We recently connected with John Anthony Torres and have shared our conversation below.
Hi John Anthony, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me was, actually, kind of a weird situation. How ever, it was such an impactful moment for me- and I think about this happening all the time. A few years ago, during the holiday season-Santa con specifically, I was out with an ex meeting friends for the first time. The bar was extremely packed- shoulder to shoulder. Our group had a reservation all the way in the back of this bar. We could barely move because it was so tight in there, all the Santas were out drinking. As we were seated and talking, a woman comes right up to our table in a frantic state. Excited, but frantic, she apologizes to the table for disrupting our conversation. She then points at me and says, “You, I had a vision about you and I came over here to shake your hand. Can I please shake your hand.” My ex asks if I know this woman and I kindly say no. I get up and say “Hi, do I know you?”, as I give her my hand. She then says that she’s a clairvoyant and had a vision about me. She came over to congratulate me and shake my hand. She shook my hand and was really excited, I know a thing or two about truthful emotions and that was very heartfelt. The whole group I was with was weirded out. I was too, but more so intrigued. After a few minutes, I got up and went searching for her in this packed bar and could not find her anywhere. She was gone. I had no idea where she came from, where she went, or why she did what she did. It was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me because that moment is one of my driving forces today. I work hard to one day-finally reach that vision, if it were true or not. If it were a gag or a joke, she still lit a fire in me. I like to think of it as real, and she actually saw something. I feel like I will eventually know what she meant – I hope she reads this one day. Who ever you are, Thank you! I’ve been determined since.
John Anthony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Sure thing! My name is John Anthony Torres, but I go by J.T. I am a latino producer, actor and musician born and raised in NYC. I recently had a North American Premiere of my teams first short film, “Papi”, at Lincoln Center-May 11th. 2024. “Papi” continues to make its festival run with a showing at Magic Johnson Theatre June 1st, 2024. I am the lead actor, one of the executive producers, co-producer, musical director, play piano live in the short film and did a little pre scoring. I wore a bunch of hats for this short film. “Papi” has been invited to screen at the Latino & Native American Film Festival (CT), Austin Lift Off (TX), and has received and “Honorable Mention” by Experimental Forum (CA). Im excited for the rest of the films journey.
I graduated from the Juilliard M.A.P. Division as a kid for flute playing, there getting the chance to play alongside the NY Philharmonic at the late- Avery Fisher Hall, in Lincoln Center. I partook in a VH1 Save the Music Commercial and I was part of a 60 Minutes Segment because of the flute. Recently, I was nominated for “Best Actor in a Play” by BroadwayWorld’s Regional Theatre Awards, for my role as factory worker, Eduardo Flores in the play SCAB: a 2 person, 90 minute drama in English & Spanish. I was also nominated as part of the “Best Ensemble Acting in a Play” by BroadwayWorlds Regional Theatre Awards for his dual roles as both Corporal Howard & Private William T. Santiago in Aaron Sorkins “A Few Good Men”. I made my off-Broadway debut as Josh in the NY premiere of “I Carry Your Heart” at the 59E59 Theatres.
Recently, I booked a role as Theodore in the upcoming feature film, “Moments of Youth”, in post production; as well as, a role in an upcoming Marvel Studios Project. Some of you might recognize me from my role as Diego Pilco in TV show “The Perfect Murder” (ID Network). I scored a pretty cool job as the face of the Best Buy Portrait Campaign, with a billboard in Time Square and billboards all over America. I was the hand model for the Miller highlife Beer Campaign.
Finally, I have two other projects I will be starring/leading in, both in pre-production. One is a short film called “Closure” filming June 2024. The next is a feature film, ”Everything is Fine “, filming in Spring of 2025.
Shout out to my team for being so great: Amy Lord at Eris Talent, Candice Mercedes at Citizen Skull Management, Allie & Marina at DDONY, Charlie Winfield at FFT, Brandon at Amirakal Marketing and Anna Suzuki who is my coach and an amazing actress (check her stuff out).
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I’m pretty resilient, I always have been. My mom is from Ecuador and came to America with nothing as a 17 year old-she created a whole life from scratch. I believe that resilience was instilled in me at a young age – I was always out working everyone around me. How ever, there was a specific accident that happened in 2020 that really pushed me like no other:
On September 11, 2020, I rode my bike home at night in Manhattan because it was the height of Covid and trains were down. I cruised up the bike lane on third avenue in Manhattan, when all of a sudden, I was Tboned by a Black 2020 Grand Cherokee on 33rd street. I lost conscious for a second, but remember hearing myself saying “Aw F*&k”. I woke up on the ground across third avenue, my bike was about 20 feet away from me-mangled. As I regained consciousness, the driver came out and asked me to stay put so he could call the ambulance. He was really scared- I’m happy he was so helpful- there are so many stories of hit and runs. I told him “Its ok man, don’t worry about it.” I think my adrenaline was running wild, I tried to get up and couldn’t. My right leg was not working as I wanted it to. I remember feeling as if my bone was made up of two twigs rubbing against each other/bending- I couldn’t get up. That’s when panic settled in and I realized I couldn’t use my right hand either/it was scraped pretty bad and bleeding. I managed to get my phone out of my pocket with my left hand, propped it on the ground next to my ear and used Siri to call my mom. Things began to get fuzzy but I remember yelling at the phone-telling my mom I was hit by a car. I blacked out right after that and woke up to a bunch of fire fighters cutting my clothes, I woke up to the cold sensation of scissors against different parts of my body. I was shimmied onto a gurney and taken to the hospital. I was in and out of consciousness. I finally settled in myself when I was in the ICU, I woke up to a Chaplin praying over me telling me that im a miracle. I propped myself up and see a rabbi praying for someone directly across from me. At that moment my sister arrived and I just balled. Finally, someone I knew was there with me – I felt safe. My sister, Nancy Abreu, has always been there for me, she was my mom growing up. My mom, serving more of the dad’s role. I digress – The doctor told me I needed emergency surgery because my right leg was crushed. The right side of my body was scraped and its bones were broken and or shattered pretty bad. I was given the choice of a wheelchair or a metal rod inserted in through my knee/held with screws-so my bones can refuse against the rod. I, obviously, went with the rod – I was not ready for a wheelchair. I slowly regained my walking abilities: learning how to do that over again was hard, painful but a true test to my patience and resilience. I slowly made my way from bed ridden, to walker, to cane, to walking to dancing again. Things aren’t the same, and never will be – but if I can get through that, I can get through anything. It was another fire that was lit under me to get things done. Something happens within the body and mind when you come close to death or have a traumatic experience as such. For anyone reading this, you can overcome anything- don’t lean on trauma, but let it propel you. You got this!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, there are a few but the main mission is the recognition, specifically the awards. I can’t speak for all artists, but a majority that I have spoken to and have gotten to know simply want one thing – to be heard. To be heard, understood, recognized for the endless struggle, sacrifice and pain that comes with the journey of pursuing a career in this industry- is all I want. That usually comes with a nomination or award, I’m ready for the Oscars, the Tonys, the Emmys and let’s throw in a Grammy as well. My eyes are on the prize and I will not stop till I obtain it. No stone will be left unturned on my path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jayteetorres.com
- Instagram: _johnanthonytorres_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bcha-OaLJ0
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tease2591
Image Credits
Jason Madaras
Gareth Shaw
Sehee Kim
Assane
Alec Hartnett
Fanny David