Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Cortes.
Hi Johnny, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started when I watched The Matrix back in 1999. After watching that movie, I wanted to learn how to make movies. I 15 I got into acting, I started in Musical Theatre, loved it. I went into Film Production in College, but I was still acting. I wanted to learn both sides of the camera. In 2012, I got accepted at the Tom Todoroff Conservatory in New York City in acting. I graduated in 2014, since then I’ve had the chance to work in Montreal, Toronto and New York in tv series and movies. I’ve also directed short films that’s been presented in L.A., Orlando, Mexico and Barcelona. I love keeping myself busy, if I’m not on stage or a set, I’m working on my next project.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not, living in NYC was tough. New York is expensive, I would have to go back to Montreal, work on weekends and come back Monday morning for class. The acting industry in Montreal is pretty hard as well, specially as a minority, most of the time I get called for the cab driver or the kidnapper, I mean I can also play a lawyer, a doctor, a cop, etc.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for a couple of tv series I’ve done in the French market in Montreal. I’m also known for the short films I’ve done. People like the style I bring into film, in the text, the storytelling, all of it. I’m also an acting coach. I started seven years ago, but it was part-time. Since 2021, It’s been my full-time job, I coach actors for self-tapes, auditions. In July, I did my first group acting workshop, it was a huge success, the actors learned a lot, they loved it and they keep coming back. I’m doing the workshops on a monthly base.
I’m proud of what I have achieved as an artist, a lot of times I would doubt on myself, but then I would stand up and keep running. It’s all about keep going forward. I have actors that call me whenever they’re about to give up and I remind them of the importance of this industry, the importance of their passion and I always say: Remember why you started, remember the reason. Once they remember they keep going. I love motivating artists and people in general.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes, that time we couldn’t work, see other people, etc., learn something new, a new skill, a new topic. Write, if you have any movie ideas, series ideas, write them down, there is no dumb idea, every idea comes from a personal place so don’t judge it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohnnycortes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnny.cortes.167/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@epicroadtripfilms5207
Image Credits
Julio Alejandro Quesada Tristan Audet Robert Douthat
