We had the good fortune of connecting with Eduardo Vildasol and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Eduardo, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Success is comprised of so many different elements, but one in particular I want to highlight is community. I remember when I signed with my current acting agent. It took three years of planning, training, networking, trying new things, making mistakes (too many to count), and even submitting a few times for representation before I finally got my ‘YES’. Throughout that time, I made connections and friendships with people involved in all different aspects of the industry who were also passionate about their craft. When one of us would score a ‘win”, whether it was landing a role on an indie or graduating from film school, it was a win for all of us. On the flip side, that community was a great support system for the harder days and challenged me to evolve as an artist and professional. It taught me that for every dream that comes true, there’s a thousand unseen hands contributing to its fruition. Whether it was my acting coach taking an additional five minutes to help me work on a scene, a friend coming to see a new play I’m working on, or even being rejected for a part that I wasn’t right for, it all helped in some way. Those experiences, good and bad, are what help us grow. My two cents, find the ones you resonate with and invest in them. It will come back to you.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I can still remember the excitement my brother and I would feel when we’d put in our favorite “I Love Lucy” VHS tape. It was “Lucy’s Italian Movie” – the one where she goes to the Italian countryside and ends up stomping grapes inside a wooden vat. We’d play along with the couch cushions while wearing towels draped like togas and stomp in time with her. We did it over and over again until my mom finally had to “ban” it because we had ruined all of her hand-beaded couch pillows. I’m still sorry, Mom. However, it’s that love of having fun and getting invested in the story that still drives me to this day. It’s the reason I started to act. As we get older, that’s the thing we gotta hold on tight to because where there is play, there is also learning, empathy, compassion, and vulnerability; the main drivers of our craft. And dare I say, qualities we need to see more of in the world right now. Even in the work that can feel taxing, dramatic, or heart-breaking, I still ask where is the “fun”? Meaning where I can allow myself to connect deeply, live authentically, and be generous to the story.
I started off in theater, specifically physical theater, more specifically MIME SCHOOL. It was at a now-defunct drama studio in San Francisco called “The Flying Actor Conservatory”. My typical day consisted of learning how to move imaginary points in space, embodying characters wearing Commedia Dell’Arte masks, and trying out a buffet of circus skills. (Side note: I only ever got good at plate-spinning and I’m pretty sure that skill is questionable now.) While my focus has now shifted more towards film and television, that experience was a huge catalyst for me. It informed my way of working, taught me how to cultivate curiosity, and showed me that the deeper we dive into our creativity, the more freedom we’re bound to find.
There’s no one prescribed way to carving out your path in this field. I think in many respects it’s a blessing because it keeps you open and on your toes, and in some ways, it can feel maddening if you let it. My path has been unpredictable and I would hazard to say the same for most actors. It’s wild. One minute you’re working a side job and hustling between acting classes and auditions, and then the next, you’re on a plane to shoot a national commercial with an A-list celebrity. If this business teaches you anything, it’s how to adjust. I’m lucky to have had my fair share of waves quite early on in my career. Tony Bennett once said, “life teaches you how to live it.” I think the acting industry is the same in a way. You just learn how to ride the waves and have fun while doing it.
For all artists, I think it’s really important we take the time to ask who is served by our work. We live in an era that is super saturated with media across innumerable platforms. There’s so much content, so much information. In the midst of all of that, we have to remember that what we’re aiming to do is form a connection with someone far away from us, so we need to be clear about our perspective. What do we want our work to speak for? For me, it goes back to being that shy, scared, brown, closeted kid in rural Texas. I haven’t forgotten them and the ones just like them. When I stand in front of that camera I know what my presence stands for.
I’ve just recently had the chance to play in the sound booth as the character Oxford in Crunchyroll’s latest series, “Requiem of The Rose King” directed by Shawn Gann. I also just completed a national campaign with Hulu. Feel free to check it out at thehulumotel.com!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Arts District – DMA. Winspear Opera House. Crow Museum.
Bishop Arts for Wild Detectives. It’s giving literary-genius-writing-their-next-novel-in-a-cozy-cabin vibes. Also, The Texas Theater for fantastic architecture and cinema, and then El Padrino Taqueria – the tacos can’t be beat!
Carrollton. The common denominator amongst all of my friends is a deeply shared enjoyment (obsession) for boba tea. That being said, Carrollton has some of the best spots in the DFW-area. There’s also great Korean cuisine in the neighborhood like Cho Dang Village.
Cedar Springs – Round-up Saloon for dancing/drinks. The Library (Warwick Melrose Hotel) for lounging and live music.
Far North Dallas/Richardson. It’s technically my neck of the woods. It’s quaint and full of cute little businesses/restaurants/parks. My fave spot is The Spin Coffee and Vinyl. It’s a great little shop for hard-to-find records and fresh coffee!
Fair Park – It’ll Do Club – because house music on a light-up dance floor you can hopscotch on is always a must.
Ennis (DFW adjacent) – Galaxy Drive-in Theater. Order a funnel cake and do a double feature.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh gosh! If we really think about it, the list of people to thank would take days just to type out! However, in the interest of brevity I’ll start off by saying my friends & family. They are an endlessly patient, loving, grounding, and inspiring bunch. Special thanks to my mother Cecilia. I’m also lucky to say that I found my dream team in The Linda McAlister Talent Agency; I have immense gratitude to them for their support, kindness, and faith. Thank you as well to my acting coaches: Carol Hickey (carolhickeyactingstudio.com), Steven Anderson (creativityco.com), and Ashley Herman (belmontcollectivetx.com). As well as my mentor Laurel Harris (laurelharris.com). And so many more. It takes a village, y’all.
Website: https://www.eduardovildasol.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eduardovildasol
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-vildasol-60bb54aa/
Other: IMDB link : https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6456372/ (Eduardo Vildasol)
Image Credits
Headshot: Arthur Marroquin