We recently connected with Ace Marrero and have shared our conversation below.
Ace, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My path to becoming an actor is a little different than most people I know. It’s not uncommon for some parents to scoff at the idea of their child wanting to pursue a career in the arts. I have adult friends who have been working in this business for decades, yet still get the, “Are you still trying to do that acting thing?”
For me, it was the opposite. In fact, if it weren’t for my parents, I may be in the US Air Force.
It was clear from early on, I wasn’t likely to continue my education after High School. I was an OK student. I never missed a day, but it was social enjoyment for me. My parents thought it would be best for me to learn a trade, so they enrolled me in a Vocational High School. My chosen trade was Electrical trades and I trained to become an electrician. Both of my parents were athletes and I followed that tradition. My dad coached me in both basketball and baseball at various stages of my life. Given the trade focus, my high school did not have any art programs. I did however find myself on a different stage, or field/court (depending on the season). I played Varsity level Soccer, Basketball and Baseball, every sport my school offered and eventually be came a NJ State Scholar Athlete.
Very few students from my class were pursuing college, so there were no mandatory standardized tests for us. I did take interest however in the Air Force. With my technical skillset there was a possibility for me to enter at a nice level and I was keen on the idea of representing that military branch in sports I played.
This was when my parents changed my life. They sat me down to have a chat because they were not thrilled about me joining the Air Force. I had several members of my family in various military branches, but one Uncle in particular who had spent decades in the Air Force. Mind you, I was to graduate in 2000, so this was pre 9/11. My parents voiced their concerns and I’ll never forget the question that stopped me dead in my tracks, “What about you wanting to become an actor?”
I was an only child for 11 years and never shy–often a class clown of some sort. Like most kids, I always wanted to be a, “movie star!” My dad would take me down the aisle and lift me to touch the big screen before a movie each time. I just never knew how to pursue that and definitely didn’t think my parents would be supportive of that.
I stuttered and responded to my parents, “I didn’t think you guys would want that.”
It couldn’t be further from the truth. By the end of our convo we came up with a plan for me to enroll in the community college (since I didn’t take the standardized tests) where a high school diploma would suffice, and I would enroll specifically in THEATRE.
I was near the end of my time there and wanted to continue on to a BFA program but I knew it would be expensive and my dad simply said, “Don’t worry about that, if you want it– we’ll figure it out.”
The rest is as they say, history. My parents always have supported my career, every single step of the way.
Ace, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Coming from a background of being an electrician, I used my technical mind and skillsets to apply them to my pursuit of theatre. When I begun studying in college, I started behind-the-scenes building scenery and running shows in various positions. I took a liking to Stage Management, which is essentially the manager of sorts who takes over a show once the director has finished their work and it’s in motion. We manage the schedules, the cast and crews– you are the one to unlock the doors and the last to leave. Working closely with the director appealed to me. I’m someone that likes to learn the various languages of everyone’s position in a project. Even though my aim was to be ON STAGE, I knew this experience would be invaluable. I’ve carried that mindset to all sorts of my projects. When I begun producing and developing my own creative projects, I did the same. I would pick the brains of the lighting team, sound technicians, directors, writers, editors and composers. Again, I think the idea is always to remove as much ego as possible and focus on the big picture, the STORY. This translates into all areas of business in my opinion. I work a lot of freelance work and provide various independent contractor work, and when working with my clients I feel communication is the key. Listening to what they need and finding out a way I can provide that end result. I’ve consulted and coached other entrepreneurs and it’s always a very simple thing. Keep it simple. It starts with communication.
We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
I’ve had the great pleasure with working with many teams. With most of them, it has been for several repeat projects which is important to me.
As I previously mentioned, I come from a sports background, so I always viewed my collaborations that way. How can we best serve each other, but more importantly PUSH each other. One of my favorite athletes is Michael Jordan, but I always remembered hearing how other players around him said they grew as a result of playing with Michael.
I never was talented enough to be the MJ on my sports team, but I was always a WORKER. I liked having to step onto the field or court with people better than me, because I’ve got a little bit of tiger energy, and I like to GO when I feel pressured or really challenged.
One of the biggest challenges to this day is working with one particular business partner. I say that with a smirk on my face because that person is my wife, Erin Stegeman. We both met in the same BFA program and have ended up creating several projects together.
We have lots of peers who have sworn off dating anyone in the same business, but for us it works.
It by far has been one of the things that has also strengthened and deepened our relationship.
As often as you may be able to finish the sentences at times of your significant other, that too can create challenges. I’ve found at times I probably would have been more detailed in my communication with someone else, but because it’s my wife, the trap can be that I assume she knows where I am going with something. It’s been something that has continuously has pushed my communications.
Erin is a writer/director and fine actress as well– and I’ve produced a lot of her projects. She’s very ambitious in a different way. She can very much be the, “Jump and the net appears” person while I’m questioning all the details to see how we can have the net set up first (and figure out who is paying for it).
It’s been wonderful to find balance with each others strengths and I have gained a great deal of my business confidence as a result of working with her.
We also have two children, a 4 year old son and a 2 1/2 year old daughter, so we clearly are not afraid of upping the ante in our lives. Our family has already appeared in a facebook commercial back when my wife was pregnant with my daughter.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Interesting enough this is a very recent theme for me.
Going back to when I mentioned the idea of young kids wanting to become movie stars or be famous, I feel there is also a fantastical element to, “Hollywood.” At least when I was growing up. The idea of walking down the street to be discovered and whisked to the set as the newest start in INDIANA JONES probably has been shared by many.
When I was taught that movies and tv were just, “make believe”, my parents phrasing to make me less scared of a scene had an unexpected effect on me. “Make believe? I do that all the time.”
Kids PLAY. Naturally. I remember an acting coach pointing out a theatre performance is called A PLAY. The script for your favorite movie is called a Screen PLAY. It has make believe written all over it.
What kids also do is learn about, “NO’s” with every passing day. Don’t do that, Don’t do this. Most of the time, it’s tied to the idea of safety. But like the same acting coach would point out, when a kid is leaving for the day, it’s not a wild theory to guess they communicate something along the lines of, “be careful.” I know, I personally never heard, “Go out there and take risks and fall down!”
I started theatre in college whereas many of my peers had been doing it since grade school. I was like a sponge and there was for sure some confidence that came from a completely innocent ignorance is bliss approach. I obviously learned a great deal along the way. I continue to learn. However a lot of what we learn as we find that lightning in the bottle that is called, “success” is built on all of the bad habits you need to be mindful of. More NO’s. I think that is a big reason why you see so many people transition from other careers, or other professional’s succeed so quickly. They know what it took to succeed once, but more importantly they get to approach it with some extra beginner confidence that works in their favor.
Being around my kids every day is teaching me more and more that it is time to, “let go a little.” I can be a complete goofball around my kids and they are an honest audience. You know right away if it isn’t working. But more importantly watching them PLAY without fear, hesitation is a gift. They don’t do it with an aim of pleasing others. If they don’t like it, they stop and guess what? As an audience member of their show, its entertaining when THEY are enjoying it. I too then enjoy it because I FEEL they are.
We all know that feeling of meeting someone and something is just off. You can’t put your finger on it, they haven’t done anything, but you may not feel as comfortable around them as say someone else. Confidence creates a safety in many ways.
Having had a decent amount of experience and growth has been great. I always believe there is room for growth and I will always be a student in some fashion. But, now, I want to LEARN and undo some of the learned things that may have made me too aware and have gotten in the way. It’s just time to get back to PLAYING.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://acemarrero.tv
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/notoriace/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/notoriace
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/notoriace
Image Credits
Images Courtesy of Ace Marrero.