Today we’d like to introduce you to Kev Martinez
Hi Kev, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been interested in acting but didn’t think I could do it until I went to college. I was nineteen when I did my first audition for a play. At the time, the thought of acting terrified me. I had zero expectations of getting casted. I reasoned with myself that if I didn’t get in at least I could cross it off my bucket list. During my audition, I was hyper aware of everything around me. I unlocked a level of sensitivity I didn’t know I had inside. It felt right. To my surprise, I landed the role. On the last night of the show, I stood on stage with my fellow cast, I heard the applause and I knew, at that moment, I wanted to pursue acting.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In my first few years in the industry, I found myself auditioning for “elf-like” roles. It was funny at first but it grew old fast. After a few failed attempts to break past being pigeonholed, I moved to the Philippines for better opportunities. Returning back to the land of my ancestors, it felt so right. The life experiences I gained in the Philippines were invaluable. My time in the Philippines showcased my resilience. While facing rejection from an audition is challenging, the daily hurdles of living in a foreign land truly test one’s resolve and character.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve gained the opportunity of being a SAG-Actor within ten years of acting. I now have talent representation and am currently working on developing my own tech-noir short film, RIKER. Being a smaller guy, it seemed that my appearance defined me, boxing me into roles and expectations that didn’t align with who I truly am. This has been a recurring frustration throughout my journey, both as an individual and as an actor. So I found new ways to express myself.
I’m really proud of being able to adapt and change with the revolving climate of the film industry. I believe that I’ll have a long-standing career in acting from the knowledge I’ve gained and the connections I’ve made since my first role on the theater stage.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My family, my close friends and everyone who has supported me along the way. Including all of the wonderful people who have contributed to my upcoming short film, RIKER.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://riker-movie.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kevnmartinez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TOFinc
Image Credits
Paul J Garrado (for all photos)
