, which has been one of my major dreams since 2000. That year, I was at a crossroads between studying acting for film or pursuing a Psy.D. in clinical psychology. Achieving both has been pivotal in my acting development.
Have you ever hated your ambition?
I prefer to use the word "evolution." “Ambition” has a short lifespan, but evolution lasts forever.
Francois Truffaut used to think that "Film Lovers are sick people”… was he right?
I have great respect for the life and work of François Roland Truffaut. We should not forget that Freud also highlighted the deficiencies and virtues of human beings from a psychological perspective. I am among the directors and actors who believe that the seventh art can be a tool for healing and evolution, both for its creators and its audience. This is one of my guiding principles in my films.
Close your eyes…if I say “Cinema” what do you see?
I clearly see a Puerto Rican child imagining himself acting in film and an adventurous adult diving into the seas of film direction. I never lose sight of either—the child or the adult—in this great art.
Who’s the Director\Actor\Writer that taught you the most?
Director? Almodóvar.
Actor? Woody Allen.
Screenwriter? I’m still searching for a favorite.
About your job, tell us your biggest dream and your worst nightmare…
My biggest dream? Create. My nightmare? Stop creating.
How important is to have a good Cinematographic Culture?
It is as important as discovering your identity as a filmmaker. Each project has its own life and distinct identity; however, that indelible mark that defines you should be present in every project. To achieve this, one must first study the great masters of cinema.