We recently connected with April Duran and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, April thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Ever since I can remember I loved acting and creating productions that I forced my whole family to watch on holidays and get togethers. I would assign roles and direction and most of the times play a part in the show. Ive always loved performing whether it was for drama class, theater, dance, gymnastics, break dancing (yeah I said break dancing) or anything involving a performance and/or stage.

Raised in Southern California when I was young I had a couple of friends who acted for tv/film and had agents. I was so jealous and envious of my friends and how their mom would pick them up from school to go to auditions in L.A. I begged my mom to get me started in acting with an agent but we lived in a town (Ontario) 31 miles from L.A. and in the 80’s you relied on Thomas Guilds (map books) for directions and my mom wasn’t up for that. Her words exactly “Mija Im not gonna drive you to L.A.!”. So instead I settled for local drama and theater classes and also studied acting in college but never had the guts nor the “how to” to venture out myself as an adult.

Well, after working a few jobs and 14 years at a school district I decided to go full time into acting at age 48!!! Theres a miss conception that you have to be beautiful and young to act but that is all wrong. In this industry there are jobs for the young, the old, the beautiful, the normal looking, every body type and every color.

What triggered my decision was the change in auditioning. Many casting agents and productions were now asking for “self tapes” or Zoom auditions that you can do from home. That meant the long drives in major traffic to L.A. to audtion in person were not as common. I also jumped online to find an agent and in a couple of weeks I signed with my first commercial agent. Also, while on set I learned what websites you can self submit to for small films/student films and small commercials. I still cant believe at age 48 (Im now 50) Im actually working the job I dreamed about doing ever since I was a little girl!!!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The acting industry is still very unknown to me but at this point at least I have learned a little. What I didn’t do was just sit around and wait for things to happen or for other people (my agents) to reach out. I was and still am extremely aggressive in creating opportunities for myself and also learning and educating myself. While on set as a principle/lead role or on set as an extra with hundreds of others I take those moments to pay attention, learn, network and try to be a part of any performance I can whether I think I can or not. Also, if I have to wait in holding for my scene I dont just sit there. I talk to other actors about their agents, the classes they go to, I rehearse my lines for my auditions and I also submit myself online for other acting jobs.

I think what’s key in acting is taking on roles that challenge you, that’s how I feel you grow. Also always training yourself in acting classes online or in person.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal driving my creative energy is to become a full time living breathing paid actor for the rest of my life. Something that many laugh at or think I cant do it. As I mentioned before I have wanted to act for tv/film since I was little. In the 70’s and 80’s there were not many roles for a person of color. Now it feels like the industry is making sure they are including all walks of life, real people so now more than ever is the time!

I also did not expect for a full out STRIKE from the writers and actors when I started my new career journey. I laughed when they announced the strike because ever since I started acting as a career there has been challenge after challenge for me. Its almost like the universe is testing me but this strike needs to happen. The old contracts expired and they need to be updated regarding streaming and AI to only mention a couple of challenges. Through this strike I have been able to hold on by a finger nail financially. Im SAG eligible (union eligible) but because Im so green in acting I decided I wanted to wait to become union. This decision has kind of helped me through the strike because there are still non union jobs available (scarce but available).

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are many rewards being in this industry including being booked for a role you didn’t think you could do or booking a national commercial. I have booked 3 national commercials this year. Becoming a character for a scene you thought was unattainable. Also creating your own production of real events that you experienced when you were young.

In this industry anyone can create a movie, tv series, commercial, short or play if they have something to say and they find someone who is interested in seeing it. I have created 2 shorts that come from real life events that I experienced when I was young growing up in SoCal. Im currently in production of my first short title (I.E.) and I have to admit that its a lot more than I expected. Im barely on the budget side and had to step away for moments, days because I became too overwhelmed. The key in this industry is to stick with it and that’s what I intend to do. Please stay tuned to my instagram page theaprilduran to follow my challenges and success stories while creating my first short!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: theaprilduran

Image Credits
E-High commercial. A high school for entrepreanurs located in San Bernardino, CA A commercial in San Diego for child diabetes Lola a small feature film Playing a cop for an episodic tv series A dentist commercial in Pasadena Playing a detective for an educational school video