IFH 077: Acting & the Art of Being Yourself with Adrian Martinez

Alex Ferrari 1:01
Now today's guest is Adrian Martinez. Adrian has been in so many movies and television shows that have lost count I mean, he's played against Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. He was in the Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller. He was in the amazing Spider Man number two, he was an inside Amy Schumer. And more recently, he co starred with Will Smith and Margot Robbie in the movie focus. So his resume in his IMDB page is sick. I had a chance to work with him at a workshop many years ago, and he and I became friends. We, we went to the bat, we went to battle together on some projects during that workshop. And as as many relationships are, they are forged in the heat of battle. And that is what happened with me and Adrian. So I reached out to Adrian because I wanted him on the show to talk about what it takes not only to be a working actor in Hollywood, but what he's been able to do, being himself not trying to be anybody else but who he is. And that has been his success. It's been his secret sauce, on getting work and continually getting work for better part of two decades. working steadily. And being a working actor in Hollywood today is something that is to be revered because it is very difficult to do so. So I wanted to bring them on and kind of talk about what it's like to just do you and be you and and how much success he's been able to obtain because of that so it is a very eye opening a very just wonderful interview and I had a ball talking to him. He's super funny. And Adrian gives one of the best answers to my Famous final questions I've had anyone give me before so definitely stay around for that last question. I think you guys will enjoy it. So without further ado, here's my interview with Adrian Martinez. Adrian man, thank you so much for being on the show. I really appreciate you taking the time during the holidays.

Adrian Martinez 5:19
Oh, absolutely. Matt Lauer.It's been great.

Alex Ferrari 5:25
It's Alex Ferrari, sir.

Adrian Martinez 5:27
Okay.

Alex Ferrari 5:33
We met God about what seven years ago

Adrian Martinez 5:36
Its always five years ago,

Alex Ferrari 5:37
It's always just no matter what it is. It's five years ago.

Adrian Martinez 5:39
No matter what it is, is after that point, what's the point? Its about five years ago.

Alex Ferrari 5:46
Alright. So about five years ago, we met at a leaf the this a wonderful kind of like summer camp for filmmakers. And you were there directing a piece called Manny, if I remember correctly?

Adrian Martinez 5:57
Yes, yes. Which you can catch on YouTube?

Alex Ferrari 6:00
Yes, yes, it was actually really I remember I remember I did all that I was helping you with the post production on that. It was a lot of fun watching that. And we had a ball, we had a lot of unique experiences during that summer camp.

Adrian Martinez 6:12
Yeah, we did.

Alex Ferrari 6:14
So let me ask you a question. What made you want to become an actor in the first place?

Adrian Martinez 6:19
Well, it's kind of like, the priesthood, you know, I don't think you actually choose the craft, it chooses you. And for me, it's, it's a very hard way of making a living. And so you need to have more than just a desire to do it, it really has to be a calling, I think, you know, it's like, social work, you know, like, people who do social work, and all they do is deal with problems, you know, problems with the system problems with themselves problems with the clients to do that for 20 years or so. You know, it's a calling, or like anything else. So I, I grew up just loving movies and obsessed with movies. And I would go to movies, and just sort of like, try to see the performances and then I would ask questions, like, Well, why? why did why is out the chivo making this choice? Or why didn't Gary Oldman did that and finally, I just shut up and said, you know, what, just do it yourself and, and, and I got into it, but I really felt an absolute need to do the work, not just a desire, and I think that's what sustains you is that need to do it.

Alex Ferrari 7:34
Right? As opposed to just trying to do trying to be famous or try to be rich for

Adrian Martinez 7:39
Being magazines and you know, all this. You know, if that doesn't sustain you what sustains you is this absolute need to do the work?

Alex Ferrari 7:49
Now, I heard a rumor that you in high school actually started auditioning for unsolved mysteries.

Adrian Martinez 7:56
Yeah, that was my first job. I was actually a sprinter back then. Okay. Yeah. Now I just run towards restaurants. But back then I was actually really, really fast. I was a medalist in the Catholic league. And in all this, I read, I think my best time was 100 yards and 10.6 seconds. Wow. Which was Yeah, I was motoring along. I mean, I was really fast. So I, they had this audition, they had put up signs at my high school for the summer audition. And, and someone told me not they're looking for sprinters. And like that I don't want to really, now you got to do is Ryan, they'll pay you like 600 bucks, which was scale, right? At the day at that time. And I'm like, Okay, and so I went and the audition was just basically like a sprint. And so I just left everyone in the dust. And I got the job as a high school. sprinter alleged rapise slash sprinter.

Alex Ferrari 9:03
That's a great start. It's a great start to the career.

Adrian Martinez 9:08
Yeah. And then pretty much after that, I was just doing all kinds of day playing work. And I was just doing, you know, America's most one I did when I was one of the fugitives. And one of the guys that I portrayed actually got caught. Oh, how cool. So this, you know, one less guy to worry about on the street. And it just became this thing, you know, and you just keep booking work and guest stars and eventually get movies and so forth.

Alex Ferrari 9:41
Now you you start your your New York guy, right? You live in New York now.

Adrian Martinez 9:45
Yeah, I'm based in New York, but I gotta lay around. I'd say 15 times a year. So it's at least once a month. Yeah, I mean for work or for testing or for Or, you know, any number of things.

Alex Ferrari 10:03
Got it. And there's a big difference between working in New York I'm assuming and working in LA as an actor,

Adrian Martinez 10:10
Or I don't know about that. I mean the work is the work of the business is different grade but still have to prove yourself on either coast, you know, right. You know, you'd never make it is what I'm saying is like it's always like, like people thought, Oh, well, you know, he was in Walter Mitty and now he's Ben Stiller sidekick. I'll get to his he said, Now he's not. He still had to go and audition for this other movie. I did call focus, right? with Bill Smith. Right? And so people say, Oh, well, not not Now. Now.

Alex Ferrari 10:48
He's arrived. He's done. He's done right?

Adrian Martinez 10:51
He said,

Alex Ferrari 10:52
So so so how many mansions Do you own now? And how many cars and are there crazy parties with naked women? That's the way it's about it's like entourage right? That's what I really try to preach man on on indie film hustle, man just to kind of break down that kind of, I just want people to like understand the realities of the business, and then try to make it within that reality and not to just constantly be thrown because we're sold this this Hollywood dream. And I always tell people who don't live in LA. I like you know where the Oscars are. I go Yeah, if you go to Hollywood Boulevard, when the Oscars are not running. It's not a really nice place. Yeah, it's it's like a disgusting cesspool. A place except for maybe that one block and even that one block you've got those weirdos coming out, just a spider man. It's, it's it's gonna go that's a perfect analogy of Hollywood. Like it's on TV. It looks insane. And otherworldly. Yeah, yeah, it looks like oh my god, this is you know, the streets are paved with gold and all this stuff. And it's it's not the reality of what the business is like. So, um, so I was gonna ask you a little bit about working because you've worked with some insane people, you know, some insane actors, Some legends, and obviously big movie stars, like Will Smith and stuff. How does it? How do you work? What What can you give advice to an actor who's working with someone of that caliber for the first time, because I can imagine is intimidating, working with, like, with tuuk, like, on an interpreter, you worked with Sean Penn and, and Nicole Kidman like that, you know, on on the in the UN no less. So like, how did you like walk into that first meeting with them? And like what cuz they're Legends? And you know, they're Oscar winners and stuff? How do you work? What What advice would you give to an actor like working with that caliber of of performance,

Adrian Martinez 12:44
I would say you have to approach it completely prepared, like know your lines, so well that you could say them as quickly as you can count to 10. You know, like, no matter how nervous you are, you can still count to 10. Because you got that down, Pat. That's how well you got to know your lights. So you don't even have to worry about that on the day. And then actually, I think it's really important to just be respectful. And say, I'm a great fan of your work. Looking forward to working with you. And usually, like nine times out of 10, the stars are very, very far, you know, generous and cool. They'll they go Yeah, it's gonna be great. or wherever, yeah, have a good time or something like that, right? And then and pay real close attention to, to not being too chatty, you know, like, if the star wants to talk, great, talk all night. But otherwise, just, you know, go over your lines, keep in mind what your objectives are. Stay focused on the job at hand, be professional, be professional, be professional. And I feel that's been that's that's worked for me. If you try to Don't try to say, hey, by the way, like between takes Listen, I wrote a script.

Alex Ferrari 14:13
Think I will? Well, I think you would be awesome in this.

Adrian Martinez 14:18
Yeah, I'm doing a remake of three amigos with Phil Smith and Ben Stiller. While you're walking away, hey, it's just not gonna work. Right? It's just not the time and place there's a protocol is a procedure you know, like, right. And this this happens, you know, no matter where you are in the food chain, you know, like people, people Facebook be with messages about I get this great script and you've been great for it. I don't know who you are. Now, you have to, you have to just kind of work your way into the system and earn the right to, to work with X, Y and Z. And so you definitely don't do that. On a set, unless they say, hey, by the way, I got nothing to do over the next three years. Do you have any script?

Alex Ferrari 15:10
Which has happened say how many? How many times does that happen? It's the equivalent of a good client coming to me and going all I have his time and money.

Adrian Martinez 15:19
Yeah. It's never happened in human history shouldn't happen,Okay,

Alex Ferrari 15:26
Then you can bust out that script you've been carrying around for five years in the back pocket, right? But you might have to cut in line for the grip because the grip also has a script.

Adrian Martinez 15:34
Everybody has a script in LA, it's so funny.

Alex Ferrari 15:37
I was I was talking to Michael Haig, who's a script guru out here in LA and I go, you know, every time I walk into a Starbucks, there's at least three or four laptops with with final draft open. Yeah, any Starbucks anywhere in LA at any time. And if not, someone's talking about it. It's something so unique to this town. It's not like that in New York by any stretch. But here it's crazy like that everyone has a script. So what was your what would you consider your big break in the business? Like after you've got this you're like, Okay, now I can make a living doing this?

Adrian Martinez 16:14
Well, you know, it's hard for me to say because I, you know, I haven't had a regular job in 15 years, but, but I don't know, I can't, I can't, you know, it's I don't know. I mean, I guess my career is different from someone else's like, like Jambo Jaeger. I'd like to break.

Alex Ferrari 16:35
You think you think Yeah, little independent film? He just started out, right? Yeah, like, I don't know how the hell that hat like Daisy, Daisy railly Ridley Ridley, I think your name out Ridley Yeah, like, that's kind of jumpstarts everything a little bit, you know, but look, look, and it could look

Adrian Martinez 16:53
In different kinds of careers. You know, there's the career like that, where you just get incredibly lucky, and you just pop and, and they find you and you're, and you're 20 and you're set for life. That happens 1% of the time. For the most part, I would, I would suggest that careers are more about building blocks, and time and patience. You need to be willing to put in at least the next 10 years of your life, auditioning and working towards building up credits getting established in the casting community. And then maybe one day, you get a chance to do something special. But the system has changed from when I started out and the 90s. So now I think it's more about really self generating work. And I tell this to people all the time that, you know, you can literally like take your script and do it yourself on an iPhone. There's a movie called tangerine that just got a Golden Globe nomination or an Independent Spirit Award nomination and it was completely shattered an iPhone. It got into Sundance

Alex Ferrari 18:05
Won Sundance they won Sunday.

Adrian Martinez 18:07
So you know, it's not like, Oh, you need anyone elses permission to to make it you can totally do it yourself that it has to be a great story. It has to be a unique spin on something. You do have to do the work. But it's possible. Much more than say waiting by the phone. And you know, just wondering, you know, How come nobody gives me a break. Like, forget all that forget that you don't need anyone's permission to work not anymore. Now, now we just can't use it as an excuse. You're always working as an actor, either you're auditioning, you should always be working either you're auditioning or you're in performance, preparing and doing the work itself or yourself generating your own work. And those are the three you know you so if that's what use you set up for yourself, you are always working you know, do you have a website? Do you have a killer reel? Have you shot your short film with your buddies or whatever? Have you written your full length script? In case they liked the short film version of it and they want to give you you know 300,000 to shoot the feature like these are the things you need to do have you started a Kickstarter campaign for the movie that you really feel will resonate with an audience do all that and then say you know you got nothing to do

Alex Ferrari 19:37
One thing I find fascinating about your career because ever since we met five years ago you know you've popped you know, ever since I met you then you started coming up in things I watch all the time I'm like oh there's age you know there's Adrian there's agent Yeah. And and you know, and it just you just started popping up and then I started kind of analyzing because I had I mean I'm I have a lot of actor friends and friends in the business and stuff. So I always Like to analyze people's careers and how they do what they do and how they're getting there it's just something I do because I'm still trying to make it as well doing what I do so what I noticed that you do you do i mean i don't know i torture actors at workshops in Santa Fe

Adrian Martinez 20:19
Movies you like it you know what I'm saying?

Alex Ferrari 20:24
Well sir, I am I am a director and independent filmmaker and director I've been in post production for about 20 years so that's where I kind of make my bones that's where I make my money and then I direct music videos commercials, and then I do my own projects short films and things like that. And then I'm always looking for that feature and I'm this year coming up I'm making I'm gonna be hopefully making my first feature film. Just like you said, bootstrapping it myself doing it myself with you know, more read more resources than most people have at their disposal between connections post knowledge cameras, all this stuff I have there's no excuse anymore.

Adrian Martinez 21:02
I like the role of the chubby Latina you have in that that's the one role that can really

Alex Ferrari 21:11
Do you know someone they know someone I can do if you if you can connect me to Luis Guzman, that'd be awesome

Adrian Martinez 21:21
He's booked for the next five years but I do know someone else.

Alex Ferrari 21:25
What I was saying about your career specifically is a lot of a lot of actors always are like trying to I don't know they're trying to be someone they're not they're trying to be the next this or the next that and what I've noticed from studying you at least from this point of view, is that you've been you you're Adrian Martinez there is no other Adrian Martinez out there and that's what's made you successful

Adrian Martinez 21:48
I think we're all relieved about that

Alex Ferrari 21:54
But the thing is that there is no one else like you out there I've never seen like there's like oh there's another Adrian Martinez type No there isn't there is only one Adrian Martinez. And by and by doing what you've done, and like doubling down and tripling down on who you are, you've been able to make a successful career, doing it and reaching reaching heights that a lot of actors don't do. where a lot of actors I've seen and I've worked with like oh I want to be this next Tom Cruise or I want to be the next this or that? And like look good, that's great. And you know how many like out here how many actors you know, like all the leading men, actors and all this kind of stuff. They all try to go after the big like, Look, just be yourself. You know, and if you happen to be Tom Cruise, great. If you happen to be Will Smith, great. But if you're who you are like I know, we did a great interview with Yancey areas and I think do you know Yancey? Yes. I love Yancey and yes he is he's one of those like you he's one of those workhorses guys that discipline pound in it for years. And yes, he and I've worked on a lot of projects together. He's a good friend of mine. And we and he I'm like I said the same thing. I'm like, Yes, you just do you. Like that's who you are, you're not trying to be anybody else. And I think that's the best advice you can give anybody in this business or in any business in general, but in the film business, as a director or as a writer as this or that. Just do you and I think you said you quoted I think in an interview once you quoted about No one's going to tell a better story. The Truth About You better than you or something along those lines.

Adrian Martinez 23:20
Well yeah, I mean, the most Absolutely. You know, sexy seductive thing is a person, a person that's completely confident in themselves and they're able to trust who they are, you know, to the nth degree, and they bring that into an audition completely trusting who they are. There's nothing more magnetic than that. The second they see you try to be someone else. They smell it yeah, it just pops in the room and you know and it's like someone just farted and it's no no no no, no no no that we've been there and done that. Yeah. It's the person that is completely comfortable with who they are. Like a Will Smith like a bell stellar like a Yancey area. So as terrific actor, yeah, these guys just they just trust who they are. And to to a level that is just, you know, oh, yeah, completely, you know, fantastic. And that's what's so magnetic. That's why we go to the movies and we see these these stars of performance. And I think subconsciously, you know, we want to be them on some level, you know, saving people's lives or getting the girl or getting the guy or getting you know what I mean? Like it's just like, it's all it starts. The Genesis is a complete, embracing of who they are as an individual. That's how it all begins.

Alex Ferrari 24:59
Like someone like the rock, who is the rock, and the rock, man, he's the rock he's, and he is so charismatic because he is who he is. And he tried being somebody else when he first started in the WWF. And it failed miserably. People smelled it, like you said,

Adrian Martinez 25:15
Like, Will Smith, he's intelligent, he's charismatic. He's funny. Offset, and when he works, it's the same skill set and the same essence of person that he is that that translates into these fantastic performances, and you have to see him in concussion.

Alex Ferrari 25:36
Oh, I know. I can't wait to see that. It's amazing

Adrian Martinez 25:40
But yeah, I mean, so that's what it is. It's about an absolute faith and trust in who you are as an individual. And then you add on the idiosyncratic idiosyncratic behavior of the character, right or the or the mannerisms or the whatever it is, like Johnny Depp and Black Mass Johnny Depp was Johnny Depp. You know, he's a he can be a very brooding soulful actor like Donnie Brasco. Right? Um, but then he adds on the mannerisms and the look and the whatever the character and black mass and so that's how you do it, man.

Alex Ferrari 26:23
It's like, well, like, like, um, I think, in today's generation, as far as directors are concerned, I mean, the directors that people really love to go see are people who just know who they are and love. And they have their style, and they don't even try to be anybody else. And I think the best one of the best examples of that is Tarantino, like, he doesn't care. Like, I'm gonna, I'm gonna make, I'm gonna make my movie. I'm gonna say whatever the hell I want to say, and this is who I am. And that's it. But that, yeah, that confidence as a filmmaker is so rare. Like I was watching last year I saw Birdman. And I was like, I love that. And I watched Birdman and I go, Oh, that's what a director does. Again, you lose. You forget after you watch all of these big Hollywood stuff that just keeps popping out. It's just the same old recycled crap from the 80s in the 90s. At this point, you know,

Adrian Martinez 27:14
I have to say, and it too is like the guy I would love to work with. I mean, I I just saw The Revenant and oh, I'm dying to see that is a good once again. Yeah, it's fantastic. And it's it's so brutally honest. Like every say, it's just so brutally honest. And the performance is so great. Tom Hardy Caprio. Yeah. I play the bear in that.

Alex Ferrari 27:45
It was not on your IMDb. You got to get your agent on that.

Adrian Martinez 27:48
Yeah, well, yeah. You know, we went back and forth. We're working on an uncredited situation. But the movies just like even the bear was good. I mean,

Alex Ferrari 28:00
The CG bear was fantastic.

Adrian Martinez 28:04
But yeah, once again, we're talking about a vision that's unique, that he completely trusts and he just does it. And it's just that's it. And nobody tells him how to do this, his movies that he just does,

Alex Ferrari 28:17
Right, and now he's at a point, we could do whatever you want. And now you can do whatever he wants. Yeah. Now you as an actor, you're able to do something that a lot of actors don't do easily is transition between comedy and drama. And you do it with such ease. Sometimes it's remarkable to watch, because I've seen you in some stuff that is just dropped down on the floor, crying that's so funny. And then you've done some amazing, dramatic stuff as well. Can you give any advice to actors about how you're able to do that? Because that's something that's very unique tools, you know, skill set?

Adrian Martinez 28:49
Yeah, I mean, basically, you still have to approach every role the same initially, but for comedy, you have to keep in mind the tone of it, it's sort of at the back of your head. But you don't play the comedy, you play the given circumstances of the same. You play your connection with the other character in the same and you play the truth of the moment. Absolutely. The Comedy just sort of, it's like in the back of your mind, it's layered in. But the different forms of comedy, there's satire, and there's more of that there's a dramedy that we see a lot of. So basically, stick to the truth of the same. be absolutely real and genuine and committed, no matter what it is. And let the tone of the piece, keep it in the back of your mind. But don't play it. Play the truth of the state and the truth of the moment and just let it be like that.

Alex Ferrari 29:48
Now, this question is a it's a large question. So see, let me see if you can answer it in the best you can. What makes a good actor

Adrian Martinez 29:57
You believe him while you believe her I mean, it's absolutely about the suspension of disbelief like, you watch a performance and you don't really fake Oh, that's acting.

Alex Ferrari 30:13
Kind of like when, like when Meryl Streep works.

Adrian Martinez 30:17
Yeah. I mean you just believe this the Marlon Brando in The Godfather. Yeah, I thought to myself, initially Wow, look at Brando, he's you know, it looks funny his jaws look inflated or something. But right around the start of the second I completely forgot it was brand new I was watching someone else right? Like I it was a transformation to me that and I really believed him to be this omnipotent powerful man that could kill people like that. But was also, you know, a human being with that loved his sons, right? I mean, that's that's fine art. There are a lot of that a lot of actors that do that. I think today working today. I mean, I would have to go with Daniel Day Lewis as the one that's able to just completely transform without losing himself. Like I think his soul, his intelligence, his spirit is in every performance that's sort of like the building block of the house. And then he adds on Lincoln, or he adds on gates on New York character. Yeah, I mean, but the essence is still him. But it's the ability to see a performance and and really believe it and and just sort of go with it and forget that it's a performance. That to me is great acting

Alex Ferrari 31:53
Now just just on the Daniel Day Lewis for the kids in the audience. Go Google Daniel Day Lewis, and Google a movie called my left foot. Oh, yeah. And that was the first time I was working in a video store back then. And I saw, I saw Daniel Day Lewis in my left foot, and I had no idea who he was. And nobody knew really, he was still coming up at that point. And I remember watching it and going, Oh, my God, I can't believe they found a guy who has this issue. Yeah, to be able to play this part. That's remarkable. And when I saw him stand up, except the Oscar was on the floor. That's where I was. I was a couple and at that since that day, I was like, wow, that's acting, and I got what acting was at that point in the game. Like, you completely had no idea that that man was not, you know, did not have the issues that that uh, I forgot. I forgot the character's name, but the character had remarkable. Absolutely. No, Meryl Streep. I mean, that's why she gets nominated every year. Because every time she does anything, she kind of does that. It's Yeah. It's and I was listening to. I think

Adrian Martinez 33:02
I like that joke with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were at the Golden Globes. Which one they said, Tina, they said Omarosa could be here tonight. She has the flu. And she's amazing. That's totally killed.

Alex Ferrari 33:19
That's really no, I had a I did an interview with Robert Forster. A while ago when I had, I've had the pleasure of working with him. And he told me Quinn's best direction to him was, he would stand right right before the scene he goes, just make me believe it. And that was it. That was his direction. And he'd say it often on set. And that's true. That's that's the job of the actor is to make the audience believe it. So now, I know you've you've been in that you've been in the business for a few years now. Five years, it lasts about five, five years. And you've gone through a few auditions in your day. A couple I'm sure. Um, can you please give any advice to actors about how they should handle the brutal sometimes brutal auditioning process?

Adrian Martinez 34:06
Well, I think the main thing is to stay on an even keel about it all, you know, like, whether it's an audition, or just a business in general, you just have to understand that there going to be times you get good news. Don't get too excited. Right? Take pride, but don't get crazy. there gonna be times you'll get bad news. They'll get all depressed, try to stay in an even place because that's where you're going to have to sustain yourself. It's that even place where you're going to live most of the time, the business will come and the business will go you're going to work and you're not going to work. But you have to be able to keep yourself and fill out your life with the people you love and, and go to a museum and really fill out your days. Not obsessing about the work because the work comes and goes As for your audition, I really feel you have to know your lines as best as possible. be absolutely prepared. Don't go in trying to shake hands and, and give out cookies, that's not gonna work. If they offer you a handshake, yeah, of course you shake their head said sit down, or stand up, give yourself a moment to take a sort of deep breath and reconnect with, with yourself as a person. Just give yourself that be. And sometimes they want to just like plow through all that. You have a right say, Sorry, I just need a moment. Right? Even Sorry, excuse me, I just need a moment. And just take that deep breath rechannel your energy go. And that has because sometimes you get caught up into giving them your power, you know, like, Oh, God, we got to start right away. Just do you do this? Yeah, I like to, I like to stand out, I want to set a rule for yourself, you have a right to take your time with the piece and you have a right to, to do it as you feel you need to do it. And then the directors in the room or get likes you Who asked you to do it differently. Right? If he wants to know that, on the day that you'll be able to take direction, because things change on set. So he wants to know if you can go with the flow. So they asked you to do it a different way. That is I mean, they didn't like the first take it means they did like the first take.

Now the direction in case that becomes a necessity. In TV, for example, scripts are written and rewritten while you're actually filming. So

Alex Ferrari 37:03
Yeah, now what? Can you talk a little bit about the difference between film and television? Because you've done so much of both?

Adrian Martinez 37:10
Yeah, well film is is. It depends on what kind of movies to like independent movies, you can improvise a lot of independent movies, you could improvise in feature films, a lot of what I did in the movie focus was improvised. I had two records that really respected me and trusted me and knew how demented I was. So they were like, you are, yeah, if you ever want to say stuff, you know, that you think is funny, go ahead and say it. TV, that's not gonna happen, because TV goes through an advertiser, it goes through standards and practices, it goes through all these different levels of censorship, and you know, copyrights and all this. So what's written is what you're going to say. So you have to be willing to understand that and just make it your own as best as possible. So that's one difference. I think time is different, like time and TV, when you're filming television, it just goes by a lot faster that they're basically making a short film every eight days, if you're on a TV series, so every eight days, they have to cast it, set up the locations, produce it, shoot it, and do the post production for like one episode of the goodwife ad. So given that, you know world, they have to shoot fast, so you're gonna get like one, one or two takes top, you know, and then if you're like the guest star, it's interesting how it works. If you have a view that they are they'll do a master shot and they really like you. They like what they what they're saying. They'll take the time to add in a close up of you. And that's like the highest compliment like that's when they say like let's move in on Adrian for a single, that means they feel they've got the goods and they are going to spend the time and the money and it's a lot of money to ask these professional cameraman to move in on your face and capture you in this way. On a single close up. That's interested not crazy about you, they'll stay with the master and move on. Or they'll do like maybe a three shot just to kind of like but the highest compliment you can get on a TV set because it's so expensive, is when the director says let's get a close up of Adrian let's get a close up of Alex because that means they really feel they got the chops and you got the chops and they want to see it more.

Alex Ferrari 39:54
Definitely let's not get too close up on Alex please. Yeah, please No, no close ups on Alice. I'm I'm a behind the back. Let's pull back Yes, go back to the wide guy split.

Adrian Martinez 40:04
Cleveland.

Alex Ferrari 40:07
So So another thing I'm, you know, I'm a director so I, I've worked with actors a lot and and I ncse this question as well and I wanted to ask you, our acting classes needed for act for an actor to become an actor.

Adrian Martinez 40:25
Um, you know, I feel like it's one of those things where it can be helpful. If you have the right teacher, you should have a basic craft, you know, you should know how to break down a script. And, you know, Buddha Hagen was certainly a wonderful teacher. And her book respect for acting is very helpful. And it's good to go to classes if, if you feel like you just need to be in front of people and just work it. It's important to do that. But don't get too, you know, attached to acting classes. Like, there's a lot of people I have known over the years that like, yeah, I'm an actor. Oh, yeah. Yeah. What are you working on? Oh, I'm doing the signal. Oh, yeah. What are you doing the signal? Oh, HB studio at? Right. Oh, yeah. Are you doing things that Yeah, I'm doing the same. Okay. And then you like two years go by four years go by six years? What are you doing? I'm doing Waiting for Godot? Oh, yeah. What are you doing that? Oh, well, HP studio. Like, alright, I know people that they love the safety net that an acting class provides. And so they just, they're afraid to break out of that. I've met people like that over the years. So do it. But don't get married to it. You know, like, just remember, you know, you want to be a professional at work, you know, and make a living at it. You know, and that's not going to happen in a class. So, but I think if you're starting out, you know, it's good. I think if you haven't worked in a while and just want to get back in shape, it's good. Just don't get too attached, because it can become a blankie. A blankie.

Alex Ferrari 42:24
For lack of a better term. Yeah, I completely understand. Trust me, I understand that completely. Now, one thing I know, an actor's get this more than anything. I think it's it's brutal. And anytime I'm in a directing, I always feel for the actors. How do you handle rejection? Because it's so much and so often? How do you handle it?

Adrian Martinez 42:46
Yeah, well, it goes back to staying on that even keel and understanding that it's not. It's not about you, you have to see yourself as, as like, you know, like a car that they're trying to sell. Right. And so we need we need a Honda. Okay. And you you might be a Ferrari.

Alex Ferrari 43:10
No pun intended.

Adrian Martinez 43:11
Yeah. And so yeah, you know, a Ferrari is great. You know, fries are amazing. But we need a Honda.

Alex Ferrari 43:22
Ferrari is never going to be a Honda.

Adrian Martinez 43:24
No, no, or vice versa. You know, we need a Ferrari, you had your hand you just saw. So you're like, you're not you can be great in the audition. You can be prepared and focused and so wonderful. But you're not going to get it because they just need that forearm. Right? And that's fine. But it's really important, though, to take pride in your work at the audition, like it's really important that the universities that you're prepared and you're doing the work, so that when you leave that audition, you can say you know what, whatever happens, I don't care. I nailed it, and I nailed it. And you can let it go there's a great scene in the movie that Gene Hackman did called Hoosiers no yeah. And what he's talking to the team and it's before the big games like let's you know focus on your fundamentals you know, really nail this and no matter what happens I don't care what the score says your winners in my book, you know, as I said, Before this you know, like, you go in and you nail it, and then you just got to release it. Right? Otherwise it's just gonna drive you crazy.

Alex Ferrari 44:37
Well that's one thing that Yancey actually said that same said something similar in the sense that he you go in no matter what the audition is, you do the best you can because you never know what comes down the line. This might not be the right project for this directory. You but the next one might and they might

Adrian Martinez 44:52
Happen to me too. Yeah, that just happened to me. I i audition for The TV show four series regular I picked out what it was and I didn't get it and and I really was good like I really good everything I had and it smelled really good I thought it was right for it and then I found out that they wanted someone who looked more demonic and more dark skinned and all this which is funny because I'm part Dominican.

Alex Ferrari 45:32
Of course of course can you be Can you be more Dominican We'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. And now back to the show.

Adrian Martinez 45:49
But I'm kinda like fair skin so I guess in their mind they just thought we need someone darker skin so that's the perception of the mannequin so um, two months later I got an offer like a straight offer for a pilot and when I did the research it was the same director that I had auditioned for for that TV show and he remembered so he kept my good performance at the audition in mind and then when let something more appropriate came up he just made me the offer to do it. And he talked about it I worked on it we shot it he talked about how you know how cool I was at that audition and and he's glad to finally work with me so you just you got to go in there prepared and kill it no matter what because you never know how things are gonna play out.

Alex Ferrari 46:45
Exactly you know and I've I've known that God I mean look at this I mean I've I've met so many people during that now leap those nine leap workshops I did three or four years ago and those connections and people that relationships you've made they've you know, it's amazing how they they five seven years later you connect with people again you like all because of that and you know, if I was a complete asked to you during that time, I would have not been able to have you on the show, you know so you know in some something as simple as being nice to somebody you never know anything. You never know how that relationship can grow and grow and grow like me and Nancy, you know, he asked, we met we did a little something and then it kind of grew into a really a friendship. It's just the way things is now which is a perfect segue into my next question about networking. How do you network as an actor in Hollywood? And how important is it to you is for you and your career as far as networking with other actors, producers, directors, any advice?

Adrian Martinez 47:43
Well, you know, I have to say, you know, one of the big modern skills is social media, because there are a lot of casting directors on Facebook. So when you go to a movie, and you like the movie, just take note of who the casting director is, and take note of who the casting director associates are, and assistants are, and jot down their names, and friend them on Facebook, and just say, Hey, I thought you did a great job with the movie sisters. Please keep in mind for whatever, they can friend you or they could not friend you but so if they friend you then then you can you know you're in a movie or something, you can send them a link, you can send them your reel. And they'll see it I've gotten word from people that you know, so I mean on Facebook or casting people in Facebook. And they they connected to me that that that that that happened that was not the case 10 years ago.

Alex Ferrari 48:45
So then basically what you should shouldn't do is just the second you you message them just ask them for something right away. Yeah, which is that a lot of people did, like you were saying people just call you up, like, I want you to be in my apartment. Who are you? You have to build a relationship, even socially

Adrian Martinez 49:00
You have to build a relationship. Yeah. And be respectful. Now a lot of times, you know, like, I friend casting people that I know, that I've worked with, like, and I didn't know they were on Facebook, right? Like Jen Euston. She's, she's amazing. She's she cast girls. And she casts Orange is the New Black Grinch. And, and, and she's, you know, I've, I've bought several projects with her office, you know, so at that point, I had a relationship with her. And then I saw her on Facebook and I friended her, and she accepted it because she knows me. And then, you know, I said, oh, by the way, I'm in the movie focus. And I invited her to, to the premiere. So you know, you can do that, you know, they know you. If you don't know the casting person. I think it's fair. Once they put out there on social media, I think it's fair to say Listen, I understand. I don't know your work. I haven't worked with you. I haven't gotten into but I saw your casting. And you know the movie, you know, Spider Man and I just, I thought he did a great job with that. Here's my link, if you ever get the time to check it out, I just leave it like that. And then just leave it like that. I mean, like, really leave it like that. block you because you kept writing and never got a response.

Alex Ferrari 50:23
Right, right. Drop seeds, drop seeds and see if anything flashes feed, see what happens. Float some balloons. So, um, now how do you prepare for part as an actor? I always find this part fascinating.

Adrian Martinez 50:40
I don't know I have an unusual approach.

Alex Ferrari 50:44
Why doesn't that surprise me?

Adrian Martinez 50:48
I yeah, I look at the script. And I really try to bring a unique spin on the character. Like I always try to find the humor. Absolutely. Because I think even the most cruel people can be funny. I remember Forrest Whitaker, he played that dictator.

Alex Ferrari 51:16
No, yeah. Last last minute Scotland. Yeah.

Adrian Martinez 51:19
Yeah, I mean, he was fantastic in that. But when you look at he's a charming guy. You know, he was he was funny. In that movie. He was charming. He was filled with light. But at the same time, there was all this power and destruction going on. So that's that's important is to find that humor, and then I always try, like, I always try to come up with like, a physicality that I think represents the character. I did a movie call. It's kind of a funny story with Zach Galifianakis and Viola Davis. And if you see that movie, like, I'm always like, combing my hair or fiddling with my hair. And it's not something overt. But to me, like that character who was in this adult Group Hall, where people haven't seen it, and he's kind of like, has some mental illness. To me, his his Look, the characters look, and how he was always obsessed with His hair was a way into the character. So if you see the movie, you'll see me always like, tapping my hair or combing my hair, or like just checking on it. And I did a movie called Casa de me, Padre. Yeah. It's so funny. I, I used an avocado for that, like getting like To me, this guy was either always trying to share it avocado, eating an avocado.

Alex Ferrari 52:52
And that was something you brought to the table. It was

Adrian Martinez 52:55
Yeah. And I had to fight for it. Because the writer was like, well, it's not in the script. Like I was like, Yeah, no, it's not in the script. But this is just my way of bringing something into it, that expands on the role. And that's fun. Yeah, I just feel like you have to bring something that's unique to the role. And so when I go through the script, base based on what I read, I try to come up with something that I think expands on the role, and it's just sort of interesting and interesting spin on it. And then if the directors are okay with it, you know, I'll add some dialogue, either at the top of a speech or at the bottom of the speech that I think will make it funnier, or more moving or whatever. But make sure please don't write to me and make me make sure the director is cool with that. Right? And usually in movies they are like they'll say, like, yeah, we'll do a one way scripted. And then we'll just do one way and we'll get to play around, right? When they play around, be prepared and have your ideas you know, at the ready, but make sure they work make sure it feels work.

Alex Ferrari 54:12
And also that they're open to it and they're open to it like what's it like with Robin Williams? That's all they did. They just like okay, they scheduled in his improv.

Adrian Martinez 54:22
Yeah, I guess the line in the movie focus where I say I'm accusing Margot Robbie of being a lesbian, you know, right. Yeah. And I say

Alex Ferrari 54:37
Every time you talk to every time you speak, I always smile is vagina or something like that.

Adrian Martinez 54:41
Yeah. And so, you know, that made the cat because A, the directors were open to it. And be Margot Robbie did not break character. He starts laughing stops to take the next It's not in the movie. But the fact that she stayed in character saved my ass. And that's a tribute to her professionalism that she just went with it.

Alex Ferrari 55:10
That's brutal. You know. And I saw that scene. I remember I saw the movie, it was funny as you did the whole Scarface tongue thing, which was nice.

Adrian Martinez 55:17
Well, yeah, that's my little.

Alex Ferrari 55:22
You know what the women love me. Anyway. So and So you've obviously been an amazing, you know, you've had an amazing acting career so far. Now you're getting into directing and producing as well,correct?

Adrian Martinez 55:34
Yeah, I mean, I feel like you absolutely. Like what I said before about soul generating work. Because I'm definitely a character actor, I've been the sidekick to a lot of stars. That does come a point where you want to also be able to say, what you feel is important, you know, not just be a plot device for someone else's ideas. And so to that end, I've written a few scripts that I'm going to get off the ground next year, and I'm really excited about it, because it's a chance to, to, you know, really lay claim to an idea. And from start to finish.

Alex Ferrari 56:15
And you're working on some, you've done some micro shorts, like improvisational shorts.

Adrian Martinez 56:21
Yeah, I mean, that's another thing that I really hope people do is like, you know, just grab your buddy and just start, start shooting something and put it on YouTube like this a guy I worked with a while too many call alexan fangire. Alex is a good guy. He's like, I don't know, it was like, 25 or something. And he had a bunch of shorts that he did. And Ben stole his company. caught wind of it. And now he's doing big time in Hollywood for Comedy Central. Nice. And he's, you know, the exec producer, and the creator of it, and he's on his way, you know, so it can happen, it can happen. Yeah.

Alex Ferrari 57:09
So one thing I've noticed doing indie film, hustle, and this is something I've never had done it, you know, I'm consistently doing work, I'm consistently putting out content, meeting new people. And the and the blog is almost had, it's almost forced me, too, because I have a schedule that I keep every you know, I do a podcast every week, and I do a blog post every week and, and I'm constantly working towards putting out good content. And it's that every day thing like you have to keep showing up, you have to keep, like Woody Allen says half of Was it 80 or 90% of success is just showing up or something along those lines. By doing that consistently, all of a sudden, you'd look back and you're like, Oh, I got 40 episodes, a podcast, oh, look, I've, I've got you know, 40 article posts all of a sudden, and then all of a sudden, you turn around and you look back, and like, Oh, I'm on my 100th episode. And then that's what you start doing. And a lot of these guys who've made made it in YouTube, that's what they do. They just show up every day. And it just post every week or every other day, or whatever their schedule is. And then all of a sudden, they have this breadth of, of product out there. And yeah, people take notice.

Adrian Martinez 58:22
They do. And it's interesting, because we live in an age where like, the smartphone has everything immediately, you know, a restaurant, immediately you'll get it if you want, you know, a store immediately you'll get it. Something on Google, you know, but a career is more requires a great deal of perseverance and patience. And nobody wants to hear that like right now.

Alex Ferrari 58:48
Like you said,

Adrian Martinez 58:50
Just change the channel. They didn't want to hear that.

Alex Ferrari 58:52
But like, like you said, when we first started, before we go on that there's like, Oh, great, we're gonna get the depressed people for the holidays. We're recording this during the holidays, but it'll probably be released later in the year. But yeah, it's true. It's true. It's It's It's, it's sometimes it's a tough pill to swallow.

Adrian Martinez 59:08
And you have to be open to that you have to understand that it really is a marathon. And you have to pace yourself and keep going. You're going to hit walls, there'll be times you don't want to do it anymore. And that's okay. There'll be times when you feel like empowered and you want to take on the world. So it's definitely it's not for everyone. You'll have to put in the time, like I said, at least 10 years. But if you're ready to fight the fight if you feel like you have no other choice, yeah, then I wish you well.

Alex Ferrari 59:45
Now I'm, you've worked with some amazing directors. Adrian, what do you look for in a director.

Adrian Martinez 59:56
I want to feel safe. I don't want to feel like If I make a mistake that I'm going to be yelled at, I don't want to feel I, what I bring to the set doesn't matter. I'm a unique person, and I wanted to wreck it that gets who I am, and is willing to work with me. based on who I am in a safe atmosphere. You're there to fulfill the director's vision. But I still feel it should be a collaboration. I mean, he hired you, right? He hired you. And you're there to fulfill the vision. But obviously, they should be open and receptive to who you are, and to what your talents are, because each actor brings a different set of skills. And I think it's the smart director that's open to that. And then the stance that and says, Yeah, let's see what you got. And if it works, it works.

Alex Ferrari 1:00:57
That's not the first actor that spoken to who said that. That's, I think the number one thing that a lot of Robert forester said the same thing. And he actually said to He's like, and someone else also knows what they want is another big thing he's like, it's just someone who knows when the tape is good. And I don't have to sit there and do it. 40 times.

Adrian Martinez 1:01:18
Yeah, exactly. exactly.

Alex Ferrari 1:01:21
So are there any pitfalls that you can give actors advice on in the business, like any pitfalls in the business that you can give them warnings about

Adrian Martinez 1:01:31
Warning warnings? Um, ah, gee, I don't know. There are people who are not well in the business.

Alex Ferrari 1:01:49
That is the best way I've ever heard anyone. There's people who are not well in the business, that's great.

Adrian Martinez 1:01:56
So when you're on set, be prepared. Sometimes people will be inappropriate, sometimes will be unprofessional. And you have to decide for yourself what you're going to put up with, and what you're not going to put up with and know that going in. Right? If you're a woman, you know, and you're on set and someone tries or even if you're mad, and someone tries to exploit you, or in some way be inappropriate, you have a right to walk away. Right? And you have a right to to go to the first ad and say and say something just make sure that you understand what your power is and your power you have you have a right to defend yourself and protect yourself and not be in an unsafe situation. Under any circumstances. No job is so important that it means you you degrade yourself to get the job done. So keep that in mind keep your dignity no matter what.

Alex Ferrari 1:03:10
That's great advice.

Adrian Martinez 1:03:13
The rules have changed it used to be like in terms of money like they would fly you out to to be a recurring role. Now, there's a lot of local hires. So if you're an LA actor, and you want to work in New York and Orange is the New Black you're probably gonna do it for scale then not gonna fly out and you need to understand that you know, that's how it is and you have to decide well do I still want to do it same thing in reverse. I got offered a recurring on some TV show. It was in LA they wanted to be they wanted me to be an LA local hire. Even though I live in New York and I you know, I did the math I said not not going to do it. They should fly me out and put me up. Right? So they that that one didn't work out. But you take each one differently. Like there was another case where I would be an LA local hire because it was a favorite for a friend and and I thought the role was special enough. So just know that, you know, sometimes you're gonna have to spend to earn.

Alex Ferrari 1:04:30
Amen. A bed. Now, this is one of the I got two more, a couple more questions left engine. What is the lesson that took you the longest to learn in film business or in life?

Adrian Martinez 1:04:47
Oh my god. Paging Oprah. Let's see. Well Say that again.

Alex Ferrari 1:04:57
So what is the lesson in life or in the film business that is took you the longest to learn. In other words, you might have beat your head against the wall a couple times, until finally like, Oh, this is why this is happening. Oh, this is what I should do.

Adrian Martinez 1:05:10
Um Great question, Alex, I would have to go with I am enough.

Alex Ferrari 1:05:20
Wow, what a great answer. I am enough.

Adrian Martinez 1:05:26
You know, you can spend so much time like, worried about your weight, your height, your skin tone, you can spend so much time worried about so many things at the end of the day. It really just comes down to trust in accepting who you are, as you are today, in this given moment, and it is a gift that the world receives it, you're doing the world a favor letting that out they're not doing you a favor. I mean, the light that you were born with is the light that they want to see. At auditions and in performances. You were born with that light and you don't need anyone else to filter it or change it. That's it. You were born with it. So just trust it and shine.

Alex Ferrari 1:06:26
There's like five t shirts in that entire answer. That's awesome. That's some words to live by my friend. It's That's wonderful, man. Really, really great answer to that. So these are the last two questions that are the most fun questions, but also arguably one of the I asked this of all of my guests, which is the one most underrated film you've ever seen. And then what are your top three favorite films of all time?

Adrian Martinez 1:06:52
I'll take the second with favorite films. grandfather's, the Godfather one and two. The Shawshank Redemption

Alex Ferrari 1:07:07
Man after my own heart

Adrian Martinez 1:07:10
And the tear runner okay. Of course it's very hard to answer that. Now of course talking sci fi Of course of course and it's of course Blade Runner. Talking fantasy in the woods you know the Wizard of Oz should go crazy. Right? Right. Um movie that's that's underrated is a movie called cheese. People need to see the Elephant Man starring. JOHN hurt as the Elephant Man, David Lynch. It was his first movie. Yep. And it's just really a fantastic movie that you should catch on Netflix over where it is these days. It'll break your heart and to me that's that's one thing I want to make sure that your audience understands is, is you should always really think of the characters pain. Every character has a great pain in his in his life. And that's that's from that's from Georgia South who was an actor. He did five movies all got Oscar nominated. And he was in. He was Fredo in The Godfather. He was in talk they afternoon. Fantastic actor. And he is talking about how Every character has a pain that and from that pain, you can build your performance because when you think about it, you know we're all motivated, motivated by avoiding pain or over in pain. So that's a great a great thing to hold on to. But yeah, I would go with the Alpha Man, you can really feel the emotional power of the performances in that. But there's so many

Alex Ferrari 1:09:09
No of course there's millions or hundreds, hundreds of 1000s of them but yeah, now where can people find you and find find out more about you.

Adrian Martinez 1:09:17
I'll give you all my address. I'm at

Alex Ferrari 1:09:21
My my home address is 1152

Adrian Martinez 1:09:24
My Twitter is taste of Adrian

Alex Ferrari 1:09:28
Brilliant name by the way. I love that and it's great.

Adrian Martinez 1:09:32
Also Instagram as taste of Adrian and then I'm on Facebook. Well, you know, friend me, I'm there. And yeah, yeah.

Alex Ferrari 1:09:43
And then did you have a website?

Adrian Martinez 1:09:46
AdrianMartinez.net and do you have a YouTube at all or no? No, but now that you mentioned that I think I'll make one.

Alex Ferrari 1:09:55
I'm glad I could help sir. Adrian man, thank you so much for taking the time man. This has been an eye Opening interview man, it's been wonderful. Hope you enjoyed it.

Adrian Martinez 1:10:02
Thank you, Alex and don't take another around five years to talk to me.

Alex Ferrari 1:10:07
Okay. As I told you, it was a very entertaining and informative interview guys. Adrian really answered that question the best I've ever heard anyone asked what is the longest thing? What's the lesson that took you the longest to learn? And that is your enough. And that is something that I want to say to you guys is your enough. You guys are enough to do whatever you're trying to do be you do you because that is the secret to your success. If you're honest with who you are as an artist, whether you're an actor, director, writer, whoever. Those are the people who make it. Those are the people who make a living, doing what they love to do. So if that's a lesson that we can learn from Adrian, I really it was well worth having him on the show. And just so you guys know that Adrian is making his directorial debut with his new movie, I creep. And you can check out more information about AI creep at his website at Adrian martinez.net. I like to thank again Adrian for taking the time out to be on the show and good luck to you new movie Adrian, all the indie film hustle tribe is rooting for you, man. Thanks again. Now an update on this is Meg. We are going we are working on our crowdfunding video. Right now we're getting everything ready for the campaign. We're looking to launch in mid June either the 14th or the 21st of June to launch and we'll be running for 30 days, I will let you guys know what's going on and give you all the skinny of what I'm learning. Because I'm working really closely with seed and spark calm. And they're giving me all the ins and outs of what makes a good campaign. And when it doesn't, I've never crowdfunded before, really. So this is an experience for me. And I want to share that experience with you guys. So you guys really understand what it takes to get this get a movie like this made this kind of micro budget movie. So I'll keep giving you updates to what's going on with Meg and again, if you want to sign on for any of this stuff I talked about earlier in the episode, you could just go to the show notes at indiefilmhustle.com/077 thanks again for all the support guys. As always, head over to filmmaking podcast.com and leave us an honest review of the show. It helps us out tremendously guys, and if you want to be part of the indie film hustle community, head over to indiefilmhustle.com/facebook to sign up for our private Facebook group where all of us indie film, hustlers talk, post about each other's works, ask questions Connect. It's a really cool community and we're getting close to 5000 members of that group so definitely check that out indiefilmhustle.com/facebook. As always, keep that hustle going. Keep that dream alive, and I'll talk to you soon.