Meet Angelique Rivera of Art In Reel Productions in Los Feliz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelique Rivera.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, I am an American actress of Puerto Rican descent from Kissimmee, Fl. I decided that I wanted to be an actress when I was around eight years old after I went to see my best friend in the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.”  As I was watching her and the rest of the cast, I felt this longing to be up there with them. I watched them as they sang their hearts out and danced larger than life. They all looked like they were having the time of their lives. I grew up dancing and I loved singing at church and in the shower but that night was when I discovered that there was a medium where I could do both. After the show, I told my mom I wanted to do musicals. When auditions came around for the next musical, “Annie”, I jumped at the chance. My mom wanted to manage my expectations by saying that it’s ok if I didn’t get a part because it was my first audition ever and these things are usually very competitive. I had no expectations but I just knew in my heart that I was meant to do this. I auditioned and got my first callback ever for the role of Annie. My mom and I were both shocked and totally excited. I didn’t end up getting Annie instead I was cast as Pepper, the mean and rough around the edges orphan.

However, being an introverted and shy girl, playing Pepper was a welcomed escape and was also how I discovered my love for playing characters completely different from me. After “Annie” I continued to do musicals throughout my childhood and into my high school years. I was heavily involved in my High School’s Drama club and that’s when I started getting opportunities to do straight plays which intensified my love for acting. From then on, I knew that I wanted to study acting in college in a BFA program. I was accepted into the BFA Acting program at a few schools but decided to go to the University of Florida. I trained and performed in musicals and plays there and really developed my craft as an artist. I also did a few student films, which is where I uncovered a love for screen acting. I always secretly dreamed of acting in television and in movies but growing up in Kissimmee, FL it seemed like an impossible dream. Especially since I rarely ever saw actors that looked like me on television or in film.

However, with a little faith, I decided to move to Los Angeles after I graduated to pursue my dreams of being a professional actor. I hit the ground running and hustled hard, which paid off very quickly. My first job was on the Emmy award-winning ABC anthology series, “American Crime.” I booked the series regular role of Evy Dominguez six months after moving to Los Angeles. A dream come true. Since then I’ve steadily worked in film and television, some highlights include a supporting role in Gus Van Sant’s “Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far On Foot” starring Joaquin Pheonix, a guest star role on “Supernatural” and I’m currently promoting “Eat, Brains, Love” directed by Rodman Flender starring me, Jake Cannavale and Sarah Yarkin. The film had its world premiere at FrightFest UK in August and recently had its U.S. premiere at ScreamFest LA and won Best Picture.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing great comes easy. I have had ups and downs in my career which is normal for any actor, it comes with the territory. However, booking a huge gig six months into the grind disillusioned me a bit. A part of me was like “ok, this is just how it’s going to be”. I thought that I was going to go from job to job and keep working. I had a solid three years but then hit a lull. In the down times, it’s really easy to get down on yourself and spiral into a dark place. Not being able to do what you love most is torture. Especially because I have always identified as an actor since I was a little girl so for me, if I wasn’t acting then I was nothing. I was lost. Not knowing who you are is not a fun place to be. I was so crippled with anxiety. I was insecure and I simply just lost faith. Overcoming that dark place took a lot of self-work and self-discovery and caused me to grow in ways I never thought possible. It made me reevaluate a lot of different aspects of my life and required me to change. Surrendering and getting closer to God is what saved me. Without God, I probably would still be in a dark place but now my faith keeps me going strong. My spiritual journey has made me more grounded and I feel like I finally have peace.

There’s a certain ease I feel now that I didn’t even feel when I was working consistently. I honestly feel like no matter what trial or circumstance comes up against me, I’m going to be ok. It’s temporary. I’ve gained so much confidence in myself because I have a deeper understanding of my purpose. Starting my production company and having a vision to create opportunities for people of color like me and creating a platform to amplify our stories made me excited and inspired again. It gave new meaning to my life and that I am more than just an actor for hire. I don’t think I would have made that discovery so quickly if I had continued to go from job to job. In life, you need the lows because that’s where you actually transform and level up. They are imperative to your growth and they make the highs feel that much better. I’m grateful for this bumpy road because I know my struggles and pain reaffirm my purpose. I’ve become a deeper, more full, well-rounded person which makes me a better artist. They don’t call it growing pains for no reason. You have to be stretched, poked and prodded in order to become all that you are meant to be. It’s what makes a good story great!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an actor, writer, producer and director. I am more well known for my acting and I have worked professionally as an actor for over four years. I am known for playing Evy Dominguez on season two of American Crime. We were nominated for Best Limited Series at the 2016 Emmy Awards. Regina King won Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role on American Crime that year and the year before as well. I am proud of being a part of a show like American Crime which dove deep into some of the injustices we face as Americans and how it opened up a conversation about issues like racism, socio-economic disparity, sexual assault, immigration, classism, etc. That’s the type of art I want to make so to come out of the gate and be able to do that was such a blessing. I am endlessly grateful to John Ridley and Michael McDonald for the chance they took on me. They set the bar so high and showed me what could be possible.

I hold on to the experience I had being on that show because it taught me so much and gave me hope that one day I too can create something that can really cause people to reflect and hopefully gain empathy for others.

Right now I am still focused on acting, but I am also motivated to share my own stories by writing and producing. My company Art In Reel Productions has a few projects in development. A short film, written by my fiance Arnau Robles, which is about his uncle’s arduous and heartbreaking journey fleeing Cuba to the United States. It’s called A Better Time. I’m developing my own personal story into a pilot and it’s a coming of age story about a young Hispanic girl growing up in the South. Arnau and I are also writing a feature and the logline is: Instagram’s seemingly most perfect couple will do anything it takes to achieve their Hollywood dreams even if they become their worst nightmare. Those projects are my top priorities at the moment.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up as an only child so, outside of school, I really spent a lot of time alone. I loved watching movies, particularly Disney movies. My mom told me that when I was two years old, I would be in my room, even while company was over, and just watch movies by myself. She said when a movie would end I would take the movie out, pick a different movie and put it in the VCR. I was a very independent toddler, which didn’t change as I grew up. I had a 90s kid’s dream collection of movies. Naturally, I loved all the princess movies. I’ve probably seen them a hundred times. I would get so lost in the stories and imagine myself in them. I had a very active imagination. I played dress-up by myself in my room. I would turn my bedsheets into ballgowns and pretend that I was a princess who ruled over a large collection of Beanie Babies. I would sing along with songs in the movies and dance like no one was watching. I kept a journal all throughout my childhood and I wrote about my dreams and aspirations all the time. I loved writing then and still do, it is very therapeutic for me to get all my thoughts down on paper.

As I got older and into my teen years, I got more social and more into sports. I liked cheerleading and cheered all throughout middle and high school. I played flag football and liked going to sports games but it was mainly because I liked watching the boys I had crushes on. My personality in high school would probably be comparable to a mix between Rachel Berry and Santana Lopez from Glee. I was kind of a nerd because I was in the International Baccalaureate program, I was popular because I was a cheerleader and then I was a huge drama queen because I was heavily involved in my drama club. I spent a lot of time at school and was always doing something. I loved being busy. I thrived on it. Not much has changed to be honest other than I do try to actively find time to breathe and meditate so I’m not just going, going, going all the time. It’s important to take a step back and give your mind a rest from thinking about what’s next and just be grateful for how far you’ve come.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.angeliquerivera.com
• Email: artinreelproductions@gmail.com
• Instagram: @angeliqueriveraa
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngeliqueRiveraOfficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/angeliqueivette
• Other: imdb.me/angeliquerivera

Image Credit:
Kevin Thomas Photography, ABC and Paul Smith Photography.

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