Interview with Alexander Burgos ...Pursuing his DREAMS in Los Angeles

Pic by Stephano Jonas

Alex with Fredrick Nah, Stephano Jonas, and Luke Stafford at the Emmy Awards in September.

My latest chat is with Alexander Burgos from Miami who is living in Los Angeles pursuing his dreams in acting. On his Instagram page, he shares some inspiring posts about his dreams as well as encouraging others to do the same. He's a part of Phoenix 4 Productions as Chief Operating Officer. Read more about Alex in our interview and find out who inspired him to be an actor and what's his WHY to do what he does.

Introducing Alex....

What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​love​ ​about​ ​your​ ​life​ ​right​ ​now?

I​ ​love​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​healthy​ ​and​ ​grateful​ ​for​ ​all​ ​the​ ​opportunities that​ ​have​ ​come​ ​and​ ​will​ ​come.

How​ ​long​ ​have​ ​you​ ​been​ ​acting? 

I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​acting​ ​for​ ​9​ ​years,​ ​starting​ ​in​ ​theater​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​14 in​ ​high​ ​school.

What’s​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​you​ ​love​ ​about​ ​it? 

The​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​I​ ​love​ ​about​ ​acting​ ​is​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​it​ ​gives​ ​me to​ ​leave​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​in​ ​this​ ​life.

Was​ ​there​ ​any​ ​film​ ​or​ ​actor​ ​that​ ​inspired​ ​you​ ​to​ ​become​ ​one? 

There​ ​has​ ​been​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one,​ ​so​  I ​will​ ​say​ ​Marlon​ ​Brando​ ​and Leonardo​ ​DiCaprio.​ ​All​ ​of​ ​their​ ​movies​ ​are​ ​great.

On​ ​your​ ​Instagram​ ​page,​ ​your​ ​profile​ ​states​ ​“I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​man​ ​that​ ​knows that​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​respected​ ​and​ ​successful​ ​actors​ ​in the​ ​world​ ​under​ ​the​ ​Grace​ ​of​ ​God”,​ ​how​ ​are​ ​you​ ​so​ ​sure?​ ​Do you​ ​based​ ​it​ ​on​ ​scripture​ ​for​ ​yourself,​ ​and​ ​if​ ​so,​ ​please​ ​share.

I​ ​am​ ​sure​ ​because​ ​I​ ​have​ ​great​ ​determination​ ​and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​never give​ ​up​ ​until​ ​I​ ​succeed.​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​necessarily​ ​base​ ​it​ ​on​ ​scripture but​ ​I​ ​definitely​ ​walk​ ​in​ ​faith.

What’s​ ​your​ ​WHY​ ​for​ ​pursuing​ ​your​ ​passions​ ​in​ ​the entertainment​ ​industry? 

My​ ​WHY ​is​ ​to​ ​prove​ ​to​ ​myself​ ​that​ ​I​ ​can​ ​make​ ​it​ ​and​ ​not​ ​let down​ ​my​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​family​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​supporting​ ​me​ ​for years​ ​on​ ​this​ ​crazy​ ​dream​ ​of​ ​mine.​ ​Also,​ ​my​ ​mother​ ​is​ ​two​ ​time breast​ ​cancer​ ​survivor​ ​and​ ​my​ ​sister​ ​is​ ​diabetic,​ ​in​ ​my​ ​mind being​ ​successful​ ​and​ ​famous​ ​in​ ​this​ ​business​ ​will​ ​open​ ​many doors​ ​for​ ​medicines​ ​and​ ​solutions​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​their​ ​health​ ​is 100%.

Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​vision​ ​for​ ​your​ ​life​ ​as​ ​an​ ​actor,​ ​as​ ​in​ ​do​ ​you​ ​write down​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​accomplish​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​visualize​ ​it? 

 I​ ​do​ ​have​ ​a​ ​vision.​ ​As​ ​stated​ ​before,​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​become​ ​one​ ​of the​ ​most​ ​respected,​ ​​ ​well​ ​known​ ​and​ ​admired​ ​actor​ ​Hollywood has​ ​seen.​ ​Being​ ​also​ ​a​ ​minority​ ​will​ ​make​ ​that​ ​much​ ​more​ ​of​ ​an impact.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​my​ ​5​ ​F’s:​ ​Faith,​ ​Family,​ ​Friends,​ ​Fame​ ​and Fortune.​ ​With​ ​those​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​room​ ​for​ ​failure

Is​ ​your​ ​vision​ ​going​ ​as​ ​you​ ​believed​ ​it​ ​should? 

Honestly,​ ​it’s​ ​going​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​slower​ ​than​ ​how​ ​I​ ​imagined​ ​it,​ ​but​ ​it’s all​ ​in​ ​God’s​ ​plan​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​the​ ​work​ ​I​ ​put​ ​in.

The​ ​late​ ​Alan​ ​Rickman​ ​said​ ​“Acting​ ​touches​ ​nerves​ ​you​ ​have absolutely​ ​no​ ​control​ ​over”,​ ​what’s​ ​your​ ​thoughts​ ​on​ ​that?

 I​ ​definitely​ ​agree ​because​ ​when​ ​we​ ​watch​ ​movies​ ​and​ ​certain performances,​ we​ ​experience​ ​emotions​ ​unconsciously​ ​that​ ​we realize​ ​they​ ​are​ ​happening​ ​when​ ​it’s​ ​too​ ​late.

Do​ ​you​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​actors​ ​have​ ​a​ ​more​ ​powerful​ ​inner​ ​life​ ​?

 I​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​depends​ ​on​ ​the​ ​person​ ​itself,​ ​not​ ​really​ ​as​ ​an actor​ ​or​ ​whatever​ ​other​ ​career​ ​you​ ​have.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​said​ ​that​ ​yes, actors​ ​who​ ​meditate​ ​are​ ​more​ ​“sane”​ ​and​ ​can​ ​deal​ ​better​ ​with the​ ​craziness​ ​of​ ​being​ ​a​ ​celebrity.​ ​It’s​ ​your​ ​own​ ​opinion.

As​ ​well​ ​as​ ​acting,​ ​you’re​ ​an​ ​actor​ ​that​ ​performs​ ​your​ ​own stunts.​ ​Does​ ​it​ ​scare​ ​you​ ​to​ ​perform​ ​your​ ​own​ ​stunts​ ​or​ ​do​ ​you see​ ​it​ ​as​ ​a​ ​challenge? 

On​ ​certain​ ​occasions​ ​I​ ​do​ ​get​ ​concerned​ ​with​ ​the​ ​stunt​ ​I​ ​am performing​, ​but​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​part​ ​it’s​ ​fun.  It's  ​definitely​ ​a challenge​ ​that​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​overcome.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​prepare​ ​for​ ​stunts?​ ​​ ​By​ ​staying​ ​in​ ​shape? 

By​ ​always​ ​training​ ​and​ ​yes​ ​staying​ ​in​ ​shape.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​never​ ​a stunt​ ​I​ ​haven't​ ​done​ ​more​ ​than​ ​10​ ​times​ ​before​ ​we​ ​shoot.

You’re​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Phoenix 4 Productions​ ​as​ ​Chief​ ​Operating​ ​Officer, what​ ​exactly​ ​is​ ​that​ ​you​ ​do​ ​with​ ​Phoenix? 

Mainly​ ​I​ ​help​ ​produce​ ​and​ ​organize​ ​pre-production​ ​for​ ​any​ ​and all​ ​upcoming​ ​projects​ ​on​ ​the​ ​east​ ​coast.

How​ ​long​ ​have​ ​you​ ​been​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Phoenix?​ ​Also,​ ​what​ ​do​ ​you everyone​ ​to​ ​know​ ​about​ ​it? 

  I’ve​ ​been​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​P4P​ ​for​ ​9​ ​months,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​want​ ​people​ ​to​ ​now our​ ​Vision,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​to​ ​change​ ​and​ ​impact​ ​lives​ ​through​ ​our movies​ ​and​ ​beliefs.

You’re​ ​in​ ​the​ ​film​ ​“The​ ​Run​ ​Saga:​ ​Breathe”​ ​, ​which​ ​is​ ​produced by​ ​Phoenix​ ​4,​ ​as​ ​Johnny​ ​Castillo,​ ​can​ ​you​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​a​ ​little​ ​about your​ ​role? 

My​ ​character​ ​Johnny​ ​Castillo is​ ​a​ ​Dominican/Italian​ ​American guy​ ​who​ ​was​ ​raised​ ​by​ ​Leone​ ​played by Ottavio Lobefaro.​ ​He​ ​helps​ ​distribute​ ​and clean​ ​their​ ​dirty​ ​money​ ​through​ ​their​ ​restaurant,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​want to​ ​climbs​ ​the​ ​underground​ ​food​ ​chain​ ​and​ ​become​ ​THE​ ​man.

screen shot of Alex with Ottavio Lobefaro from the film "Breathe: The Run Saga"

What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​enjoy​ ​about​ ​being​ ​in​ ​the​ ​film? 

I​ ​enjoyed​ ​mainly​ ​the​ ​connection​ ​between​ ​us​ ​actors​ ​and​ ​the family​ ​oriented​ ​crew​ ​we​ ​worked​ ​with.​​ A lot of love and hard work was put in this film.

Frederick​ ​Nah​ ​is​ ​the​ ​director​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​writer​ ​of​ ​it,​ ​what​ ​do you​ ​like​ ​about​ ​his​ ​vision​ ​for​ ​the​ ​film​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​his​ ​direction?

I​ ​like​ ​the​ ​message​ ​he​ ​want​ ​to​ ​send​ ​out​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​he wants​ ​to​ ​show​ ​Hollywood​ ​that​ ​us​ ​minorities​ ​can​ ​carry​ ​a​ ​film​ ​as leads​ ​and​ ​breakout​ ​of​ ​the​ ​stereotypical​ ​type​ ​casts.

In​ ​one​ ​sentence,​ ​what’s​ ​the​ ​message​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film?  

People​ ​have​ ​a​ ​choice​ ​to​ ​either​ ​run​ ​or​ ​face​ ​their​ ​problems.

I’ve​ ​been​ ​seeing​ ​some​ ​posts​ ​that​ ​you’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​“My Babysitter​ ​the​ ​Super​ ​Hero”​ ​which​ ​stars​ ​Mo​ ​Collins​ ​and​ ​Jim O’Heir,​ ​you’re​ ​portraying​ ​Commander​ ​Kruel,​ ​how​ ​much​ ​fun​ ​has it​ ​been​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​this?

 I​ ​doubled​ ​the​ ​actor​ ​Alex​ ​Skuby​ ​for​ ​all​ ​the​ ​fights​ ​in​ ​the​ ​movie, and​ ​it​ ​was​ ​amazing.​ ​It was a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​fun​ ​every​ ​time​ ​I​ ​was​ ​on​ ​set.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​prepared​ ​for​ ​this​ ​role?

In​ ​this​ ​particular​ ​role,​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​I​ ​was​ ​in​ ​top​ ​shape​ ​to perform​ ​the​ ​stunts​ ​with​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​suit​ ​on,​ ​also​ ​by​ ​mimicking the​ ​mannerisms​ ​of​ ​​ ​the​ ​actor​ ​while​ ​he​ ​played​ ​Commander Kruel.

Tell​ ​me​ ​three​ ​fun​ ​facts​ ​about​ ​you….now​ ​they​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​some things​ ​your​ ​friends​ ​may​ ​not​ ​know​ ​about​ ​you. 

I​ ​enjoy​ ​listening​ ​to​ ​90’s​ ​boy​ ​band​ ​music​ ​because​ ​they​ ​were​ ​fun and​ ​give​ ​you​ ​good​ ​tips​ ​on​ ​impressing​ ​girls;​ ​I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​Italian culture. ​I ​can​ ​braid​ ​hair​ ​very​ ​well.

Is​ ​there​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​you​ ​would​ ​change​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world? 

Yes,​ ​racism.​ ​Mainly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​USA​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​where​ ​90%​ ​of​ ​it​ ​is.

Jackie​ ​Chan​ ​has​ ​a​ ​quote​ ​that​ ​says​ ​“Don’t​ ​let​ ​circumstances control​ ​you.​ ​You​ ​change​ ​your​ ​circumstances.”​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​agree? 

Absolutely,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​right​ ​time;​ ​​ ​you​ ​make​ ​your​ ​own​ ​time.

Have​ ​you​ ​thought​ ​about​ ​your​ ​legacy​ ​and​ ​what​ ​kind​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to leave?  

I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​an​ ​Empire​ ​for​ ​my​ ​family​ ​and​ ​for​ ​everyone​ ​to​ ​see that​ ​yes​ ​you​ ​can​ ​make​ ​any​ ​dream​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​want ​come​ ​true.​ ​It doesn't​ ​matter​ ​where​ ​you​ ​come​ ​from,​: ​just​ ​visualize​ ​it​ ​and​ ​take action.

I​ ​share​ ​motivational​ ​and​ ​inspirational​ ​quotes​ ​with​ ​my​ ​readers; can​ ​you​ ​share​ ​one​ ​that​ ​inspires​ ​you?​“

Never​ ​give​ ​up,​ ​and​ ​never back​ ​down.

In​ ​one​ ​word,​ ​describe​ ​yourself. 

DETERMINED

Alex on the red carpet at Grand IndieWise Film Convention in Miami in late August for the film premiere of "Breathe: The Run Saga" which was written and directed by Frederick Nah.  Alex plays Johnny Castillo.

Follow Alex on his social media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/_alexanderburgos/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamalexburgos

Is this the light at the end of the tunnel?... this means it’s time to step into the light, make peace with everything you have been through, let go and TAKE THE STEP IN FAITH INTO GREATNESS! (PIc and Caption from Alex's IG Page)

Go out and just have fun! If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life!
(Pic and Caption from Alex's IG page)