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

Franco, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Acting is a very personal journey. That’s the best way to put it. The process of it and learning how to be a better actor is also a never-ending endeavor. What’s beautiful about it, is that every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and practice it. For me, acting really starts from within. If you don’t fully explore who you are as a person, then it’s very difficult and frustrating trying to create other characters. I used to think that acting was a way to play a character—to be someone else… but the text and the situations that characters are in already do that for you, so acting is a different experience. I used to have a teacher that explained that when you act, you tap into different “energies” of who you are and you explore them as far as you can. I’ve found that to be very helpful.

In my time as an actor, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from multiple institutions: The Actors Studio, Atlantic Theater Company, The Barrow Group, AMAW and more. From this, I realized that there isn’t a set “method” that you can employ that will guarantee a great performance. Instead, it’s more about creating your own toolbox and finding what works for you that will give that performance that feels fresh and fun. The minute that I lose the fun, even while playing a character going through it, is the minute I give a pretty bad performance. It’s important to find enjoyment in what we do, even when playing characters who are in dark places.

Franco, 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?

Sure thing. I was born in Venezuela and then raised in the USA, so I’m very fortunate to have experienced a beautiful blend of cultures. Being Latino inherently influenced my choice of becoming an artist because there are so many stories that I want to tell and the texture of Latin culture is something seldomly explored; I want to be part of the movement that explores this more in ways that are not often seen.

Writing was always something that came very naturally to me. I enjoyed it, what I didn’t enjoy was getting feedback from teachers on things that I thought were subjective. Like, how can you put a letter grade on poetry? Isn’t the point of poetry that it’s completely personal? Anyway, that led me to pursue screenwriting at Chapman University’s Dodge College of the Film and Media Arts. I always wanted to be an actor and chose screenwriting, because I thought it gave me a way to a career that would also get me closer to performing… but it’s just as hard to find a job as a writer as it is an actor.

Screenwriting as an actor is great because you’re already creating characters from scratch. All the research that comes with preparing a character is born out of your own creativity and I always thought was really effective when it comes to performing. It’s a muscle that’s always active.

When I started acting professionally in 2020, it came super helpful to have this developmental practice because I was able to create my own reel. I wrote scenes, filmed them in a way that made them look like they were part of a professional project and then boom, had a 3 minute reel that got me signed and a lot of auditions. Being an actor is being an entrepreneur in yourself, so you have to invest time and money to open your own doors. I’m a firm believer making your own path, not waiting for Hollywood to give you the opportunity.

I now live in New York City and since I’ve moved here, I had my favorite project. I had the opportunity to play a “villain” of sorts in a development workshop for Moisés Kaufman’s stage adaptation of “Las Aventuras of Juan Planchard” a best-selling book written by Jonathan Jakubowicz. It’s now opening in Miami and I hope to be able to sit in the audience and support this great piece.

With the strikes happening right now, the industry is practically shut down. I’ve found myself writing a lot more and now have a few features completed under my belt that I’m exploring to produce and act in. Indie cinema is my favorite kind of storytelling at the moment, because it’s human and driven by story, not spectacle.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I definitely wish I started listening to acting podcasts way earlier. I think they’re highly insightful and give a look into people we admire in ways that both humanize and inspire. Anthony Meindl’s “In the Moment” is a great reference. They have questions with actors, filmmakers, casting directors, the whole nine. Anthony is not only a great acting teacher, but he’s highly intelligent and the conversations he sparks really give insight into the industry. I also enjoy the “In the Envelope” podcast. Podcasts are a great way of learning and doing research, while you go on a jog or do the dishes. You’re putting the hours in.

I also think Actors Access’ TalentLink is great for people looking to get signed. You pay a monthly fee and they send your profile out to Managers and Agents who are looking to expand their roster. I’ve found success doing it and highly encourage others to explore it… only when your profile is great condition though. Make sure that the reel looks professional and your headshots are honest to who you are.

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

I want to tell stories that feel real and honest. Acting has really pushed me to do the hard work and ask myself questions that demand a lot of truth. Vulnerability is something that isn’t very common and present in our society right now because we are so polarized and the truth is that no one is perfect. We don’t live in a black or white world, we truly live in the grey. Being honest about that is so essential to opening up conversations and having empathy for one another. I really want to push forward this message of embracing your vulnerability and everything that comes with it. We forget who we are when we are always trying to please others or be someone we are not and ironically that’s not what acting is. I think there’s a misconception around that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.francoamp.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/francoamp
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/franco-machado-pesce
• Other: My award winning short film, “Ni Aquí Ni Allá” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x0NxddjrAU&ab_channel=Omeleto

Image Credits
Movie stills: Exile – Directed by Franco Machado-Pesce Learning Love – Directed by Franco Machado-Pesce Thárros – Directed by Poppy Shaw