Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenni Ruiza.
Hi Jenni, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, life was full of hospital visits, cemeteries, and funerals. I was always looking for some kind of escape and as an only child, you can imagine, some of my best friends were on a small 20″ TV tube. I found escape in the antics of Lucy and Ethel, the Honeymooners, and the Golden Girls. I loved a dynamic duo! And then when I got a little older and discovered VHS (yes, I’m that old), I must’ve watched The First Wives Club enough times to still be able to recite each line to this day. There was something magical about watching people play pretend and entertain and adult humor was what spoke to my soul the most (I’ve always been an old soul, so much that my bedtime is 7pm). So, teachers and friends alike could always spot me in school carrying composition notebooks feverishly writing what I’m sure were terribly simple plots just so I could play alongside Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn.
Cut to 20 years later when I took a leap of faith and applied to become a contributing writer for the only Latina-led sketch comedy show in NYC at the time. Jesenia (of one name moniker, now can be seen on Power: Raising Kanan) gave me my first shot at comedy. And those few years of on-the-job training led me to my first weekly TV stint on ABC”s child network Fusion with Alicia Menendez on her primetime news show as her comedy contributor.
Comedy was always something I was drawn to. I studied improv at The Peoples’ Improv Theater over time and took classes at Second City to finetune my skills as a screenwriter. I also studied with the incredibly iconic Penny Templeton, who trained me in both TV and Film.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t have the luxury of being a full-time actor or writer. So, my progress in the entertainment field has come over a gradual set of time so I can work a full-time job to support myself. One of the biggest reality checks an actor can get is stepping off the set of a TV show and then having to come back to the computer to meet the pending deadlines of a day job. (Don’t get me wrong, I love my day job, but it’s not my dream).
The entertainment industry is also not for the faint of heart. We’re faced with so much rejection, criticism, and judgment. You just have to get used to it and grow a thick skin.
I’m also not a skinny minnie. I have a real body; I have real tits and a big ass with chunky legs that get me everywhere I need to go. Over the years, I’ve grown to love my body, but when you see it on display on a large screen – it can definitely challenge the mental work that I’ve had to do to accept the body I’ve been given. This industry loves to put us in boxes, and I think that because I’m not your average thin-bodied woman, I’m left having to carve a space for myself and the rest of us that don’t “fit in” simply by existing in this industry. It’s my mission in life to create content so that young people can see a representation of themselves on the big screen and feel seen – unlike what I felt when I was younger (and sometimes still do).
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, my feature film “Playing Sam” is making its way around the festival circuit. Its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival gained incredible support. We’re also screening at the Michaeux Film Festival in LA and the New York Latino Film Festival in September.
I’ll also be making a microscopic appearance in Julio Torres’ “Fantasmas” on HBO this Fall with Aidy Bryant.
I’m currently working on two big projects – one I’m co-writing on with comedian, Jesenia, which is my first time diving into the feature film world. I can’t say much about this project, but I’m excited to be working with Jesenia. She’s my best friend, is incredibly talented, and is paving the way for herself in this industry as well.
My last big project is an hour-long dramedy pilot called “Parker Street”. The pilot is a multigenerational look at whether decades of guilt can save the last-standing tenement in The Bronx. This project means a lot to me as it pulls from my life, zeroes in on personal family dynamics, and explores my hometown through the years in a positive but realistic light.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In 5-10 years, we’ll circle back, and you’ll find me owning my own production company that produces content for TV and film focusing on comedy and dramedies. I really look at the empire Issa Rae has built under her name and am inspired by the fact that it doesn’t stop at entertainment but invests in up-and-coming music artists, properties, and products. I’ve always been interested in doing something similar where I can create an incubator for up-and-coming talent in not just entertainment but in other spaces that I’m interested in (think coffee, The Bronx, and more). All of the things that keep me fueled as an artist. I’d also really love to open my own studio in The Bronx to help bring more work here for the local artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenniruiza.com
- Instagram: @ruizajenni
- Facebook: @jenniruiza
- Twitter: @ruizajenni
Image Credits
Featured image: Dana Kinlaw Stills (solo in pink): Jay Bailey Stills (All others): Colorful Nerd Productions
