Meet Rocky Perez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocky Perez.

Hi Rocky, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a quaint town called Coral Springs in south Florida. I am the middle child (yikes!) in a family of 6.

From a very young age, I remember acquiring as much information as possible about the film and television industry and writing it in my binder. I wanted to be fully prepared to move after high school and chase this dream of becoming an actress. I knew about all the reputable agencies, scams, renowned institutions, acting classes, and how some of my favorite actors got to where they are based on their choices and career trajectory.

I’ve been auditioning and working professionally since 2013. To say it’s been an anti-climatic, underwhelming ride would be a lie. Choosing this industry taught me so much about myself, other people, and society at large. In my humble opinion, to be a great actor you have to care, so much that most of your time is spent listening and observing. Our greatest teachers are our day-to-day experiences and relationships.

Now I am an actress, writer, and producer. I didn’t want to wait for the perfect role so I’m writing it. In this overly competitive industry, I don’t think you should wait for anything. I began writing poems when I was younger and moved to narrative work for the past five years. I finished writing my first feature film last year and have a few other projects that I am currently writing. I feel like a newbie trying to grasp the writing industry now but it’s truly exciting and it makes me feel like I have more control over the projects I want to perform in and the stories I want to tell. The feature is about growing up alongside my brother who has Down Syndrome; the script made it to the second round of Sundance Labs and I am continuing to receive feedback and submit it to writing competitions!

The road to achieving what I have envisioned for myself has been tumultuous. There are many moments where I have been so close to getting a role that could’ve changed my life or given me a real sense of stability just to not get it. It happens all the time. The name of the game. And the goal is to ultimately treat that, a callback, even an audition, as the Win. And when you book it, that’s the cherry on top.

I’ve encountered many people who have helped me tremendously. I can recognize that luck has been on my side more often than not. I used to not like networking – I don’t think I’m great at small talk, and I don’t want someone thinking I am only talking to them based on what they can offer me, it used to make me feel so uncomfortable. But recently I’ve found an approach that aligns with me. I look at it as an opportunity to ask fellow creatives what they’re passionate about and what they dream about doing with that passion. Through this, I have found peers who think about me for projects that they think I’d like and vice versa. We have to take care of each other when so much of the industry is gatekept or nepotism.

Learning about the business aspect of acting is crucial and not something they taught me in school. You have to go out of your way to learn these things. Read contracts thoroughly and even if the project is alongside friends, draft and sign everything before pre-production. Some people like to make actors feel like puppets and remind them of their inferiority on the hierarchy of film production. Making the effort to be informed about the legalities of it all will save you time and heartache down the road.

I think it takes an animalistic drive to achieve in this industry. There are many times when I have questioned whether I should keep going. I don’t think it’s a matter of questioning whether you made the right decision though, I think it’s more of what you decide to do and how you move forward after an unfortunate incident or all the rejections. After all, we, artists, are some of the most sensitive people you’ll encounter. It’s difficult to keep going after all the no’s and naysayers. We are expected to remain soft-hearted while presenting an impenetrable outer shell. But if you stay authentic to who you are and your “why” is very clear, nothing will derail you. I’ve had many negative experiences that might have made someone else switch paths but my drive and let’s be real, delusion lol, make me keep going.

I am an actress, writer, and producer. I began acting when I was 12 years old. I’m not sure where such things come from. How did I know it was acting I wanted to devote my life to? How did I know so young? As cliche as it sounds sometimes I think of it as a calling and I think most fellow creatives can relate. I knew that I was fascinated by people and their relationships with other people, their experiences, their reactions and emotions, everything. And then I learned how ancient and powerful the art of storytelling is. I mean, we are consistently influenced by storytelling as consumers with ads, commercials, and content. Imagine the effects of stories that are meant to broaden our minds and perspectives. I’d like to be a part of that.