Eloy Mendez
©2013 Angela María Ortíz S.
He’s smart, dedicated, articulate, and working hard to make an impact in the industry. Seems like it’s only a matter of time.
SeFija! Publisher Angela Ortíz had a chance to sit down with ambitious, up-and-coming actor Eloy Mendez for a talk a short while ago. He’s a little hard to recognize–not for his work; he’s appeared in indie projects like Dragon Day and the well-received Kyle Patrick Alvarez project C.O.G. based on a David Sedaris book, with more projects to come. No, his unfamiliarity is more a product of his acting: in “real life,” and we use the term loosely, he scarcely resembles the taciturn, serious and often unsmiling young migrant workers and caretakers that he’s played in his most recent work.
Talking with him reminds us of just how important and potent Hollywood product can be in the Latino community, and how even a new arrival with limited language skills can make a mark through hard work, smart moves, and dreaming big.
Here are some highlight of our conversation, including some insights into his recent projects, what’s coming next, and his remembrance of his friend and mentor Lupe Ontiveros.
