Meet Rod Lara

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rod Lara a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rod, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

The whole finding your purpose isn’t something you one morning wake up, the heavens open up and a voice mentions from above on what you are here to do.
It takes a lot of self-discovery.

At the beginning of my performing arts career, I had a lot of doubts. Despite feeling that the career as an actor and mime artist suited me, I did not KNOW that this is where I belonged. FEELING and KNOWING are two vast intuitions

During that time of my late 20’s, I began reading self help books on the matter (inc. ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coehlo), attending week long retreats. Although, that obnoxious self doubt kept on lingering due to not “knowing” it.

One night, in my late 20’s, I was in a deep meditative state and simply trying to figure out my life choices, when it suddenly HIT me. My life CHOICE became my PURPOSE, and my point of view to it all became clearer.

From then on, I have had the intuitive knowing that everyone on this planet (and maybe other planetarian platforms and dimensions) have a purpose. It may be revealed sooner to some than others, but it will come your way if you seek for it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

This is Rod Lara. I’m an Australian based actor, mime artist and filmmaker of 26 years in the performing arts business.

I began my career in the wonderful world of circus but slowly transitioned into equally amazing world of mime. My whole career is a celebration of physical theatre.

The most exciting part of my career is performing for audiences around the world without any language barrier. I have taken the same principle with my filmmaking as well.

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?

For anybody getting into the performing arts, I always advise them to learn more than one skill. Don’t simply rely on acting, learn other disciplines such as dancing, stage combat, etc.. It will come in handy for upcoming roles and casting.

Skills isn’t sufficient, you also need to learn DISCIPLINE, PERSISTENCE and PATIENCE.
The whole phrasing of “Hard work does pay off” and “practice makes perfect” is very true.

Discipline will get that skill to an impressive level and not only WOW your audience but also casting directors as well.

Also, if that job hasn’t landed your way, keep on persisting and honing your craft Tim is precious, don’t waste it.

The performing arts industry is all about learning to be patient. If you have set out goals for yourself, it will get baby steps to get there. Taking shortcuts won’t get you there.

During that time of in-between acting jobs, hone your skills and maybe pick another one to add to your repertoire.

A mentor once said to me, “Learning the skill of mime isn’t sufficient, if you wish to express well as a performer, you need to learn how to act”. So I took his advice and put myself through acting school. I also got myself into dance training so to know how to MOVE well as a physical performer.

My style of performance involves comedy, Therefore, I wanted to up my slapstick comedy skills, so I put myself through stunt training too.

All of those skills acquired has amalgamated to what I currently do.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Life is short and one never know when it’s their time. But, for the past few years, I have been concentrating on leaving some type of legacy where the traces of my artistic footprints are left far after I’m gone. I believe that’s the reason I have diverting my career towards being part of more film and TV productions.

I’ve also been loving running my mime workshops where I pass on my knowledge to a younger generation of potential performers. It is so fulfilling.

I’m also up to giving advice to aspiring performers. There’s no secret, just sheer hard work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rodlara.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therodlara_
• Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rodlara
• Twitter: https://x.com/therodlara
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/rodlara12
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therodlara

  Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/rodlara

Image Credits

Paul Hammond Photography
Paul Dodd Photography
Isabel Padilla Photography