Up Close with Actor Javier Galvez

Los Angeles-based actor Javier Galvez was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, surrounded by the crafty, rich, alternative artistic community. He began acting in elementary school, with his first role being the lead in a stage adaptation of the animated film Rango, which sparked his passion for the theatre. Between middle school and high school, he played various roles on stage, such as King Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar), Rudolpho (Matilda), Roger (Grease), Brian (Avenue Q), as well as participating in experimental theatre workshops. Post high school, he moved to the United States to pursue an education in the arts at schools like Academy Of Art University in San Francisco, and AMDA in Los Angeles, where he shifted his focus more into on-camera work, as well as writing and directing his own works on stage and on camera. After earning his degree, he has gone on to act with companies like Hero Theatre, Zombie Joe’s Underground, and most recently CHW Productions at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.

We caught up with Javier to talk about his latest movie ‘Brotherhood’ which just wrapped in Hollywood.

Welcome Javier. Can you tell us a bit about your early beginnings in acting?

I’d say for most of my life as an artist, experience was my teacher. When it comes to performing, specifically, a lot of people expect you to already know what to do so they don’t really teach you anything. Once I started taking things more seriously, I was lucky to meet a great theatre company, Teatro En El Incendio. With them, I really was able to find the core of what it meant to be an artist and a performer. How to connect with myself, not just with the script. It was a lot of doing, as opposed to being told what to do. Their process is very collaborative, crafty, and very physical. And there’s truly no wrong answers, which I think is very important because it helps people see acting as an art form and not a strict science. It’s abstract, it can be anything. They helped me learn that.

Has there been one particular moment in your career that you’re most proud of?

One that comes to mind is, I worked background for a series that shot in the Universal Studios backlot, and I got to actually be in the backlot and walk around. It wasn’t a huge credit but it meant a lot to the little kid in me whose favorite ride was the studio tram. It really felt like I had gotten somewhere, as corny as that sounds. Like all the work that I had done wasn’t in vain.

In today’s Hollywood, there is a significant push for greater inclusivity and representation. How do you see your work contributing to this movement, and what changes do you still hope to see in the industry?

I think, sadly, there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of inclusivity in the industry. Specifically, I notice it a lot when it comes to skin color, particularly in proximity to whiteness. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of representation of every race’s lightest skin color, not so much love to the darker tones. I myself am Mexican, but I can admit I am in no way brown skinned; I get mistaken for American all the time. There is a sort of privilege that comes with how close to whiteness you are. I am in no way a representative for dark skin. However, me being really fair skinned makes me more “palatable” some would say. My hope is that if that privilege can help me make it in this industry, then I can help my fellow actors who have been discriminated against. Get my foot in the door, and keep it open for them.

Tell us about your latest movie ‘Brotherhood’

So ‘Brotherhood’ is set during a Halloween party at a fraternity, an oppressed pledge class joins forces to overthrow their tyrannical frat president. It’s like Animal House meets Game of Thrones meets Epic Movie. All while wearing banana costumes.

I play the role of Leo. He’s the pledge who rallies, a bit of a leader, but more of a hype man. He’s determined to get everyone out of the frat house safe.

Do you think you are anything like your character?

100%, at parties I find myself making sure everyone is safe, rallying everyone when it’s time to go, making sure people are doing okay. I like taking care of people, specially inspiring people to put themselves first. The character came easy to me.

How did you get involved?

I was scrolling on Actor’s Access (as one does) and I saw the breakdown. Immediately caught my eye with the frat setting. I’m a huge fan of high school/college set movies and shows. It’s such a dramatic period in people’s lives and you really just have the darnedest things happening. I submitted for it and got a request for a self-tape audition. In the information they provided along with the sides, it said we’d all be wearing banana costumes, so naturally I bought a banana costume for my tape. I just felt like taking a risk that day, and it paid off!

Scout Brodsky was our dedicated director, she was very easy to work with, and fun too. And our producer was Serena Marwah, who was just a joy, always worried about our safety and well-being, which you don’t always get on film sets.

Who else is in the film?

I had the privilege of acting alongside the very talented Jake Laney, Elan Garfias, Charlie Trepany, and Zoe Brodsky. One of the nicest groups of people I have ever worked with.

Can you share any fun facts from set?

A fun fact is we filmed on location at an actual fraternity house in USC, so we would have people walking by and being weirded out by our costumes, or we’d be interrupted by the frat brothers just trying to live their lives while we took up their whole living space. The funniest fact though is that Zoe Brodsky was not supposed to be in the film. One of the actors who was supposed to join us ended up not showing up. So our director, Scout, called Zoe and asked her to get to set asap without any context. Next thing she knew, she was in a banana costume with fake blood on her face. That’s Showbiz!

How can we see it?

It’s still early days, but there will be a screening at University of Southern California in October, which I am looking forward to – I got a banana themed outfit and everything!

Now that is bananas!