Monsters, technology, and a Shakespearean fiasco with Valeria Gonzalez
A huge challenge for successful actors is being typecast. To avoid this, it’s best to “cast a wide net.” Mexican born actress Valeria Gonzalez has made this her calling card. From thrillers and dramas to good-natured poking fun at her vocation itself, Gonzalez has found the ability to access wildly different characters on a variety of platforms to be something she is naturally wired for. On stage, online, on television, and in films; this international talent seems destined for every role she takes on. Believability is the currency of actors; Valeria’s ever expanding roster of admirers within the industry and the viewing public is proof that she’s not only incredibly skillful but also charismatic. She’s as likely to elicit tears from the audience through a film like Skin Hunger (2019) as a commercial. This year has seen a skyrocket in the number of productions that include Gonzalez in a leading role; confirming that she is one of the most interesting and captivating actresses on the lips of Hollywood and beyond.
The History of Monsters sounds like it might be a film built on fright and visual trickery. Instead, it’s very much a story of human nature and female empowerment. Set in the near future, Valeria appears as Evelyn, something of a survivalist living in a cabin by herself. The world has become rampant with monsters and, when she finds a wounded man in the forest, she is understandably suspicious. Through Evelyn, we understand the insecurities, needs, and desires of every woman. Gonzalez remarkably portrays the struggle for inner strength through her overt actions. The journey and the performance are deeply visceral. The actress relates, “The story does not have a happy ending. To me, this story is a metaphor for standing up for oneself. There are ‘monsters’, whatever that may be, in each person’s life and sometimes we feel a threat inside our own comfort zone which demands that we address whatever makes us feel endangered or threatened and get it out of our life. Being alone is horrible and scary but feeling threatened is scarier. Taking action and doing whatever is necessary to survive is a brave thing to do.”
A play about Shakespeare gone awry is not expected from the same actress who delivers such a physical performance in The History of Monsters, which is likely the reason Valeria chose it. Her hilarious presentation of an overly dramatic and attention seeking actress playing Juliet in the famous English playwright’s classic tale is a highlight of “Espectacular.” In her performance, Gonzalez vacillates between what motivations might be reasonable for the character and all-out frantic grasps for attention. From the beginning where the actor playing Romeo is electrocuted to Juliet’s “accidentally stabbing” during a sword fight, Gonzalez and her fellow cast members enjoy becoming an exhibit of how unleveled the artistic temperament can be. “Espectacular” was awarded Best Script, Best Director, and Best Play at the Short and Sweet Theater festival in West Hollywood.
The popularity of short duration productions has never been as popular as it is currently. Online viewership has exponentially increased consumption of music videos, streaming programs, short films, and commercials. The later in particular has seen an increased spectrum of styles and content; often overlapping with the production value of films. Directed by DGA Award nominee Isaiah Seret (known for his many films and the SXSW Grand Jury Award nominated music video “Cool Song №2” by MGMT), Gonzalez appeared in the Samsung Commercial “Moving On.” As Carmen, Valeria finds herself making an epic journey across the country to meet her new niece. The complexity and emotional struggle of the journey must be seen to be truly appreciated (https://vimeo.com/281651995). The ad was a great opportunity for the actress to display a wide range of emotions in a very brief production. She recalls, “Isaiah and I sat together before shooting to talk about the story and the character’s adventure, her back story, what she really wanted, and what were her internal obstacles. At some point Carmen breaks down, she is too frustrated, she doesn’t know how she will get to her sister. Then, when she finally sees her sister that’s another very emotional moment as well.” The performance of Gonzalez in “Moving On” vets the Stanislavski adage “There are no small parts, only small actors.” With this and every role, Valeria Gonzalez proves that the only thing small about her is her amount of resistance to new challenges.
