In this episode, award-winning Afro-Latina actress and filmmaker Loren Escandón shares her inspiring journey from Cali, Colombia, to Hollywood. Growing up surrounded by cartel violence, Loren’s mother enrolled her in ballet to keep her safe, which sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling. She shares how her early training in ballet, tango, and jazz eventually led her to theater and television, as well as the challenges of navigating cultural shifts and learning to embrace her accent. Loren has appeared in hit series including Gentefied, 9-1-1, S.W.A.T., Selena: The Series, Truth Be Told, and Freevee’s Casa Grande. She is best known for her breakout role as Marisol in Netflix’s Purple Hearts. Beyond acting, Loren is an accomplished director and writer. Her debut, Phone Tales, premiered at multiple festivals, and her latest short, Los Patines, has won numerous awards including Best Short at the San Pedro International Film Festival and Best Latino Short and Director at the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival. Throughout the conversation, Loren emphasizes resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of representation in storytelling. She offers insights into her creative process, her experiences navigating multiple cities and cultures, and her vision for what’s coming next.
00:00 Introduction and Early Life
00:25 Discovering Ballet and Storytelling
01:32 Transition to Acting and Moving to the US
02:27 Navigating the Acting Industry
03:48 First TV Role and Learning the Ropes
05:49 Settling in LA and Finding Representation
11:24 Audition Challenges and Self-Acceptance
16:59 The Importance of Training and Comedy
25:17 Wardrobe and Character Embodiment
26:50 Collaborative Costume Design
27:22 Realism in Acting
28:57 Transition to Directing
31:57 Creating Los Patina
34:50 Challenges and Triumphs
39:34 Future Projects and Aspirations
46:44 Reflections and Inspirations
49:46 Inside the Actor’s Studio Questions
EPISODE LINKS:
· Follow Loren on IG @lorenescandon
Host: Colleen Foy
Producer: Kristyn Daniel
Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing
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