Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Manuel Zopiyaxtle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Manuel, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I always say that you have got to be your number one supporter. I truly think that there is no one that will love you and push you more than you can love and push yourself. Confidence and self-esteem are two tools that are a must have in this industry. I think that this industry that I work in is one that can really bring the best in you, but it can also bring the worst, and you have got to be prepared for whatever is there for you. So, yeah, you are your best supporter and you are the only who can get you out of any problem. I have been working on this for a while now, and a lot of it has come from my parents, who have taught me a lot about trusting what we are, and what we do. They are both fantastic people that have gotten far in their line of work for trusting themselves, being confident and pushing themselves when no one else would. I like to think that I´ve learned a lot of this from them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am Manuel Zopiyaxtle, an actor who is trying to make his way in the film and theatre industry in New York City. I am proudly Mexican, born and raised. Right now I am a college student at New York Film Academy, still polishing and bettering my craft. I am a passionate of the art of acting and of art in general. Technically I started my journey in acting at 8 years old when I joined the musical theatre club at my school. At the time, I was very shy and could barely do anything, so I quitted very rapidly. A couple of years later I tried doing it again, this time just focusing on theatre and I discovered I was pretty good at it. I quickly became pretty comfortable on stage. I started performing a lot on it, theatre wise, and public speaking wise, even being an auctioneer once. I just felt that while being on stage I was so alive, and to this day, there is no better sensation for me than being on stage.
Clearly, I had a lot of passion for being on stage, acting, performing, all of it, but I also shared a deep passion with movies who I inherited from my dad. I love movies. I love watching them, I love feeling them, I decided to combine my passions and put my focus towards acting for film, and so I did. I took and still take inspiration from my favorite actors, Al Pacino and Denzel Washington.
I worked my way from Mexico, and am now in New York City still building and improving my craft, working on a day to day and trying to become the best version of myself while trying to find my way into this crazy industry.
I love acting, I really believe that it is something that I´m good at and something that just moves me and drives me everyday. The passion I got for my work is tremendous and keeps me alive.
I have been working for almost two years now in this industry, making films, working on Indie sets, writing my own scripts, auditioning, being on commercials, scene presentations, etc. Always finding more stuff to do and just getting as many experience as I possibly can.
One of the things that I have learned about the acting industry is that you can´t be too hard on yourself. For us, actors, we go from presentation to presentation. Once we´re done with one, we move on. This job is about a lot of resilience, hence why I keep working and creating more from my passion that I would also like to share with you.
In June, you will be able to watch the latest play I will be in, “On What Is Confidential,” written by Asanté Pulliam at the NYFA Theatre, where I will be playing one of the play´s protagonist, Shaw, described as, “Charming as much as he is a player of the game.”
Also, some of the best films with the best directors are posted on my Instagram, some like “The Mime” by Veronika Hermann are also in YouTube available for you.
My art and craft is something that I take very seriously, and something that I really feel very deep passion for. My goal is to continue doing this and inspiring others to do the same.
I´ve learned a lot of things this last couple of years, but if there´s one that highlights it all is this phrase, “The Journey is the Goal.” So I will keep enjoying my journey, and trust that the right things will come at the right time.
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?
Discipline, determination, and open-mindness. I feel like in this journey I am doing, this qualities are the most important that one can have. Every line of work that you are passionate for, requires a lot of doing, lots of time you have to spend on, lots of work, lots of everything. I have to be honest, I am the first one to say, “I am tired.” But I also am the first one to say, “I will keep going.” This is all because of the discipline I put into my craft. Motivation is great, but its nothing if its not accompanied by discipline. For me, discipline is the beginning of it all. You may find yourself completely unmotivated, tired, overwhelmed, sad, whatever, and the only thing that will keep you going is your discipline, the knowledge that “you have to do it”, because the truth is, no one else will do it for you.
Then, determination. Know what your goal is, know what you want. Be clear on it. Have a clear big objective, yes, but also have clear small ones that form the path and create your journey.
Third, open-mindness. Everywhere you go you will have to deal with different people, some you like, some you don´t, whatever the case is, you have got to be open to everything. Don´t put yourself in a box or in a label and just be that. Be everything, try it all, be open, don´t close yourself, be brave, be bold, take risks, and by doing it, you will create experiences, experiences that will do nothing more than enhance your life.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I am glad to answer a question about my parents, as they are the biggest inspiration for me. Everything they have done is the most impactful thing for me. I am everyday grateful that I had and still have such big, strong figures like my parents in my life.
Everything I do is for my parents, and this is because everything I am is because of them.
They were always very strong-minded, somewhat tough, a little imposing, but also caring and they gave me a lot of freedom gradually as I was growing up.
A lot of people now think that if you have tough, strick, a little imposing parents then it´s the worst thing ever. In my case, I don´t think so. Maybe it´s just my experience, but the way I see it, I think it´s super important to always have your parents right next to you, yes, supporting you, but also making sure that you are not just going around without any clear path.
For me, my parents are everything, my friends, pals, besties, etc. But before anything, they are still my parents, and they are figures that I respect and that I admire very much.
Their care, kindness, toughness, resilience, strong-will, and respect for everyone else is something that I learned from them and that I carry from their education. I am very proud and happy that I got to be a son of theirs.
My parents made me, and truly there is no person in this world that I want to make more proud than them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manuelzopiyaxtle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003673972936
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-zopiyaxtle/
Image Credits
Sagrario Bargas, Juliette Cochet
