We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Juan Felipe Restrepo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Juan Felipe, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us 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 actually started learning it back at home in Colombia. I always leaned on the artistic side since I was a kid, and acting kind of just presented itself to me. A Theatre director came into my school to help with events and presentations. However he also wanted to nurture the art on younger minds, so he pulled a few people interested in the craft to build up a theatre company. I felt a calling, went and auditioned to join and ended up becoming a member. From there I learnt most of my theater knowledge until I made the decision to pursue a higher education on Acting. Before I was old enough to move outside the country on my own, I came to LA for a summer program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, which only solidified my love and commitment for Acting.
When I turned 17 I applied for college, got my student visa and took a leap of faith. I spent the next 3 and a half years getting my bachelor on fine arts with and emphasis on acting for Film, T.V and Theater. I learned a lot from my teachers and classmates. Moreover, I learned that this career is also about how you make the most of it, I filled my schedule with dropping classes, consultations and private coaching from as many Teachers I could. I feel like if there’s anything I could have done to speed up my learning at the time that was the right move. Soaking in and absorbing as much creativity and wisdom from those who came before me and were willing to mold the artist I wanted to become.
As an international I feel like one of the fundamental skills I needed was definitely a mastery in the language, I prepared myself back in Colombia as much as possible, and even then it was a little hard for me to express myself in English at first. I found myself multiple times thinking in Spanish, translating in English inside my head and then speaking. The more I practiced the more I learnt to actually have a switch to think in English and adopt the flow of the language.
I also think an open mind and willingness to be vulnerable were key. We live inside our own minds so much, that we get absorbed in our own head and overthink the simplest of things, which at times make us more logic driven and could disconnect us from our feelings. As an artist I think emotions are our most powerful tools, we need to be in tune with them and be self aware, accepting each emotion and feeling, letting them build and develop until we finish that journey and can let it go. We must be open to pour our hearts out when we need and understanding that what we feel is valid and it will help us express our art.
Lastly I believe a thick skin and hunger for learning also play a part if you want to be on this field. It will teach you perseverance and protect you from taking rejection and what some would see as “failure” personally. It is a tough industry and competition is the highest than ever since most casting is now mainly online, however if you keep honing your craft and standing up every time you fall, you will find joy and fulfillment.
As someone who came from what you would consider a 3rd world country I think the only obstacles that stood in my way were the limitations you get as an international trying to pursue a life in a different country, since you don’t get the same opportunities and advantages as natives, and probably the gap difference between the currency exchange. I owe a lot to my parents because they went above and beyond to support me in a country where our coin gets weaker and weaker each year. However, I’ve made the most of it and know that their efforts have not been for naught. Sure, if I had the money I’d use it to pursue my own projects, improve my skills and get more tools under my belt. But it also helps you appreciate the things that you actually can do and how important it is to squeeze it to get every last drop of knowledge and experience.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a Colombian actor and artist based in LA, I came to the US to deep dive and learn as much as possible about Acting as well as making films and explore my artistic outlets. After I graduated with my Degree on Fine Arts I began developing my own projects, I’ve been expanding as a creative and also worked on skills such as stunts, stage combat, writing and singing. However I am most proud of being a performer. I have been blessed to be on multiple award winning films and am a heavy advocate for honest representation and equal opportunity. I want to shine a light on the latin community and share with the world the richness of our cultures, there’s not only one way to be Latino, we are made by countless countries with their own history and riches, outside of the stereotype that people have known for many years. Im here to represent and open the doors for the generations that will come after me, I want people back home to see themselves on screen and believe that they can accomplish greatness, that they are seen and proudly embodied on my art. I want them to feel proud of their heritage, their background and their talents. My goal is to inspire people back home as well as show people all over the world that Latin art and talent is up to par, if not better, than American, European and Asian Talent. My dream is to show we should walk on the same lane next to each other, as equals.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I have the perfect story actually! Not so long ago, on July of 2020 my artist visa had expired. I was looking into either renewing it or taking the next step in my professional career and applying for my green card. However, the green card would take around 2 years minimum to complete, that meant I’d be unemployed and on a “limbo” status where I would be allowed to stay in the US, but not travel outside the country or work until my process was finalized. So I decided to apply for a renewal of my visa first, that way I’d have 3 more years to work under a new artist visa (after approval), while at the same time work on the processing for my green card and avoid the “Limbo” situation. I had gathered all the evidence, fulfilled all the requirements, secured sponsors and even had backups for every possible tangent that could be thrown my way. My immigration lawyers were confident that I was going to be approved since I was overqualified for my visa and had already gotten one 3 years ago in the first place.
However, to our surprise, immigration reached out asking for extra information and evidence, which we provided. For 3 months we were on a back and forward providing affidavits, documents and proof of eligibility for my visa renewal, and in November 2020 we finally received a notice from immigration with a made decision that my visa had been denied. Moreover, The notice stated I had 30 days to either appeal and contest their decision or gather all my life here in LA and leave the US since I’d be illegally in the country and out of status.
In complete honesty, I felt quite confused, alarmed, saddened and insecure about why that happened. I had even more credits, earnings, awards and recommendations from when I first applied for my visa, and that one had been approved.
My lawyers advised me to take the leap and apply for my green card, since not only that would allow me to stay in the country until Immigration made a decision, but also the requirements weren’t as rigorous as my visa and I wouldn’t require to be tied to a sponsor. I’d be my own sponsor and I’d be recognized as a permanent resident (again, if approved). The downside was I wouldn’t be able to work until I was approved, I’d be “stuck” in the country, having to still pay for all my bills without any income, plus the legal fees and preparation for the green card case.
I took the risk and applied. I had some savings in the bank and gave them all away to slowly pay for the lawyers fees. I knew I had to figure out a way to be able to support myself without falling into unbearable debt. I was blessed to be helped by my parents with some money to get by, I also offered friends to do odd jobs for them like pet or house sitting, running errands or assisting them with their schedules and their jobs, driving them around or even helping them reach their fitness goals since I am a fitness enthusiast and know a lot about weight and strength training. A lot of them lent me a hand with my situation and month by month I managed to pay my living expenses and necessities. I left my ego and pride aside and managed to survive as I was waiting for immigration to reach a decision.
For almost 2 years I was unable to pursue my art career, I would look at casting breakdowns I would be perfect for but I couldn’t apply for auditions, my representatives also stepped back on submissions since there’s nothing we could do if we got the job. Nonetheless, I didn’t let the situation bring me down and found comfort on my creativity, I started writing and began pursuing singing, I set some money aside to get back into class as I was waiting for my green card decision. I could not work, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still create and improve on honing my craft, I gathered more creative friends, discussed ideas and plans of action, future projects to create and recommendations for coaches as well as skills I should work on, I kept knocking on doors and finding ways I could express myself. I reached out to people to network and get support. I knew that I couldn’t stay sitting in self pity waiting for the phone to ring, even if I didn’t get approved, all the time I had left in the country had to be well invested. Therefore I put all my energy on self development and creative output un til finally on June of this year 2023 I received my approval notice along with my physical green card.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I want to keep this one short and simple: “Look after the little guy”, if someone is the right person for the role but they don’t have as many credits, not enough followers, aren’t a name, etc. Give them a chance, take a risk and support upcoming talent! be it producers, directors, actors, musicians, etc. If you are an executive or someone with the privilege of decision making, is your responsibility to bring others up, and bring to light the talent of the future.
Help the industry evolve, become more inclusive and diversify representation. The world is tired of the same recycled stories, re runs, re-boots and so on. We crave for globalization, to explore something external tan our little bubbles, and storytelling is meant to do that, so if you want to really support artists then as long as they are prepared, professional and skilled, they should deserve a chance rather than being discarded for someone who is already famous or a “safe bet”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8844127/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jfrestrepos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juanfeliperestrepos/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqpDFwAStIfIhz2l3J_wjBA
Image Credits
Vin Stratton. Laliff Outfest