Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Rafael.
Hi Victoria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I took an interest in ballet, then tap dancing from a young age. My mother pushed me to audition for the Orange County High School of the Arts where I learned to sing, act and direct as well. The training there is truly superb. I fell in love with all those various acting techniques, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit directing felt like home. The trust and respect they treat artists at OCSA I found is unparalleled! I delved into adapting a couple of Twilight Zone episodes for stage. I studied classical theatre to “method acting”. Some of the best years growing up so far. I then graduated from UCLA with a B.A. from the school of Theatre (oui), Film and Television. I was lucky enough to study abroad at the Accademia Dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy and Acting/Shakespeare at the British American Academy of Dramatic Arts. But boy am I glad to be out of school! I’m a forever student but working on the job in the film industry is unlike any formal education an institute can offer. After some TV, commercial and indie film bookings as an actress I became SAG. I work on set as much as possible and study the current directors and actors with a fierce eye. And you pay the bills? By burlesque dancing! (with the troupes: Burlesque & Chill, The Hollywood It Girls, The Dollface Dames & Bubblegum Burlesque!)
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth ride? HA. Absolutely not. From the ripe age of 5 or so, I had a very strict German ballet teacher. I remember after class she called me in front of my mom. She continuously asked me to do various steps which I promptly mixed up. She yelled at me. My mother and I were out of there and fast. On to a more friendly dance studio…! I found much more rhythmic feet in my tap shoes anyway… though I found more solace in theatre. Then the push for arts school. I competed. I cried. I was waitlisted for multiple programs. I was accepted. I won. I don’t remember losing though… I do remember being asked by my Russian acting teacher, “Why are you even here? You don’t even know what time of day it is for your character! Leave.” “No. Show me. Teach me,” I’d say. The difficult teachers enthused me the most. Not all teachers along the way were sunshine and rainbows. But having such strict teachers from a young age instilled discipline. And I now crave that tough love. If a teacher isn’t riding me, I feel like they don’t care. Through various competitions, auditions, productions there’s been loads of challenges and problem solving (which I find most appealing when directing).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a multi-hyphenate actress, director, writer, dancer and filmmaker. (And amateur vintage photographer for good measure). I’m at a crossroads where I’m directing my own content, choreographing my own material, transitioning my theatre background to film at Joshua Lebar Studios… writing my way around and into it all. You know. I adore cringe comedy and anything period specific. A good satire never hurt anyone either. I’m a little bit of a shapeshifter. I like to compartmentalize my outlets. As an actress, I have sitcom feel but a love for mumblecore. An ingenue, but by no means a victim. As a director, I’m experimental with my wacky original satires or more pensive with Twilight Zone adaptations. In film, I’ve placed at various film festivals for my first couple films Stuck and Hatten Bit. I’m currently working on a trilogy of shorts for mere practice (I rarely release things I do! Call me a perfectionist or what you will… I call it cooking) then off to Netflix! We hope.
My most promising work was a short play called Insomnia in NoHo where I snagged best director, best writer, and best actor. I’m on draft six and counting for the screenplay. Insomnia (both the play and screenplay) is about a disillusioned young woman with quite a few kinks to iron out. She meets the personification of her Insomnia (myself) and serious life decisions must be made! This is what I’m most proud of at the moment. I rarely break character (strict teachers remember) but when my fellow actor and I performed Insomnia, I couldn’t hear us get outlines without booming laughter from the audience. I had to stop for what felt like a minute at one point to let them laugh for what seemed like an awkwardly long time. Then repeat my line. Laughter. I remember thinking, “Really you guys?!” I guess a lot of people have insomnia, unrequited love, childhood sadness and all that jazz. What sets me apart from others? Hmm. At first glance, I really don’t look like much. I’m a 5.2 Hollywood hopeful. A dime a dozen. But I guarantee I’m not what I seem and got more up my sleeve than I know what to do with. I am interesting and versatile and those aren’t my words.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned a ton and repeated lessons from this lockdown. I am immensely grateful (and rightfully frustrated, we all have that right!) with this “pause” we’re having. The biggest is being content in the waiting. As an actress, unlike much else I do, that waiting game can be a killer. So I was cruising for the first few months of lockdown, being used to the feeling. Painting pictures, reading books, creating. But then as time passes and we are having birthdays… I’m like wait. I started a new short film at the beginning of 2020… do my actors even look the same? S**t. We’re getting older and not able to produce like the studios can (thank you so grateful for those paychecks!). It does something to your mind to not participate in the world and see different things. AWW, they closed the pool again? Welp. What can I do. Write write write. Study study study. Act act act. Work work work (thank studios grateful love you!). Can you tell I’m neurodiverse yet? Then sleep. Of course, I’ve known none of this pandemic is about one single person – we all just have to wait. But patience has been tested to new heights for all of us trying to maintain that Hollywood hustle. To get the script made, film directed, audition booked… and we will.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Burlesque IG – @vivivedette, Directing IG – @aclassactproductions, Acting IG – @thevictoriarafael
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevictoriarafael
- Twitter: @thewingedvic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFXpCjHujVTBjGXOcCg6MMQ
- Other: https://www.imdb.me/victoriarafael
Image Credits:
KJ Knies (Main Photo) Flying Lion Photography (Blue Bed in Theatre) Elexandra Halee Vandergriff (Snow White) Victoria Rafael (B&W 1940s vintage photography)
