Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Alexandra.
Hi Adriana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Oh man, what do I include!
Truthfully, the performing arts has always been a strong through-line in my life. Ever since I was a child I was fully convinced that the big dreams I had were going to come true.
My parents tried to support me the best they could, but being fresh to the states left us with little understanding and guidance on how to even go about getting into that world. Even in our attempts, which I am so grateful for, we always found ourselves back to square one. It left me feeling pretty disillusioned as a child, so even though I kept this tantalizing dream, I pivoted, believing that I had to find more “realistic” ways of going about it.
I remember trying every type of art expression – drawing, painting, making skits with my siblings for my mom to record to “send to Disney”, poetry, music, all as a means to get this artistic bug out somehow. Once I got into middle school, I found theatre.
I transferred my dream of being on screen one day, to being on stage, and freshman year decidedly reimagined the dream to getting on Broadway musicals.
As life goes though, plans shifted when I moved to a tiny town for the rest of my HS career. BTW, that town is Smithville, which I didn’t know at the time is a Hollywood hot spot for cute town shoots – wild.
In all my teenage angst, I fully let myself believe that acting must’ve just not been in the cards for me. So I put all my “foolish dreams aside”, and decided to focus on music which had been my comfort and steady friend the entirety of my life at that point.
Funny that I didn’t see that as just another big dream, but I guess it has always felt closer since I have always been able to DO IT.
Anywho, it wasn’t until my last semester at TXST, when I had to take an elective course to graduate, that I decided to try acting again by joining an Improv class. It was instantaneously how that spark was fully lit again. It hadn’t ever gone away, it was about waiting for the right time.
I realized then that as an adult, I had no reason to not go full out. So I researched, oriented myself, and went for it. Years later, and I am still here still doing the dang thing! And I am still, just as that little girl, fully convinced that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! As you read prior, even little Adriana went through it haha!
But truthfully, some of the biggest obstacles I have faced have been since I decided to pursue this legitimately.
Almost as soon as I graduated in late 2019, COVID hit, and everything was put into a stand still.
I chose to view it as a way to get myself caught up, so I wouldn’t see it as a way to back out lol
I started learning about the industry, took zoom classes, and once things opened back up with high regulation I began working background on major films and TV shows so I could have on set experience, learn by observing and listening, and started networking even more.
Once things finally started picking up a little, I decided to take a step back from background work, and mainly do self submitting auditions. But of course, the big strike happened.
For all intents and purposes, this could’ve been the final straw for me! However, I recognized this was not an independent, or unique feeling to me. I pulled it together and continued to see these roadblocks as a gift to continue to learn. I really do believe to a degree, it served me.
I did a lot of self submissions for shorts, and student films, and got to work quite a bit. More than I am now! I learned a lot, and eventually a self submission to Rose Glass, Love Lies Bleeding, led me all the way to audition via zoom for Rose. I didn’t get the role of Jackie, but through that experience, my acting coach Laurel Vouvrey from In The Moment Acting got me in touch with Collier Talent Agency, and as they helped me in the audition process I signed with them!
Ever since, the struggles that I have faced have mainly been internal. The constant pressure I put on myself as a woman to show up a certain way, or that I need to “look” a certain way. It can be tough to know that the industry is still pretty stunted in the way they view a woman’s physique, color, features etc. Being a PuertoRican grown woman, well I do not have the small body that I often find myself thinking most want. It’s a constant battle to not think that I don’t “look” a certain way, so I didn’t get the role. And, I mean, sometimes it IS that, but fighting to not take it personally, is not easy.
The best I can do is to continue to stay healthy, stay disciplined and the right roles that I fit the “look” for or that someone is willing to change looks for me, will come.
Because it’s about what I BRING to the table, not what I seemingly think I lack. I do not lack. It’s just what it is.
Anywho, that was therapy talk right there, but again not unique to me, there’s a lot of emotional and mental strain that goes into this journey. I just continue to remind myself that I am good at this, that I love this, and that I know it’s just a matter of time. Just have to keep at it.
And if you reading this, feel this way, I urge you – trust, and love yourself MORE THAN THE LIES that come up in our heads. You’ve got plenty to offer, friend. You’ve got this.
We’ve been impressed with The Turning Year LLC., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sooo, I have been Producing and will be starring in a feature film that I have co-written!
Me and my two beautiful producing partners have been developing, and going THROUGH IT, being first time feature filmmakers, but we are so proud of how far we’ve come.
We started our Production Company solely for this film.
We raised over $15k last year to film the beginning and end of our film early this year, and are now raising the remaining $156k privately, until we get close to production to finish the film. There is a website we are close to finishing, that you can all check out, and where you can support us through, whether it’d be financially (we have a fiscal sponsor so your donations are tax deductible), your time, talent, skills etc. We’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, anyone can follow us via instagram @theturningyearfilm to get caught up on who we are, what our story is about, all we’ve done so far, and what we will be doing.
This small film has gotten really big, and we are excited to share it with Texan creatives, so reach out!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me, is being content with how I am leading my life, and the choices I make, as I work towards being a full time actor.
And though reaching this goal would be incredible, I don’t believe that whether I get there or not, equals whether I’ve succeeded or not.
Just because I don’t get to be on set most of my life, or acting isn’t my primary financial source of income, it does not mean I am not being successful right now. I want to love this always, and make choices that honor my own values and beliefs. That I work on things I care about, and that inspires me and others.
And I don’t mean any of this as a cop out. If I may be so bold, though I’m not seeing my goal as being some mega Hollywood star, I do believe I will be in places and spaces one day that are above the norm.
When I say I have been fully convinced since I was a kid that this was meant for me, I mean it.
But I am just trusting that it’s in God’s timing, and I just have to keep putting in the work until that time.
I can confidently say that whether I get the chance to do this for a living or not, my pursuit of this dream has been my greatest success. Because I’ve kept the love for it, and for those around me. Because I have been doing it well, and will continue to do so. Because it ISN’T for superficial reasons. I just freaking love doing this man. And one day I hope I get the chance to do it at a bigger scale, where I can learn from people that are far better than me, play pretend on sets and in locations that leave me with that child like curiosity and wonder, and where I can tell stories that make people leave the theaters with a vigor for life, and a little more kindness towards themselves, and others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.keyideas.net/
- Instagram: @theturningyearfilm
- Other: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/evelynpecikonis-38758901/the-turning-year-feature-film
