Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Vicunia.
Hi Andrea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Spain and, honestly, never thought I’d end up living in the US! Time flies and now I’ve been here over nine years. My story starts when I received a scholarship to study acting in Los Angeles at TVI Actor’s Studio. I landed in Sherman Oaks having no car, no apartment, no friends and no idea about the industry! I also had no idea that for Americans I was a POC because of my heritage and accent. Those first months were magical as I didn’t intend on staying so I was just making the best of the experience! One day, someone came to our class to talk about O1 visas and how we could start working in Hollywood, I qualified and applied for it: and after spending $$$$ and a lot of headaches… I GOT MY FIRST WORKING VISA!
Now, I finally got my GREENCARD baby! I’ve lived in many parts of the US, filmed all around the US, I have many friends, I can pay for an apartment by myself and have won several awards and released a series created by me on Amazon Prime! How? Read ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. I have suffered a lot trying to find my space in this industry. I think we all decide to be actors and assume it will happen soon… you will make it! When that doesn’t happen you start questioning what’s not working and it’s easy to start blaming yourself and lose confidence on your talent. I am guilty of that and of worrying about other people’s opinions too much like Casting Directors, Teachers, Agents, Directors, etc. I’ve felt powerless and a forced outcast.
I had the added struggle of having to understand that despite being a regular person in Spain, here I was seen as a Latina. The auditions I would be called in for were stereotypical and racist, I felt misunderstood. And my beautiful accent wouldn’t help in getting me away from the cliche, just encourage more of it!
Actor friends can be a blessing or a horrible pity party, it’s so important who you surround yourself with!
But I am stubborn and resilient so I decided to take my career in my own hands! I created the content I wanted to see and reclaimed the power of being in charge of my career and not waiting for others to give me a chance!
I also decided to stop apologizing for how I look and sound because there are other people like me and we also deserve representation and not a stereotyped role. Thankfully that is changing and now diversity is ENCOURAGED and ENFORCED!
I decided to stop victimizing myself as an actor and hanging out with other actors who only complained about not getting roles but were not willing to put the work in. I also got away from “friends” who don’t want the best for you as we deal with rejection and uncertainty enough to know that I deserve great friends who I support and they support me. We make each other grow and succeed together!
Finally…. things happen for a reason! Turns out I had to go through this struggle with my acting career to find Stand Up and filmmaking! I would have never thought I was capable of doing them until I was so pissed off and sad that I HAD to do them!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A great talent that I have is that I am good at laughing at myself or finding comedy in bad situations. I thought everyone was like that but that’s not true. As an outlet for my struggles, I started to write stand-up comedy as my accent seemed to make people laugh and how I express my frustration too! It worked! I felt understood and most people would want to know more after every show.
I decided to start writing about my experiences and I would let my characters say the things you can’t tell ignorant, racist, sexist, mshgdhdjd….. people. I’ve learned that if you use comedy to bring up an issue, people don’t feel attacked and usually can see their flaw in the situation.
That’s how STEREOTYPED came to life. It’s my story of how to hurt I was of being seen as a walking Latina stereotype that inspired this comedic short that has garnered me so much success and 10k given to me on Warner Bros Stage in Los Angeles by Ava DuVernay and named “Best Underrepresented Filmmaker of the year”.
What sets me apart is that I don’t hide my struggles and I own my feelings and share them, raw, with the world and that is something we need more of.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Oh my! I would say as an actor to take on-camera classes and audition technique classes instead of being in school for 5 years learning Hamlet and millions of monologues, or how to walk like a hedgehog, to then come out to the real industry and audition for a 1 liner: “Here’s your coffee”.
As a filmmaker, I would say: start filming with whatever you have… 1 phone, two actors and your parent’s house? Write a story that takes place in a house with two characters. Most important thing… AUDIO!!! Make mistakes! My first web series looks completely yellow but I learnt so much about storytelling, editing, music, dealing with actors, things that work and those that do not…
And start thinking how can you be an asset to others with your beautiful talent than how they can help you. EMPOWERMENT BABY!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andreavicunia.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/andreavicunia
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/andreavicunia
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/andreavicunia
