Today we’d like to introduce you to Hugo Fuentes.
Hugo, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As long as I can remember I’ve been in love with film and acting. The idea that you can be anything or anyone has always fascinated me. This with the fact that you can tell a story and make an audience feel something quickly became my passion. Up to about four years ago, I had been suppressing this passion, neglecting what I knew in my heart I wanted to do and settling for a “normal” life. I had a good job and good stability. But something was missing. I needed more. I needed that which kept lingering in the back of my head. So, I decided to give it a try. I started my first acting class back home in Puerto Rico, and as soon as I finished the first session, I knew. This is what im meant to do. So I embarked on a journey, I would now commit myself entirely to acting. As fate would have it, The New York Film Academy was having auditions for enrollment in the school and was offering a scholarship to those deemed worthy after auditioning at their new location in Miami Beach. So I went, I had my monologue ready and had never been more nervous. But I had to do it, it felt right. I was blessed enough to pass the audition process and got offered the full scholarship for the two-year acting program.
So, I packed up and left my country of 30 years to move to Florida. The journey was just beginning. Once here I went to the school only to find out that the two-year acting program did not reach the quota necessary and was not going to be offered that year. I was devastated, I had left everything behind. After a very long and sleepless night, I knew what I had to do. This wasn’t going to stop me, this was the first test of many to see how badly I wanted it. So, I started from scratch, started hitting up casting agencies and getting jobs anywhere they were. I knew I just needed to build up my resume and take it one step at a time. Fast forward 3 years and I can proudly say I’ve been in multiple commercials, I did some great student films, I participated in the 48hour Film Festival with a film called Enjoy the Art Responsibly which won best choreography, I shot a film called For Elise, featured in the PBS film-maker project and saw myself on tv on a movie for the first time!, i traveled to Texas to shoot my first feature film called Indiecency (winner of various awards in Film Festivals around the U.S.) I also recently wrapped shooting my second feature film called Death of a Fool, which comes out at the end of this year and will go to festivals all around the world as well as another short film called Iron Soldier which will begin the festivals run this summer and has been submitted to the Cannes film festival. I also finished my first screenplay and began writing a second one and have plans on making a run at festivals next year with some stories of my own. And again I can say it’s only the beginning. I don’t like saying all I’ve done because most people take it for gloating. But here I feel it’s necessary so the readers can understand all you can do when you put your mind into it. The more I do, the more I fall in love with it. And if there’s anything I want to do is inspire others to follow their dreams and goals. It’s a roller coaster of a ride, full of ups and downs, but in the end, its the happiness inside you that counts.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
For me, my goal as an actor is to convey emotion to the audience. If I can make the people watching me feel the emotion in the scene, then I’ve done my “job” Its the same with the screenplays I’m writing, I want to tell stories that are emotional, that have lessons, that make the audience take something with them. If I can do that in anything I do, acting or writing then I’m happy.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
It’s hard, most of us have to do side jobs because we can’t support ourselves on acting or writing or singing, etc. And it’s normal to find yourself hating the fact that you have to do a side job instead of focusing on your main goal. My advice would be to try and make the most of it. This is a marathon, its not a race. So be thankful for what you have while working for what you want. Use it as an opportunity to learn, people watch, to find stories around you, etc. Learn to enjoy the little things.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I use mostly my Instagram @hugos_journey and put most of the links to the films I’ve done there. Some are on YouTube some on Vimeo. And others through my bio you can buy the DVDs. As for support, many of the films that are coming out soon will have premieres, so it’s always good as artists to go to these events and support one another. It’s also great networking!
Contact Info:
- Email: hugo_2985@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Hugos_journey
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9150706/
Image Credit:
Chris Hedlund
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