From welding to music to movies: Mexican actor joins award-winning film
Acting transformed my life from the inside out. It helped me grow in unexpected ways and opened new paths for me to explore. Growing up, I often felt uncertain and lost. Today I remain confident in myself. I express myself openly through art. Every single project presents the opportunity to learn more about the world and myself. The characters I have played live inside me.
- 2 years ago
April 23, 2023
Juan Daniel García Treviño, the Mexican actor who stars in the film I'm No Longer Here, worked many odd jobs before his musical career launched him into the world of cinema. | Photo courtesy of Juan Daniel García Treviño
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Before I turned to acting, my life looked completely different. In the fifth grade, at the age of 12, I dropped out of school. My family criticized my decision, and I grappled with doubt and fear. After working at construction sites and car washes, I landed a job as a welder. With more confidence in my choices, I slowly learned to embrace myself and overcome negative thinking.
I realized as long as I believe in myself, the rest falls into place through hard work. I joined a band on the side called Fuerza Cumbianbera and played the timbales at bars, events, and political rallies. It filled me with excitement.
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How a concert landed me an incredible film opportunity
The best moment of my musical career happened when we opened for the international Mexican music legend Celso Piña and El Gran Silencio. The day of the concert, I felt so nervous I could barely stand. The heat of the day felt stifling as people crowded into the venue. Knowing I faced a major opportunity, I tried to calm myself down. This could launch our group forward and I felt like fate had something in store for me. I was right.
At the end of the concert, as I walked off stage, two people approached me. They served as scouts for the film I’m No Longer Here. After asking if I liked cumbia [traditional Colombian music using drums, flutes, maracas, and accordions], they interviewed me right then and there. The noise and chaos of the concert continued behind us.
The experience felt surreal. A month passed, and I nearly forgot about the encounter. Then, my mother received a call. They wanted to see me again.
The unexpected casting that changed my life
I drove to Monterrey for the formal casting, feeling reluctant to miss work as a welder. When I arrived on set, they dressed me as a cholo [men in the Mexican subculture associated with street gangs]. I chewed gum and took on a that strong attitude you find in the neighborhoods. To my surprise, the casting had nothing to do with music or playing cumbia.
They asked me to imagine a scene where I had to communicate with someone who didn’t understand my language. I felt so nervous, I could barely remember what I said afterwards. During the second test, they asked me to dance. I had no experience, but they played a song I knew, so I tried my best. I felt extremely awkward and uncoordinated.
Despite my disappointment, the casting director, Bernardo Velazco, called me his favorite. Yet, he warned, I needed to learn to dance properly. He asked me to rehearse and send videos of my progress, which I did. With the help of a friend, I learned the steps and made it into the movie. I could not believe it. The experience opened a whole new world and showed me that with effort and determination, anything is possible.
Immediately, I fell in love with my character. I understood his journey. As time went on, I recieved more casting calls. Acting went beyond portraying a character. It became a way to express myself and connect with others. When I took on roles of raw human beings – predators with no heart – I began to understand the lifestyle in my neighborhood. I grew up familiar with drug trafficking and corrupt policing, but acting gave me a deeper perspective.
Finding the right path and battling negativity
For a while after finishing the film I’m No Longer Here, I felt unsure about continuing in the industry. I encountered scenarios where people said I could not play certain characters. They limited me because I did not look like the character they envisioned or because I came from a different background. Growing up poor with minimal cultural exposure did not exclude me from understanding people’s experiences, I thought.
I approach acting differently, by finding ways to bring nuance and authenticity to the role. I do this by tapping into parts of myself that connect with their experiences. This brings real power to the character and that resonates on screen. While I may be young, I have lived a full life through all of careers and experiences. I still love welding, but in acting, I found my voice.
Acting transformed my life from the inside out. It helped me grow in unexpected ways and opened new paths for me to explore. Growing up, I often felt uncertain and lost. Today I remain confident in myself. I express myself openly through art. Every single project presents the opportunity to learn more about the world and myself. The characters I have played live inside me.
