Life & Work with Alexander Pineiro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexander Pineiro.

Alexander, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in New York City by artists in a non-professional space. My father was once a musician, and my mother spent time as a model. When I was a kid, they pushed for me to try different things. Drawing, writing, playing instruments, and sports. When I was eight, I was published in a children’s poetry book.

My family actively pushed for me to get a traditional career. I was one step away from joining the police force. I’ve tried my hand in many different lanes, including teaching, writing/directing school plays, retail, working in production at a tech company, finance at a bank, and marketing assistant for a health and wellness brand. I didn’t take an interest in the arts until I was about 20. I went to a city school in NY at Brooklyn College, and then the possibilities started revealing themselves.

2016 was an era of taking leaps. I got professional headshot photos done by a college friend, and from that point, I had a very successful first year as an amateur actor, but I paid my dues. A lot of background work and overnight shoots. For free. Barely even fed. I was truly living the dream, even if it was at the lowest level possible. I felt that I had found a purpose. I started making YouTube skits and working on any project that I could be a part of.

Since then, I have been in TV Shows, Films, and Commercials both in front of and behind the camera. In recent days I have spent more time with my Producers than working in as an Independent Studio. I find it to be in tune with both my personable and creative side.

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?
Absolutely not. The life of an artist not blessed with nepotism or born with a silver spoon is doomed to suffer in one way or another.

There have been times when I have panicked because I didn’t have any work and had less than $1,000 to my name in the bank.

When I first moved to LA I couldn’t find a place to live because the plans I had to live with someone fell through so I was homeless for a month, living in my car and then sleeping on someone’s couch eating 7/11 hot dogs for dinner.

Moving out to LA without any connections or friends you know is also very difficult. It’s a lonely road that takes a lot of coming out of your own shell, going for your dream, and throwing yourself out into the world to see if you will gravitate toward the proper people—a new tribe.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multi-hyphenate creative. My main focus over the years has been working as an actor, but I have worn the hats of writer, director, producer, editor, and more. I’ve been in shows like Law and Order, where I got to meet and work with Ice-T who is hilarious. FBI, where I had my first full dramatic scene for premium television, and recently as a Series Regular on an Apple TV+ show called City on Fire, working directly with the producers of Gossip Girl. My most recently produced short film with an all-Latino cast, Rebellious 8, landed in a handful of film festivals in 2023.

I am proud of my work and the people I have met along the way. I wasn’t handed a career or given directions on how to be one successfully. It’s not like getting a traditional degree and working up a ladder. The line from one place to another on the creative map has many zig zags. Each and every person’s story is unique and interesting to learn about. For most of my life, I felt left out of all the “circles” so I love being involved with down-to-earth, interesting people who otherwise would go ignored by the world.

I genuinely believe that my drive, authenticity, and heart set me apart from everyone else. I’ve gone to school in Asia, backpacked Europe, and moved across the country all by myself. Meeting wonderful honest people along the way (and also not-so-wonderful people), and experiencing various cultures.

I’ve always just gone for it. I wear my heart on my sleeve, so what you see is what you get.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I have had many lessons on this road, but the most powerful one by far has to be practicing gratitude.

As human beings, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s going wrong in the present moment and what isn’t happening rather than looking at the positive side.

During my darkest days, what kept me afloat was reciting and writing about all of the great things and people in my life in the present moment.

Pausing moments in time to reflect and absorb that reality with clarity.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.apsuavestudios.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/apsuave
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/apsuave
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@apsuavestudios9878/videos

Image Credits
Zach Dilgard, Theo Wargo, Leon Gonzalez