When it comes to versatility and vary, few actors working right this moment carry to the display screen the depth that Raúl Castillo has; through the years, we have seen him play a assured homosexual hairdresser on the beloved HBO sequence Looking, a face-eating serial killer on Gotham, a charmingly irresistible bartender on Atypical, and the horny however kinda shady Baco on Vida. As such, the Texan-born, Mexican-American performer and playwright has change into, in a really brief time period, a scene-stealing power in each challenge he takes on — and some of the recognizable Latino actors on TV too, (To say nothing of the various films he is starred in.)
Now 43, Castillo, who grew up on the border city of McAllen, performed bass in a punk band in his youth and later took up theater — a love that led him to Boston College’s School of Fantastic Arts. Having grown up straddling cultures and studying to shortly adapt in environments the place he was the one Latino particular person, Castillo is uniquely positioned to navigate the Hollywood machine and work to alter it from the within, largely simply be being actually good in each position he rigorously selects. At a time when Latinx tales and persons are woefully underrepresented on broadcast and cable, Castillo is form of an unintentional torch bearer — consultant of the various extra gifted Latinx/Hispanic performers behind him who can level to him for instance of on-screen greatness. As a part of an ongoing sequence all through Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) TV Information is speaking with a few of the most distinguished Hispanic and Latinx voices in TV right this moment, from actors to producers, writers, and different creatives, to speak in regards to the state of the business and extra. Here is what Raúl Castillo needed to say.
My first query is fairly easy: there is a real dearth of Hispanic/Latino stories and people on TV now. How will we repair this, and the way does it get higher?
Castillo: I really feel like I have been lucky to work on stuff that’s Latino centric, after which I’ve additionally been the one Latino on lots of units as nicely, you realize, and, and each [scenarios] are attention-grabbing to me for various causes. I believe I believe it is essential that we foster not solely expertise in entrance of the digital camera, but in addition behind, you realize, in each side of our artwork type. I believe we must be fostering digital camera expertise and costume expertise and technicians– all throughout the board. I believe we’d like diversification of our crews. It is simply as essential as in entrance of the digital camera. And [we need] fostering different storytellers. I believe it is actually essential.
I do know what it is prefer to be the one Black particular person within the room. What’s it like being the one Latino particular person within the room? How does that have an effect on you as an artist and the storyteller?
Castillo: I imply, I went to varsity in Boston within the ’90s. So I used to be getting used to being one of many just one, or one of some. The theater program is a really extensive [diverse] program however then on the identical time, I used to be a part of a pupil group, the East Coast Chicano Pupil Discussion board — I do not even know if that group nonetheless exists — however I used to be like dipping my toes in each worlds. I’ve all the time felt it essential to do this, to signify the group, however have fun with my group and to create with my very own group as nicely. However to be the one one, I simply really feel prefer it’s my job to go on the market and signify and be seen present and telling tales.
You have performed lots of several types of roles, from Trying to Vida however all the time characters with plenty of nuance. What varieties of roles do you like? Do you flip down stuff and why?
Castillo: You realize, it isn’t a lot roles for me however the story undoubtedly. I do know a task speaks to me once I learn it. There is no there is not any predetermined set of issues that I am in search of. What’s essential to me now could be to collaborate with storytellers who work on the sorts of tales that I can get behind, like Trying and Vida, exhibits like Seven Seconds, Atypical. I wish to collaborate with storytellers I can get behind. I believe I am studying to belief my intestine extra. I believe whenever you’re beginning out as an actor, it is sort of feast or famine — you’re taking no matter comes your method. And I believe one of many large classes for me and positively throughout this quarantine when every thing’s been stripped away, is that we now have to actually rethink what storytelling is, and we now have to sort of come at it in a brand new method. It is trusting my intuition. After I learn one thing and I reply to it. I do not I am not attempting to make issues work that do not. Do not you realize, not forcing issues to work. It is simply trusting my intuition.
With Vida, Grand Lodge, The Baker and the Magnificence gone, why do you suppose it is so laborious to maintain Latinx-centric exhibits on air particularly since Latinx folks make up a lot of the inhabitants? What do you suppose is lacking or incorrect that that is such a form of pervasive subject?
Castillo: I believe we’re simply not used to seeing ourselves…In order that’s a matter of continuous to attempt to inform our tales and to domesticate our personal viewers. I believe we now have to teach our group to help our tales, [to] develop that viewers. I really like the messages that I get on Instagram [about the roles I play]. It is actually thrilling. I am so proud to be a part of that. I virtually handed on [Vida] as a result of I used to be at a degree in my profession the place I wasn’t positive what I wished to be subsequent. [Vida creator Tanya Saracho and I] began collaborating after we have been youngsters. So, you realize, getting to look at her develop and develop as a storyteller has all the time been actually thrilling. So I am actually proud to be part of that present for positive. The viewers was small, however they’re actually passionate and so they actually care in regards to the present. It is not the sort of present folks neglect about.
You mentioned you virtually handed on it. Why? Have been you apprehensive about being pigeonholed? Is that one thing you contemplate? Like, I’m a author, I do not essentially wish to be checked out as a Black author on a regular basis, as a result of that may really feel limiting, however then, I am a Black author. Do you ever get into that house, the place you do not wish to be pigeonholed like that?
Castillo: I imply, undoubtedly, however with that it was extra about simply being at a important level in my profession particularly when it regards to tv as a result of it’s such a dedication. I wished to be 100% positive earlier than I grew to become form of a contractor to play. It was about desirous to make the fitting alternative.
You talked about your Instagram. I believe it is evident that activism is a part of who you’re. Why is that essential to you? Do you’re feeling it is dangerous career-wise or no?
Castillo: Properly, you realize, I used to be a younger punk rocker and I got here up on actually political music. Numerous the music I used to be related to was very political so even once I received into theater, I used to be all the time drawn to that. I do not know if I contemplate myself an activist simply because I respect that time period an excessive amount of, however I’ve a platform and I attempt to use it as greatest I can.