A.J. Castro was born in Costa Rica and raised in Miami, where he quickly found his love of acting. He sits down with host Colleen Foy to talk about his journey in the industry and finding his place as a Latino in Hollywood. From studying at CSULA to booking Will & Grace and 9-1-1, A.J.’s journey has now led him to becoming a coach at SKS. He shares his early career struggles, his entry into Hollywood through perseverance and community support, living a lifelong career with shifting goals over time, finding writing, and how being a father has shaped his stories. A.J. also shares insights about adapting to the industry’s demands, and how he found Stan Kirsch Studios right when he needed it. You’ll learn the importance of having a process, finding joy in the creative journey, and giving yourself grace in your creative process.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:09 AJ's Journey to the Studio
01:22 Moving to LA: The Early Years
02:34 Finding Footing in LA
02:49 Acting Beginnings in Miami
06:25 Challenges and Growth in Acting
07:50 The Importance of Goals and Consistency
14:48 Navigating the Acting Industry
30:00 Booking 911 & The Payoff of Consistency
30:56 Overcoming Intimidation and Self-Doubt
33:19 The Importance of Casting and Perseverance
35:06 Branding and Marketing as an Actor
36:54 Discovering and Embracing Your Type
43:15 Writing as a Creative Outlet
46:54 Balancing Acting and Writing
52:51 Inside the Actor's Studio Questions
57:12 Final Thoughts and Aspirations
EPISODE LINKS:
· AJ Castro’s IMDb
· Follow AJ on IG @realajcastro
· AJ’s Links
· Learn More about AJ’s Classes at SKS
Host: Colleen Foy
Producer: Kristyn Daniel
Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing
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