Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Rodriguez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dominique. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up I have always had a need to perform. I started dancing when I was about seven years old. Watching MTV and discovering TLC, the Spice Girls, and even watching Usher, Aaliyah, and NSync dance in their videos truly inspired me. I had a naturally ability dance. I danced every chance I got in front of my family and friends. It was around 11 years old when I also caught the acting bug. The movie that made me want to become an actor was “Titanic” in all honesty. I couldn’t help but feel something while watching that movie, and that made me want to make other people feel the way I felt at the moment. So as a kid I was involved in every talent show, play, and even performed “just because” as much as I could. Being in talent shows helped me to also figure out I could sing, and very well. This was something else I was great at, and at such a young age. I honestly did not know what to do with it.
It wasn’t until high school that I started being more creative with my talents. I performed in dance competitions, wrote songs and sang in a three-person girl group. I was still trying to discover what I loved more, dancing, singing or acting. I honestly love them all equally. I just love creating art in all forms.
As an adult, it took me some time to really focus on my path. I had a long period of time trying to figure out where and how to start my career as a performing artist. It wasn’t until about six years ago that I really found my footing and traveled towards the right destination. For years I have been training, going on auditions and I realized the lack of diversity in entertainment today. This was when JCR Productions was formed.
I wrote my first short film, “Trapped” and linked with other talented artists that I met on set or in class. I starred in it and directed it. It was tough, but the experience changed my perspective of the industry. I couldn’t just sit around and wait until the next role that “fit my look” and hope that I would get an audition. I wanted to create, in front of the camera and behind it. I wanted other diverse artists to have more opportunities that was lacking. I wanted to create characters that were funny, honest and real, not just a stereotype. Creating my first short film led me to other artists who also created independent projects. Working with these individuals led to both personal and professional relationships and I still work with most of them today. It got me to the next level in performing and evolving as an artist.
The next phase led me to The Second City in Hollywood. I took a workshop with them through SAG-AFTRA and I was hooked. I started classes there right away. Being there inspired me to write the first season of my web-series, “Take It From Me”. I really found my voice being there and realized that we are never done growing and finding something new that inspires us and makes us happy. “Take It From Me” brought so many amazing actors and writers into my life. I have to give a shout out and special thank you to Derek Viveiros, Nathan Streifel, Stephanie Rojas, Servando Magadan, Jose Bonilla and Jamie Sutton for being a part of this project and bringing it to life. Season 2 is coming this summer of 2019!
The Second City in Hollywood also gave me opportunity to perform every month in their house ensemble group “Spice Rack”. Working with other writers was a great learning experience. I was also able to bring my songwriting to the group. Creating comedic songs is such a fun thing to do, I suggest everyone try it some time. Performing every month with a fresh new show kept me on my toes. If you only knew how great it was to have people that you don’t know come see your show and compliment you on how funny you are and give you praise. It was so humbling when your own sketches made them laugh and they asked “who wrote that?” and it was ME. It is a great feeling.
And now I come to where I am, right now, in real time. “Take It From Me” season 2 will be filming this summer, I have two projects in pre-production that I am attached to and I currently have two projects in development with my own company, JCR Productions. Which, I have to mention this, focuses on character’s personality traits when casting roles as opposed to a specific look. We are all about diversity in all shapes, sizes, gender, and ethnicity. We love what is real and honest and will always stay true to that. I can’t wait to see what else comes my way in the years to come and I hope that I will inspire others along the way.
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?
It is never a smooth road in life. Everyone goes through tough times. It is your job to learn from it and grow or let it bring you down. I have hit so many roadblocks and have had so many emotional break downs. It is okay to let yourself feel and heal. We all want to succeed, but we also need to practice self-love and take care of our mental health. Taking breaks is okay.
I have had many personal and family stuff temporarily pause me from pursuing my goals in entertainment. And the emotional toll it took on me was devastating, I tried putting on a happy face and pushing through because I thought it would be a burden on other people I knew to know what I was going through. But I learned that being open to people who are closest can help you in so many ways.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with JCR Productions – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I think of “myself” as a business and a brand, my production company is just a part of it. JCR Productions is all about creating stories from emotional dramas to romantic comedies. There is no limit to what I want to create in the future and the best thing about my production company is that we want more diversity and we will deliver it every single time. That is what sets it apart most. It is led by a young diverse woman who is determined to show diverse talent, especially diverse woman talent. We as women have to uplift each other. But I am also trying to build a brand from my name, so you will expect to see even more than just entertainment very soon.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As I am evolving as an artist, my plans always change. I am always wanting something more and bigger, but that is because I believe in my talent and drive. I know what I am capable of, and the number of people in the entertainment industry that are starting to see that is growing. When you believe in yourself and work hard, others will notice.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: OfficialDominiqueRodriguez
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/DominiqueRodriguezOfficial
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/DomWhiteLatina
- Other: www.imdb.com/name/nm6860618
Image Credit:
Claudia Rodriguez
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