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• I applied to the 3rd Annual NOSOTROS & NBC Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam on June 2nd, 2021.
• I was notified that I was one of the lucky 24 Semi-Finalists on July 6th, 2021.
• I moved to Los Angeles on August 20, 2021.
• I was announced as a Finalist of the showcase on October 5th, 2021.
• I attended the filming of my monologue with my fellow finalists on November 17th, 2021.
• The showcase premiered live on December 8th, 2021 at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre Rooftop and virtually on YouTube.

This is a quick bullet list of the events leading up to my first writing showcase in 2021.

“Congrats!”, a lot of people told me when the news was announced. “You literally just landed in LA and you already got this awesome opportunity? That was quick!”

From someone else’s point of view, this may have looked like it was smooth sailing for me as my work “quickly” went from the first round all the way to the showcase.

…except for the fact, that it wasn’t very quick.

Nor was it the first time I was applying to the showcase.

This is the quick bullet list of the events leading up to my millionth rejection in 2020.

• I applied to the 2nd Annual NOSOTROS & NBC Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam on July 7th, 2020.
• I received word that my monologue had not moved to the semi-finalist round on July 31st, 2020.

Wow! Just as quick right?! Except with a completely different outcome. And it was definitely not the last rejection I would receive between the time of applying to the next showcase.

It’s a known fact that throughout the entertainment industry, we tend to only hear the major wins. Who sold which script, who got what overall deal, who got a directing job on the latest blockbuster film. If you’re just starting out, I don’t have time for you.

Show.

Me.

The.

Winners.

As a result, every creative runs the risk of comparing their success to the success of others. Which only leads to nervousness of their own achievements. Which leads to the fear of their ability to work in the industry. Which leads to resentment and jealousy towards others who progress further on their own creative journeys.

When I received my first rejection from NOSOTROS which notified me that my monologue had been cut, I was definitely hurt. As a proud Peruvian-American, I was super excited to submit to a showcase that provided a platform for Latinx voices. I was eager to find an awesome creative community to be able to support one another as we figured out what the hell we were doing in this crazy industry. I had it all planned out in my mind.

And then came the “no”.

And there went yet another plan I had organized in my mind. Not to mention that I received around 3 more rejections that same week from other competitions.

It’s only natural for one to question their talent after so many people tell them their work did not advance. The common phrase, “It’s a no, but it’s not a never”, tends to lose its meaning after you see the subject line: WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU…

But if there’s anything that I’ve learned over this past crazy year – it’s 3 things:

• Find your community to celebrate their wins.

I was ready to throw in the towel – I had felt burnt out from all the rejections and quarantine was only making me sit with those feelings longer than I would’ve wanted to.

And then – on August 5th 2020, an amazing comedy writer named Eric Linus Kaplan (shout out to this man) sent out a single tweet asking if there were any Latinx writers who were interested in learning about television writing. From this tweet, he helped form a group of amazing Latinx writers with the goal of educating us in television writing.

And the rest, as they say readers, is history.

Our group joined forces to work, study and support one another. We would meet over ZOOM for several hours during the week just to talk about story and to share any ongoing competitions to enter.

Just like that, I had found a creative community. And I quickly discovered that when you see your fellow colleagues and friends – especially from the diverse community – making moves and receiving their wins, you get a completely different feeling. A sensation of joy. A sensation of pride. A sensation that feels like your whole community won.

• Know that your creative work is not for everyone.

There’s another common phrase that I’ve heard throughout my life that goes like, “Everybody has an audience for their work.” Since meeting so many more creatives during the past year, I’ve definitely found this to be true.

I’ve had people praise my work and claim that it’s awesome and worthy of an Oscar.

And I’ve had others read my work and suggest that I take several more classes and informed me that the market isn’t really looking for my type of writing right now.

It’s true that there are some people who find their audiences much sooner than others. But if you keep putting in the work and sending it out for as many people to view it, you’ll soon find yourself surrounded by a group of supporters.

One by one, they’ll slowly come to you and you’ll be able to work alongside each other. From now on, for every rejection that comes your way – you’ll now have an audience to cheer you back into the game.

And finally…

• The moment you let go of any pre-designed future you create in your head – the more fulfilling the eventual adventure becomes.

Truth be told, I applied to the following NOSOTROS & NBC monologue showcase because I was inspired by my fellow Latinx creatives who did such an amazing job in the previous one.

This time, instead of stressing about making the best monologue ever, I just wrote the one that was the most personal and the one that I felt like others could relate to.

When I got the email that I was one of the semi-finalists, I celebrated with a phone call to my family and got back to writing. Not stressing about if I’d make it to the next round.

When I got the video call that I was one of the finalists, I texted a few of my best friends and got back to writing. Not stressing about the day the monologue would be filmed.

Once it was time to meet my fellow finalist friends, I actually allowed myself to enjoy the moment and have a great time.

Before I met the rest of the team – I was lucky enough to have a 1-1 with the actor who did my monologue. The amazingly talented and super kind Jared Trevino ultimately would go on to be named ‘Best Actor’ at the showcase and I couldn’t have been prouder. The kid’s only 23 years old and he’s one of the most mature and sweetest people I’ve met.

But what was really amazing to be part of this showcase with him was when we both realized something as we grabbed dinner at Canter’s Deli:

Jared: So, is this your like-, first time applying to the showcase? Or–

Me: No, no. Uh-, actually, to be honest. It’s my second time applying.

Jared: Noooo…

Me: Mhmm.

Jared: Get outta here!

Me: Honest to god.

Jared: …it’s my second time too.

Me: For real?

Jared: I got all the way to the finals last year and then I was cut. It hurt really badly.

Me: Same…wow. Guess we got really lucky this year, huh?

Jared: Yeah man. Look at us now.

• I created my first Facebook account when I was 16.
• I created my first email account when I was 18.
• I learned about TikTok when I was 24.
• I downloaded Instagram and Twitter when I was 25.

So it only seems right that I begin blogging at the age of 26.

I’m only around 22 years late from when it was insanely popular – give or take? There’s something cool to know that very few people will probably ever read these blog posts. Since nowadays – we all tend to read 10 words before our brain demands a 5 hour rest period that consists of a mixture of Netflix, YouTube and mindless scrolling on our phones.

I’ve always enjoyed not having much of an online presence. However, we live in a time – in today’s world – in which no online presence is practically equivalent to being a social pariah.

For better or for worse, society has created this idea that our existence can only be true if we’re able to whip out our phones, plug our names into the Google search bar (or whichever browser you use) and see all the amazing things the Internet can find about us.

Are you looking for a new job? Let’s take a look at what LinkedIn says about y-, oh?… No LinkedIn? No worries at all. How about an Indeed account…wait, no job profile at all? Good god – WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?!?

Are you looking for creative opportunities? Let’s look at your reel – I’ll check out Yout-, I’m sorry, what? No YouTube? That’s okay, we’re perfectly okay with TikTok too – if y-,…sorry….no TikTik?! ARE YOU SERIOUSLY CALLING YOURSELF A CREATIVE?!?

Are you looking to date? Hold on – before we go out, let’s take a look at your Instagr-, what?!? No Instagram?? Okay, okay – calm down. Let’s check out your Twitter, you’ve got to ha–…stop. No Twitter?! Facebook? Oh my god, ABORT! ABORT!

Although most people tend to only yell these thoughts internally, there are several others who definitely like to express their opinions on a lack of social media presence.

Especially those within the entertainment industry.

Without a demo reel, you aren’t really an actor. You’re a wannabe.

Without a Twitter that’s full of jokes, you’re not really a comedian. You’re a bystander.

Without a social platform where you have a ton of followers that allows advertisers to see that your posts are pulling in at least 250k views…I mean, are you even legit?

My close friends and family members know where I stand with this whole ideology – that being said, I’ve definitely seen the pros of having social media during 2020. I was able to make new friends, connect with amazing creatives and even get a few followers that aren’t only my brothers and my aunt who’s secretly going under an incognito user account name. Because of social media, I was able to take the leap of faith and move out to Los Angeles.

I still appreciate my privacy. I don’t think I’ll ever be the TikTok star who’s raking in millions of views by doing different dance trends. Nor will I ever be the YouTuber who’s vlogging about my social life and constantly filming & embarrassing my friends.

The irony of it all – as my close ones love to remind me – is that my wish to be an actor is still a form of this idea. I’ve even written out a pilot in which I would want to act as the social media star character – just to have a peek as to what that lifestyle must be like. But I just can’t imagine having my whole persona be defined by random tweets, pictures and videos of me trying to figure out how to apply filters.

As an actor, one has to be vulnerable and acknowledge that there’s no real escape from the spotlight once you achieve a certain level of success. Once you get enough eyes on you, they’ll follow you non-stop until they blink and refocus on someone else.

That being said – there are definitely other ways one can express themselves outside of social media. One can compose music and spill their feelings over a lost connection. Or draw a painting and Pollock the shit out of a canvas. My awesome and extremely talented writer friend, Franky D. Gonzalez (please check out his work) has even urged me to create a one-man show based on my personal stories that I’ve shared with him.

“You’ve got an audience out there papi,” he says, “there are others, just like you, who get excited about actual human interaction. You just have to be willing to let go and share.”

INSIDE by Bo Burnham was one of my most favorite comedy specials (if you can call it comedy, definitely felt like 95% depression). He definitely took it to a different level where he went all out – no holdbacks, no regrets. Just spill out your guts – if they connect, great. If they don’t, then thank you for trying. AND he used social media throughout his bits!

I definitely see myself trying to find some sort of compromise – a healthy balance of social media with art. It really depends on the community you spend your time with on these platforms. There’ll definitely be a day where I hopefully reach a certain level where I can pull a Donald Glover and just disappear from the online world and only exist in the real one. But for now – I’m willing to jump and explore more within the social media life.

Though – I still doubt you’ll ever catch me doing a TikTok dance challenge 😛