Today we’d like to introduce you to Ck Bolado.
Hi Ck, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Los Angeles, but I grew with a different kind of experience than most of my peers. I was raised in a commune of sorts, populated by artists, activists and educators attempting to live outside the ideological boundaries of middle-class America.
My parents are both Mexican immigrants and like any child of immigrants my story begins with them. My father is an artist and a political organizer and my mother has been a teacher for over 20 years. She was one of the original Escalante students at Garfield High School who was forced to retake the calculus exam after being unjustly accused of cheating because of her race & background. This story was the inspiration for the movie ” Stand and Deliver” which received critical acclaim and led to Edward Olmos becoming the first American Born Mexican to be nominated for Best Actor. That Oscar inevitably created just a “little bit” more opportunity for Latino actors to book leading roles. Here I am today, traveling the path my mother made possible. Where we are going is inseparable from where we came from!
Despite the fact that I was raised in a household that promoted creativity and even demanded it on occasion (my mom used to force my brothers and I to write her songs for her birthday), I was actually a deeply shy kid. I used to hide under the bed before basketball practice. But eventually, basketball became my first love and if it wasn’t for the lessons that I learned on the hardwood, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
After many years of pursuing my hoop dreams, I turned to music where I found my true voice through rhythm & rhyme in the underground world of Hip Hop. My love for performance brought me to acting. It was something I always wanted to do, but was at first, afraid to try it. Eventually, and with the help of some friends, I built up the courage to step into an acting class. The moment I stepped onto that stage, I knew that this is what I was meant to do. It felt like I was home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On one end, I’ve been incredibly lucky to come from a strong and loving circle of family and friends. No matter what I choose to do with my life, they have always been there to support me. But being first generation in this country means that you are trailblazing in anything that you choose to do. I’ve always been an underdog in industries that lack in Latinx representation. With very few success stories on how to navigate through. I am the first and only actor in my entire family. On top of that less than 5%of leading roles in Hollywood go to Latinx actors.
However, I refuse to see this as anything other than inspiration. My parents instilled in me a deep sense of compassion civic duty and the importance of a dream. I know that every time I get on set, I’m doing something that is bigger than myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At heart, I am a performer and the stage has been kind to me. On the music side of things, I’ve gotten to open up for Hip-Hop legends like Mob Deep, The Pharcyde & KRS ONE as Spit Freely (A hip hop duo compromised of my older brother & I).
On the film side, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of some awesome projects like Pam and Tommy ( where I got to do my first scene ever with Sebastian Stan & Lily James) S.W.A.T, and currently, I’m a lead as a charismatic Bull rider in ”A thousand tomorrows” a story based on the best selling book by Karen Kingsbury.
Im particularly sentimental about an incredible Short Film called “Outtabounds”, which was written and directed by my older brother and was produced by close friends. It’s a story about brotherhood, hoop dreams and coming of age. In many ways this film is the culmination of everything we’ve been through and it marked the beginning of a new journey for all of us.
They say making a film is nothing short of a miracle After two years a global pandemic, we are beyond proud that we got to finish this film and see it flourish in the festival circuit. If you want to watch it, I’d be more than glad to send you a private link if you reach out to me on Instagram!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The pandemic was an unapologetic reminder of the inevitability of death and everything that comes with it. I believe that art began with the consciousness of death, and every artist is ultimately attempting to defy it by creating something that will last.
The threat of losing the people I love was terrifying, but that fear gave birth to a new appreciation for life and my will to preserve it. It forced me to hold people closer, to hug a little tighter, to love a little deeper and to give the people we love their roses while they can still smell them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11524075/
- Instagram: @Ck.Bolado
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TBuExaOYrrGhE4ZpD5mvA?si=MXxpzpkESSuPKaVuTQSLew
Image Credits
Michael Road, Emiliano Bolado, Adrian Alvarez, Stephanie Hanno
