INDIE INTERVIEW: ACTOR, RENE ROSADO, STAR OF UPCOMING FILM, ‘ASHER’
by Rupert-Anthony Ortiz
Rene Rosado is an actor living and working in Los Angeles, California. He started his
career in several short films, including the award winning film St. Paul, directed by Francisco Ordonez. Rosado has gone on to appear in several feature films including Go For It, Sassy Pants, the Sundance Hit Filly Brown. Rosado has also made appearances on several hit T.V. Shows which include 90210, Criminal Minds and Bones. Rosado is currently working on a feature film version of the short film St. Paul.
How did you get into acting?
Here is the exact story of how it all came about. One summer I was working as a wilderness instructor on the Appalachian trail between New York, Boston, and Connecticut. My job […] was to take groups of about 20 people on the trail. I would [take] each group for two weeks at a time, we would radio in a van, who would pick up the group and leave me a new group for the [next] two weeks. This went on for almost four months, as I lived in the woods, hiking, spelunking, white water rafting and rock climbing. All I had for entertainment was a radio, and at night I would play the only station I could pick up. Every time I played the radio, I heard a commercial for “Manhattan Model Search”. [The commercial] would say, “You can be the next star”. I heard this commercial for four months, every night. At the end of my four months working, I finally went back home. I remember sitting down having my first home cooked meal and putting on the TV for the first time, in a very long time. While I’m watching TV, the same commercial I [had] been listening to on the radio for the past four months appears on the screen. I took that as a sign from God. I told my father I wanted to go apply to “Manhattan Model Search”. He asked me why, [and] I just said, “Dad, I think I want to be actor.” I payed four hundred dollars to be interviewed by 40 agents. I ended up getting two agents from it, and the rest is history. Funny enough, that convention was closed down the very next year. They got sued, and were considered a scam. Nevertheless, it changed my life. Ten years later, I’m here talking to you.
Wow. That is an amazing journey into acting. How do you feel you’ve grown as an actor through the years since then?
I have learned to have respect for acting and for the actor. This journey has been one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I didn’t know how much hard work and sacrifice one has to do in order to pursue such a dream. Throughout these years, I have sacrificed, love, time with my family and friends, gone through financial hardships, worked jobs I hated doing, lived in conditions I don’t wish upon anyone, and have missed out on a lot of important events in my life. If you ever asked me the question, would I go back to change anything? I would tell you, NO! You see, it was through my trials and tribulations that I not only grew as an actor ,but I also grew as a man; mind, body, and soul. I found out who I am through this journey. I have learned the value of hard work and sacrifice, and understand the meaning of what is known as the “American dream”. [America] tells us we can be whatever we want to be, and that is true. What they don’t tell us is how. That’s because there is no one right way to accomplish your dream, but there are a million wrong ways. My way has just been to work hard, listen, and learn, while you pursue whatever it is you want to do. Passion is the key, and through God, you can accomplish anything and everything. So how have I grown as an actor? I have learned the values of life. True values, like honoring friendship, family, and love. Through that, I have learned who I am. Yes I have made many mistakes in my journey, but if you learn from everything you experience, be it good or bad, only good can come from that.
I have never heard it put into words so eloquent. What obstacles do you think you have encountered as a Latino actor?
Of course there is the never ending story of the stereotypical roles that are out there. However, the true obstacle I feel every Latin actor goes through is letting go of his ego. We are proud men, we know what we want, fight to get what we want, and will let nothing stop us. If there is one common thing that I have seen with myself and many others, is that we must learn how to put our egos aside and listen with our hearts. Self pride is beautiful, but sometimes being too prideful can get in the way of life lessons. One will continue making the same mistake over and over, never truly understanding that it’s not what they are doing that’s wrong, it’s how they are going about it that’s wrong, I am not saying that pride is a bad thing. Pride should be what gives you momentum. Faith, love, and sacrifice, and the understanding of all of them, is what will get you to where you want to be. That being said I’m proud to be a Latin actor.
Tell us how you prepare for a role?
Every actor has their own routine. I do a lot of character work. I enjoy putting my own experiences into my characters. It makes it easier for me to become whoever it is I have to be. As for a secret ritual–I’ll share this with you but you can’t tell anyone. Anytime I have an audition or I’m filming, I always make sure I wear mix matched socks. [Laughs] Don’t ask why, I just do.
I’m going to geek out a bit here, but I must know, how was your experience being on Star Trek Into Darkness?
That is by far one of my most memorable experiences. J.J. Abrams is one of the nicest people you can ever work with. He is so humble. He brings this incredible positive vibe to set every day. My favorite day on set was when J.J. hired a DJ. It was one of those really long days everyone was working overtime, and we were probably on our 14th hour filming. I remember everyone taking their places on set and instead of J.J. saying action, all of the lights shut off and a DJ appeared out of no where and started playing this awesome techno music with a light show… At first, no one knew what was going on, but then we all started dancing! It was incredible to see J.J. and all the stars from the film dance to this awesome light show. What a treat! I learned that there isn’t much difference filming a [feature] film or a short film. Well, there is obviously a difference in the budget, but aside from that, it’s just work. Know your lines, come in prepared and ready to work, and have fun doing it.
What is the best way for a director to communicate with you as an actor to help get the performance needed for the film?
By getting to know who I am. I love when a director takes his or her time to ask me questions about who I am as a person, so then later we can use that as direction for my character. I feel that the more a director knows his actors, the better performance he or she will have.
Do you have any upcoming projects in the works you can tell us about?
Next, I will be filming the feature to St. Paul, It’s going to be called Asher. It’s an incredible story about a young man who infiltrates a religious sect which call themselves The Black Israelites. I am very excited to be working with Director Francisco Ordonez again. I will be playing the lead alongside Danny Glover, Mekhi Phifer, my dear friend Gina Rodriguez, and many others soon to be announced.
What’s some advice you can give to actors looking to start out?
I would say, know that you are ENOUGH! Never feel like you have to be someone else–always be you. Love who you are, and get to know who you are more and more every day. Remember everyone has their own journey. So embrace everyone’s success, don’t judge others for having more or less success than yourself. The moment you pursue this career with a good heart, is the moment you will fall in love with what you do. “If you keep silent, keep silent by love; if you speak, speak by love; if you correct, correct by love; if you pardon, pardon by love; let love be rooted in you, and from the root nothing but good can grow. Love and do what you will” -Augustine of Hippo
IndieFilmTalk We Gotta Know Question. What movie is on repeat in your collection?
A Bronx Tale
Thank you so much Rene for this touching and inspirational interview. Be sure to check out the trailer to the short film, St. Paul.
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