Ford Ferreira of Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Ford Ferreira. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Ford , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Yes, last year, I was approached by a friend in the industry about working on a film project. Multiple actors were investing their own money to help produce and fund the project. Despite seeing some relatively established people on the production team, I decided to trust my gut and not move forward. One actress in particular turned me off to the project after learning how she pushed her way into a lead part and demanded multiple credits for the film. For me, behavior like that sets a negative tone on set, and I wanted nothing to do with it. I found out later the project had a lot of drama in post, and I’m grateful I “didn’t act fast.”

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am currently an actor. Last Spring, I hit the pause button on auditions and projects after dealing with a devastating personal loss. However, for the past two months, I have been working on getting two of my projects green-lit, which are currently prepped to pitch and finance. Additionally, I was offered a lead role in a project to be filmed next year. I have also been fortunate to be traveling a lot. It has not only been beneficial for work, but it’s also been wonderful for the soul. There is no better education or acting coach than life experience. I wanted to share pictures of my most recent trip with my husband to showcase what matters most. If I had to showcase what the essence of “my brand” is, above anything else, it is finding your happy place, making time to adventure, and trying to laugh a lot!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My mother was the hardest-working person I knew. She raised five kids by herself while working full-time and maintaining a home. My father was rarely in the picture after the divorce and did the bare minimum to provide or spend quality time with us. So my mother had to take on the role of both mother and father. To this day, I’m still baffled by how she managed to keep it together. My sisters and I always felt loved, despite what we went without in life.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
A few months ago, I joined an actor’s studio with a coach I won’t name. After weeks of spending money, I found myself just doing cold read after cold read and watching students perform with scripts in their hands. Each class, we were just given a new printed script that we’d perform on the spot. No prep, no breakdown of script material, nothing about technique, no notes on our performances. Another actor confessed to feeling lost in class but dared not speak up. The last straw was when I was asking a question, and he used it as an opportunity to make fun of me. After that, I decided to take the financial loss and gracefully depart. If you can’t even feel comfortable asking your acting coach questions, that’s not the right place for you. I was so disappointed I almost gave up completely. Thankfully, I came to my senses and have used that as fuel to succeed rather than to give up.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My husband, Michael Bayus, is the most incredible human I know. My two cats, Jax and Yuka, are two of the biggest divas, but they bring me so much joy. My family, whom I am fiercely loyal to. The freedom of speech, artistic expression, personal autonomy, and the importance of mental health.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am being my most authentic self. How the world is designed, we often have to navigate and shift our behaviors to suit the majority. The problem with that is the lingering imposter syndrome it leaves us with. Getting older has taught me that we can be ourselves without being rude, offensive, or aggressive. We can also choose to suffer or let go of things that don’t work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://imdb.me/ford.ferreira
• Instagram: ford.ferreira
• Other: https://linktr.ee/fordferreira