Meet Juan Magana

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Magana.

Juan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Indio, California but I didn’t know I wanted to be an actor until after high school. I was in community college going to study psychology. My neighbor was going to the same college and was putting on a play. A two weekend show and she needed more people to audition for it. She asked me and my friend to audition at her house, I don’t exactly remember what we did, some improv exercise but she liked what I ended up creating. So with that, she asked me if I wanted the part. I never did anything in the theatre even in high school but I always loved movies. I said yes but I wasn’t motivated to do the best I could at that time. I remember she took me to a park and helped me practice my projection because I was so quiet during rehearsals, and I also really learned my lines the day before the first show. I thought it was fun though to play a detective (which is what we were in a comedy) and interrogate weird characters. One night I forgot my lines so bad that my scene partner had no way of saving it. The adrenaline that raced through my body was insane and I looked at her and saw that she was looking for help and we just started improvising within the scene. After that scene ended we both started laughing and hugging each other backstage because we couldn’t believe we saved it! That night is one I remember because since then I got the bug! After the play ended I took a theatre class to learn more. I performed a monologue and my teacher recommended me to study film acting. I then took my first on camera class and that teacher told me to move to Los Angeles and try it here.

At the time I couldn’t make the full move to LA but I wanted to start so I started the Meisner Program driving four times a week three hours each way. At the same time, I got numerous short films and eventually was able to move here. I have taken many classes to improve and to learn as much as I can and grab the opportunity when it shows itself. Today I am with Berman/Sacks Talent Agency LLC and a member of SAG-Aftra and in class getting ready for the New Year!

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it hasn’t but I’m happy about that now I because I know that I can take a lot and keep moving. When I was 16 I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. So the left side of my face was completely paralyzed. I wasn’t able to smile or even blink on that side, I had to tie a bandana to sleep at night so my eye wouldn’t dry out. It lasted for nine months. Today I would say I have eighty-five percent of it back. I still can’t completely smile all the way and at times it seems that I have a lazy eye especially when I’m tired. So I still get insecure about it but it also helped me so much in ways that I never thought it would. And like I said before I would also have to drive back and forth twice a day for three hours to make class before I could move to LA for a year but I’m here now! I made a lot of the common mistakes like signing up with the first manager and agency that would take me out of excitement and it turned out horribly and time wasting. I moved back and forth from place to place because of roommate situations or money and lost day jobs too. But I think if you move to a big city and you go through difficult things and you still stay decide to stay, then you know that you love what you do!

Tell us more about your work.
I love acting. Most of my training has been in the theater but I love film. I think right now the Latino community is coming more into the light and I can’t wait to be apart of that movement. Not only to bring our stories for everyone to see, but also to make it a norm of having diversity through the whole spectrum in all stories planted in the reality of that story. I feel confident that I will be able to help with that and one day direct or produce these stories or both! I don’t have every step planned but I have a clear path.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I feel that it’s all going to move into the homes now and not as much of going to the movies. Which I wish would be more of a thing because love going to the movies. On the other hand, television has amazing shows now and the switch from movies to tv is going to stay for a while which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. With so many platforms out right now I feel that making films is easier than ever but it does make it harder to find unique, original content, but more stories are being told which is a good thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: imdb.me/juanmagana
• Email: juanmagana613@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanjrmagana/

Image Credit:
Vander Swain
Nina Umpierrez

Suggest a story:VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.