TAEM- The Arts and Entertainment Magazine is always excited to be able to present a well known actor to the many students of the arts who follow our publication. For this we are proud to present actor Adrian Bustamante to all of our readers.
Adrian, aside from several acting classes in a community college, we understand that you have had no formal training for this career. How would you explain your natural acting abilities to our readers ?
AB- Ha.. OK let me clarify that just a little bit. It’s true I haven’t taken a lot of classes or had “formal training.” But that doesn’t mean that I am not constantly learning or trying to get better. I do a lot of self-teaching through books on acting and watch a lot of videos on line. I also do things like video tape myself doing scenes to have myself or others critique them, as well as the occasional one on one class with an acting coach by the name of Nancy Nayor. She helps me when I have a big audition to get ready for. The reason I tell you all this is because I cringed when I hear actors say things like “I don’t need classes I’m a natural.” You may have a natural gift at something but if you are not always trying to expand upon that gift and get better in some way shape or form I feel you are wasting it.
TAEM- We first saw you in 2007 in the television series ‘1 vs. 100’. The following year you had a part in ‘What Just Happened’. How exciting was this for you at that time ?
AB- That time was sooo exciting for me, I was still working full time in real estate at that point and I would do these small things on TV and film occasionally. “What Just Happened” was my first big budget set and there I truly fell in love with acting. It was a 15 hour day in the Kodak Theatre (now the Dolby Digital Theatre) and I got a chance to see icons like Sean Penn and Robert Deniro work. I remember thinking if I could work for 15 hours and leave still wanting more, I might just have found something special.
TAEM- You also appeared in numerous commercials. What are some of the sponsors that you represented in them.
AB- Commercial work is what really kept me busy in the beginning and still does today. I have worked with a lot but some of the major ones are: Chase Bank, Sea World, Vehix, Nissan, Sprite and bunch more.
TAEM- Starting in 2009, and through 2010, your career took off like a rocket with the television series ‘The Young and the Restless’. This was quickly followed by the TV movie ‘True Blue’, the short ‘Wake’, ‘My Name Is Kahn’, and eighteen episodes of ‘Trauma’. With these as the opening salvos for a major film and television career, how elated were you and can you tell us about these productions and the roles that you played in them ?
AB- I have always been very thankful for the roles and work I have been able to get. With every role comes a new level of excitement and feeling of accomplishment. “Trauma” was my first big TV gig, it started out as working on set as a background EMT and them evolved into a working character on the show named Brandon Trimmer. I think that show really created a soft spot for television in my heart. Plus having the opportunity to learn on a big budget NBC set so early in my career was priceless. “True Blue” was a pilot that shot up in San Francisco that never made it to air, which is sad because we really thought we had a great series on our hands. “Young and the Restless” I played another E.M.T. named Sean Hattifield. I must say that all my preconceived notions about soap opera actors were put to rest once I got a chance to work there. I have never met or worked with such technically skilled actors on any other set. “My Name is Khan” was a great experience; this was a Bollywood film so getting the opportunity to see how another culture shoots films was amazing. I played a college student in the film just a small part but exciting none the less.
TAEM- The year was not over with and you were still on a roll. You appeared in four episodes of ‘The World’s Astonishing News !’, ‘Anjaana Angaani’, and two popular television series, ‘The Mentalist’ and ‘Dexter’. This is a feat most actors can only dream about. Has this sudden rise in your career had any effect on you, and how have you been able to cope with the various roles that you portrayed ?
AB- Not sure how big of a rise it is, lol… kidding aside like I said before I am very grateful for all the roles I have gotten. For every role I have booked there are tons of roles that I have been turned down for. That is the hard part about this business, hearing the word no A LOT. Being able to take that no or that failure and help you move forward to create a stronger and more motivated you is a huge part of what we do as actors. I truly believe that is the hardest part of being an actor, is hearing no so many times and working past the self-doubt to reach your goals. Personally I just never take anything for granted, because this week I may be working but next week I might be sitting on my couch. So I stay humble and keep grinding away.
TAEM- During the next year you had been just as busy starting with twelve episodes of ‘I (Almost) Got Away With It’, This was quickly followed with your work in three shorts, ‘My Work With Andrew Cunanan’, ‘Reflections’, and ‘Only One Word’. You also had parts in the television series ‘Gaikoukan Kuroda Kousaku’, ‘I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant’, and ‘Fairly Legal’. The television movie ‘Alternate History: Nazi’s Win WW2’, then ‘The Lot’. You certainly have amazing stamina, and you rising popularity and demand has been phenomenal. What can you attribute these to ?
AB- My stamina or work ethic comes from my parents, they divorced when I was young but both have been huge parts of my life. And I have seen both work very hard all my life not necessarily doing things that they love. Now I’ve found a career that I can truly say I love and I feel that if I don’t put as much( if not) more effort into my work as they do into theirs I couldn’t look them in the eye. As for the popularity and demand I don’t have an answer for you there, but let’s just hope both keep rising.
TAEM- This year has seen a continuation of your performances with two television series ‘Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23’ and ‘1000 Ways to Die’. You also have roles in several other productions that are nearly completed. Can you give us a sneak peek behind the scenes for these ?
AB- Film wise I think you’re talking about “My Politics, My Country” and “The Banshee Chapter.” Politics is a short film that has been in post for some time now but will be on the festival circuit this year. I play a character named Harold who is a bit of a slacker but has to find a way to put that all aside and thwart a bank robbery/ kidnapping of his father who is the bank manager. It’s a fun film and I am excited for people to see it. “The Banshee Chapter” is going to be awesome; it is written and directed by my friend Blair Erickson. I play a small part in the film a character by the name of David Cecil. It is a horror film and it was shot in 3D. I can’t really say too much about the film right now but keep an eye out.
TAEM- Adrian, you most definitely have a solid footing with your career. What other venues are you looking to explore?
AB- Right now I am just trying to be the best actor I can be. Maybe once I feel more stable in this portion of my career I think about exploring other avenues. Who knows, maybe producing or even directing.
TAEM- We have been most blessed to have you take your time to do an interview with our publication, and we know that the fans of The Arts and Entertainment Magazine will be sure to follow your career moves closely in the future. We want to thank you for being with us and wish you much luck in all that you do.
TAEM
Thanks guys I really appreciated the time.
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