Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elena Páez Puente. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Elena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’ve had the privilege of working on several projects that mean a great deal to me. Karen Cassal’s “Hear Me Out” provided my first opportunity to lead a project outside of film school. I couldn’t imagine a better introduction to the process, due in large part to her graceful and poised approach to direction. She had a clear vision for the film, which was demonstrated daily in both the time leading up to the shoot and during the shoot itself. Her preparation was superb, and she provided those involved with ample resources as she expertly engaged with the heavy subject matter of the film. Her heart and dedication were on full display throughout. She was never demanding of her actors. It was never a question of what she needed from us, or what emotional place she needed us to reach; rather, it was a matter of what we needed to access those honest, vulnerable places. Having such a generous director while in the midst of my first experience being at the helm of a project was such an incredible gift. Not only was it how she went about the work, but to have my first professional experience be with a fellow female, Mexican artist seeking to build a career in film? I couldn’t dream of better circumstances.
The first project in which I had the opportunity to portray a Mexican character was Fesiuk Films’ pilot episode of “The Rebirth of Kool.” I had never acted in anything that was adapted from an existing work before, nor had I acted in any period pieces. Once I had officially been cast, I immediately ordered the book and spent the next few weeks reading it from cover to cover while immersing myself in the music of the time. I have always found music to be a particularly helpful tool in getting into the mind and body of any character (I have a unique Spotify playlist for every character I’ve ever played, filled with songs selected to evoke who I know them to be). Being selected to play the younger sister of the author, by the author himself, was an incredible honor. Otto [Vazquez] was exceptionally warm and welcoming, and made me feel right at home in Asheville. Sarah [Fesiuk] is truly one of my favorite directors that I’ve ever worked with; her unapologetic strength and confidence were incredibly inspiring to witness. She was unafraid to hold her ground and speak her mind, while never failing to be kind and encouraging to those around her. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been chosen to be a part of the Rebirth of Kool family, and cannot wait to be reunited with them once we secure the funds necessary to shoot the remainder of our first season! The project continues to seek investors, so feel free to look into how you can contribute!
Alex Tsays’ “Roundhouse” also holds a very special place in my heart. He found me through a backstage search for Taekwondo in special skills, but he had no way of knowing what Taekwondo meant to me at the time. Although I was technically a black belt, I had not practiced martial arts since I was a young girl living in Mexico. I closely associated Taekwondo with that time in my life, and the version of myself that never left. When I received the offer from Alex to be a part of “Roundhouse,” I strongly considered turning it down out of fear of failing to do justice to the material and my younger self. Looking back, I could not be happier that I said yes. It made for an incredible full-circle moment, and I truly feel that it is the best performance I’ve ever given. I lived and breathed this project throughout months of diligent preparation. From impassioned script rehearsals, to bleeding from my lip after kicked in the face while practicing fight choreography, I was determined to work as hard as I possibly could to produce the best possible result. In the midst of all of that, I had the joy of being part of an incredibly talented cast and crew; from acting alongside Eve [Tainio] and Jason [Yanto], to having Alex and Luisa [Madrid] behind the camera, to being instructed on how to fall by our lovely stunt coordinator Yasmin [Pascall] and exploring the set expertly dressed by Paole [Calderon], I was constantly surrounded and supported by talented artists who were as dedicated to this project as I was. As proud as I am of my performance, the fact that I did all of my own stunts, or the fact that I fought through injury to do so, I am most proud of how I overcame my initial hesitancy to ultimately create a beautiful tribute to my younger self, who never would have let me turn it down.
In discussing these different projects, I realize that what ultimately makes a project special is the people you make it with. You could have the best camera, the most poignant subject matter, and the most brilliant script known to man, but without a gifted group of collaborators who are willing to fully devote themselves to a project, magic can never be created. I feel blessed to say that I have had the good fortune of being a part of several projects that have truly been magical, as all films should be.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Elena Páez Puente, and I am an actress. I lived and grew up in Mexico City for half of my life, moved to the United States at 11 years old, and have been in the U.S. ever since. I graduated from the New York Film Academy’s Acting for Film conservatory program. I have loved film for as long as I can remember, ever since my grandmother and I would watch classic black-and-white Mexican films when I was a little girl. I am actively seeking acting opportunities in Mexico City while continuing to pursue and perform in film and theater throughout NYC. Although acting is my primary pursuit and first love, I have also been inspired to explore photography, as well as other aspects of the filmmaking process, such as writing and directing.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Collaborating with different artists in a capacity that allows us to witness each other’s unique creative processes and differing views and perspectives will never cease to excite and inspire me. Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect of the creative process is how art and creativity initiate and maintain human connections in spite of those differences. Art and creative collaboration have proven, time and time again, to be a source of unity in increasingly divisive times. For that, I am grateful to consider myself an artist.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
It’s disheartening to consider how many people can relate to the experience of being actively discouraged from being their authentic selves. Whether that results from a fear of failure, a desire for acceptance, an instinctual urge for self-preservation, unfounded guilt, or any number of factors, there seems to be endless motivation to shy away from being our truest selves. We lose any genuine sense of wonder as we become increasingly desensitized to the world around us with each passing day. With our emotions, suppression is confused with respect; with our thoughts, childlike is treated as childish. Yet, while being educated in the art of performance, I had to be a chicken. Literally. I was graded on how well I could imitate a chicken. I flapped around, my mouth agape, my eyes glazed over, and, in doing so, I experienced a joy and freedom reminiscent of when we played as kids. An irrepressible joy, unrestrained by any sense of embarrassment or fear of failure. It is both a rewarding and humbling experience. I hope to bring that willingness to be unapologetically myself into both my life and my art.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenapaezpuente?igsh=MTNvcDVodmY3M3k3MQ==
- Other: Letterboxd:
https://boxd.it/7EECD
Image Credits
Nyv Mercado
Haviken Hayes