Life & Work with Juan-Arturo Maldonado of Silver Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan-Arturo Maldonado

Hi Juan-Arturo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Yeah, absolutely. My name is Juan-Arturo Maldonado, I was born and raised here in LA and am currently pursuing my MFA in Screenwriting at the AFI Conservatory. I grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, and a lot of my childhood was spent trying to suppress my culture in attempts to fit in. My voice has always been a big insecurity for me. The only times I felt like I could be myself was when I watched Raiders of the Lost Ark for the 400th time, or played Halo: Reach matchmaking. I don’t think I found myself in a room with a brown kid majority until I was 17 or so. That was at a week-long program put on by the National Hispanic Institute at the University of San Diego. Their programs that focus on building political leadership and mobilization skills for Latiné youth to strengthen our community. The foundation of their mission is based on “asset-based thinking,” which means prioritizing the advantages of our community rather than our disadvantages when organizing. I was surprised how into it I was. It was the first time I really felt I could make a difference somewhere. I came back as a junior counselor and photographer/videographer the next year and had to make an “entertainment video.” I went all out and made a spoof episode of The Office starring our staff, opening credits and all. When we screened it for the kids, the room exploded into cheers. My friends dragged me out in front as that crowd gave the video a standing ovation. I’d say that was my moment of realization, when I felt the emotions that my work could bring out in people. I’d never experienced anything like it.
I didn’t have the grades to go to a university straight out of high school, and instead went to community college. At the start, it felt like a moment of failure, but CC’s offer incredible opportunities to really think about your future goals. To experiment. I competed on our speech and debate team both years I attended, and was surrounded by teammates that inspired me with their quick comebacks and impromptu strategies mid round. I got a lot more involved politically, and learned to find my answers in the specifics.
Then COVID, of course. I was about to transfer to Cal State Northridge when that happened, and even after restrictions started easing up, my courses were deemed “unnecessary” to be brought back in person, so I graduated without taking any classes on campus. But that meant I could really focus on my writing, and I dedicated those years to sharpening that skillset. I studied abroad in Stuttgart, Germany in the first half of 2022 and I experienced freedom in every sense of the word, traveling to about 8 different countries while I was there. I wrote about every one of them, and when I came back home I finally felt like I’d found my voice.
When I got into AFI, it was a very early morning, and I couldn’t ask anyone for advice on what best to do. It was up to me to decide what I was going to do with this opportunity. So far, I like to think I’m making the most of it. I recently completed three new screenplays for my portfolio, two features and a spec, and am gearing up for more this fall. I’m the Fellow Advisory Council (FAC) Representative for my cohort, an elected body committed to working with faculty and administration to address issues on campus that may come up throughout the year.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Hell no. I’ve been told no to nearly every opportunity I’ve ever tried out for. I got into my undergraduate university on appeal. I grew up affected by a nasty divorce and addiction, and I’ve felt, even now, I’m somehow still playing catch up despite my accomplishments. Regardless, I’ve kept my head up and always believe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I guess I’m a bit of a hopeless optimist in that way.
I’ve been lucky to have guidance in finding an outlet for processing my feelings. Mental health is still pretty taboo in Latino culture, and it is crucial to address in order to heal generational traumas like alcoholism. I’ve practiced transcendental meditation since I was 15, and that’s a big part of how I stay grounded on even the craziest days.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer, actor, director, and producer. I come from a family of artists, and have been acting since I was six, doing bilingual voiceover national campaigns over the years. I most recently voiced a character on the Crunchyroll Original “Onyx Equinox” from 2020, the first indigenous Latino-led series from their catalog. I’ve worked in live show production for the last 5 years as well, assisting the announcers of productions like the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Annual Daytime Emmys, etc.
When I’m writing and/or directing, I’m drawn to stories about friendship/companionship, I’d say those are my two biggest pillars. No matter the scale or genre of the story I’m telling, I think the desire for connection, in whichever way you want to create it, is deeply human. My characters are sensitive to that. Sometimes they have the ability to communicate that, sometimes they can’t. Plus, my lead characters are always Latino. Beyond it being instinctual, filmmaking on a professional level is a very privileged craft to pursue, and if I have the opportunity to tell stories on that level, I’m going to use it to represent more of my community in front of and behind the camera. It’s still crazy to me that we make up more than half the population of LA County alone, yet are barely a blip in the city’s largest business. That has to change a lot faster than it is right now.
I’m asking myself that second to last question all the time. To me, the amount of pride in what you make comes from how much trust you have in yourself. It’s sometimes hard to think fondly of my work in a way that feels constructive, but the more I do it the more I trust I know what I’m doing. I’d say I’m the most proud of my discipline, and that’s also what sets me apart. I’ve got a goal that I’m sticking to, and I know the work I have to do to reach it. I’m not in a race with anyone other than myself. That might be a simple way of looking at the Mt Everest-sized obstacles life can throw into plans, but like any good story, simple is better.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Vote!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juanartmaldonado.com/
• Instagram: @jamthejamster