In this episode, award-winning Afro-Latina actress and filmmaker Loren Escandón shares her inspiring journey from Cali, Colombia, to Hollywood. Growing up surrounded by cartel violence, Loren’s mother enrolled her in ballet to keep her safe, which sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling. She shares how her early training in ballet, tango, and jazz eventually led her to theater and television, as well as the challenges of navigating cultural shifts and learning to embrace her accent. Loren has appeared in hit series including Gentefied, 9-1-1, S.W.A.T., Selena: The Series, Truth Be Told, and Freevee’s Casa Grande. She is best known for her breakout role as Marisol in Netflix’s Purple Hearts. Beyond acting, Loren is an accomplished director and writer. Her debut, Phone Tales, premiered at multiple festivals, and her latest short, Los Patines, has won numerous awards including Best Short at the San Pedro International Film Festival and Best Latino Short and Director at the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival. Throughout the conversation, Loren emphasizes resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of representation in storytelling. She offers insights into her creative process, her experiences navigating multiple cities and cultures, and her vision for what’s coming next.

00:00 Introduction and Early Life 

00:25 Discovering Ballet and Storytelling 

01:32 Transition to Acting and Moving to the US 

02:27 Navigating the Acting Industry 

03:48 First TV Role and Learning the Ropes 

05:49 Settling in LA and Finding Representation 

11:24 Audition Challenges and Self-Acceptance 

16:59 The Importance of Training and Comedy 

25:17 Wardrobe and Character Embodiment 

26:50 Collaborative Costume Design 

27:22 Realism in Acting 

28:57 Transition to Directing 

31:57 Creating Los Patina 

34:50 Challenges and Triumphs 

39:34 Future Projects and Aspirations 

46:44 Reflections and Inspirations 

49:46 Inside the Actor's Studio Questions

EPISODE LINKS:

· Loren’s IMDb

· Follow Loren on IG @lorenescandon

Host: ⁠Colleen Foy⁠

Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠

Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing

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