We were lucky to catch up with Javier Vazquez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Javier, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I have been blessed with the ability to support my family with what I make as an actor. That is not to say that I don’t pursue other streams of income (which I do) but is a testament to how far I’ve come. In the beginning, things were really tough. After an amazing gig in The Mule opposite Michael Pena and Bradley Cooper, I thought things were going to take off. I didn’t book anything in 2019.
So I pushed through, took classes, networked, signed with a new agent (AMT) and 2020 became my busiest year up to that point. And every year has been better than the next as I continue to build my resume and experience. If I had to go back, I would focus on relationships. This is an industry built by people, on people, for people. Classes and networking events are amazing, but sometimes the biggest thing you get out of them is a friend. It was that group of friends that stepped up when I was shooting my short “Hispanic Actor” in December 2020 and have been my biggest support as I dip my toes into writing and producing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started acting in college after signing up for an Intro to Theatre class at Buffalo State College in upstate New York. A group of classmates got tons of laughs and reactions from a scene we put together. I was hooked. Shortly after that I auditioned and booked a role as The Prince of Verona in “Rome and Juliet” on campus. For the first time in my life, I was connecting with my instrument. I became aware of every aspect of myself. My vowel-focused speech, my desire to stand tall, how I walked, how I stood, how I fidgeted, how I thought! Voice and movement changed my life and freed me from so many mental and physical constraints. I was reborn and my confidence shot through the roof. Then I had to learn how to walk in my new shoes. It would take a while.
Marrying my high school sweetheart meant I had a family to provide for. Not wanting to be a starving artist, knowing I wouldn’t starve alone, I got a 9-5, but I never let go of that part of me. After moving to Atlanta I began to participate in plays at church. An audition for an independent project came my way which I booked. After a week on set I was hooked again, but this time to film. An agent reached out to me soon after, signed me, and the rest is history.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I have a big heart for the next generation of filmmakers. Young people are filled with power and energy, all they need is permission to accept that they don’t need permission. Support scholarships and organizations that promote the arts. Attend plays at your local high school. Go to independent film releases. Follow them and share on Social Media. In other words, show up! Some will be duds. Others will be life-changing.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a Latin man, I am so proud of the platform that I have for telling authentic stories from my community. To celebrate our accomplishments but also recognize we have a long way to go. My niche right now is my people, who come from so many diverse shades, backgrounds, ethnicities, and walks of life that we can never run out of stories to tell. God willing, my next project will feature a Latin female lead and will be directed by a Latin woman.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @JavierVazquezJr
- Facebook: @JavierVazquezJunior
- Youtube: Youtube.com/JavierVazquezJr
Image Credits
Minette Maldonado-Ibarra Kyle Berrios