Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eduardo Vildasol. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Eduardo, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew pretty early on that this is what I wanted to do. My mom was a single parent who worked a lot, so my younger brother and I found ways to keep ourselves entertained. It was almost a daily occurrence that we’d be putting on some sort of skit together. Whether we were pretending to be detectives solving a made-up cold case or playing as Power Rangers, we really found a love for storytelling. As soon as it registered in my mind that the characters on my TV were actual people who worked off of a script, rehearsed, did take-after-take, and could get paid for it, I knew that acting was it for me.

One of the biggest career goals as an establishing artist for me was finding ways to make acting my primary income. I’ve learned over the years that sustaining yourself as an actor requires this ability to assess and diagnose where you are at any given time, both in your artistry and in your business. It’s being able to know how you’re doing mentally while working on a set and tap into that deep creative part of you that brings a story to life. At the same time, you’re also balancing it with things like politics on set, staying current on industry news, training, networking, marketing (casting materials, social media, press and publicity, etc.). It’s a bit of yin and yang. The work as an actor is never over, but if you can specifically identify which parts of this work you love and focus on that while cultivating the right community to sustain you, then it’s an endeavor that will eventually pour water back into your well. And tenfold.

Eduardo, 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?

I am a Latinx and Native American actor working across television, film, and voiceover based out of the South Central and Southeast Region of the U.S. and I am currently performing with The Santa Fe Opera in “The Flying Dutchman”.

My most recent work has been voicing characters for Crunchyroll shows like “One Piece”, “Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion”, “Sugar Apple Fairytale”, and the feature film, “Psycho-pass Providence”, which premieres in theaters nationwide July 14th. It’s been a really fun experience parlaying all my onstage and on-camera work into a 16-square foot voiceover booth. One moment you’re a baby-faced assassin and the next you’re a cave goblin setting fire to a village! If anything though, it’s taught me to adapt on the fly.

Whether it’s been working on network shows like “Queen of the South” or in major national campaigns for companies like Hulu, Whataburger, and Nissan, I’ve learned that diversifying our skillsets only makes us stronger artists and professionals. This is definitely the norm for most actors now and it’s heartening to see the industry begin to recognize as a whole just how much work and training goes into doing what we do. I’m currently SAG-eligible and hope that as our union navigates negotiations for better working conditions and compensation for all industry professionals, we can continue to find new ways to inspire and uplift one another.

We live in a really cool era where the ability to make work on our own is so accessible and there’s a genuine demand for stories that offer authentic perspectives from BIPOC and Queer communities. It is my privilege to be a part of initiatives that support this new era and that includes the work being done with Plague Mask Players, a non-profit theater devoted to sharing classical work with everyone.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Earlier this year, I was in the final running for principal casting for a major studio film. My first time. It was surreal to say the least, and while the final casting selection went a different direction, the experience itself confirmed two very important things for me.

One, that doing your research counts for everything. My acting coach drilled it into me that the moment you receive an audition, you need to go into “detective” mode. Research the casting directors, producers, writers, director – devour their previous work, find everything you can possibly get your hands on, and use that to guide the artistic preparation you do for the job. It will also inform how you show up in the room with these people and become more about collaboration and less about you just trying to get a job.

Secondly, from initial casting to callback to interviews, I met all sorts of people along the way. Some of those encounters were brief, but nonetheless, when you take into account that A) productions move lightning fast and B) almost everything can be done remotely now with little to no direct human interaction, you realize receiving the opportunity to connect with others is a privilege. Your ability to stay open and engage and be interested in others not only makes you a better actor, it helps you build a network rooted in mutual exchange. An initial meeting can turn into a long-time collaboration with time and care, so stay interested, engage with others, and support them where you can.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’d have to say it’s watching your work make an impact on someone. I have mixed opinions on social media, but one big silver lining is when you occasionally get comments or messages from people who genuinely resonate with work you’ve done. Acting can be a lonely experience in the sense that you don’t always know how your work has been received, so when you get direct feedback that it made someone happy, it’s very touching.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eduardovildasol
• Twitter: @eduardovildasol