We recently connected with Laura Vega and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was Five and living in Mexico from kindergarten through 2nd grade I was a folkloric dancer as part of my school. The costumes, the energy and the fact that I enjoyed it so much was the first hint of my artistic journey. The idea that I wanted acting as part of my artistic expression solidified when I took an acting class and felt that same joy I felt as a 5 yr old. From the moment I began to create using myself as a vehicle and being present I knew that this would be the place where I am heard, where I am seem and the place where I can connect with the collective we. There is nothing greater than the feeling of connecting with an audience. It satiates that primal need to connect, express and understand our humanity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As an actor I am the canvas and as a writer my experiences are my palette. My mission my goal is to help my community by representing. I am a Mexcan-American immigrant with a great ear for language. I am a single mother to an amazing now college student. I am a woman that can navigate in two cultures. One of the greatest compliments that I have received about my writing came from the humble janitor at the theater where. FAMILIX, my 10 minute play was performed . He came up to me all smiles and said thank you and that he loved/ identified with the bigger than life Mexican father. I have written and performed pieces that deal with trauma that I have experienced, but rather than just telling my story, I connect it to the macro by changing the narrative and sometimes turning the trauma into comedy to alleviate the sting. As an actor doing national commercials the fact that they see a round, brown face on American tv validates that we are here and represent the diaspora that is the United States. I’ve done episodic television representing various roles including the stereotypical. One of the trends I see now is actors forming their own production companies to provide content. In the early days we did our own independent films. I’ve been a 1st AD and loved learning all aspects of film production. It’s such a magical realm of incredible team work. I encourage all actors to get involved this way in their craft along with training.
Acting isn’t just waiting by the phone it’s about the business of show business. Actively doing something every day towards your goals in the field. Gathering your team early on and cultivating business relationships. Hiring PR firms and getting your name out there. Reading books, scripts attending events with producers and directors you’d like to work with. The biggest challenge to an actor is knowing your worth. Walking into a room and being present with all your light. Knowing how people perceive you and adjusting accordingly to the role, production, style or genre. Keeping humble while representing will guide your flow. Trusting and putting in the work is a powerful combination.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2016 I took a risk and together with a writing partner decided to write 2 film scripts. This took about 5 months after which 2 scripts were born Love Sanchez and Norte. After we then decide to produce and begin filming Love Sanchez. The idea was to produce a film with little or no budget and we would then get funding for Norte. Being a multi-task creative I was able to put this into motion and thus began filming. What I did not know at the time the “we” became me doing all. From casting to catering to location scouting. Then it came down to dotting our i’s and crossing our T’s~ the business end. I was funding this all out of pocket and not paying attention to my own personal budget. The production hit the wall when it came to the legal aspect of the production. With the help of Chapman University I was able to get legal representation for the various facets of our production such as Music rights, actors union contracts, working with children on set. All of this for free as we would be part of their class in film production representation. They advised me to Llc with me as the owner. My writing partner had issues with this and I explained that being that he is married his wife would also be part owner (at the time they were having marital issues and I senses this would jeopardize/stall the production) When the appointment was made to sign the contract my writing partner and also co-Director (really DP as he only shot scenes I had set and rehearsed) did not attend. He had a meltdown and took our film and moved to another state thereby bringing our 3/4 completed film to a halt. I was devasted and now broke. So I had to find a regular job ( something I had not done since 1987 when I joined the Screen Actors Guild Union)I found one in my beloved home town of Pasadena as an Administrative Assistant in a non-profit trauma recovery center for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Here survivors received counseling, legal help and advocacy all for free. I had to take a 72 hr. training to be able to serve this population. The fact that I was bilingual was a huge plus. First and only job I applied for I landed. This was a huge transition that I justified by saying I was indirectly serving my community. I missed the creative side of me. That all changed when in 2019 a perpetrator came looking for his wife wielding a knife. As I was at the front desk I was his point of contact to the office. I managed to descalate him and keep him in the waiting room away from 8 other employees in the office. I kept him there long enough for police to arrive I opened the locked door and let them in yelling that he did not have a gun so they would shoot him, they tazered him to the floor but not before he slit his own throat in front of me. Of which I got the paper towel roll from kitchen and gave to officers to put on wound to stop him from bleeding out. This trauma stayed until I put it down to narrative and turned it into a 10 minute comedy called “Lockdown” this was presented live February 2020 at the Frida Kahlo Theater as part of their 10 minute festival. This was right before our Covid-19 Lockdown. After this incident the trauma recovery place made me Office Manager. This brought me back to my art. I stayed there a few more years to get my financial bearings and left that agency in April if this year. My commercial agent was happy. I now have 3 commercials currently running one is a National.
I continue to write. I continue to act.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The creative journey is different for everyone. As an actress I would have loved to seek out a mentor. This would have provided guidance as to the next steps to take. It’s a lonely place especially if none of your family is in the business. Also PR and the importance in this town to shout from the highest mountain tops what you are working on to keep your name out there. PR can turn a project into your business card. Keeping you relevant.
Currently wish I know more about this social media and how to use it for my business.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/reinwayvega?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.vega.3110?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Laura Vega