

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Muñoz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Ever since I was little, I wanted to act. My mother, Martha Olympia, had me acting from a young age. She was an incredibly hard-working, intelligent, loving single mother who always strived to give me the best life possible.
My passion for acting really blossomed in high school in Orange County, where I discovered what a truly loving and supportive family community theater can be. It literally saved my life. During my junior year of HS, hardship struck, and I found myself homeless with an ill mother looking to me for support. Many friends turned their backs or looked down at me. I had to grow up much quicker than any adolescent should and it forced me to make difficult decisions to ensure survival. I had to put my dreams on hold to put my life in order and get myself above water.
Luckily, my HS drama teacher took me in long enough for me to finish high school. After that, I had to focus on work to provide my family with a decent life. One where we wouldn’t have to go through the hardships I had endured. While it turned to be a stable lifestyle; it caused me to further distance myself from my dreams.
It wasn’t until I moved to Burbank and answered a friend’s FB message about needing to cast someone in a show that I got reconnected with theater. That little stint, in a hardly attended show, however, was all I needed. That was the start of a string of years working as an actor, then director and producer, in the North Hollywood Theater district. The thrill and passion returned instantly. It was there, just beneath the surface, waiting to see the sun again.
In 2016, after building a small following and 25 plus productions later; it was time to open my own company. Armed with a team of incredibly supportive friends and family; Force of Nature Productions was born. (A name I had originally thought of since high school). Force of Nature, or FON, is a no-dues paying theatre and film company. We are not privately backed or supported. We rely solely on word of mouth and the generous donations of people who come see our shows. It did, however, start with a small donation from my mother to get things going.
2016 was bittersweet however. While Force of Nature was born and well on its way, I also endured the loss of my mother from a long battle with lung cancer. In eight years all the way through the month she passed, she never missed an opening night. She would sit somewhere in the front row ready to cheer all of us on. She truly was and continues to be our biggest fan. No one laughed, smiled or clapped as loudly for us as she did. For that reason, every opening night, there is a seat left open for her with a program on it and a reserved sign in honor of her.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing is every easy otherwise it wouldn’t be worth it, right? I love acting and I love directing, but in order to create; that meant I had to learn how to be an artistic director and producer and everything that comes with it. There really isn’t an instruction manual for this. A lot of trial and error. A lot. Haha.
Also, I have a day job I keep which supports my home, my children, my 96-year-old grandmother, as well as to support FON. Balancing work and FON has a lot of challenges so that usually means little sleep. But to me, it’s worth it.
Lastly, we don’t have a permanent home, although we’d love to have one as we’re still a nomadic company. The Belfry Stage at Crown City, the place where we were most of 2018, ended up not renewing the lease so we had to find a new place to create. It’s sad and never easy to say goodbye to a place where you left many good memories at. It’s a bit of a shock, but also creates another concern for our fans. They too become familiar with the locations we perform at. We want to create of consistency for them as well as ourselves. But such is life. We roll with the punches because, at the end of the day, we put our heads down, hand in hand, and focus on putting together the best shows possible.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Force of Nature Productions story. Tell us more about the business.
The focus of FON is to be an artistic family whose purpose is to create, develop, support, and produce original works from the incredibly diverse pool of talented people in the Los Angeles area. Our doors are open to any artist that wants to create and collaborate with us. Whether it’s theater, film, music, dance, short form, long form, comedy, drama, horror, you name it; we are open to all of it. Or most of it at least. What fuels me is the passion and love that people bring into their work and ideas, and the care in which we treat each project we decide to move forward with.
FON currently has 28 official members and always open to more. I’m also incredibly supported by a loving and hard working board consisting of 12 amazing people. Redetha, Jerry, Corey, Melissa, Cara, Kyle, Tom, Randy, Brian, Carlos, and Jon keep me sane! I just love them and couldn’t do much of what I do without them. 110L34! We also have about 140 alumni who have been part of different productions since we started.
We are currently creating at the Actors Workout Studio in North Hollywood and Generation DCD Studio in Burbank, but always working and looking on finding a permanent home.
Now three years later, over 35 different productions, and in the middle of our 4th season; we continue to grow, challenge, and expand our creative wings in ways we didn’t seem possible back in 2016.
However, what I’m most proud of is our people and the true and sincere supportive family community we’ve created. (Most of our meetings and rehearsals take place in my backyard for crying out loud. Haha). My children have grown up with every person involved in our productions. How can we not become family? That’s incredibly difficult to create, much less maintain in this city. And when you have it, you nurture it and protect it like a child.
Every one in the Force of Nature family has a beautiful and unique voice and has an opportunity to expand their artistic range. If someone has never written or directed before; we’ve created those opportunities for them. I’ve had the wonderful privilege to have seen many people grow and expand their artistic wings in a number of ways with us. Either on or off the stage; in front of or behind the camera. As the leader and father figure, if you will, of this company; there’s a lot of satisfaction, love, and sense of pride watching your people succeed and flourish. That, along with the roar and cheers from the crowd, fills my heart with a sense of accomplishment and assurance. It’s an overwhelmingly beautiful reminder that we must be doing something right and should continue to do so.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck is a tricky thing. There have been serendipitous moments as far as timing is concerned. I do not deny that. However; I believe the cause of “good luck” has stemmed from simply being honest, respectful, and upfront with people. Especially when doing business. If you handle yourself with these principles, I have found that luck will generally fall on your side.
Pricing:
- Our show tickets are generally pretty affordable. Tickets typically run $20, but we usually have discount codes for them. They are generally included on many of our social media posts and email blasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fonproductions.
com - Phone: 818-934-1366
- Email: sebastian@
fonproductions.com - Instagram: @fonprods
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/FONPRODS/ - Twitter: @fonprods
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/
biz/force-of-nature- productions-burbank - Other: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/UCX6UG- i495aZeUjLUvlN9Pw?view_as= subscriber
Image Credit:
Carlos Hernandez & Clarence Alford
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.