ANTHONY, XU RAZER, BRITTNEY and ROMAN
were among the volunteers at the 2nd annual AMFM (Art, Music, Film and More) festival in November 2014. But it was their shared affinity for acting in film and live theater that brought them together in the first place. The four thespians recall meeting each other almost a year ago, while playing background extras in a dance scene for, Palm Springs the Movie, and have been friends ever since. From there, they were introduced to the producer, Stephanie Bell, who connected them to the AMFM festival. When Coachella Magazine came across the Traveling Four, (as they call themselves) their natural charisma stood out from the crowd, and they were more than eager to share their stories: the trials and tribulations of a thespian life. Despite their age differences, ranging between 20 to 44, they still go everywhere together, from casting calls to just hanging out. Through acting, they have developed a communal bond — a support group. Whenever one of them hears about an audition, they reach out to keep the rest in the know, and whenever someone needs help preparing for a part, they do a table reading together. Yet as much as they have in common, they each have varying background experience and point-of-views that shed insight into the acting industry.
Xu Razer: ON PLAYING THE BAD GUY
(It’s all about the beard)
Xu Razer moved from New York to the Coachella Valley 10 years ago. He first began to take acting seriously after reading a book about what you want to do with your life: “To be an actor,” Xu Razer answered. “I love going to places and meeting people. I can be shy but I try to encourage myself to be a people-person. I can do things in movies that I would be too shy to do in real life.” Since then, Xu Razer has been a full-time actor for 6 years. Although he is most often cast as the bad guy, he has appeared in 27 films, including a coveted part for the Sons of Anarchy television series, mainly due to his long facial beard—his most distinguishing feature. “[When] Central Casting called me, Sons of Anarchy picked my picture out of 500 guys because I have the coolest beard,” Xu said. Because of this, “most of the parts I get hired to play are the bad guys.” Is this typecasting? –“Yeah, obviously,” Xu quipped. Does the beard help you get parts? “It’s the ONLY thing that helps me get parts!” Xu says with a wry smile.
Xu Razer recently expanded his talents by writing his own script: “It’s a horror movie. I’m the hero. It was harder than what I expected, it’s the first script that I’ve written.” Although the script is as of yet untitled, we know this much: It’s a horror film, the protagonist is confined to a wheelchair — but this time, Xu plays the hero.
BRITTNEY: ON BREAKING BARRIERS
Brittney Deleon Reyes has been acting for four years. Her interest in theater started as sophomore at Indio High School and continues at College of the Desert, where she plans to graduate in Spring 2015 with an AA in theater. However, Brittney’s ambitions are quickly expanding beyond the desert horizon: “I’ve been in the Coachella Valley my whole life and I’m trying to get out of it.” After community college, Brittney would like to audition for a spot at UCLA or USC. When it comes to auditions, she doesn’t get nervous, but finds herself typecast as: cute, funny or innocent. “I’d like to think of myself as adventurous — I got into acting just for the reason that I can be somebody else,” Brittney enthused. “I would want to play someone who is in an Insane Asylum.” As an actress, she credits the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique for guidance, “[it] makes you more aware of your body — it creates a sensation that creates an emotion — instead of using memory.” Among her other talents, Brittney plays the ukulele and is a ballet folkloric dancer. Despite the lack of minorities in film, Brittney is hopeful about the industry and sees a turning point ahead, “the whole Hispanic America is just waiting to break into the industry.”
ROMAN: LOCATIONS, LOCATIONS, LOCATIONS
Roman Canales was born in Indio, CA and now resides in Cathedral City. In addition to acting, he plays drums — but was hindered by a car accident 5 years ago. Roman didn’t get the necessary surgery until a year ago and is still waiting for the injury to heal. His acting credits include, being an extra in the movie Next, staring Nicolas Cage and Jessica Beal, a prison inmate, and a gas station attendant. But Ramon is ready for his breakthrough: “I want bigger roles,” he expressed. Although Roman admits it’s difficult being an actor, he is adamant about pursuing it as a full-time career.
Ramon also makes his case for a film industry in the Coachella Valley: “You have the mountains, the Salton Sea, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree within an hours vicinity. You have all these locations to work with. There’s so much the valley has to offer. More people are starting to see the whole valley and not just Palm Springs.” The benefits of a film industry in the valley will be, “something that is going to inspire youth.”
Ramon mentions his own inspiration: “One thing I like about Robert Rodriguez is that he opens up the door to more Latino actors.” But he acknowledges that more needs to be done, “we need more Latinos in a power position to open up the door.”
ANTHONY: ON CAMARADERIE
Anthony Garcia is also represented by Central Casting in Burbank, CA and has been acting for 10 years — his credits include Palm Swings, Fatherless, Diamond in the Desert, Vigilante Diaries, The Middle (TV sitcom), and appearing in an AMFM commercial. In addition to acting, Anthony’s hobbies include photography and riding his Harley. Anthony cites the camaraderie with his fellow actors as a genuine source of support, “whenever there is an event we [the Traveling Four] go together — you got to hang out with people that have the same mentality as you do.” Anthony has been fortunate to have worked with local director Christian Sesma on two films, Vigilante Diaries and On Bloody Sunday, and plans to continue working with him. “It’s not about the money, money is good but — we’ve all done movies for free.”
ACTORS: ANTHONY, XU RAZER, BRITTNEY & RAMON
HOMETOWN: COACHELLA VALLEY