Rocio de la Grana is an Argentinian actress based in Los Angeles. She has appeared in numerous short films, feature films, television and theatre productions, having the chance to work for big production companies such as Netflix and HBO.
indieactivity: What has changed since our last interview?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): Thankfully the last few years had a huge impact on my career. I was able to star in some indie feature films in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. Along with large national commercials, such as Super Bowl, and international ones. All that reputation gave me the opportunity to promote myself and keep making a living in this industry.
Related Story : Rocio de la Grana Argentinian Actress Lighting Up LA
Tell us about the improved career you have?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): The hard time in my country, personally and professionally, the unreliable job I had back then, etc., pushed me to come all the way here and follow my dream. Although it is very tough here, if you know what you want to do and you fight for it, you’ll find the strength within you that will help you break down all barriers and overcome the difficult moments. All those rejections and no’s that I had and still have today, help me to take a step back and reconsider my thinking, sometimes taking it in a new direction, trying new strategies to bring the game to a higher level and seeing a different response.
How has your acting improved?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): When I came to the U.S. I wasn’t sure which school I should go to to improve my acting skills. So, I worked really hard researching, asking people, auditing classes until I found one that I thought suited me and my expectations. There are hundreds and thousands of schools in LA. I would recommend googling them, scheduling a tour, reading up on techniques and looking up the schools that teach it. Do the homework, it’ll really pay off. I think that’s a good way to improve your acting early on. Schools have great tools to help you find what’s right for you. That’s the foundation of your career and you want to make sure you’re starting off on the right track.
You are an experienced actor, how much work: creativity, energy or focus do you put into your scenes?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): As soon as I got the role, I made sure I went through the script over and over until I get the sense of my character’s goal and the rest of the characters’. Then I focus on how many similarities I have with my role so I can carry it out in the most natural way.
If the character is not acting or behaving like I normally would, I’ll immerse myself into that situation, writing and researching how that person would react to that situation or person. It’s really important to create a relationship with the people you’re acting with, be it your partner, a family member, a friend, a person you don’t like and start building the relationship and emotions from there based on the scene you and your scene partners have to walk together.
You have worked on popular shows, and film, how has each show impacted your work as an actor and your career?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): Having those credits really help you to escalate in your career for sure because they give you a name and exposure. It’s also nice to work on large sets because the connections you make or the people you work with have a lot of experience, they respect your work, are professional in every department they work in and everyone is focused on what they have to do. That’s the type of projects you want to be a part of but of course it takes time to get there and, in fact, the smaller projects you’ll work on early in your career will shape you and make you realize the kind of projects and the people you want to work with.
How is the work you do on one show, compared to another?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): I would say each project is quite different from the previous one or the next one. Even more so when we talk about different formats such as feature films, shows, short films, commercials or music videos. You approach the character, for example as an actor, depending on what the director wants. It’s all about communication and finding a way to get everyone on the same page.
Let’s take a show you’ve done. How did you prepare for such a role: the cast, the physicality, the terrain, the climate, weather, and the demands of the show?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): The last movie I did was The Society. It was quite challenging for me and the rest of the cast because the director’s idea was to intertwine film and theatre. It’s a theatrical experience projected on screen. So, the acting, the scenarios, the setups, lighting, costumes, makeup, etc. they were a bit over the top, approaching what live theatre is. It was great. All the movements we had to incorporate into the characters, facial expression, emotions, it was all at the heart of each character. What helped a lot was meeting up and conversing with the director and team members. We put in time to make sure we all understood the concept.
Explain one creative choice you took on the set?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): I take improv as my creative choice, always. Sometimes you rehearse the scene over and over again so by the time you have to shoot you’re good to go. But sometimes it doesn’t really turn out the way you expected so you have to come up with something on spot. I play a lot with props to a clever degree, without overdoing the action. I try to build a good and respectful relationship with my cast members beforehand to make sure they feel comfortable if I start playing with them in the middle of the scene, etc.
Tell us about your new exciting projects?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): Right now, we’re walking a rough path due to the strike. But once it’s over, and I hope it’s done soon and in the most peaceful and mutually beneficial way for everyone, I’ll start production on my next feature film “House of Wolves”. I’m so excited and can’t wait to start filming.
Talk about the industry here, how Hollywood has been affected by the pandemic?
Rocio de la Grana (RG): Well, the pandemic has affected the industry mostly in a negative way. Major films were supposed to be released after the pandemic, some of them got completely canceled or delayed. Due to the closure of theaters in many countries, as well as the reluctance of many people to go to the movies during a pandemic. the global box office was down more than fifty percent from the previous year.
Making movies and marketing them became even more difficult during times of social distancing. Also, as we couldn’t go to the theatre for a very long time, the streaming services took over and have become the alternative option for people to stay home and watch films and tv from the comfort of their home. Another thing, the pandemic has made it more expensive to make movies and TV shows.
This is due to the need to implement safety protocols, such as social distancing and testing, which can add to the cost of production.
Although the future of movie theaters is uncertain, I really hope they can survive in the long run.
Tell us what you think of the interview with actor and actress name. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook or Instagram! Or join me on Twitter.
Socials
IMDb
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Vimeo
ACTOR INTERVIEWS
