Daily Inspiration: Meet Alan Corvaia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Corvaia.

Hi Alan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Born and raised in Venezuela, I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family that fosters love, faith, community, discipline, and an open heart. Growing up in a country like Venezuela taught me many things as a child, specifically that change is constant—One minute you could be out and about with friends, and the next thing you know someone is pointing you with a gun asking to give them your money, or in other cases, you could be doing homework in the middle of the night and the power will suddenly go off (for hours at a time). Despite the hardships, my parents always did the best they could to provide me and my brother with all the right tools and proper education we need it in order to follow our dreams and passions; As a matter of fact, it was in my sixth-grade year of Middle school, my parents transferred me to an international school where I discovered my love for performing and telling stories.

By the end of my first year, I was dancing like Michael Jackson at the school’s talent show and making cameo appearances during pep rallies, plays and events. The situation in my country, however, kept getting worse so by the fall of 2016 I moved to the United States to finish my senior year of high school and pursue an education abroad. It was here that I truly discovered my passion for acting. At the time, I was a competitive swimmer, striving to go to college for it, but after a friend dragged me to the theater and asked me to be in his show; my life took a turn for the better. I fell in love with this form of storytelling, embodying different characters and telling stories in endless possible ways became what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. In 2017, I moved to Los Angeles and four years later, I graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Theater Arts.

Today, I currently pursue my love for acting and much more. I try to stay deeply curious and connected to my creativity through various mediums such as Fashion design, writing, art, and music. In recent years, I’ve also found a deep passion for directing, and one day I hope to be writing and directing my own films. None of this would be ever possible without the endless support from my family, my tribe of friends, and the artists that inspired me on a day-to-day basis. For this, I’m eternally grateful.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think life is a life without a “life” –and for those who understand this, you know it is the very same lows that make the highs feel so important. Like most of us, I’ve had my share of struggles and obstacles to overcome along the way. Still do. Yet, the hardest has always been linked to dealing with the fights and losses of the people closest to my heart—Amid these fights have been overcoming the death of my father when I was 16 years old, the killing of my grandpa, the assaults and robberies experienced in Venezuela, moving away from my country and living in a completely foreign new state; among other things. Yet, I can’t help but feel overwhelmingly blessed to be living through it all. My dad had this mantra, which I carry with me every day (quite literally) and it says, “Mente Sobre Cuerpo” (loosely translated to Mind Over Body or Mind Over Matter). But it’s that same philosophy that no matter how incredibly hard and painful something can be, you were born and made to face it and overcome it; so long as you remember to keep your mind afloat, to choose to have faith above fear, to desire to grow more than to conform, to choose a conscious life rather than a mindless one… then anything is possible.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I deeply enjoy telling stories that uplift and inspire people to be better versions of themselves. I find purpose in embodying the characters of these stories as well as writing these stories and directing its course to the audience. Besides acting and directing, I love making art and designing clothes- specifically painting/illustrations on clothes and making thought pieces that invite others to reflect and seek to know themselves deeper. But beyond all this, what I’m most proud of is this artistic movement and collective known as “98% Original” which I created a few years ago with the intent of gathering people from all walks of life and connecting them through their creativity, with the purpose of finding equality with one another through the gifts that were endowed upon us. The way I’ve carried this movement has been by organizing creative events, known as “Creative Gatherings” where people from all ages and interests can connect and play together—these events have community-building base activities followed by a safe space to share personal creations and try new things. Besides these gatherings, this movement will soon have its own clothing company as well as a film production company and more. In connection to this, I also run a podcast, “Artist Talks”, where different artists and creatives discuss life, culture, spirituality and other avenues to tap into the creative well within us.

I dream of making this world a better place by showing people what we can do when we use our creativity for the good.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how Los Angeles is home to so much culture and creativity.

Contact Info:

• Website: 98percentoriginal.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/98original?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@98percentoriginal/featured
• SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/show/69YgRa4os0GQhhk2fqgrJ0?si=5d5303518b0d4f4f 

Image Credits
Bogdan Shelestyuk