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

Jessica , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I think when it comes to learning techniques, Stella Adler’s Studio of Acting along with The Academy of Dramatic Art play a highlight role for me. However, I’ve also learned over time that everything you learn is just tools but you do have to sit down with yourself and explore what works for you. There are a lot of acting techniques but I think the implementation of your personify technique is what can lead to great discoveries and keep on expanding that toolbox. I don’t think there’s ever an end to learning. Something that helps to “speed up the process” (even though I believe everything happens in due time) is letting go of expectations faster and letting go of what other people think of our work. I believe the foundations of what it is to be a human being is the most essential. Even if it might sound silly, getting to know who we are through questions. I love to question things. That is the essence of me. Lastly, I think the biggest obstacle is always what we’ve already learned. The hardest part of learning new things is to be vulnerable and open enough to let go of the things you think you might know, otherwise, you’re not growing.

Jessica , 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?

The truth is I never really know how to answer these types of questions. But I guess that one way or another I’ve always been close to the arts, just not as close. Acting hits the core of my being in a way that no other profession can. Is the longing I’ve always had, but at the same time is the scariest. As silly and no sense as that might sound, yes. I’m afraid of the same thing that I love doing. Is an internal battle that I have not yet won but I still show up for it because of what the craft is to me. Acting is beyond a profession. Beyond a career. I give life to another human being. What an honor that is. There’s this selfish part of it, in where I do it for me. To be a better human being. To have empathy for myself. To Judge myself and others less than what I did yesterday. To do small actions in an extraordinary way. Acting allows me to do that. On the other side of that coin, I get to offer that to others. I get to offer my darkness and my light and hope that it might be of help to someone in the audience. I think even though I am such a paradox of a person most of the time, I am the most proud of the passion I have for the craft. The open heart and soul I surrender to a character. However, as I previously said, I am terrified of it… not of the craft itself but of myself. I do my very best every time and I always want more, more and more…. Is endless. That is an amazing thing to experience, but it comes with a very high price to pay. But hey, nothing of actual value is free. Therefore, it requires a certain level of surrender. At least for me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

YES! I have this fire within that I can’t turn off. Part of me loves it, and the other part of me hates it. But it all connects when I sit down at the park or when I am taking a walk and I am just observing people for hours (I’m not that creepy I promise. Well, maybe just a bit) it becomes overwhelming at times. As I previously said, I am a paradox of a person, but on one side of the coin, I am extremely empathetic of a person. Everything gets to me and I can take things to the next level in a matter of seconds. Anywho, that part of me connects to everyone. And I feel like I can help. But that way of doing so is the terrifying part. Because as I recently reflected, only an alcoholic can help another alcoholic. And as people, only the broken can help the broken. Is in the wounds of someone else that heals yours. And I feel that the craft is a way to help others and myself to mirror each other in a character instead of running away from uncomfortable circumstances.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Uff!!! I so wish I can say I’m done unlearning already, but I am not. Is horrible. I think one of the biggest ones for me, is the capability and value within me. The things I can achieve and the potential I have. I struggle with this, literally every day. But I fight it as much as I can. Some days I win, others days I lose. And is funny because before even seeing this question, I started by talking about unlearning. That I believe to be key for everything in life. We are so wire to see ourselves through other people’s lens and we are “educated” in a way that I feel like partially we should be grateful because we are all humans and we do the best we can, but on the other side of that, it messes up our mindset. But in a way that is a good thing, because it means that only you have the responsibility to break those belief systems that were implanted in you in a way that gives you freedom. But it takes work kiddos! It takes the worst kind of work, which is surrender, acceptance, and a whole lot of new actions to rewire your mind. But one day at a time. Little by little. I think as long as you keep showing up to the battle and putting up a fight. Just SHOW UP!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicagomezlopez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessgl23/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@JessicaGomezLopez-nz3rq
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/letters_to_self_/

Image Credits
Salvattore B. @cloudwvlker_