We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Valere Ibarra. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Valere below.
Hi Valere, 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?
Growing up, I was raised to believe that dreaming was just a fantasy and my life only consisted of graduating, going to college and working. Beyond that, becoming an actor and doing big things didn’t happen to people like me. This mindset was beyond frustrating. Therefore, I taught myself how to prove people wrong. The constant no’s and the inability to believe that there can be more to life than just working a full time job that I may potentially love or hate was what made me resilient.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Valerie Ibarra and I am an actor, director and producer out of Seattle, WA. I started my acting career in 2020. As a child, I always wanted to be an actor, but that wasn’t something that happened for a small town Hispanic girl like myself. In 2020, an acquaintance called and asked me to be part of a short film. I was a little hesitant but agreed. I figured, why not. What’s the worst than can happen?
During filming and after we wrapped, I couldn’t help but fall in love with acting. If I’m honest, I was going through a very difficult time in my life. Coincidently, the film was very relatable to what I was going through. The film allowed me to tap into feelings and emotions that would later heal inner parts of me that needed recognition. This opportunity allowed me to discover the artistic pieces I didn’t know I had.
I went from loving acting to experiencing how to direct films. Although very stressful, it was a high that I couldn’t get enough of. As much as I love being in front of the camera, I truly enjoy being behind the camera as well. There’s something about executing something authentically that I take so much pride in. Although it has currently been slow and there isn’t much work right now, I have decided to start writing my own script that I will begin casting for in 2025.
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?
Looking back, one of my biggest qualities is being personable and able to spark up a conversation with anyone. In this industry, networking, is one of the biggest ways to connect with other actors, producers, directors, casting directors etc. Networking is also a way to understand the industry on a deeper level. One has to be comfortable asking questions to not only show people you’re interested but to show them that you are just as passionate about the art.
Another quality is patience. Now, I have always joked with people that God forgot to give me patience when He created me, but patience is huge. A lot of people think that because I have gotten the work I have, that it was easy. It really hasn’t been and if you don’t have a strong network of people to help you remain encouraged, this industry could eat you alive. With the many yes’s I received, there were a whole lot of “we have decided to move forward with someone else”. Don’t get me wrong, I felt some type of way with the no’s but again, because I have my own fantastic four of framily (friend family) members, I pick my head up and remind myself, the next yes will be the reason why they gave me the no. Sometimes it’s not a right fit and it also may not be a project that will help you shine; it could’ve been a project that would be a hinderance, so that’s another way I have chosen to perceive the no’s.
Knowledge comes from being taught. You can’t learn what you don’t know and what you’re not willing to learn. I had friends tell me that I was a natural because I was acting without any prior acting classes. Although that is the greatest compliment, I eventually got to a point where I decided I needed to take some acting classes. I wasn’t going to get stronger if I didn’t go out of my way to learn how to be emotional in a scene, or what tone to take with my acting partner. Acting class also made me realize that I talk way too much with my hands, so much so it became a distraction in my scenes, so I had to try and learn how to break the habit (I’m still working on that).
The advice I would give for folks who are early in their journey is to 1) JUST DO IT! 2) Whoever tells you that you can’t, show them you can. 3) be consistent 4) make sure you have a strong support system that will help you get through the tough seasons that will make you want to throw in the towel. 5) Take acting classes. 6) be willing to take constructive criticism. 7) ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS 8) It’s ok to take unpaid jobs (part of networking) 9) Make sure you volunteer for crew positions as well, this too helps with networking. 10) BE PATIENT!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The most helpful people that have helped me overcome challenges and become successful have been my fantastic four (Giovanny Vazquez, Toni Cooper Poe, Luis Ciccia and Julie Clark) and my day 1 Christian Day. I met Christian on set for my very first acting gig. He’s been my biggest motivator since. Always willing to help me and give me feedback. I’m beyond blessed to have met him and be able to call him friend. I’m even more blessed that he has the knowledge and experience to help me reach and achieve my current and future goals.
My fantastic four, are the best. They not only remind me of how bad ass I am, but they keep me grounded and always make sure I remain humble. Their love and support is truly one in a million. They’re the perfect dose of what every person needs in life. God knew exactly what kind of supportive people I would need during my journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm12475042
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerieibarraofficial
Image Credits
Headshot – Dan Lao
