We were lucky to catch up with Mona Trujillo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mona, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Hi, thank you for having me! I have honestly never thought of having another job or lifestyle. I feel extremely happy, grateful, and honoured to call myself an artist and a creative. Even when I was in high school and we had to choose what we wanted to study or be when we grew up, my answers were always, “An actress,” “A performer,” or “I want to make art.”

I can’t deny I have been interested in other things as well, never as much as what I do (because what I do is my passion). But, I do wish I could study more. I love learning, and I find everything in the world fascinating, but I never felt a strong desire or impulse to just drop the arts and focus on something else.

It’s actually funny because I do think about this question a lot, and not in the way of doing something else, as I just mentioned, but in the sense of not being able to picture myself having a different lifestyle. And I talk about being an artist and a creative as a type of lifestyle because it is. If you think about it, we don’t have a 9-5. We don’t just go to our jobs and then come home and “disconnect.” We have routines for sure, and obviously, we might also have other jobs on the side to support ourselves at the beginning. But when you are an artist, every second of the day is part of your process and your work. Because you are your work, and even if you are not doing a specific activity like in my case going to my acting class, everything I do during the day is observing, learning, reflecting, and creating. No matter what time of the day it is because we can’t always plan when we are going to be inspired, see something we can use for our work or have an idea; it just comes to us, and we do it. We follow our impulses, and even if it is 3 am, you probably stand up and write down your idea.

It is very different from many jobs, hobbies, and careers. We need to work not only on the craft but on ourselves in all sorts of ways. We are our own “product,” and that is when things get heavier emotionally and physically.

So, we understand that we are actively choosing to have this life. It feels meant to be, like a call from the universe (at least for me heheh). We choose it because we understand and accept that this is the best and sometimes only way we are able to express ourselves, contribute to the community, heal ourselves, and connect with our past, present, and future.

I found my language through art. Art made me question, fight with my unresolved experiences and fears. Art unified my past with where I am right now, and art is the one leading me to where I want to be.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Of course, my name is Mona Trujillo. I’m a Colombian actress and artist based in LA who loves to bring passion, good energy, and an edgy/artsy flair to everything I do. I grew up in the vibrant city of Medellín, surrounded by the arts and culture that would later shape my career. From a young age, I was drawn to the stage, and I spent countless hours studying theatre, dance, and performing in local and school productions. I had the opportunity to study three years of acting, including Shakespeare, in the UK after graduating high school.

My love for acting is matched only by my passion for creating all sorts of art: painting, writing, and currently working on a podcast. I can’t deny that I would love to explore music as well. As an advocate for climate change and equality, I am constantly striving to use my platforms and art to make a positive impact on the world, spread good energy, mindfulness, and create awareness.

I am usually cast as an edgy, tough, powerful woman, and I can play roles within the age range of 16 to late 20s. My English is very fluent, and I can do an American accent. I moved from London to California to continue acting and furthering my career. These experiences have not only sharpened my skills but have also instilled in me a strong work ethic and the ability to adapt to different roles and genres.

Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of participating in numerous stage productions and short films, each of which has challenged and enriched me as an artist. Some of my stage performances include my lead role as Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” the role of Natasha in Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” and the role of Anna in Patrick Marber’s “Closer.”

Additionally, I have been fortunate enough to work on several short films. One of them is “Trapped,” directed by Francis J Pagan, which is a tribute to the memory of a young girl who was sexually abused and ultimately killed. The film is based on a poem written by Harley Nicole Bopp and serves as a powerful reminder of the injustices and hardships that women face every day. As an artist, I am honored to have been a part of this project and hope that it will continue to inspire and empower women everywhere.

I also had the opportunity to work on “Incessant,” directed by Chandler Williams. This hauntingly beautiful piece portrays a woman who is trapped in a time loop following the death of her husband. The woman is unable to move forward from the devastating loss and is forced to relive the same day over and over again.

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of working on several exciting projects that have allowed me to showcase my skills as an actor. These include two short films, “Para Siempre, Mamá” and “Camerino,” as well as a commercial for Kreation.

“Para Siempre, Mamá” is a deeply moving film that explores the powerful bond between a mother and daughter, while “Camerino” is a gripping and powerful short film that tells the story of a young Colombian girl who comes to LA with dreams of becoming a professional dancer. However, her aspirations are dashed when she finds herself working at a strip club instead. Both short films were written and directed by women; Anna M Buksowicz and Maria Gomez.

My recent experiences have been incredibly enriching, teaching me valuable lessons about the importance of collaboration, dedication, and the transformative power of storytelling. Working alongside talented individuals on these projects has not only allowed me to develop my craft as an artist but also deepened my appreciation for the creative process.

Additionally, I am currently working on a podcast project called “What’s Next with Mona” that I am incredibly excited about, as I mentioned earlier. You will be able to hear it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts once it is released next month!

If you are interested in collaborating with me or learning more about my training and previous work, please feel free to contact me. I am always looking for new projects, ways of creating, and exploring more art. I welcome any inquiries or opportunities to connect with fellow artists and creators.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

It is hard to pinpoint a specific goal, but when I think of the big picture, I see it as a mosaic of little goals and missions that are intertwined, creating a beautiful image at the end.

What drives me every day to create and be an artist is understanding myself and getting to know my own past experiences. I also want to understand human beings. As actors, we study human psychology in a different way, and for me, that is fascinating because we are complex and interesting creatures. Being able to empathise with others and their experiences reminds me that we are all human and alive. It gives me a sense of belonging.

Art makes me feel free, and by creating it, I feel like I am liberating my soul from all sorts of paradigms. It expands my mind, body, and understanding of ourselves and the world we live in. My mission is also to keep growing and healing myself with art. I hope to create awareness not only of ourselves as powerful beings, but also of the world we live in, including climate change and equality. I hope to inspire and transmit goodness to others and to help them with my art, just as many artists have inspired and touched my heart without even knowing it.

I intend to be a part of creating art that makes people think, question themselves, and everything that surrounds us. I want to create art that makes people feel alive and capable of freeing themselves. I aim to help people understand who they are, remind them they are not alone, and share their stories by giving them a voice and a body. I believe that through art, we can create consciousness and change the world for the better. That’s what drives me!

But my biggest motivation will always be my family. Despite the distance, they inspire me every day to show up and be the best version of myself. It’s hard to be far away from home, but they never make me feel lonely. They’ve believed in me since day one and have supported me in ways that weren’t even possible financially. I want to help them, give back everything they gave me, and support them as they’ve supported me – not only financially but also emotionally. I want them near me and to be proud of me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I feel that using the term “non-creatives” would not be the correct wording to use. Everyone has their own focus and shines in their different areas. I strongly believe that all human beings are creative beings; we just develop that part of our being and brain in different ways for different fields.

The biggest difference that could potentially be hard to comprehend is our lifestyle as artists. Compared to the conventional lifestyle that some people have (not saying that one lifestyle is better than the other), this is potentially the hardest thing to explain and understand.

As artists, we don’t have a 9-5 schedule. We might have a routine established, but ours is always changing, and we have to accommodate for that. We never know when we will receive an audition, the next job, or an idea. It’s not just a job for us; it’s our life. That is a big difference when put into perspective. We don’t just “disconnect” from our jobs when we get home. For example, when I come back home from a film set, it’s not like I just leave it there. The work comes with me, and the creative rush, no matter the time of day or place, is always within us. I know there are also other people who might not be in creative fields, but they can relate to this feeling as well. We are always thinking of ways to make our work better, thinking of what else we can create, observing people and human behaviour, and creating stories and characters in our heads.

There is also a significant factor that is hard to deal with in this lifestyle, and it is the pressure of finances. We don’t always have a “stable” job, and we go through creative blocks, but we need to keep pushing forward because we have a passion for our work. Even if we have an amazing role or job one day, the next day, it might not be the same, and that’s okay. We create art because we need to, we feel this urge inside us to release and create.

Most of the time, we are our own product, and that can be challenging. We are our art, and we need to be ready to share ourselves with the world, be vulnerable in front of strangers, and use our emotions and past experiences, both good and bad, for our work. We are putting ourselves out there and exposing who we are 100%. We need to be ready for all kinds of criticism that might come our way and not let it get to us, which can be tricky.

I think it’s essential to be empathetic in general with everyone and what they do. We need to accept and understand that we all have different realities, and it’s not for anyone to say if one lifestyle is easier or harder than the other. We need to have empathy for creatives and acknowledge that our lives are not always “flashy and glam” or “lazy and easy,” as some people might think. We carry who we are into our daily creations, and they carry us. It’s not for the fame and money that we do this, but because it’s our calling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://monatrujillot.wixsite.com/artist
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monatrujillot/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mona-trujillo-trujillo/

Image Credits
Trey Branch Pranav Mehta Annabelle Busch Cristobal Velasquez Rayo