Today we’d like to introduce you to Gerardo Davila.
Gerardo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a teenager, I was part of a rap group called Latin Royalty and after high school I continued solo into my early twenties. The music industry is an extremely difficult path if you don’t have connections or a label to back you. Let just say it was extremely fun to do as a kid but it wasn’t paying the bills in the real world. Being the son of immigrants, the entertainment industry was never really an option. My parents always encouraged me to finish school and get a ‘real job.’ My first acting role was in the 5th-grade play.
After that, I only considered acting in college when my friends encouraged me to audition for a Shakespeare play. It didn’t go well, I was told I could help out in set design. Fast forward to 2004, while I was sitting in an office, I was curious why my coworker across from me would occasionally leave during the day. I thought it was strange since we all had the same workload, so I asked her where she would disappear to. She told me she was an actress and would take her lunch hour at different times depending on when she had auditions. Shen then asked if I ever considered acting and if I spoke Spanish because the industry was in need of Spanish speaking talent. I never said yes to acting but she went ahead and mentioned me to her agent.
The next time we spoke, she said her agent wanted to meet me because she told them I had a good look and I was bilingual. So I said what the heck, I met her agent, they explained the business, I signed a contract and I became an actor. Well, not officially because I still needed training, headshots and book a job. I was told to do three things to be successful in this business. 1. Always be training. 2. Attend every audition possible and 3. Update your headshots every two years. Within the first month, I booked my first job and quickly joined an acting class that year where I have continued to train weekly for the last 15 years. It’s the persistence, the discipline, the failing, the constant being told no that drives me. But most importantly is the consistent training that keeps me sharp.
Even after so many years of acting classes, I continue to seek more. I was accepted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and took a course there in the Fall of 2019. I will return this year in March to continue to enrich my craft. You can’t get complacent in this business. You have to put in the reps daily and always be willing to try something new.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the struggles of being a full-time actor is not getting the job because you weren’t the right fit for the project. We deal with so much rejection. Sometimes they’re looking for a specific thing, whether it’s a blonde or brunette, tall or short, fit or dad bod. It could be about the kids or everyone just has to look like they’re a real family. The life of an actor can be daunting and extremely frustrating because jobs are not guaranteed. Another struggle starting out was just not having auditioning experience which is another skill you get over time. That goes back to number 2 on the list of things to always be doing. I had many jobs during my soul searching twenties.
I was used to interviewing all the time and learned how to convince people to give me a job. I like to say that was my preparation for auditioning which sort of came easy for me when I started acting. Until I gained enough experience, I still had to work a 9-5 and to make up for not booking regular acting work. You also have to be financially responsible because acting has its peaks and valleys. You may have been on a hot streak, and then all of a sudden, you’re not booking anything for three months straight.
The most important thing to remember is to never quit. Sometimes a wonderful opportunity is just lurking around the corner. You also need skills. Sometimes auditions are specific and are looking for certain skills such as golfing, coaching, cooking, martial arts, athletes, musicians and list goes on. When I first started acting I was told if I wanted to be one of the greats, it would take at least 15 years of paying dues. I believe that acting is a marathon, not a sprint.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a working actor and I have over 15 years of experience in Television, Film, Theatre, Hosting, Emcee, Corporate Video, Print and VoiceOver. I’m most proud of being one of the most requested actors in my agency. This is a result of maintaining a high standard in my continued pursuit of training and marketing. I have an unwavering desire to expand my being and grow artistically. I feel what sets me apart from others is my preparation and relentless work ethic.
I’ve also been coaching and taping actor’s auditions for the last ten years. The industry is going green so we’re allowed to film our auditions and send them in via email. With my years of acting experience on hundreds of projects, I continue to help many actors young and old book their own projects all over the country. You can check my website for more information.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that being authentic and a risk-taker are what has been most important to my success. People want to work with those that are genuine. You can’t be afraid to fail, in fact, fail often. I’ve failed more than I’ve succeeded but when I win I appreciate the journey even more. I’m always open to trying new methods. It’s great knowing I have many tools on my belt that I can work with. Being versatile is key.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gerardodavila.net
- Phone: 214-235-1931
- Email: g_davila@hotmail.com
- Instagram: gerardodavilaactor
- Facebook: gerardodavila.actor
- Twitter: gerardotheactor
Image Credit:
Gerardo Davila
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