Alex Castillo [Interview]

Hello Folks! We are here to end the week with a banger of an interview to share with you all. To say that Alex Castillo is a star “on the rise”, could seem a bit belittling, as he has put a good 20 years in the business, working on so many projects you know and love. But in most recent years, his career simply seems to be exploding! Especially with his appearance in the new critically acclaimed film Clemency, which we will learn more about below. Beyond the on screen world, Alex joins our incredible cast of voice over acting characters that we have been honored enough to have featured on the site. Alex’s voice over credits include working on the hit Disney film Coco, huge Hollywood films such as Clint Eastwood’s The Mule and Stefano Sollima’s Sicario: Day of the Soldado, and right back to one of our favorite films of 2018, the brilliant Silencio.

On screen, Alex has appeared on just about every television drama you have come to know and love over the years. Seriously Folks, the list is insane. To name just a few for time’s sake: 24, The Shield, The Unit, General Hospital, Monk, JAG….and dozens more.

And again, this is just a spattering of some of his best work. With that, we are so very excited to have Alex grace our digital pages here today. We are honored to have him join the TWS family, and couldn’t be more excited to share his words with you all here today. So Folks, please enjoy some incredible words from the great Alex Castillo!

*****

What inspired you to get into the world of entertainment? Was it something that has been ingrained in you since you were a child, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day? 

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment but didn’t have the courage to do it early in my life. So, after college I worked in marketing and brand management in the consumer products industry for many years for some of the biggest companies managing some of the biggest brands in the world, but something was always missing. Eventually I had the courage to admit to myself that I needed to make a change. I left that career and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and shortly after founded my production company, Castle2000 Films.

What was your very first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work today? 

My first paid gig in entertainment was as the “Mexican Farmer” in the Walt Disney hit movie Holes starring Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight and Shia LaBeouf. The biggest lesson I learned from that experience is hard work pays off. Two other lessons: there are no small roles, only small actors and enjoy the ride.

I have recently become aware of a film you worked on that looks incredible, the 3x Spirit Award nominated film Clemency. Can you tell our readers a bit about this project, and what made you want to get involved with it? 

Clemency is writer/director Chinonye Chukwu’s award-winning death-row drama. It’s about prison warden Bernadine Williams (Alfre Woodard) and the toll that years of carrying out death row executions have taken on her. As she prepares to execute another inmate, she must confront the psychological and emotional effects that her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is sanctioned to kill. I play Victor Jimenez, an inmate on death row facing execution and whose story opens the film. Chinonye’s exceptionally well-crafted script is what drew me to this film. After I auditioned, I knew I had to be part of this film. I needed to help her, and the filmmakers, tell this important, timely story.

Another wonderful project that you did some voice over work in was Silencio, which was one of our favorites of the last year. So, sort of the same question, what was it that drew you to Lorena Villarreal’s incredibly unique story? And how was your experience working on this project? 

Lorena Villareal is a talented filmmaker. A good friend asked if I could work on the film and after reading the premise I said yes. Lorena is incredibly collaborative with a clear vision which made the experience a great one. Any time I can help an emerging filmmaker, schedule permitting, I am there.

If you were handed the opportunity to create & star in the biopic of any legendary figure in history, who would it be?

Brazilian musician João Gilberto who developed bossa nova music and helped turn the style into a worldwide craze. I would the challenge of bringing his incredible life story to the screen.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers? How can our readers follow you on social media? 

I’m currently promoting Clemency ahead of its December theatrical release. The film will continue to open theatrically around the world throughout 2020. Up next for me, roles in two indies: Kate Johnston’s Turn Left and Jason Gurvitz’s In the Desert of Dark and Light. On the producing front, I am currently in development on two feature films: Nick Oceano’s Finding Albie Finch and Bill Deasy’s Ransom Seaborn under my Castle2000 Films banner.

Twitter: @castilloalex Instagram: @castilloalex2000

What was the last thing that made you smile? 

The thought of my upcoming vacation in the Caribbean.