Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Ortega. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nicole, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience is straight from my family. My great-grandmother was a single mother who worked the fields to provide for her family. My grandfather and his brothers started a trucking company with one truck- picking and delivering the local harvest. Years later, with hard work and always moving forward, they created a trucking business with over 10 trucks. From produce they climbed up the trucking industry. Observing and even working in the family business has instilled that drive they had long ago. I’m a firm believer if you actively pursue your dreams and not wait for something to happen- you can attain those goals/dreams. Things don’t just happen-you need to work for it and be in it for the long haul.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Born & raised in Boyle Heights and Montebello. Since the early age of 8 I knew what I wanted to do in life. I’ve always felt creative but at that age I had no idea what that meant. Until, my brother and I would hide behind the hallway wall while my parents watched SNL or some hilarious movie like Cannonball Run with Dom DeLuise & Burt Reynolds. I got a taste of the biz with some extra work on The Wonder Years (the OG one)-my drama teacher knew the casting director so he would get some of his advance drama students on the extras list to get some experience of being on set.
I have been working the L.A. theater circuit for over 25 years, also a member of the theater troupe, Captured Aural Phantasy Theater (CAPT). CAPT performs vintage comic books on stage-like the old radio talkies with live sounds effects. We are the only group that can perform EC Comics on stage which is pretty cool.
Throughout this time of performing in different productions (film/theater), I discovered my love for photography. While continuing my acting career, I gained experience as a photographer. I’m proud to be a photographer for WriteGirl which is a Los Angeles organization that mentors young girls through creative writing. Working their events is empowering- to hear these young writer’s workshop their stories with their mentors and share with the group has also given me that boost to be creative. It can be hard and frustrating this path I am continually working on but other creative outlets like photography, playing with my 6 year old firecracker of a son and also watching other great performances helps me to continue dream.
One production which I produced and starred in is the short film, Las Adelitas. Writer/Director Carlos Zelaya, brought this great story to life with a talented cast and crew. He is such a smart writer, so anything he does I’m totally in. Anytime I can get a fight scene in….I’m down. You have to create your own content if you want people to see what you can bring besides the typical casting I’m given. I’m always given the funny mom/housewife. In Las Adelitas- it’s the polar opposite. I play a “Princess Leia” bun wearing vigilante that fights a few thugs in a bar. My goal is to keep making films, and connecting with new people who have fun, work hard through the process. I truly believe if you do your homework and give all you have to the scene and cast/crew it can lead to other projects.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
As I go through my journey I think my tenacity, my professionalism, and my love for the arts have steered me.
If there is any advice I can give to others is to always be kind to people you work with. Kindness goes a LONG way because people remember you. Yes, they will remember what you brought to the job but were you cool to work with? Were you kind to everyone you worked with? Also, being scared or apprehensive before taking a job is okay. Embrace it and use it. It will be so much sweeter when completed.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
In the past 12 months there has been some improvement with balance. Now that my son is 6 years old, there has been an uptick of activities. As a first time mom, it’s something I never really thought about. So with his school, PTA, sports, social playdates along with my family trucking business and trying to hustle with acting/photography…phew! I think I noted everything. It can be a struggle to create a balance that works for me. Not everything will be balanced and I’ve come to realize that and that’s okay. The struggle is real haha
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @nortega55, @nicoleortega_photography
- Other: Captured Aural Phantasy Theater: @captla Write Girl: www.writegirl.org
Image Credits
Joanna DeGeneres, Carlos Zelaya, John Eng, and Tris Beesley
