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

Alright, Oscar Emmanuel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I took the biggest risk of my life when I decided to leave my incredibly lavish job working as an entertainer onboard Disney Cruise Line to move to California to pursue my master’s degree at UCLA.

After receiving my BA at UNLV’s College of Fine Arts, I took many detours to eventually land the role of a lifetime: Entertainer on board Disney Cruise Line! I was performing nightly, traveling the world, living for free, and making quite the comfortable living. I was able to pay off all of my undergrad student debt, and thanks to the job, I even paid off my commercial debt. I was on top of the world. However, the more countries and cultures I got to experience, the more I realized that I wanted to do something for and from myself. Something that came within me, as opposed to making someone else’s art. In this case, a giant Mouse.

During my vacation time in between ship contracts, I auditioned wildly for plenty of schools I thought would help me along the way. I got accepted into 17 programs, scattered all over the country! This was quite the tough decision to make, especially due to the fact that all of them were offering full ride scholarships, as well as financial assistance. It was an embarrassment of riches. The only problem was that my 18th school, UCLA: my top choice, did not accept me right away. I was put on the wait list, devastated, and went back to my next ship contract. Eventually, once I finished said contract, I was contacted by UCLA and was told that I was accepted and I would be part of the next MFA class. with one caveat: they could not house me, or provide any financial assistance whatsoever. Loans were the only way! It was in that moment that I truly understood the meaning of the word “bittersweet”.

I was at a loss and didn’t know what to do. Was I to take any of the choices that were desperately asking me to come in, in various parts of the country like Connecticut, Texas, Washington, etc and leave their programs with zero financial strain, or go to my top choice school with a huge network in the field I want to work?

I took the risk and decided that if I wanted to get a piece of the pie, I had to go to the place where they are making the pie and risk it all to achieve my goals. Before I knew it I left my comfortable job, which at the time was in Copenhagen, Denmark, and relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue my degree in Theatre, Film, and Television.

I will never, ever regret taking that risk.

Oscar Emmanuel, 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?

I first started as an actor and was so determined to be known as “only an actor”. My first job in New York was a Stage Manager for a touring show, and I was miserable at first, however, the bills needed to be paid. Halfway through my contract I began enjoying the management part of it, and started seeing beneficial things about seeing the artistic work through the other side: the management side. Ironically, my next job was as an actor on another mobile show which ended up being so much smoother thanks to my experience as a Stage Manager. After that I dabbled in a bit of Company Management, some talent training, and now I do everything from casting, writing, producing, and directing. I do it all! It is so thrilling that being able to do one job, only makes the other ones so much easier.

I recently finished a residency as an Equity actor and teacher at PCPA – The Pacific Conservatory Theatre in which the job requires you to teach the art of acting at the conservatory in the first part of the day, and work as a professional Equity actor in the evening. I was always afraid to teach because of the preconceived notion that “those who can’t do, teach.” But one of the greatest acting teachers of all times taught me that it’s actually: “those who can, SHOULD teach.” I have been so proud of my teaching work as I impart with my students the lessons I’ve learned. I love to say that I don’t necessarily teach them how to act, I merely teach them how to bring out the true art in themselves and not be afraid to use it. With a few technical teachings along the way of course.

When I’m not acting, I work as producer of voiceover and dubbing for international series and features for a worldwide streamer. I began this job as an actor; I started dabbling in voiceover work freshly out of UCLA, and got really comfortable in front of and behind the mic. This led to a production company asking me to join as their assistant, and eventually, through the pandemic, I eventually became a producer and I have to admit I really enjoy using that part of my brain. This job forces me to use all of my skills simultaneously as it requires practical logistics, as well as an artistic eye in order to execute successfully. I’m proud of my work and know I thrive in it due to my multiple detours I’ve taken along the way.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that even though it may feel like it, it’s not always “you against the world”. I think that it’s so easy to get caught up on feeling like you’re always battling. Feeling like I was against the government as an immigrant; or that I was against my school for the lack of funding; or lack of producers for not hiring me. I had to relearn that it’s actually just me against myself. Once that clicked, I feel like there was a huge change for me in my career and I’ve never looked back.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Alex Banayan’s “The Third Door” was a game changer for me! It really solidified that “you against yourself” mentality I was trying to instill in my work.
As Banayan’s book says: “Life, business, success… it’s just like a nightclub. There are always three ways in. There’s the First Door: the main entrance, where ninety-nine percent of people wait in line, hoping to get in. The Second Door: the VIP entrance, where the billionaires and celebrities slip through. But what no one tells you is that there is always, always… the Third Door. It’s the entrance where you have to jump out of line, run down the alley, bang on the door a hundred times, climb over the dumpster, crack open the window, sneak through the kitchen—there’s always a way in. Whether it’s how Bill Gates sold his first piece of software or how Steven Spielberg became the youngest studio director in Hollywood history, they all took the Third Door.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oscarfabela.com
• Instagram: @oefabela
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscar-emmanuel-fabela/

Image Credits

Zachariah Schmitt