When did you realized you wanted to be a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?

Since I was a child, I wanted to venture into cinema as an actor and filmmaker. E.T.was one of my major influences (Steven Spielberg), as I found it ingenious how the main character from space could connect with childhood on such a deep and emotional level. Much of what I have achieved, I envisioned from a young age. The roles of screenwriter, composer, singer, and animation director came later in adulthood.

Do you remember your first time at the Movies?



Once again, E.T was my first reference. Even one of my multiple award-winning projects pays tribute to Spielberg, created during the pandemic.

If you should change country where would you like to work?



Thank God, I have had the opportunity to represent my country, Puerto Rico. In different corners of the world i had the opportunity to collaborate with creative professionals from Peru, Italy, Spain, and the United States, as well as with new actors and talents from Mexico, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile. I am open to working in any country that recognizes my Puerto Rican and Caribbean essence.

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.

What would you like to improve as a Filmmaker\Actor\Writer?



Everything. It is a continuous journey. 

A big producer gives you the chance to direct\to play (in) the remake of one of your favorite black and white Movie (if you have one)… what film do you choose?



Any Mexican film. I see so much truth in its performances that I would love to view it through today’s lens, although it would be somewhat difficult to achieve. Cuarón managed to offer us a cinematic journey into renewed black-and-white with Roma. Others have attempted to emulate this in films presented to the Academy, but it has turned out to be anticlimactic. Mexican cinema is a school that only a few of us have

Film Industry it’s a tough place and sometimes is normal to feel lost and discouraged… who’s the person that keeps you motivated?

It is not a person, but it does have its own identity: Puerto Rico. Since 2009, I have consistently worked to position my Island/Archipelago in international venues and festivals. In the vast majority where I have won awards or honors, I have been the only Caribbean or Puerto Rican. Seeing fellow actors branching into directing and achieving the same is an extended accomplishment. I celebrate everything that helps place our Island where it deserves to be. And I have been on this journey for fifteen years.

Alfred Hitchcock said: "To make a good film you need 3 things: The script, the script and the script".  Do you agree with him?

Absolutely. For this reason, I don’t proceed to the pre-production phase until a script has a defined identity. Ideas are like the birds that surround Alfred Hitchcock, metaphorically, in one of his masterpieces—they can attack you or guide you toward an escape route. The process of writing a substantial and creative script is similar to this scene. 


What’s your most ambitious project for the future?

‘The link between the words “Me” and “Us”.



Do you think that sadness or at least melancholy let be more creative? 

All the emotions need to be discovered to be a great actor and director. 

What do you wish to yourself as a Filmmaker\Actor \Writer?

I wish to continue contributing to the seventh art with a meaningful vision: inner peace is the ultimate goal and is connected to what our hearts desire.