As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month this year, I was reflecting on Latinos making a difference in our community. My friend Carlos Carrasco came to mind. I have known Carlos for many years now and have always been impressed with his love of culture, language and everything Hispanic while he still appreciates the culture he adopted when he moved to the United States. Warm, smart, caring and extremely talented, Carlos is passionate about his craft and continues to work hard to promote Latino artists in Hollywood. Here is my first ever interview with a Latino actor, who is also a dad proud of his culture and bicultural life.
Award-winning Panamanian-Born Actor Carlos Carrasco on Nurturing His Bicultural Life
MB: You were born in Panama. Did you grow up there or in the United States? Where?
CC: Yes, I was born and raised in Panama City, Panama. I got a scholarship to attend Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri and that’s what brought me to the US.
MB: How has culture shaped your life?
CC: In every way possible. I’m sure there are ways of which I’m not even aware. Leaving Panama to go to school in the Midwest, as an example, gave me what I might describe as “fish out of water,” experiences – where everything is new to you. It was part culture shock but definitely rewarding as I learned new cultural norms. When I got to New York to do theater, I got to work bilingually and biculturally, so that was exciting, and challenging. It’s not easy to move in and out of language and culture. It takes focus and energy. Plus, my university training focused on Shakespeare, adding yet another cultural filter to my life. Culture is like the air you breathe. You don’t notice it until you notice it. Being Afro-Latino also shapes my cultural identity in ways that I will always treasure and in ways that underscore racial inequities.
MB: How old were you when you decided to become an actor? What was that moment that you said, “aha, this is my passion?”
CC: I was in junior college, so about 18. I was interested in art and architecture, also in music. I wound up convincing my parents to let me go to Canal Zone College which, at the time, was an American school. They had a theater department and my first show was West Side Story with Ruben Blades (before he was famous of course). I had a professor who helped me believe that I could pursue an acting career. It’s because of him that I came to the US and the rest, as they say, is history.
MB: What is one word that describes you?
CC: Miscast.
MB: What would be the title of a movie about your life?
CC: Grumpy Old Men.
MB: If I ask your best friend who is Carlos Carrasco, what would he (or she) say?
CC: I asked a friend to write the answer and here’s what she said: “Carlos’ work as an actor reveals a tiny glimpse into his character – strong, but warm, funny, caring and uber-intelligent. All the bad guy roles in the world can’t mask the fact that he has a big heart and a big laugh and the ability to make people feel great. He’s also an excellent teacher, coach, writer and director.”
MB: What are other ways that you nurture your Hispanic Heritage?
CC: Well, my soundtrack at home tends to be very eclectic and includes a lot of Latin music from a spectrum of artists. It’s still not easy to find certain ingredients for a good sancocho – like culantro instead of cilantro (they’re different leaves) – but I have my cultural comfort foods. Travel helps. I get back to Panama but I’m also a big fan of so many countries, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic. I’m looking forward to getting to more countries throughout the Americas and the Caribbean. I should add that my heritage is also influenced by West Indian roots—St. Lucia and St. Vincent, so I also enjoy tapping into that aspect of my heritage.
MB: You are the producer and director of the Panama International Film Festival Los Angeles. What is its purpose/goals?
CC: First, there are so many stories being created by Latino writers and brought to life by Latino filmmakers and they deserve to be supported and shared. A primary goal of PIFFLA is to celebrate that work. As a Panamanian who has had a career in Hollywood, I felt it was part of my responsibility to connect US Latinos with the opportunities that have finally begun to flourish for filmmakers in Panama. They are doing a lot of producing there because the country is so diverse and beautiful and there are so many talented people. I also have an amazing producing partner from Panama, Maia de Zan Hatch. She lives in Los Angeles and has a lot of contact with emerging filmmakers in Panama and in the States.
MB: Is it an annual event? What should we be looking forward to this year?
CC: Yes, we are in our 4th year and this year we have been honored with a grant from the California Council for the Arts. We are in a new location in downtown Los Angeles on Spring Street — at the Lupe Ontiveros Theater at LATC, a very respected part of the community. The content is very exciting, so we are expanding to two days, October 27 and 28. There’s something for everyone, short films, documentaries, features. Comedies, drama, horror. We are collaborating with Los Cortos (loscortos.com), a cool site for short films. We are also featuring a fabulous documentary about Calypso musicians in Panama – it’s a great blend of history, musicology, and it’s just plain fun – a mini concert of sorts. Go to PIFFLA.com for updates and for tickets.
MB: Who inspires you?
CC: Bruce Springsteen and musicians who are great storytellers and live performers. And my daughter. She’s a musician as well and she is very committed to her love for Dub and Hip Hop. She produces a weekly music event in Woodstock NY, so producing is in our blood.
MB: In regards to culture, If you could change anything about what is going on in our world today what would it be?
CC: Oh my. How about everything? Is there a reset button we can push because so much of what’s happening today goes back further than any of us can imagine. It gets Biblical. I just got through reading a Michener book about South Africa. When you really start to look at the roots of racism you can’t help but look at some misguided origin stories and selective interpretations that benefit certain groups over others.
MB: What is the one memory about Panama that keeps you going every day?
CC: My teacher, the one I mentioned, the one who helped me get a scholarship to come to the States. His name was Dave Lommen and, unfortunately, he passed away too young. But I will never forget him. And, of course, my family – many of whom are still in Panama. I have a great family.
MB: What other upcoming projects do you want to share?
CC: I was in a film shot in Panama recently, I had not worked there as a fim actor before, so that was fun. It is called Diablo Rojo, Red Devil, which alludes to what we call our buses in Panama. They are red and painted with all sorts of murals and colorful images. I’m doing another independent film in LA called Turn Over with CSI actor Paul Guilfoyle and a great cast and crew. We are still shooting. And I have a short film, One, about profiling and traffic stops, that has been doing very well at Film Festivals. I’m “retired” and it has been one of my busiest years.
Carlos Carrasco, true to his roots, and one to follow!
Bai, Bai,
Maritere
