Guest Blogger:
María Nieto
I was thrilled to be in the audience at the recent HOLAtalks event
featuring actor David Zayas as he was deftly interviewed by documentary
filmmaker Louis Perego Moreno, more affectionately known as “Tío Louie.” I left
the HOLAtalks event not only impressed with David Zayas as a determined, intelligent
and talented actor but, more so, as a deeply passionate man who truly cares
about and– carries with him– the Latino community. His career trajectory from the Bronx to the
Air Force to the New York police force to the set of Showtime's “Dexter” is not only fascinating,
it’s truly inspirational. David credits his deep roots in the Latino community and
his father’s work ethic for some of the ingredients vital to the success he’s
enjoyed throughout his career.
It’s been a rare success that he has also included being cast
in roles that were originally written as Caucasian but which were rewritten to
reflect his particular brand of unique Latino identity. This rarity is made all the more startling
given that he was once told to give up on acting as he would never make it as
an actor. But, make it he has. And
how. As one of the few Latinos to be
prominently featured on television, David’s very presence is leading the way
for the legion of Latino actors who await their own shot at success. It is a responsibility that he is cognizant
of and which he readily embraces. As a
staunch supporter of HOLA and its work, he is not just talking the talk– he is
walking the walk and directly contributing to the empowerment of his fellow
Latino actor.
Throughout the interview, David shared his personal story as
both a person and as an actor of film, television and theater. As one of the longtime members of the LAByrinth Theater Company, he has opened the door for greater
Latino representation on the stage. However, it is his high-profile television roles, including those of Enrique
Morales on HBO's “OZ” and Ángel Batista on “Dexter”, that most powerfully point to the
contributions that he has made to the entertainment landscape. David shared that he was granted great input
into the formation of Batista, his character on "Dexter" and has used his insights into the Latino
culture to help shape it into a role that is not only memorable but is also culturally
authentic. This type of artistic
integrity is one that characterizes David, who has turned down roles in high-profile films, because the characters were not ones he would wish to be seen as 15
years later. These are not easy choices but are easily seen as the right
choices, and they speak for the depth of character of David Zayas, a man for whom identity and integrity come
first.
[Photos from the HOLAtalks event by Anthony Ruiz/ARuiz Photography. To see more photos, click here.]
[Photos from the HOLAtalks event by Anthony Ruiz/ARuiz Photography. To see more photos, click here.]
María Nieto is a Colombian-American writer and multi-platform producer (film-web-television-theater-live event) who is passionate about creating opportunities for Latino entertainment. For more information, click here.
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