Hello, dear readers, and again, welcome back (or for the first time, perhaps?) to OneFilmFan.com! When the original opportunity came about via actress Sara Castro to view her newest independent film, “The Shift”, review it, and ultimately do an interview with her, I frankly would not have expected that it would then lead to the same chance with the film’s director, Lee Cipolla.  Well folks, it has now lead to the perfect trifecta, thanks again to Sara’s assistance, as I can now present to you this newest interview with the film’s lead actor (who also just happened to decide it was a great idea to take on writing and producing for the effort as well!), Leo Oliva! So, find a comfortable place to relax, take a load off, and enjoy a great look into the life of this very talented, very busy, and very humble and honest man, Mr. Leo Oliva!

 

One Film Fan: Let’s first get to know you a little. You were born in Miami, correct? Tell a little about growing up in Southern Florida and what was the catalyst that led you into your interest in film.

Leo Oliva: Ever since I was a little kid, I can always remember wanting to entertain people. Weather making funny faces to the camera on home videos or participating in the live audience interaction rides at Universal Studios Orlando, I always wanted to perform. I remember arguing with my brothers over which characters we were in the movies we had just watched.

 The first moment I can remember thinking of movies and acting as something that I wanted to do was while watching “Apollo 13” with Tom Hanks. I must have been about eleven years old at the time and I remember realizing that I had seen Tom in another movie where he was playing a different character. They scrolled through my head: “Splash”, “Big”, “A League of Their Own”—“Forest Gump”! All of a sudden, Tom was an astronaut. This guy was getting to be all these different people, who all made me feel different things, and I wanted to do that. Still, growing up in South Florida, especially in a Cuban household, acting was never thought of as a way of making a career.

I took drama in high school and then a few theater classes at The University of Miami and acted in a play while earning my Nursing Degree. Still, I wouldn’t make my decision to move out to LA until I was 23.

O.F.F.: How did you further learn the industry (ie: mentors, influences, and schooling)?

L.O.: I don’t count my classes in high school or at UM as real training per-say. Although, they were what helped me find what drives me as an actor: the need to move people emotionally by helping them understand people and subjects they normally wouldn’t give another thought.

 I learned how to achieve that with my work while studying with Alex Taylor at The Meisner Studio, now known as The Taylor School of Acting in Burbank. He was and continues to be the biggest influence I have had in my acting career and his class is the best investment I ever made, in my career and my life.

O.F.F.: With that accomplishment of graduating from Sanford Meisner Studio, how hard was it to actually break into the film industry itself and what was your first official foray into the industry as a paid professional?

L.O.: My first paying acting gig was a sci-fi horror feature film called “Red Ice” that I booked prior to graduating. A great friend and classmate of mine, Neil Malik Abdullah, reached out to the producer and got us both an audition. We both booked what we went in to audition for. But, when his Visa expired and he had to return to Germany, his role (the bigger of the two) was offered to me and I humbly accepted. Right after graduation, I began to audition but was unable to find the depth that I was used to working on in the roles that I was going out for.

Soon thereafter I started writing my own projects and working on telling the stories that I wanted to explore. Within three years of graduating from Alex’s class, I had my own feature film with Danny Glover and it was on its way to being sold and distributed worldwide. It was hard and it still is hard. Yet, I prefer it that way. Part of the allure of this career is the difficulty of achieving success. It’s like playing against the odds. Something inside me keeps me in the game no matter how hard it gets. It’s my dream and I’m making it a reality.

O.F.F.: Another item that stands out in your bio is that it comments about the fact you have a very hard-working attitude, dedication to your craft, but also deeply value honesty and friendship—elements that aren’t always associated with Hollywood. Thoughts?

L.O.: Many! Although my Cuban upbringing in Miami didn’t lend itself to seeing the film industry as a lucrative career choice, it instilled in me all of those values and their worth. Some people say work smart, not hard. I prefer to do both. Dedication to my craft comes from a dedication to my name, my family and who I am as a man. I don’t want my name on anything I won’t be proud of in the end. Therefore, I need to hone my craft and sharpen my skills every day to be the best that I can be when the opportunity arises 

As for honesty and friendship, I don’t know of any legitimate, fruitful relationships that I or any of my friends have that do not stand on those two pillars. You’re always more willing to go above and beyond for your friends, and you can’t have real friends without honesty. The “what can you do for me” mentality is rampant in this industry. But I’ve noticed that it’s always lead to the best outcomes, for everyone involved, when we approach each other from a “what can I do for you” angle.

O.F.F.: You’ve had a very consistent body of work, especially since around 2011, with various short and feature length films under your belt. Have you found the experiences more and more challenging as you go along, or is it getting a little easier now?

L.O.: With every project I’ve worked on, the act of creating and crafting a character has become easier. Some have been more difficult than others, but a lot of that depends on the writing and how much is already given to an actor within the script. Still, on the flip-side, the scripts in which the characters were less developed on the page but I was given the opportunity to play more, have often times been more fun for me. The work of finding the work is just as difficult now as it has been in the past. 

I still roam the streets of Hollywood as an unrepresented actor. I haven’t found the right agent or manager to work with, and they haven’t found me yet either. With the right representation having access to the majority of the meaty and exciting work that I would love to sink my teeth into and us not knowing each other, it has made it very difficult to get into the right rooms and audition for the bigger roles.

O.F.F.: So, onto your recently released project, “The Shift”, available on multiple streaming services and DVD. What drew you to this film overall?

  

L.O.: Initially “The Shift” started off a small scene for my actor’s demo reel where I wanted to showcase my range as an actor and challenge myself with what I consider the most terrifying scenario I could ever face. As a registered nurse, that would be having to fight for my family’s life and not being able to save them. It turned into an award winning film. 🙂

O.F.F.: You truly take on a daunting task here—writer, producer, and lead actor! What was it like to take on so much responsibility for this film?

L.O.: Overwhelming. While writing and producing the project, I was working 12 and 16 hour shifts overnight at my emergency room in order to pull the funding together. That led to me being  hospitalized with a debilitating complex migraine. Then, halfway through production I found out I had literally pushed my body to its limits and I had manifested hyperthyroidism within myself from overwork. I took meds for that and my body returned to normal once I allowed myself to rest after shooting. In the end, I had a lot of help from my producing partner Melanie DiPietro. The key element was surrounding ourselves with the right group of professionals that would ultimately make the movie better than what we had imagined, and we did that. It was all worth it.

O.F.F.: Give us an initial overview of the character, Kayle, you play in it.

L.O.: Kayle is a tormented individual who deals with his guilt by caring for others. Specifically, he cares for those who no one else cares about and he fights for them the way no one else will. Ultimately, he sacrifices himself for the betterment of others.

O.F.F.: Kayle is dealing with some pretty heavy issues in the story, much less added on top of the stress of being in an ER, training a new nurse, and having it thrown at him for 12 hours! How did you get into the head of Kayle when preparing for the role? Have you personally ever felt under that kind of pressure as an actor?

L.O.: I felt that pressure on set every day knowing that I would be asked technical questions as the only medical/technical advisor onset, producing questions as the EP, and character questions as the writer, all the while having to maintain my preparedness for each time “action” was called. Much of my work was done months  before we even stepped onto set because I knew that my focus would most definitely be split with so many different hats on. Again, Melanie handled the majority of producing while we were on set. She was phenomenal. But the other issues could only be handled by me in the moment. I’d do it all over again if I had to.

O.F.F.: How was it working alongside actors like Casey Fitzgerald, Sara Castro, Genesis Ochoa, and the man—Danny Glover!

L.O.: Amazing all the way around. I spent most of my time working with Casey before and during the shoot. Because I wrote the movie, I helped her develop Amanda’s character and backstory filling her in on what nursing school was like. She was amazing to act with. She is so trusting and gives you so much. She made my job easier.

Sara brought it every take. Again, as an actor, you hope to work with others who dedicate themselves to giving you their truth                                            because it makes it so much easier to give them yours. They make you look better.

Genesis was a godsend. She was actually spotted by Lee (director) at the casting studio as she waited for another actor to arrive. We asked her mother if she’d be interested and she nailed it on the spot! She brought a deep emotional understanding of life and death to Emily; exactly what we were looking for.

As for Danny Glover, nothing can be said besides total professionalism. To think that I was watching him kill it in “Lethal Weapon” when I was a little kid and now I was working with him. I asked him for advice in between takes while on set and his response was empowering: “Keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve already done an amazing job with this one. You’re doing everything right”.

O.F.F.: How was it working under director Lee Cipolla?

L.O.: Lee and I had worked previously on other projects prior to “The Shift”. He had directed me in a few of his own projects and he was on set for my short “Spoils of War”. It was great having someone on set who knew my work and knew my potential. He made sure that every take was the best that it could be and I was able to trust him through the process.

O.F.F.: What current projects are on the horizon or would you LIKE to be involved in?

L.O.: In the words of Rick Ross: “Everyday I’m Hustlin’!” With a few scripts underway, five to be exact, I find very little time to rest. I  juggle that with auditions and with producing as well. If I could do nothing but act, I would love to get onto one of these amazing NETFLIX or HBO series. They seem to be putting out some of the most interesting stories. Movie wise, sign me up to work with Clint Eastwood, Tom Hardy, Christian Bale and DiCaprio while rounding out the cast with DeNiro, Penn and Pacino and I am in!

O.F.F.: At the end of the day, writer, producer, actor. Have you found one aspect pulls at you more than the others? Or is it ultimately an equal love affair?

L.O.: Actor, Actor, Actor. I’ve done all the others because I’ve had to in order to act in something meaningful to me. I respect writers and producers so    much because the great ones have dedicated themselves to becoming great at their craft just as I have to mine. Still, there are stories that I want to tell and if I can’t find a writer who can tell them the way I want then I’ll have to write them myself. As for producing, Melanie, Melanie, Melanie. I don’t see myself ever producing a movie without her input.

O.F.F.: Independent film, and I asked Lee and Sara about this, is a genre that seems very prolific in its offerings, yet tends to still go under the radar, despite it presenting some of the most deeply human, relatable stories, character-driven focus, and some truly great acting. Being a part of those films, how important do you find it for indie film to be promoted and brought to people’s attention more in view of the larger Hollywood fare?

L.O.: I think it’s our duty as independent film makers to find a way to reach the masses and be recognized. To find a way to promote it ourselves. Hollywood isn’t interested in our films unless they will turn an obvious profit, and face it, without a huge following, whether it be because of an existing IP, big star names attached or a creepy horror story, most indies won’t. Are there going to be huge studio blockbusters that will blow us out of the water in budget and effects? YES! But that doesn’t mean they will to leave us in the dust. It all comes down to story. Like you said in your review of “The Shift”, our movie is a slow burn. I didn’t want to come at it with an EXPLOSION!        

Starting off slow and steady while maintaining some mystery allows  you, the audience, to be pulled into the life of the character instead of it just being the usual voyeuristic experience that leaves most movie goers begging for more if not forgetting what they watched the minute the credits roll. This “slow burn” ultimately leads to a deeper  connection to the story by creating a deeper connection with the characters from the beginning. We can compete with Hollywood when it comes down to story. It’s the one thing that doesn’t cost more money. The only thing is finding ways of telling them on a low-budget/no-budget scale. Many great filmmakers have done it, why can’t we? There may be hope on the horizon for more money in the independent sector though. “Kingsman” was technically an independent film.

O.F.F.: Ok, fans and readers know I always end with this particular query. What is YOUR favorite film of all time? Why?

L.O.: You’re killing me Kirk! That’s the most difficult question here! From “Apollo 13” to “The Untouchables” and even “Trainwreck”, there are so many movies that inspire me in so many different ways that it is impossible to pick one.

For the sake of this question though, in all honesty, it has to be “The Shift”. Not only because it is my baby, but because of what it showed me was possible. It showed me that with true focus, dedication, hard work and friends, I could make something that people will be talking about for years to come. Not because of how many explosions and shocking scenes there were, but because of its approach to answering the humanly universal questions of life and death.

 

Well-spoken, in depth, candid, and again, so humble, we have been given a fantastic glimpse once again into the mind of not just an actor/writer/producer, but a human being.  And it continues to be a very consistent consensus among so many of the professionals I’ve interviewed to date that it’s so important this genre of film be promoted, encouraged, and explored by filmmakers and actors, but also by us as the movie going public. We need to be the ones to take the time to seek out and research what independent offerings are available to us. Because as Leo’s film, “The Shift” proved, a well-done slow-burn can sometimes trump getting hit in the face by nothing but an explosion!  So, interested in finding out more about Leo Oliva and what he’s up to?  Check out these resources to do just that:

“Follow” his Twitter account: here

“Follow” the film’s Twitter account: here

“Like” his Facebook Page: here

“Like the film’s Facebook Page: here

Check out Leo’s website: here

A huge “Thank you!!” do I extend to Leo Oliva for his willingness and time to do this excellent interview! And it is with great, but very humble, gladness that the chances to catch the thoughts of such accomplished professionals as Leo, Lee, and Sara for “The Shift” were able to come about!  Hope you enjoyed reading everyone, and until next time then!