We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dave Maldonado. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dave below.
Hi Dave, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I think it’s a combination of how I was raised along with the support of my wife and kids. I remember countless times when my mom and dad encouraged me to overcome obstacles and not let setbacks get me down. My wife has always been supportive of my career, both financially and emotionally. And my kids are my biggest cheerleaders!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an actor based in the Southeast. One of the most exciting parts of my job, and frightening honestly, is that every project is a brand new experience. It’s never really the same thing twice. I’m working with new scene partners, directors, crew members on every job, so it can be stressful, yet exhilarating. My next project, Deadland, is a supernatural thriller that follows a border patrol agent who makes a haunting discovery. The film premiered at SXSW and was very well received!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
In our current climate, so many people focused on social media traction and branding. While I think that is important, the WORK always takes precedent. I’m of the opinion that actors should spend as much time, if not more, on their craft as they do promoting themselves. I think it’s also important to “trust the process”. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on the little things, do them well, and the big picture will come together. And lastly, BE NICE!
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Well, the biggest obstacle for me currently is the film industry writer’s strike. It’s a problem that I honestly never saw coming. I also don’t have much control over what’s happening in the negotiation process. All I can do is stand in solidarity with my fellow actors and writers and hope for a fair resolution. One lesson I’ve learned in the past few months is that, during your peaks, it’s important to prepare for your valleys.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.maldonado/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davepmaldonado
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-maldonado-9b97289/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveMaldonado1
