Two weeks after the election ... what have we learned.

"Two weeks after the election and it has been a little not so good, kinda bad", that was me paraphrasing Saturday Night Live's Sketch: Weekend Update.  If you haven't seen it, its a sketch comedy show.  Two anchors deliver the news in satirical fashion.  They were right on point on Saturday's show.  I'm glad a show in a major network is open to talk about the "majority of the country's" view on the results of the 2016 Presidential Election.

Right after the election there was this sadness across the country.  The news that Hillary Clinton did

not win the presidency said a lot of things about the country.  America is a country divided.  America is bigoted and a sexist country.  The entire world saw it.  They saw the country's weakness.  This was made public by President Elect Donald Trump as he broadcast his feelings openly to the world about woman and people of color.  Speaking clearly I feel his comments perhaps have now generalized all of us into one big negative stereotype.  I hope he has not built a wall within the country.

Quite the majority of the nation seems to be afraid that Trump and his assigned entourage may start deporting people because of their status of their legality. Primarily his changes appear aimed at Latinos.  Will we be forced to wear a badge to show that we belong here?  Meanwhile the President Elect is busy trying to figure out how he will spend half his time at the white house and half his time at his New York residence.

Many young college and high school students have taken to the streets in protest of what they think Donald Trump may have in mind "Making America Great Again". Does Donald Trump mean to say "Make America White Again"?

I have talked to many people from blue collar and white collar Latinos and most have resigned themselves to the results of the election and have taken on a "lets see what happens" kind of attitude.  I don't think Latinos can afford to have this attitude.  What do we know about Trump? We know that he finds loopholes in the law and he is not afraid to use them.  He does not always follow the rules and may break them at any opportunity.  In some news releases he appears to degrade women.

We cannot rely on the system to stop him from making laws that do not represent the Latinos of our country.  We really have to gather with our hearts and minds to implement a plan against what may be coming.

Personally, what bothers me the most about the President Elect is the fact he avoided paying taxes and he has used bankruptcy, as if it were going out of style, to get him out of financial responsibility.  I watched my immigrant parents lose their businesses and pay every cent they owed, even if they had to work 2 jobs and miss their kids lives in the process. I watched two good people work so hard to make an "honest living".  That is the reality for most of immigrants in this country.

All citizens pay taxes.  The money he avoided paying many feel he owes our country.  It's time for payback. That money could have helped to clean the streets, build education and assist governmental agencies.

If I avoided to pay my taxes, I would get bullied by the IRS until I paid them.  If I still don't pay  the IRS will garnish my wages.  Can you image that they would come after little me.  Regardless,  I still have to pay my taxes, there is no loophole for me.

What am I doing about it, well I am expressing my opinion.  I am writing about it and I'm sharing it.
And I'm using my journalistic outlets to make people think.  I have been elected "Reina de Latinos Unidos L.A", and I plan to use my position to reach out.

Let us Latinos unite and think and take action!


/jc

Bird Watching - The New Hobby!

I should say, Bird Watching - The New Hobby, for me.

I was looking for something new to do for my upcoming birthday celebration.
I wanted something different, something that I enjoyed, not too strenuous.  Did I mention I was looking for something new?

 A colleague forwarded me the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society newsletter - for Nature Education and the Conservation of Wildlife which mentioned the "Bird Watch Hike" held on the day of my birthday.  It sounded great.  It was held at Towsley Canyon,  the perfect distance away.

Louis, my bf and I, started early Saturday morning.  Since we had already committed to it, I was not going to let us back down.  We have a history of flaking on things like these.

We were one of the first to arrive. Already there was Roger, wearing white sneakers, khaki pants, a white polo shirt, and a hat that matched his pants. On his shoulders rested an amazing camera with a lens that would reach out and capture birds miles away.  The camera was supported by a sling.

About 10 people gathered at the parking lot of Towsley Canyon that Saturday morning.   I noticed everyone was dressed very appropriately for the hike, except, of course, Louis and I.  We both were wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. Everyone else was equipped with snacks, UV Ray repellent gear.

I was surprised that almost as soon as we started the hike the group stopped.

I turned and saw a flock of bird watchers calmly looking through binoculars at a small avian hidden from the eyes of the uninterested jogger or hiker, but for us, it stood out.

The pace of the walk was slow, just perfect enough to stop along the way.  Someone would point and we would all gather around trying to find the bird within the trees.  "It's at one o'clock, from the dead branch in front of us" someone would share.  All of our interested eyes peeked through our binoculars to discover what kind of bird would take the time to show itself off to us.

Picture from San Fernando Valley Audubon Society -  House Finch

I would point when I saw what seemed like an insignificant sparrow.  We would stop, raise our binoculars to our eyes and enjoy it's splendor.

I got to see one of my favorite birds, a Woodpecker and I got to see a sparrow and several other birds that I might otherwise have missed.

Roger shared some of his birdwatching humor. "A birdwatcher can't tell the difference between a house or a Buick", Roger said half chuckling to himself.  He never explained that a House and a Buick are types of birds for us newbies.

I liked watching the birds, and noticed that my bf, Louis enjoyed the bird watching activity also.  It  was interesting for me to discover the personality of the people in the group.  They were all so very knowledgable

about birds and nature. All of them were in some form or another involved with the environment.

Birdwatching was a lovely experience that made me feel grounded.  I saw and appreciated the beauty in nature, I might otherwise have  spent that time on my cellphone.

We headed back. It was a great way to start my birthday celebration.

JC


For more info on "BirdWatching" go to:

https://www.facebook.com/sfvaudubon/
http://www.sfvaudubon.com

Keedie's Corner Gets Personal with Actress JC Cadena

I am so happy to share with you my exclusive interview with Keedie's Corner, an online magazine.

*****

Hi. I'm JC Cadena. I live in Los Angeles, California. I am an actress. I am theatrically trained and I am now making my transition into television and film.

Q.  How long have you been pursuing acting seriously?

A.  I was performing in theatre before I totally committed to pursuing an acting career in 2012.  At the time I was

working in production. I would work a full day and then run to the opposite side of town in mid “rush hour” and rehearse for weekend performances.  I would do this 4 days out of the 5 day work week.

It wasn't easy making the choice.  I traded stability for the opposite. But it was time for me to make the jump, everything in my life at that moment led to this decision. Life really pushed me. I could feel a good "kick in the ass" pushing me towards acting. I've always been a performer ever since I can remember.  So after careful consideration, I jumped in.

Q.  What type of movies did you grow up on?

A.  I grew up watching Mexican Rancheras movies and Mexican game shows.  And American television.  I loved to read and watch scary films every since I can remember.  I think it’s because when I was young my cousins and I use to sit outside near the basketball court during the summer and tell each other ghost stories. I grew up on Stephen King books.

Q.  Who are some of your influences?

A.  My mother is an influence even today.  She was buried in 2016. I always saw her as this beautiful angelic being.  She was beautiful with model looks and I loved her very much.  Her light guides me still.

Tom Hardy is an influence. He is such a great actor and his choices are extraordinary.  I really look up to his acting delivery.  I think stars such as Cate Blanchett, who make it all about their acting and not about their personal life, are great examples of artists I would like to have my career mirror.

A producer friend, Michelle Chydzik, is an influence in my life.  She taught me that a woman can have it all. She was a wife, a mother and a producer.  She was on point and always got to the office before anyone else got there.

Q.  How was it for you growing up?

A.  Earlier in my childhood I had a lot of freedom.  I could explore places alone and I was adventurous.  I have memories as early as 6 years old walking home from school alone.  When my family moved from Quito, Ecuador to Virginia in the US, that changed completely.  We did not have a lot of family around, things were so much bigger in America.  I could no longer be adventurous so I turned to reading.  I spent a lot of my time using my imagination.  I would also write songs, poems and I enjoyed singing, that is, until I graduated from high school.  I worked to try to find myself a lot, and had great experiences that let me know I'm blessed and that I have a purpose here.

Q.  Did you always want to be an actress growing up?

A.  I wanted to be a singer first.  I loved singing.  I sang at school and at church.  But somewhere along the line I got disappointed by it, by the people around it, so I stopped singing for a long time. When I moved to LA I fell back in love with music.  Well actually, I fell in love with music on a trip to Paris. LA has a great indie music scene. I don't understand why there are songs that play again and again on the radio, when there are so many bands that can share their stuff.

In LA it was easy to find music and art.  It is everywhere.  I put together a band and played around Hollywood. It was fun, but again I distanced myself from it at one point and found Acting.  I remember when I made the decision to move to LA, there was the me that wanted to act, but I got so caught up with finding stability that a full time job made sense at the time.  So I forgot about it.

But acting found me again and here I am, an actress.

Q.  What have you been working on? Any up and coming shows to be on the lookout for?

A.  I’ve shot a couple of projects for TV and film.  I finished a play titled “Sabado Mornings”, written by George Corbin and directed by Melvin Ishmael Johnson.  It was a collaboration with Ben Guillory who is Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director for the Robey Theatre.  You can look forward to seeing me in a project titled "ED Blues”, written by Butch Dubarri. It is a musical comedy. I think everyone is going to enjoy it.  It has great lines and great music.  

CHAINSAW, my production company, for films of all genres, is working with producer Barney Cohen on a film titled, STAR 69. The first feature is a Zombie picture.   I'm very excited about this film.  It will make you Laugh, make you Hot, and make you Scream.

Q. What actress/actors and producers have you worked with?

A. Before I decided to be an actress I worked in production after graduating from George Mason University.  I've been in shows with Bill Clinton, Will Smith, Julia Roberts and Adam Sandler to name a few great names. 

Q.  Which do you prefer, being on stage or on film?

A.  I cannot say whether I prefer stage or film more. The stage requires a lot of work and commitment. After I am done with the show, I often still feel like the character.  It is a process.  So I gravitate to film as a break.  Film is here and now and I don't take those emotions with me. It is difficult to choose. I love them both equally.

Q.  Which one of your characters have you connected with the most?

A.  This is a hard question.  The role I just played in “Sabado Mornings”, Rosa, I connected to a lot. Rosa loved people.  She had a young outlook on life and a positive one, yet she had a deep secret holding her back. In some ways I am very much like Rosa. I enjoy people. I have an optimistic look on life, at least I think so.

Q. How do you deal with the industry and pressure to perform?

A.  It takes a lot of energy, a great support system and a good and positive outlook to pursue acting.  Honestly, at first the pressure lies in booking the job not in performing.  Performing is the reward.

Q.  For you to feel successful as an actress what are some goals you would like to accomplish?

A.  At this point in my life I feel successful that I am where I am in my performance level.  I can feel the difference.  And I am grateful. I would like to get to the next level of course.  This year I'm really focusing on the film industry.  For me to feel successful I would like to be performing more lead roles in film and making a bigger name for myself.  And I’d like to use this platform to help the community.

Q.  What level of success would you have to reach to feel as if you made it?

A.  I would like to get an “EGOT”, (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar,Tony). That would be a dream come true. I use visualization as a form of relaxing on stage.  Sometimes I visualize my Oscar speech.  They say if you are going to dream, dream big. Right?

Q.  What would you like to be remembered for when its all said and done and the lights go out?

A.  I would like to be an inspiration to people encouraging them to chase their dreams, and to be kind to each other. 

★☆★☆★Flame Time★☆★☆★

Q.  Do you have any “shout outs”?

A.  A “shout out” to Keedie's Corner and Mike Ice who reached out to me and are giving me this opportunity to speak my mind. A “shot out” to my family.  And to all my people in Ecuador after the earthquake tragedy, blessings to you. 

Q.  Let the readers know where they can go to watch your performances?

A.  To find out more about me and my performances visit my website, www.jccadena.com.  I am always updating. You can read an extensive bio, sign up for my blog, titled; “Adventures in Actorland".  I share advice and experiences on the road to becoming a professional actress. You can contact me there as well. Plus you will find a link to all my social media sites.  

Q.  Any words of wisdom? Whatever is in your heart just speak it?

Words of wisdom from me …. work on your passion everyday, feed it, nourish it, love it.

Click here to see actual interview: keedies-corner-gets-personal-with-actress-jc-cadena/

Feel The Moment - Allow, Accept and Include

If you are one of those people that never cries,  am talking to you.  Cry, please cry.

So many of us have had some really difficult life experiences.  We have cried so much that now, a wall has gone up.

This wall of toughness, of pushing that feeling out and replacing it with something else may work perhaps.  I'm  here to tell you to stop it. It often helps to experience your feelings even if it is a feeling of sadness or helplessness.  For me, I had pushed all emotion aside to the point where I did not even know what I was feeling.  I chose to go to therapy for five years to understand and bounce off the emotions I was feeling.  I didn't even know I was angry.

I am not suggesting you have a mental break down at work or at a networking event.  But definitely

don't wait till you've been at a party and you have had a few too many and out come the flood gates. If you catch yourself getting to that place, I suggest excusing yourself and heading home.

Take the time to sit on the couch and acknowledge what you are experiencing, feel the moment.  Feel whatever you are feeling right then and there.  If it's anger, then acknowledge it. If it's sadness and you need to cry, cry.  If it's embarrassment, then sit with that feeling and let your body succumb to it.    If you can't figure out what it is, perhaps that moment of confusion is just a moment that will soon pass.  And once you've allowed yourself to let the moment pass,  you have purged yourself from toxins in your body in a healthy way.  In a kind way.

Feelings don't always have to be "down" feelings.  Make sure you also celebrate the moments that are happy.

As a creative, it is a healthier way to live with so many emotions in us.

Allow,  Accept and Include, are the words I have in my mind all the time.  Allow, accept and include. allow, accept and include......

jc cadena

Happy Memorial Day

To all you beautiful people who have fought for our country, America.  I remember you today
and thank you.  Thank you for the freedom we experience. Because of your hard work we are blessed
to live here.  Amen

Waiting for the Call!

I was anxiously waiting for a call from a director.  I was hoping that my hard work and dedication will get me hired in one of his next productions.  When he finally called, he was not, "hey beautiful and talented JC, I would like to hire you for my next show."  But, in reality, it was, "Hey JC I think you should take my workshop I'm teaching."  $$$

(Part of me thinks, "of course I got this type of call - of course I did. ")

On the other hand, I'm kind of burnt out from teachers.  I mean, to tell you the truth, my past teachers have not been all that supportive or at least not the type of support I would have hoped for.  So I've been wondering where I was going to go study next.  'Cause I definitely need a certain type of environment to study in.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not insulted by the fact he asked me to pay to take one of his classes.  When I'm working I don't take classes, because I'm working on my craft on stage and I spend all the time doing that. But when I'm not working I always get myself to a class.  I'm always learning.  

It just wasn't the call that I wanted.  I wanted to be hired for his next show. And I wanted to get paid as an actor. 

Well anyway, I entertained the possibility of working together. But, I thought, how will I know if our acting is the same type of acting.  So I decided to ask him a question on what his thoughts were on a certain performance we had both seen.  Unfortunately, our opinions differed greatly, in fact a lot.  So how can I now study with a teacher that I know has a different opinion of the actor I am or want to be.   

Should I give this director/teacher a try (Although the cost he was asking was high for me).
After all it was disappointing because I was expecting a call to be hired rather than a call that would drain my pocket book. Perhaps I'll learn something new about myself or even get better.  Now I am being very optimistic.

What do you think?

But first,  I am looking forward to a vacation in July.    jc

I'm just not that adventurous without acting.

Perhaps I should be more adventurous in my personal life. I am quiet calm I would say.  I mean my favorite thing to do is hang out at home and watch a movie with my loved ones.  But this means that I get really comfortable and stay indoors.

The only way of really being adventurous is in my acting. I will travel to and go anywhere for, and if it wasn't for acting I wouldn't really get to see all these amazing things around me.  I'm just not that adventurous without acting.

I know some people say, make sure not to make your life, acting, but that is impossible.  I am always

working, always and when you get popular you work even more. There is no time for hanging out and having a good old time.  The time that I do have I spend, marketing,  learning lines, rehearsal, preparing, relaxing until shoot day.

When someone tries to push me in my personal life out of that comfort I don't do well either.   I will go at my leisure I cannot be pushed to do something I haven't done before like Surfing, just as an example.  It had to be done like I am learning a new thing and step by step slowly until I get used to it.

Anyway, thank you acting for being the adventure in my life.