Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Infante.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Lima, Peru and grew up there until I was 7. Politically and economically the country was unstable most of my early years. I remember seeing the poverty on the streets and grabbing candles to light when the guerrilla would attack government buildings. Luckily, I was born into a great family. My mother and father were both highly educated, teachers, scholars, mom was a translator and father an engineer. Both very hard workers and respected among the community. Unfortunately, a new president was elected that my family didn’t see fit, (who years later was sentenced to prison for embezzlement), so they lost all hopes in raising their children in a place like that. Eventually, we sold all our stuff, my parents quit their jobs, leaving our loved ones behind and moved to Orlando, Florida.
Orlando was a haven for a kid to grow up. You’re right next to Mickey Mouse, who can beat that. It was a very Leave it to Beaver town, which my parents loved! However, I was really shy as a kid, and now on top that I live in a new world where I have to speak a different language, made it very difficult for me to talk, therefore find friends. You could say I became an introvert. I could understand English perfectly bc I was taught by American teachers in Peru. However, I was so frighted to vocalize words because I would scared of what they sounded like to others. I knew I had an accent and I didn’t care for it. This stigma bothered me for two years. I was pretty much a mute in school until about 3rd grade when I had talk in class and no one could notice that I wasn’t from another country. It was great.
This confident somehow propelled me to join the crowd and be more social. It felt amazing to open up like that. Finally, I could express my personality. I eventually became a class clown, I would stand up alone in class and tell jokes, dance and be funny. One day, a friend came to me and said “you’re a good dancer, you should try out for the talent show”. I did. Two weeks later, I performed in front of a crowd of 500 and won the award of “Most Crowd Pleasing”, I was only 11 years old. This was the spark that I needed that my soul was looking for. I immediately started taking dance and singing lessons. I was born to be an entertainer, a modern storyteller.
After I new what I wanted to accomplish in life, everything else kinda fell into place. Went to a performing arts high school, played a bunch of roles there and got an amazing foundation from that place. It built the core of my discipline which I still hold to today. After high school, I got accepted to the BFA Acting Conservatory School at Florida State University. It was here where my passion for the craft and arts grew immensely. I would intake and breathe everything that had to do with art, love and creation at this place. I learned from great mentors and teachers and even students here. Without this place I would be a lost ship at sea. After college, I landed a tour musical that leads me to New York City. I lived and performed there until my contract was up and then quickly moved Los Angeles, where I sought to seek better opportunities.
Arriving to LA was a very difficult. It was a chance at new opportunities, but those didn’t come very often to someone new. So, I quickly landed an agent, booked a few national commercial and became SAG right away. But the moment I joined the union, the writers strike happened. The city and jobs went cold for months. There was no work! Just my luck, right? However, as much as it was a burden to others, to me it was a blessing in disguise. We weren’t going to auditions, nobody was filming projects, all we had was TIME. So a buddy and I decided, “you know what…forget this! Let’s write and film our own stuff.” We saved up our little money that we had and invested in some lights and a camera. We eventually, started making and putting out content and as would luck have it, that same year is the same year YOUTUBE launched. We started putting our stuff on there and eventually brands were calling us to write their commercials, and films their sketches, write their pilots, film theirs movie, etc.
Never would I have thought that behind the camera was just as exciting as being in front of it. It’s crazy to think that I went from this shy little kid to being a Hollywood actor and storyteller. When I think back, I have been filmmaking my entire life. Ever since my father gave me his old cheap Digital Handycam when I was 12 and I would make my friends jump in the frame and act with me. If could give any advice to the next generation I simply would say “don’t stop learning, don’t stop experiencing life. Go love, hate, cry, laugh….do it all because those are the moments that you will remember. Those are the moments that will bring your story to life.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There will always be struggles when you want to achieve something big I think. However, those struggles are what shaped you, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
As a child, I felt like learning a secondly language and trying to overcome the way I sounded to others was very difficult for me. At the time, I longed so very much to feel accepted by my peers. But looking back I wish I could have told myself, “hey just be you, that is enough.” Which was. Because the moment I accepted myself and felt happy with myself was the moment others saw the happiness within me.
Getting cast in Hollywood is very difficult. Hardest job I’ve ever had in my life. Not physically or mentally but emotionally. I would say majority of casting in Hollywood, is based on looks, then how you work on set, then finally…talent. After ten years here, you get a good look at yourself and your talent, and you will determined if it’s strong enough to keep taking the blows. One after another. You’re too short. You’re too tall. You’re fat, you’re too skinny. Shave your head. Why did you shave your head? At this point, you’re never gonna please anyone.
Someone once told me that being an actor is being a professional auditioner. Which is true if you’re not a superstar because you spend more time, practicing your lines, taping your lines, driving to the audition, then performing your lines, than actually the times you are in front of a camera. For every 100 calls, you book 1. You’ll hear NO a million times before you hear 1 Yes. 1000 actors enter LA every day! Where do I stand? A Latino American male, who speaks great English, not great Spanish, but looks Italian or Greek with a childish smile but is over 30. WHAT????! If you’re not hitting the niche on the nose, casting directors get lost and confused. Where to place him?? So the safe bet isn’t usually me. This has been an ongoing struggle. However, I believe the key is to keep doing me… until they can’t ignore me any longer.
Artists Digital Lab – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Artists Digital Lab or ADL is a “one-stop-shop”. It’s a full-service studio that provides services to actors, models, musicians, comedians, TV hosts, bands and many more. We specialize in:
– Photography
– Videography
– Editing (film and image)
– Auditioning & Acting Coaching
– Reel, VO, and Film Production
I believer our own style and composition in an image sets us apart on the photography side. However, overall, it’s a company created BY artists, FOR artists and that what our creed will remain. What I’m most proud is that I started ADL 12 years ago, by offering different digital media services to friends and local artists in the area. Eventually, it grew and as of recently ADL now helps produce and funds films and media projects with other collaborators and artists as well.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me comes in many forms. Living a full life would be one. Or stability is a great one as well. But if I didn’t have that or if I did, would I still feel successful? Maybe. However, perhaps a stronger marker would be having the freedom to create what you want at a grander scale. A scale that will impact a lot of people.
Bottom line, having your story told to the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artistsdigitallab.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: marquito16
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Marquito16
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/marquito16
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/artistsdl
Image Credit:
Artists Digital Lab
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