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10 THINGS – Froy Gutierrez

10 Things with Froy Gutierrez

You’ve only been acting a few short years. What made you want to get into the business?

All of my life, I’ve been obsessed with story telling, drunk on it. Even when I was little, I knew that film and TV were immersive in ways that books were not, and spoke in ways that orators could not articulate. Little me would watch and replay the Hercules movie daily. As I grew older, that hunger for good storytelling stuck with me. I guess I’ve always been profoundly enamored with this industry. When acting evolved from a hobby to a happy accident, I felt compelled to follow its call.

Which actors career would you want to emulate as you start on your own journey?

This is a great question! My favorite actors tend to be on both the accessible and uncomfortable sides of art. I love actors that champion commercial work in addition to the bravely alien. As a kid, I was going to the cinema and fell under the spell of the typical blockbuster, but I still wasn’t seeing the type of people I saw every day in my own life. I’m a huge fan of Brad Pitt, who is an extremely dynamic actor who has played vastly varying roles throughout his career. He’s a cinematic chameleon, both a leading man and character actor. Another actor I look up to is Brit Marling. In spite of her movie star looks, she picks the darker, more enigmatic roles. Not only is she a talented actor, but a producer, writer and director. The most important part of it always is to be an artist, but you want as many people as possible to resonate with your art. And to do that, you have to be a businessperson. Brit Marling encapsulates this polarity perfectly. Rami Malek, Evan Peters and Jared Leto are other actors who take on the duality of the odd and the comfortable throughout their careers, which is a quality I deeply admire. 

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As a young actor in the business, it’s natural to want to get to the finish line of success. Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles thus far?

Learning to say no has been one of the biggest challenges for me. As a young person in this industry, I’m still figuring myself out, but now I’m figuring myself out in the midst of all of this. I’m still getting comfortable with the way I look and the way I am, so I’ve had to learn that its ok to miss an occasional red carpet or project. If I’m asked to go shirtless for a shoot, its ok to trade a few seconds of embarrassment for a mind at ease. If I’m asked to partake in a project that displays an image system of oppression, its ok for me to turn it down. I’ve never been a confrontational person, so learning how to say no is a new challenge for me.

You were cast on the very successful Netflix series, One Day at A Time. What were some of your best memories from the first season?

Having religiously read Stephen Tobolowsky’s The Dangerous Animals Club in school and having admired him for so long, I have to say my favorite memory was meeting the actor. My jaw visibly dropped, my heart audibly thumped. I brought the book to set each day for him to sign, but I was honestly too nervous to bother him. Phil Lewis, or Mr. Moseby (as most folks in my generation would know him) directed an episode that I was perpetually giddy about. Along with Rita Moreno, you could catch me fanboying in the corner of the Oe Day At A Time Set each episode!

What did you enjoy about bringing your character, Josh Flores, to life?

As such a sweet, unassuming person, Josh Flores was too fun to portray. He notably broke the archetype of the ignorant jock, in favor of an awkwardly charismatic guy, so his inception was very unique for me. As a latinx person myself, it was a pleasant surprise to see Josh’s mixed background represented in the show. 

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MTV’s Teen Wolf is at the other end of the spectrum from what you were doing on One Day at A Time. What were some of the differences that you experienced on that show?

Although the work processes were similar, the characters were decisively worlds away. Josh Flores is the fireplace your family gathers around, and Nolan Holloway is the place your mind goes to when you’re alone at 3 AM.  One Day At A Time was a communal and comedic sitcom, which contrasts greatly with the single cam, internalized nature of Teen Wolf. Already a dark show, Teen Wolf gets notably grim in the final ten episodes. Nolan is a large part of that darkness. Living as the character, making a home in that darkness was an unprecedented challenge for me. As such an alien and reclusive person, Nolan called me to change my posture, eye contact, voice and thoughts. Teen Wolf ushered me into a new field of acting.

Coming up very soon is the film, A Cowgirl’s Story. What made you decide to take this on and what can viewers expect to see from your character, Jason and the rest of the cast?

A Cowgirl’s Story is a heartfelt, sincere film about hardship. It maintains the framework of a traditional family film, yet extends its reach to touch on unorthodox issues. This duality was extremely compelling to me when I first read the script. Jason, specifically, is a sensitive soul who has been hardened by his surroundings, so you’ll get to see him blossom throughout the film. Bailee Madison brings a versatile approach to a typical protagonist, Chloe Lukasiak brings an edge that we haven’t seen from her before and Aidan Alexander brings an intriguing subtlety to the film. I’m thrilled to see the reactions!

If you weren’t an actor, what career do you think you’d have at this point?

If I weren’t an actor, I’d still be in school! I was studying economics at university before Teen Wolf made its way to me, so I’d still be pursuing that degree. Before acting, I was studiously aiming for a career as an economist, believe it or not!

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When it comes to fashion, which designers fit your personal sense of style?

Honestly, fashion is still very foreign to me. You’ll have to ask me again in a few years! Its hard for me to think about, because this industry is full of these huge, decorated stars, but I don’t think of myself as such. I know for a fact that my room is ridiculously messy. All my clothes are from Target and the thrift store by my house. As I’m writing you, I’m wearing gym shorts from my freshman year and a black t shirt I purchased on clearance. I would not be the guy you go to for fashion/style advice. 

We look forward to seeing you on A Cowgirl’s Story. What other projects do you have coming up in the near future?

This summer, Teen Wolf will air (which I’m super thrilled about!). Later in the year, some original music of mine will be out in the world. Aside from that, I can’t say! I can say, however, that I’m very excited for the projects I’m working on!

 

Twitter: @FroyNextDoor

Instagram: @Froy

Facebook: Froy Official

Photos: Courtesy of Logan Cole Photography