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Ramón Rodríguez: Actor, Writer, Director, Activist

Ramón Rodríguez: Actor, Writer, Director, Activist

 

 




Introduction to Ramón Rodríguez.   1:31 min.  Interview:  Raymond Elman.  Post-Production:  Mayelin Jimenez.  Recorded via Zoom:  9/29/2021, Miami.

 

RAMÓN RODRÍGUEZ is an actor, director, writer, producer, and activist who was born in Manhattan, moved to Puerto Rico for a few years, and returned to Manhattan. Before serendipitously backing into acting, Rodríguez was a college basketball player who envisioned a career in sports marketing.  He moved to Los Angeles to engage with the film industry.

Rodríguez began his career in series television, landing recurring roles on several acclaimed shows, including “Rescue Me” and “The Wire.” In 2009, he appeared in back-to-back action films: “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen” as Shia LaBoeuf’s wisecracking sidekick and Tony Scott’s “The Taking Of Pelham 123” playing an MTA dispatcher with Denzel Washington. Other film credits include: “Battle: Los Angeles” with Aaron Eckhart; Dreamwork’s “Need For Speed” with Aaron Paul, Rami Malek, Michael Keaton and Imogene Poots; and Jordan Roberts film, “Burn Your Maps” with Vera Farmiga and Virginia Madsen. He starred in Disney’s live action film “The One and Only Ivan” with Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie, Sam Rockwell and Danny DeVito. Previously in television, Rodríguez was seen as Ben Cruz in Showtime’s critically acclaimed series “The Affair.” In Marvel’s Netflix series, “Iron Fist” and in “The Defenders. In 2014, he starred in Fox’s one-hour drama, “Gang Related.” In 2017, Rodríguez starred opposite Kate Mara, Edie Falco and Common in Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s “Megan Leavey.”

In 2016, Rodríguez wrote and directed his first short film “The Language Of Ball,” which was accepted into 30+ film festivals including TIFF, LA Shorts, Holly Shorts, Vancouver, Edmonton and Woodstock and was licensed by Topic and then released on Amazon.

He will star in and produce Hulu’s one-hour drama pilot “Olga Dies Dreaming,” alongside Aubrey Plaza. He recently wrapped filming the horror pic “Lullaby,” directed by John R. Leonetti.

Rodríguez is deeply passionate about bringing attention to the issues facing the people of his native Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. He helped found 100Roofs, which builds or rebuilds homes for people stricken by the hurricanes and teaches construction skills to teenagers. He has also spearheaded various initiatives to help drive awareness, including directing the short documentary “Pa’lante,” which helped raise over one million dollars.

 

The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

CRITICAL THINKING:   1:31 min.




You moved from New York City to Los Angeles. How did the two great cities compare for you?

 

EXPOSURE TO BROAD INFLUENCES:  2:00 min.




Where were you born and what was your first awareness of the arts in any discipline?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:  2:37 min.




When you saw “West Side Story” for the first time, what was your reaction to the representation of Puerto Rican culture?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:  2:24 min.




What are your thoughts about the movie version of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ play “In the Heights” ?

 

UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE’S PERSPECTIVE:   1:17 min.




Do you plan on making a film about your musician father?

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:  5:40 min.




Tell us about your social activism in Puerto Rico.

 

SERENDIPITY:  3:36 min.




What was your path into acting?

 

COLLABORATION:  1:00 min.




Do you know John Leguizamo?

 

EMPATHY:  2:36 min.




When did you first meet photographer Robert Zuckerman?

 

COMPULSION:  3:11 min.




What motivated you to write your first screenplay?

 

COMPULSION:  3:27 min.




Tell us about the first movie you directed.