1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to Morenita, a deep dive into the Latin X 2 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: experience with Moranita. We want to create a community and 3 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: a shared space with you while sharing knowledge and inspiration. 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: This show is about celebrating our culture with guests who 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: exemplify the best of us. I'm Darrylene Castillo Ethane Beetle. 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: Pierre Jean Gonzalez is a New York based actor, singer, 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: and dancer hailing from the Bronx, New York. A passionate 8 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: artist from a very young age, he is a self 9 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: described charming performer nothing short of spectacular go on. Pierre 10 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 1: Pierre founded Domino Rican Productions in with his fiance Cedric 11 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: Leva Jr. And is currently in pre production to produce 12 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: and star in Domina Rican's forthcoming short film, American Maid. 13 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: Today's interview jumps off right away. It's a fun one. Yeah, 14 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: my love, where are you nowadays? MoMA? Okay, I'm in 15 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: I'm in Philly right now. Um it's you've been here 16 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: now for like five weeks. And she's cute. What are 17 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: you doing in Philly? I am in Philly playing Alexander 18 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: Hamilton's in the Hamilton's Tour of Hamilton's touring company. Yeah, 19 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: wow right wow, well just so to catch just to 20 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: catch everyone up and put everyone in the loop. Um. 21 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 1: Pierre and I did Hamilton's together. I played Peggy Skyler 22 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: and Marai Reynolds UM. And at the time, Pierre, you 23 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: actually were a standby. Yes, I started off as a 24 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: standby covering UM Hamilton's Burr and King George the third Um, 25 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: which standby? Can we fill the people in? What's the standby? Alright? 26 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: So a standbody you have an actor off stage who 27 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: was prepared to go on for whatever roles they are 28 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: contracted to do that. I was covering Hamilton's Burrn, King George, 29 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: and my job was too whenever they call me, I 30 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: have to show up and hit the stage and whichever 31 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: character they need, and that could be in the middle 32 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 1: of the show, that could be in the last number, 33 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: it could be at any point. And you got to 34 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: it's it's crazy. It's it's such an amazing and also 35 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: challenging and crazy as job, you know, but it really 36 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,519 Speaker 1: prepared me for so much more, not just even in 37 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: the Hamilton's world, but in the real world. When I 38 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: when I when I came out here creating my company, 39 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: when I came out here just being a better human being, 40 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: more empathetic. You know, it's challenging talking about creating a company, 41 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: being your own CEO. Tell me more about that. Yeah, 42 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: me and my fiance Sedge Labor Jr. We came together 43 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: and we create did a production company with our co partner, 44 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: Stephen Luna called Domino Rican Productions. UM it came out well, okay, 45 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: so bet I'm gonna take you out that March. The 46 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 1: beginning of March, right when we thought, I thought, nada, 47 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: right and nothing's happening, Everything's fine, good, So I knew 48 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 1: I was gonna debut March, and I took three weeks 49 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: off thinking like, you know, let me give myself some time, 50 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: let me give you know, to just really get ready 51 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: for this, for this role that I'm about to take on. 52 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: And and just like that, one week later, it's like, oh, 53 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna hold okay, cool all a week okay cool. 54 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: After that, it's like two weeks, two weeks, right, one month, 55 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: three months, fall, next year, eighteen months later, you know. Wow. 56 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: But um in the beginning of it all, out of 57 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: the frustration of just represent lack of representation, UM, I 58 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: decided to create a short experimental film with my friend 59 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: Paul Notice from the Notice Block, and we took Cedric's 60 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: poem and we turned it into a visual. You know, 61 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: the first time I heard it, I was like, this 62 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: is amazing. And the theme of the piece is an 63 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: Africa and gay after Latino coming to terms with his 64 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:21,679 Speaker 1: self worth, with his value and you know, not being 65 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: seen in in media period. You know, Latinos don't look 66 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: like us in certain films, not even in novelas, not 67 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 1: even in our own ship. Excuse my language, apologize, don't 68 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: need to be ye not not even we invite that, 69 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: we invite that here in Morenita. I've been doing I've 70 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: been doing interviews and I have to be watching about 71 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 1: solf Um. But you know, we don't, we don't see ourselves. 72 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: We we we still don't. You know, it's starting to 73 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: get better. But I realized that I'm tired of sitting 74 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: and waiting. I have to get up and do something. 75 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: And then Hamilton's already being a standby. I saved all 76 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: this money, and you know, I was like, if I'm 77 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: not gonna put the money into myself and my partner 78 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: in my arm, then what the hell am I doing 79 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: this for? What am I saving this for? For? What? 80 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: You know what I mean, Like, I don't see myself 81 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: living this a stereotypical hetero life, you know, house kids 82 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: like I want to travel, I want to see the world. 83 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 1: I want to create, I want to change lives. So 84 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: let me take this money and let me create something. 85 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: And and it just yo, snowball, And I love what 86 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: you and I love that comment that you mentioned because 87 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: it's you're investing in yourself. You're not only investing in yourself, 88 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 1: You're investing in your community. You're investing in the future 89 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: of what we want this world to look like for us. 90 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: You have to and I will say that I've learned 91 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: in my life, the more that you're in service of people, 92 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: the more that you're in service of your community and others, 93 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: the more that it's gonna come back to you. Bro. 94 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: Like I so many moments where I just had ten 95 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: dollars and I was like, you know what, I'm gonna 96 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: feed everybody who's around me. And then the next day, 97 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: I don't know what I'm gonna do, and that person 98 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: comes out of nowhere it feeds me, you know, you 99 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: know what I mean. It's it's just like this thing 100 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 1: of community, and even in this position, I am now 101 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: more than ever so driven to freaking use this platform 102 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 1: and this money to create you know. Um. And We've 103 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: had this conversation, you know, countless times of not feeling 104 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: not feeling seen and represented, bro, And I'm over it 105 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: and I'm tired of waiting. I mean, send me, send 106 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,720 Speaker 1: me the breakdowns, and send me the auditions, because I 107 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: show up, you know what I mean. Because your girl, 108 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: your girl wants to. Your girl's gonna be a movie star. 109 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: My pronoun does he him and she at times? UM. 110 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,239 Speaker 1: So That's where I'm at right now. And this, this position, 111 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: this job is feeding so many of my friends and 112 00:06:48,839 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: my family, and I want to create work and I 113 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,680 Speaker 1: want to I want to have people have something that 114 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: means that they can call their own. Bro. Yeah, and 115 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: you and you bring something to the table that platform 116 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: us in that platform for good and for and for 117 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: moving us forward and supporting each other. You and I've 118 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: talked about how that supporting each other really build our 119 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: community up, and we have to show up for each other. 120 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: And I love that. UM. I'm so fascinated with your 121 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: story because you and I are both New Yorkers, you know, 122 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: were born the ball your But how tell me something 123 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: like I want to know, like how did this begin 124 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: for you? Where was the manifestation of this world of 125 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: this young Afro Latino gay man, Like how did this 126 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: world look like a possibility for you? Tell me how 127 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: that manifested your beginnings. I think it all really started 128 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: with with growing up in the hood and the ghetto 129 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: in a very poor rural place. Like my grandmother came 130 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: here from the Dominican Republic as a seamstress um, not 131 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: really knowing English, not really having money, knowing how to 132 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: read it write, you know what I mean. So it's 133 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: like we grew up with nothing. So I as a 134 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: young gay kid who couldn't express himself in his gayness 135 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: because I was one of the only boys in my family. 136 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: So do what they like, I've heard that. I just 137 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: heard that so much in my life. So I always 138 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: held in my gayness. And the only time where I 139 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: felt like comfortable and like so excited was when I 140 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: was watching movies and I was watching TV. I would 141 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: lose myself in this world because I couldn't be who 142 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,520 Speaker 1: I wanted to be. So that's when I think I 143 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: fell in love with just TV and film and performance 144 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: and I was just always a showman. I was always 145 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 1: trying to make people laugh. I was always trying to sing. 146 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: You know, they have they told me stories about me 147 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 1: holding you know, like the comb and like singing to 148 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: everybody all the time. Um. And from that, thank God, 149 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: I had my mother, so beautiful mother, just such an empathetic, loving, 150 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: caring woman who wanted to be an artist, but wasn't supported, 151 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 1: um the way the way an artist should be growing up, 152 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: you know, at that time, she was told that you 153 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: can't be a dancer. You're not going to make it 154 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: that way, you know what I mean. And she she 155 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 1: had all these dreams and she got pregnant with me, 156 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: and she chose me, you know. So that has a 157 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,840 Speaker 1: lot to do with why I'm here as well. I 158 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: think it's really crazy how like trauma and trauma can 159 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:39,319 Speaker 1: like push you to these places. Is that what they 160 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: call life? And I think so? I think so, I 161 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 1: think so, you know, And ever since, ever since then, 162 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 1: I knew that I wanted to do something. I was 163 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: just a people person. And then my mother was so 164 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: supportive of me wanting to be a dancer I wanted. 165 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 1: She gave me my first d J said, I used 166 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: to be a DJ DJ PG thirteen, Yeah, Pierre DJ, 167 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: because that's clever. That's really cute. That's clever. And I 168 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: got a hat that's at PG. And then thirteen was 169 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: like squared PG thirteen, Oh my god, yeah, that's cute power. 170 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,439 Speaker 1: I see the vision. I see the vision, the vision 171 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: visualizing right, um, you know she did that. And then 172 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: and then I started singing, and like I wanted to 173 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: be a singer and I killed that dream for myself 174 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: because I was gay. And I was like, I'm going 175 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 1: to get caught better to tell me more about that. 176 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: Because I used to write music. I used to want 177 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: to know me. I wanted to be part of like 178 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: the lead singer of my group, Like I wanted all 179 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: of that. Yeah, and like I was a dancing and 180 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: I could have did that ship. Yo, I could have 181 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: did it, you know what I mean. But I stopped 182 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 1: myself and myself and it was the it was the 183 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: it was a game. It was being gay. Yeah, it 184 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:02,800 Speaker 1: was just it was just that, you know, because I 185 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: knew myself. I knew I had those feelings and I 186 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: was like, I can't do it because they're gonna find 187 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: out I'm gaying already I was being made fun of 188 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: because I had an infeminate voice or I wasn't as 189 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: masculine or already on edge being like, yeah, I'm good son, 190 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, like, funk out of all 191 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: that all that you know, all that bullshit, all that bullshit, 192 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: all that toxic toxics, which which I think some of 193 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: that because honey, that got me some roles, okay, playing 194 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:38,040 Speaker 1: that role got me some money and residual was coming in. Okay, 195 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,440 Speaker 1: So well, you know you got to be able to 196 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:43,559 Speaker 1: thank you Trauma for being able to give you both 197 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: skills of whatever that skill set is. But whatever that 198 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: whoever that guy is um but for you, Like I'm 199 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: I'm curious about, like what was that like for you 200 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: when you did show your true self? You're I mean, 201 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: you're coming out story like you're family like how it was? 202 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,839 Speaker 1: You know because as as a Kate man, my my 203 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: whole family knew. So it was like I created this 204 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:14,319 Speaker 1: whole big drama. I think back like just heaving, like heaving, 205 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: being like I'd have to tell you something like everyone, 206 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: and I just remember everyone like looking at me and 207 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: being like Pierre Poppy. We of course we knew, but 208 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 1: we love you, and you know, my family has always 209 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: been so supportive. But it was all the stress that 210 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: I put on myself, all the hate and anger I 211 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: put on myself. So even when I came out, I 212 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: didn't really come out. I came out to them who 213 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: assault on your high school junior in year in high school? 214 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: Maybe not even really like I didn't really like say it, 215 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 1: what happened? What did you say? Say? Then? It was 216 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: a hint. I mean, it was just kind of like 217 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: I have a friend. This is my friend, like you 218 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: know what I mean, and everybody kind of knew who was, 219 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:57,199 Speaker 1: but it was my friend, you know. I was always 220 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: just like that's my friend, right, that's that's my homie. 221 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: You know, he's you know, but like my mother wouldn't 222 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: let him stay over only only him, only him, but 223 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: like my my homie that always stays okay, but my friend, 224 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: you know, we all knew what it was. We all 225 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: know what it was. So it wasn't until senior year 226 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: that I sat everybody down because I was already out 227 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: to my friends. I was already out in school. People 228 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: knew what it was. And I remember one of my 229 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 1: friends saw me, was like you have to come out 230 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: to your parents, like they know. I was like I would. 231 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:33,000 Speaker 1: So I sat them all down, I told them they 232 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 1: beautiful loving supported me, joking on me. Oh see, oh everybody, 233 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: Piers Gay you know what I'm saying. Whatever, And then 234 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: it wasn't exactly and then I was I went into 235 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 1: conservatory the next year. And you know conservatory, what school 236 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: with you? What school did you attend? You went to Workers, right, yeah, 237 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: I attended Mason Girls School of them at Rockets University. 238 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 1: We got to study a year at the Globe Theater 239 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: and do Shakespeare. So the first two years of Meisner 240 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: and I don't know if you ever took a class, 241 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: but like it is crazy wild and then you go 242 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: like I'm this and then like that's bullshit and you're 243 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: like that is who am I? You know, So that 244 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: first semester I wasn't gonna make it. They cut like 245 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: four people under the first semester. Bro that ship is crazy. 246 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: It's a very guy. I didn't realize what an intense 247 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: program it was. And at the time it was like 248 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 1: top two you know, right now it's like top four 249 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: conservative conservatories. Like it was no joke. I was still 250 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: in the closet my first semester, So how did you 251 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: make it? How did you get in campus? I came 252 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: in and I was about to make the decision to 253 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: just be me, but I panicked. I panicked, and I 254 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: never forget because he was just other dude from the Bronx. 255 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: I was there. That ends up he were friends on Facebook. 256 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: Is so cool and sweet. Uh. We were all attracted 257 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: to each other because we were all like, Yo, we're 258 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 1: from Yo. Where you from? Like, you know, because we 259 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: were the same look like you just know you can connect. 260 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: So I actually did not come out, really, I had 261 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: to go back. I came out of the back in 262 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: the closet, and then it wasn't until my professor he 263 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: told me we were doing an activity. We were finally 264 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: had a scene and then we had to have an 265 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: an activity in the scene. So I had the ball. 266 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: So I'm going like this with the ball and where 267 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: she's talking to my scene partner's talking to me. I 268 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: just snapped and I was like, I'm not being me 269 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: and like and then it just the the activity and 270 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 1: the repetition took me on a twenty minute journey and 271 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 1: by the end of the class, I was weeping crying 272 00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,840 Speaker 1: and I'll never forget. Like I clicked open and he 273 00:15:37,920 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: actually stopped me after class. He was like, he was like, welcome, 274 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 1: You're finally here. And ever since then that program kind 275 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 1: of shifted and changed my life, you know, and not 276 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: to even talk about all the dyslexic as well. So 277 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: at that time picking up script or picking something up 278 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: and reading it out loud, I did not know that 279 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: words that I know like sophisticated, are you know, articulating 280 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: curiosities of blah blah blah. I couldn't like visually, I 281 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: couldn't read it out like it's hard for me to 282 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: see the words connect um, And I slipped through the 283 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: cracks through all of high school from the year. I 284 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: just slipped through the cracks because because exactly exactly I 285 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: could just be like, what do you mean? It's a see. 286 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:29,120 Speaker 1: But then I started to realize if I verbally, if 287 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: I do a test that way, I passed. If you 288 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: give me something to write out, I fail. So um. 289 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: Being in school that was another challenge because I was 290 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: still terrified at that time. I still couldn't pick up 291 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: a script. It wasn't until I went to London, bro 292 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: what a traumatic time that was for me. Um. You 293 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: know that I studied in London too, right, you did? Yeah? 294 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: I went to I went to Lambda, Bro like, get 295 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: out here because no, get the funk out of here, 296 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: because I mean you you know this I had. I 297 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: had one teacher and they were talked about we never 298 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: talked about this. I had one teacher, Dude, I was 299 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 1: about to quit acting. He after I started going over 300 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: and reading stuff a lout. He was like, what you 301 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 1: need to do is pick up a dictionary. I need 302 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: to read a word today. This is in London there, browery. 303 00:17:19,680 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 1: He was like, he was like, how long have you 304 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: been in this program? Really? H Like you got all 305 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:30,120 Speaker 1: of that, bro? And what did I do? I did it? Wow? Yeah, 306 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: you pushed through. I did it. I pushed through and 307 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 1: I did the activities that they asked me to do. 308 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: It was it felt like Trump like I still am 309 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: a little bit of traumai by you know, the trauma 310 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:43,640 Speaker 1: of it all. The local theme of the today is trauma. 311 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: But it did it did help me. It pushed me 312 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: because I have the challenges, but also the insecurity makes 313 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: me lazy. Right, I have to take ownership of my 314 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,640 Speaker 1: part and where I'm at right and I did do that, 315 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: and you know, by the end of the year, I 316 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: was playing Oberon Anthesius. You could not tell me ship 317 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: you know, good Robin. You know I was giving you everything. 318 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:16,719 Speaker 1: I was giving them diary, you know. So I'm so 319 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: grateful for that program um and and everything that it 320 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 1: gave to me. Is everything that kind of set me 321 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: up a little bit for failure to which is more 322 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: lessons in trauma more or less in the drama. Well, no, 323 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: because you know these programs and that the day. You know, 324 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: think about when we went to school. You know, at 325 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,640 Speaker 1: the time, it was very much like looking at your 326 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: your resume is like you're gonna play this, this and 327 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: this and this, so get ready for this run all 328 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: your Spanish accents. Like that's what that was. And that's 329 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: not that's what it was. It's not nowadays. It's like, oh, 330 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:49,719 Speaker 1: people come out of college and they're like they want 331 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: to embrace the things that make them different. I tell 332 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: the young kids nowadays, I'm like the young kids that 333 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: tell the young kids nowadays, I'm like, you guys have it. 334 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: Like I'm not gonna say easy, but y'all have is 335 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: so good because y'all are being invited to be yourself. 336 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: Where when you and I went to school, they were like, um, 337 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: your last name's Castillo, are you are you Spanish like 338 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: a little bit, And I'm like, I'm Dominican, fully and 339 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, you're not just black, and they'll be 340 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: like Dominican, that Puerto Rican. So exactly, it's like Puerto 341 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: Rican exactly. You know what I'm saying, Like, that's that's was, No, 342 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: that was what it was because if you're in New 343 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 1: York or either Puerto Rican max like that at that 344 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: time exactly. Um, and they set and they set us 345 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 1: up for it. But that's the way that the business 346 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: was exactly exactly. And I'm curious for you, like your 347 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: process of when you were going through your conservatory and 348 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,959 Speaker 1: your time in London, did you, like what are some 349 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: of the obstacles that you had to overcome? Like you 350 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 1: you are a man of color, like you are Latino, 351 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously you expressed to us the the 352 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,280 Speaker 1: finding of yourself of being comfortable and your gayness and such, 353 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: but like what about the other parts of who you are? 354 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: Was were there any other other obstacles and were I 355 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: know you mentioned you were in the conservatory with another 356 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: fellow New Yorker. Was there some racism and like obstacles 357 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,520 Speaker 1: that you had to like overcome through that those some 358 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 1: of those programs, some of those things like absolutely, if 359 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to be honest with you, if I look 360 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,800 Speaker 1: back Ika the ship that happened to us, and the 361 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: and the and the things that were said to us, 362 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: which is disgustingly racist and problematic. But yeah, I will 363 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 1: say that the program itself did what it was supposed 364 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: to do. It did what media was actually and and 365 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: the entertainment industry what was doing at the time was doing. 366 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,679 Speaker 1: It was preparing you. It was preparing you know. I 367 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: had a teacher tell me, like, you're not going to 368 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: be a leading man. I'm in Hamilton's. I'm um, you 369 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, But you're not going to do that, 370 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: Like that's not your world. You know what I'm saying, 371 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 1: You're gonna you're you you're the bad guy. And then 372 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: also because of the way I look, I'm the bad 373 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 1: guy who's actually the good guy. So you look you 374 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: look like the bad guy, but that's not really bad. 375 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: You look like a soft bad guy, you know what 376 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: I mean, that's the guy you're gonna play. That's what 377 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: I've been told, you know what I'm saying. And I 378 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,479 Speaker 1: understand that because I watched film, I watched TV. I 379 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: know who I play, you know what I mean? Like me, 380 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 1: we are gonna We're all gonna be the John Leguizamas. 381 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: We're all got to be the you know what I mean, 382 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: these these people that we've seen, that's all we know, 383 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: but which I'm trying to change. You know, it's so 384 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: many different shades and colors. Yeah, now you're trying to change. 385 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: You're trying to be like you know what I actually 386 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: I can be maybe the good guy and like what 387 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: is that? And how? Yes, I could be the funny guy, 388 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 1: could be the quirky guy, could be the feminine guy. 389 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: I could be the masculine guy. Like it's like, we're 390 00:21:54,760 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: so much more than these these caricatures, these stereotypes, you know, 391 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 1: And that's what you're doing with. I'm not dismissing them. 392 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: I'm not dismissing them. They're beautiful. Are those things that 393 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 1: make us us are beautiful, hilarious, quirky qualities. But we're 394 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:18,160 Speaker 1: so much deeper than that. Yeah, absolutely, And I mean 395 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: that's what you're doing with your your company with Domino 396 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: Rican Productions, and I know that you have UM well, 397 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: I know that you're currently you know, in pre production 398 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 1: for the film that you are the short the short 399 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:35,440 Speaker 1: film UM that you starting with. It's with Jed Jed Dickson. Yes, 400 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: it's our bur here on this tour and it is 401 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: directed by Tiffany Nicole Green, which is un resident director, 402 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: UM cinematographer cinematographer Stephen Luna Um and sound designer Nicole 403 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:52,640 Speaker 1: And what is like the message? The message? What's going 404 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: on in there? So American made? Oh my god, American 405 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: made came from a conversation. Will first have to shout 406 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: out the writer Um Kristin eat Kato. Kristen has been 407 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: a collaborated with me for when we were doing black 408 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: Box Theater together in the tank about like ten years ago, 409 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: getting Getting No Pain, doing a show that our family 410 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: and friends have to pay twenty five dollars to see 411 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: eight other one acts and we're number eight. So you 412 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: gotta sit and say, I have to you know what 413 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,200 Speaker 1: I'm saying. You know what the hell I'm talking about? 414 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: That was like I was there with her and Christon 415 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: was there with me, and she actually went back to 416 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 1: school in Indiana University and she got her playwriting degree. 417 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:45,240 Speaker 1: So she she's writing plays like like this chick just 418 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 1: switched her gears and mind you, I was active with 419 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: her for years. Um switching heear. She was like, I 420 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: need to I need to make a difference. How are 421 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: we making differences the writers? So she made a decision 422 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: and she went she got her degree. Already she's back 423 00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: in New York. Um. So I called her and I 424 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: was like, girl. After we did release Cedric's piece, we 425 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,800 Speaker 1: ended up doing another, our first narrative short called Rhythm 426 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:13,320 Speaker 1: is Gonna Get who written Basulrespo, one of our close friends, 427 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: And that was my first directorial debut as a director. 428 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 1: I directed that piece, which that's like a whole new 429 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: world that I love. I love producing the direct thing, 430 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: like that's my future, you know, but still acting. But honey, 431 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: I mean, we can't keep this this face off the 432 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: movie screen. Honey, we can't do that. But after our 433 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: first narrative short, I started like getting the hit. I 434 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: was like, I want to perform in something right. I 435 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: called her. I was a Christen What you got, you know, 436 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:46,439 Speaker 1: because that's how we told yo, what you got, what 437 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,159 Speaker 1: you're doing? Right now. She sent me two pieces. She 438 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: sent me American Made. It started off as a one 439 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: act and I read it and I was like, Chris, 440 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: and this is it. I said, let's turn this into 441 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 1: a screenplay. So we were going to get somebody to 442 00:24:58,280 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: adapt it for us. But um I remember I called 443 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 1: her and she was like, I think I want to 444 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: do this. I think I can do this. So she 445 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,640 Speaker 1: did it. We work shopped it for about a month 446 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: with Tiffany, with Jared, with um our other producers, um 447 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: with just being production as our associate producers on this project, 448 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: with this Bianca um Uh, the Sario and the Sally 449 00:25:19,160 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: Vega um and with them we developed this piece American 450 00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: Made is about to prison inmates and a workforce program, 451 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 1: and it's just a little glimpse of their lives together, 452 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: uh in that moment and one person gets a transfer 453 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: and the other person does it. And what does that 454 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:43,359 Speaker 1: do with the relationship with two men um which is 455 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: not sexual, but it's still intimate, you know, showing that 456 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:51,120 Speaker 1: that that kind of dismantling this kind of idea that 457 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,360 Speaker 1: men can't be loving, that men can't care for each 458 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: other without it being turned into this nasty sex. Oh, 459 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: that's home more. All this bs like I'm trying to 460 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,000 Speaker 1: eliminate that, and not only that, but in the in 461 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 1: the system, something in the system and the actual systeminal 462 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 1: justice in the actual system. Oh honey, that's a whole 463 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,919 Speaker 1: another layer, right because we kind of basit on Unicorn. 464 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, These workers get these workers 465 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: get paid two cents an hour. Yeah, do you know 466 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,040 Speaker 1: what I mean to do? This? This free labor, This 467 00:26:26,240 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: labor work that's supposed to prepare them for society, right, 468 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: but it's really just getting um all the all the 469 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: company's money in their pocket for free labor, just modern 470 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: day slavery. This is Listen. If if I start to 471 00:26:40,240 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: explain anymore, I'm going to speak out the freaking script 472 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:47,160 Speaker 1: to you point blank because it's well, I mean, it's 473 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: just so real, bro, It's so necessary and real and 474 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: it and it just kind of happened magically, you know. 475 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: But it's a story that is not being told. And 476 00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: this is something that I love about that project that 477 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: you guys are care I cannot, I cannot. I cannot 478 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: stress this enough. Like when I can't when when it's 479 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: out and bumping and grooving, I hope everybody can catch it, 480 00:27:07,440 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: because this is something that is a story that needs 481 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,120 Speaker 1: to be told and that's what we're missing in our community. 482 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Listen, we don't need any more West size. 483 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:18,920 Speaker 1: I love West Side story. We love a good listen love, 484 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: we love it, we do. But everybody show up, show 485 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: up for each other. I will say that. I will 486 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: say that we need to as a Latin next Latin 487 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: Latino Latina community. Yeah, I'll use it all and whatever 488 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,400 Speaker 1: you want to be represented at because I don't want 489 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,280 Speaker 1: people to feel not seen. But we all have to 490 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: show up for each other. Yes, we will disagree, we 491 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 1: will disagree, I swear to you, but right now we 492 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 1: have to come together. And that's something that other communities 493 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,919 Speaker 1: are doing and it's working. But that's the thing about 494 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,919 Speaker 1: our community and the divide. That's the thing about this 495 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: divide of I mean, you want to go into colorism 496 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: and you want to go into that that separating is 497 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: m of things like that is the problem that we 498 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,280 Speaker 1: are not supporting each other fully and we need to. 499 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 1: We need to show up for each other. No, no, 500 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:09,520 Speaker 1: for for sure, I want to just go back to 501 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: what you said, because I do think that there is 502 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: a thing to be said about. We've seen the same 503 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,520 Speaker 1: work being produced about our culture and our people. We 504 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: need the writers, we need the producers, we need the showrunners. 505 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: We need the people on the other side, which is 506 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: another reason why dominor recon production is here. Is not 507 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,640 Speaker 1: only for front of the camera, but behind it just 508 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: as important. And I hear we're all saying it. We 509 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: all know the truth. It's about coming together and supporting 510 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: each other in these moments. Um. It's about making the choice. 511 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: It's about making not the hard choice. That's what it is. 512 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 1: It's not going to be easy, It's not you know 513 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,200 Speaker 1: what I mean, Because we weren't taught how to work 514 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: with each other like that. We are not used to it. 515 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: We are we are used to fighting each other for 516 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 1: the one role. Yes, that's what we And also we 517 00:29:01,560 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: don't see that across the table. We don't see these 518 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: people like we don't see ourselves in the space. So 519 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:12,800 Speaker 1: how can we We have to retrain our minds and 520 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: rethink things differently. We have to, I mean, and so rebroken. 521 00:29:17,760 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: It's hard, but that's hard, right and I will I'll 522 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:23,400 Speaker 1: be being the devil's advocate. I understand why we're in 523 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: the place we're at right now. I get it, I 524 00:29:26,200 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: understand a but there has to be a level of 525 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: compromise mixed with like I don't faith you know what 526 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: I'm saying, like something has to shift, something has to shift. Um, 527 00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: I don't have the answer for it. I think what 528 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: the only thing that we can do is continuously have 529 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: this conversation like it's like the little it's like the 530 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: little gay boy that couldn't be himself like he was. 531 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: I'm just like, oh my god, this is amazing, you 532 00:29:56,160 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: know sound, And it's just been feeding me. It's been 533 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:05,120 Speaker 1: healing me. It's been healing love that you just said 534 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 1: that that portion of it's your childhood self being like giddy, 535 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 1: like there's nothing more fulfilling than that. And I know 536 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: that feeling. I mean not you know, not the little 537 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 1: gay boy power, but like you know, everybody has a 538 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 1: little everybody does. Everybody does. But I had that feeling 539 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: of like this little Dominican girl who gets to like finally, 540 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: like you know, when I got to do the show 541 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: with Lynn and they're looking at the man like I'm 542 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: literally like this is insane. Like I remember seeing him 543 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 1: and in the heights and being like I'm gonna work 544 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:41,400 Speaker 1: with you. I don't know when, but I'm going to 545 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: work with him, like I am going to do something 546 00:30:44,200 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 1: with him. I still do that. I'm like, I think, yes, oh, yes, 547 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,840 Speaker 1: you know and and again and so proud of you 548 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,719 Speaker 1: to just see an Afro Latin not just always just 549 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: representing and just being present and being herself and just 550 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 1: owning it. I cannot wait to work with you. You know, 551 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: I've been itching. I'm very excited for the future. And 552 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think I'm just so grateful that Hamilton's 553 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: is just the cherry on top of my life. Yes, 554 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: do you know what I'm saying? I am so I 555 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 1: am so grateful for what this opportunity, this opportunity, I 556 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,040 Speaker 1: took it and I created something with it, and I 557 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,800 Speaker 1: and whoever's listening, whoever is out there right now here 558 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: in this like in the moments where you feel like, 559 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 1: oh my god, I made it, this is this is 560 00:31:42,520 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 1: such an amazing fee. What's next? How are you going 561 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:49,960 Speaker 1: to use this moment to build your legacy? Period. I 562 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: had an agent tell me that I will never really 563 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: booke TV work, and I fired him and I got 564 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 1: a new agent and I booked four co stars in 565 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: a month. So to that it's like follow your own journey, 566 00:32:02,720 --> 00:32:05,719 Speaker 1: like everyone's journey looks differently, and you have to trust 567 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: yourself and your truth. And I love that you said 568 00:32:08,040 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: that about your truth because that's where I'm at too. 569 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:12,920 Speaker 1: I feel you, I feel you on that this is 570 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: a stop we got here exactly, you know what I mean. 571 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: Like I love this job, but also I love my company, 572 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: I love film, I love TV. I'm still auditioning, and 573 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna be right here in Hamilton's. I 574 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,719 Speaker 1: am here as long as you need me. Yes, I'm 575 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: gonna be right here doing my thing, you know, until 576 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,480 Speaker 1: until my spirit and until the next step comes and 577 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,719 Speaker 1: it's and it's time to evolve again, until you have 578 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: to listen and then you listen to your truth and 579 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: you go from there. And that's listen to your truth. Pierre. 580 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: We do this beautiful thing out here at Moranita where 581 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: we ask this lovely question for our guests. Um and 582 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: I want to ask you that question. So, what is 583 00:32:53,640 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: one thing that reminds you of home? However it is 584 00:32:56,840 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: that you define home? Remind you a home? I get? 585 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: Are you serious? I have a coffee cup that has 586 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:20,959 Speaker 1: it it's salto loo and everything. Um. And I just 587 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,880 Speaker 1: to elaborate to give you a whole vision. The Grea 588 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: on blowing steam because my mother always leaves it on 589 00:33:26,920 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: too long and La Fonda la Fonda dance salsa mix 590 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:37,600 Speaker 1: in the background, just playing whatever. What I'm number four, um, 591 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:41,719 Speaker 1: and that just our culture, man, everything that has to 592 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: do with who we are. I just love. I'm just 593 00:33:45,280 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: so grateful now being in It's crazy being thirty three now, 594 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: I didn't such. I'm so honored to be Dominican in 595 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: Puerto Rican, and I don't think I had that growing up. 596 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 1: I didn't have like this thing of like jo Latino, 597 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 1: your Latin next, so like we didn't have that because 598 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 1: we weren't. We didn't. We were taught that that wasn't 599 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,360 Speaker 1: what we represented, Like that wasn't what we were thriving 600 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:12,400 Speaker 1: to tell the world. We just had to Americanize ourselves. 601 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:15,000 Speaker 1: And it's either like you got money your upper class 602 00:34:15,320 --> 00:34:18,560 Speaker 1: or your lower class, you know. And being thirty three, 603 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 1: I just I'm just so grateful for my culture and 604 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful to be from the Bronx, to be 605 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: a percent in New York because this Hammy Air is 606 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:32,919 Speaker 1: from the Bronx. Okay, she's giving you straight up New 607 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 1: York vocalists. And if you guys want to see you 608 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,239 Speaker 1: guys want to see a Hamilton's and tens and well, 609 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 1: Sander Hamilton's and tens. It is your man, Pierre. He 610 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:44,960 Speaker 1: will do the job. Follow him on where he's going 611 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 1: on the Philip Tour. Pierre, how do we follow you 612 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 1: and continuing follow your journey and seeing what you do? 613 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:52,800 Speaker 1: Where can we find you? Absolutely? You guys can follow 614 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:55,799 Speaker 1: me on Instagram at Pierre Leto that's p I E 615 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: R R l I t oh. My grandmother gave me 616 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: that name. And you can also follow me on Twitter 617 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:05,239 Speaker 1: at at Pierre lito um and then as well you 618 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:07,880 Speaker 1: can follow me. If you want to find more information 619 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: about Domino recon Productions, you can head over to Domina 620 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: Reacin Productions dot com. Domina that's d O M I 621 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:19,000 Speaker 1: N I freaking r I c A N Productions with 622 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 1: an ask dot com and you can check out all 623 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: the work that we're doing and that's coming up. I 624 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: can't wait. Yeah, I love I love that. That's so cute. 625 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Thank you so much for hanging 626 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: out with me, sir I love your mommy, I love you. 627 00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: Did you feel Pierre's energy? I love that energy. Pierre 628 00:35:51,600 --> 00:35:54,279 Speaker 1: talked about being in London and not being able to 629 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: be himself, but when he allowed himself to step into 630 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: his truth, to be himself unapologetically, we heard welcome. Are 631 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,719 Speaker 1: you living your truth? Are you being brave enough to 632 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,399 Speaker 1: question your own journey and make sure you are living 633 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,839 Speaker 1: your life on your terms. It's not easy, but meet 634 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,400 Speaker 1: those challenges with enthusiasm and energy and you'll see results. 635 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:23,239 Speaker 1: But Monamita is a production of Sonato and partnership with 636 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: I Heart Radios Michael Luda podcast Network. For more podcasts 637 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 1: from I Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, 638 00:36:30,080 --> 00:36:33,160 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.