We were lucky to catch up with Javier Villamil recently and have shared our conversation below.
: Hi Javier, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
Rain rain go away. I know this pain will never leave me. I stood just taller than the window sill. My eyes tracked the lines of rain water on the glass.These were the days where catching fireflies would consume a whole day; The days where I’d take a caterpillar off of his route for my own amusement, Days where sticky feet and milk breath were the norm. Our dog Tina would have milk breath too if anyone left a bowl of cereal unattended. I pretended not to know Tina would eat out of my bowl when I went to the toilet. I was too young to care about germs and she was my favorite friend, so I didn’t mind sharing. The clouds gave way and the sun came through but the dark had barely been introduced. I remember my cousin and I playing outside and the mail lady coming up the street. Tina came running out, barking up a storm and it frightened the mail lady. She pulled out some pepper spray and let Tina have it. I just remember the sound of agony in Tina’s voice. It was palpable. Her pain was mine. I didn’t know I was an empath then but over the years, other’s burdens always weighed a ton on me. Growing up in Chicago and going to public schools, there was always enough pain to go around. I just learned really early I didn’t want to be the one to inflict heartache.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Being a prolific actor, a character actor specifically, an actor children, teens, and adults alike look up to has appealed to me ever since watching Robin Williams, Al Pacino, Jim Carrey, Robert DeNiro, and many other exceptional actors create characters in some of my favorite films.
What excites me the most about acting is the chance to live many lives. I have always found the idea of being able to be different people exciting. Case in point, I have wanted to be a rockstar, a soldier, a writer, a tap dancer, a gangster (good fellas), a director; I’ve wanted it all. Acting has allowed me to not only experience life as different people, but it has shown me a level of self expression I never knew was possible. In music I got a taste but learned it was a bottleneck for how much I had in me to share.
Seeing as though SAG is on strike, I can’t talk about the film projects I’ve been a part of or are currently set to release. I can say check out my IMDB. I CAN talk about this epic play (not Broadway and not touring) The Bachelor Party I am playing a role in for the playwright Don B. Welch. We’re performing it at the Wilshire Ebell. It’s a 20 year anniversary performance and I’m playing a Puerto Rican family man named Reny. Doing this play is not only keeping me warm during this “downtime” but it is cutting my teeth so to speak.
Once I am done with this performance on August 5th, 2023 I will be shifting gears to my own writing and finishing up some scripts of my own. I’m incredibly excited about these scripts and can’t wait to produce them.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I don’t fear defeat. I don’t fear failure. I don’t fear looking foolish. I have gotten it from the mud so to speak. Risk taking and running towards the things I’m afraid of has been invaluable to me and my career. Reading fiction, writing prose, and being open to art and self expression has opened me up in ways I can hardly express without running out of nice things to say about it.
Learning from the elder statesmen of any craft I have had interest in and my hyper fixation has allowed me to soak up information in ways I didn’t know I could. My memory is trash… but when I’m studying my craft or hobbies, it’s different.
Life has been my greatest teacher of all.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
One of the obstacles I’m currently facing as an actor is learning to navigate in the in-between during this SAG AFTRA strike. Building an acting career after a pandemic, and then into a strike is proven to be more than difficult. The limbo of being a working actor and not knowing where the road is going to lead is terrifying to say the least. Loving on myself and staying committed to my passion(s) is what keeps me sane. Leaning into the belief that you can’t ring out an empty sponge has been extremely helpful. What are the other things? The things that light you up outside of your main focus. Those things matter. You never know what’s feeding you from back ways so I lean into those things unapologetically. Tap dance, weightlifting, tattooing, watching movies, playing The Legend Of Zelda,… whatever it is, so long as you’re enjoying yourself. That’s what soaks up your sponge. I swear by living and loving it. Focusing on writing and producing my own content in the future is how I’ll be able to keep the dice rolling when the time is right. I’m not rushing that anymore. Quality over quantity over here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://demoreel.com/javiervillamil
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/therealjaviervillamil?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg==
- Twitter: @J_Villamil
Image Credits
Zachary Iziah Smith
