Rightfully, proud-to-be Latina, Zandra Rivera, has made quite a name
for herself in the Entertainment industry. The writer, director,
producer and actor has a new film "Making Sex" that audiences are sure
to enjoy thoroughly. I was fortunate enough to interview Zandra, and I
like her following answers immensely.
 
What were you like in grammar school, high school and college?

 "Well, my parents moved around a lot, due to the fact that education was
fundamentally the most important value my parents instilled within us.
 They had 6 children and the moment they made a financial gain it was
time to move to a more affluent area that would provide the type of
education that instilled a firm foundation.  I attended 4 grammar
schools and 3 high schools and surprisingly enough only one
University.  I definitely learned to adapt rather quickly, I can
easily asses a situation and have learned to become a bridge to unite
various, seemingly, opposing forces."
 
 Are there any hair and fashion trends that you were a victim to and
say to yourself now "What was I thinking?"

"Ok, admittedly there is one thing, not that I regret, but that I
kind of cringe in embarrassment at how I actually thought I was
fashionably way cool; I was a HUGE fan of the Puerto Rican boy band
'Menudo' and so my girlfriends and I would dress a lot like their
stylized videos and actually go out in public dressed, like, well
outrageously silly!!!  Despite the fashion fopaux, I look back on it
and literally laugh wholeheartedly at myself!"
 
Could you also please reveal what your
personality was like in school, and how it has changed since those
days? 

"I was always a little nervous and shy when walking into a new
school, a little insecure, you could say.  Now, I actually thrive
talking to new people, getting to know them, their culture or
exploring what makes people tick.  I'm not nervous anymore, I'm
comfortable in my own skin and realize that everyone has something to
say, some new perspective they bring to the table that may differ from
yours.  This means only that, it is merely a different view based on
their personal experiences and they make choices based on this simple
fact.  Some of these choices may affect you in a negative way in your
interaction with such a situation or rather individual but ONLY if you
allow it to.  That's the key, you have a choice to be whoever you
choose to be, always."
 
 Did you know from the ripe old age of 6 or so you wanted to get into
showbiz, and how did you eventually get into it?

“Actually, yes!  I knew at the age of 4 and a half!!!!  I was born in Manhattan, NY, soon
after we moved to Long Island, NY and there I became friends with a
neighbor girl across the way who interestingly enough was a regular on
Sesame Street!!!  From that moment on I was hooked!!!!"
 
If you weren't in showbiz what kind of job would you like to have?  

 "I can't picture doing absolutely anything else in the world, but I will
say that I think I was some sort of scientist for sure, like a
microbiologist, archeologist, astronomer or marine biologist, in a
past life.  I've always excelled in the math and sciences department
and physics was my absolute favorite and still is.  Most people don't
know that I am the BIGGEST geek!  I study something that peaks my
curiosity every single day and if I'm not learning something new,
expanding my mind, I feel off kilter and get a little grumpy.  When I
was a sophomore I was actually the top of my honors biology class, and
I won top student for Geometry."
 
Your IMBD profile shows that you have been an actress in the following
productions: Get Pony Boy, Player in Training, Regretful Decision,
Boricua and Shelflike. I see you not only were an actress in Get Pony
Boy, but were also a producer. Which hat do you prefer to wear,
actress or producer and why?
 
"Great question, thank you.  It depends on the production, really.  If
it's something I wrote, rest assured I'll be directing and producing
for sure.  Although, I saw what Roberto Benigni did with "Life is
Beautiful" and that is definitely a goal to strive for, acting
directing and producing but at the moment I know my limitations and my
goals.  The acting bug will never go away, I'm passionate about it,
just like the directing.  The producing is more my business hat, if
that makes any sense"
 
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?

“Sure, everything I've learned about the entertainment business has
been from experience, tenacity and the simple phrase ‘just do it,’
literally. I had a theater director simply come up to me one day at an
event and tell me ‘You should be an actor, I am a theater director,
if you are interested I would like to work with you,’ and the rest is
history. I had no formal training, I went straight to doing theater
and one thing led to another. Within one year I had 3 plays in my
pocket and began to produce my first original co-written play in
Spanish, where I wore the hats of producer, set and costume designer
and was Cinderella.  I began production of that originally co-written
piece with 18 actors ranging from the ages of 11 to 63 in a 1,300 seat
theater, and signed on with a talent agent. Six months into my second
year I became union, my first radio commercial was for Western Union
and my first Television commercial was an international AOL
commercial. I currently sit on the board for the SAG/AFTRA Chicago.
I've helped with castings for non-union Latino talent for David
O'Connor, the top casting agency of the Midwest and Erica Daniels at
the Steppenwolf Theater Chicago. I worked for Second City as an actor
for a commercial for "Fellowes"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHjoffTFbk0.) I had an amazing time
writing and producing when I was an ensemble member of Teatro Luna, we
performed our show during the Latino Showcase at the Goodman Theater.
I've directed a documentary entitled, "N.O. immigrates" which takes
an introspective look at the untold story of the undocumented Latino
Immigrants and the issues surrounding the subject in the United
States. I opened up this year with "About Nick and Sam" a short I
directed, wrote and produced working with the fabulous Director of
Photography, Cesar Rios and the L.A. Actress Marisol Doblado and Miami
actor Leandro. Now we are in production for "Making Sex" using
strictly Chicago based actors. For the past 3 years I've researched and
studied the business of Hollywood and thusly with all the years of
experience I've acquired from my advertising and marketing firm
"Hispanica" where I acquired big corporate clients such as Corona USA,
Heineken USA, Miller Brewing Co. and many more as well as acting,
directing, producing and writing I've created MainStream Media Ent. A
production multi-media company focused on producing content for the
"American Latino." please visit www.mainstreammediaent.com.
 

Is “Making Sex” the first film in which you are a director?
If so, what's it like? Do you act and produce in "Making Sex," as
well? 

"Making Sex" (still a working title) is actually my 2nd short
film as Director/Producer/Writer and "N.O. Immigrates" is my first
full feature documentary again as Director/Producer/Writer.  So, no, I
will not be acting in this film."
 

What's everything you would like readers to know about your movie "Making Sex?"

"Making Sex, is an exploration into the human psyche via the analysis
and the juxtaposition of the external world and the internal
conditions we live.  The theory that the state of the world is in
disarray due to the unbalanced nature between our feminine and
masculine aspects while living in the current Patriarchal Society is
placed in a very non-conventional way.  Two Film Directors have teamed
together bringing very different screenplays and elements in a
symbiotic and organic way.  Candy Minx, Canadian Director, explores
the dichotomy of transgender and androgyny in women.  Zandra Rivera,
American Director, explores battle of the sexes and what it truly
means to balance your own masculine and feminine natures as opposed to
the internal battles we are faced with on a daily basis. All human
beings are made of both masculine and feminine, what has happened due
to our society being Patriarchal, male dominant, is absolute
unbalance.  Due to this, we as humans, are not as in touch with our
feminine side, heterosexual men, primarily.  This makes for fear of
the feminine power or energy and sometimes even a loathing of the
feminine occurs because we are so disconnected from this very
fundamental human aspect.  So when the feminine nature asserts her
power we sometimes call it bitch or many other words to describe
courage and the feminine anima or will, simply because we do not
understand it or we have forgotten. A lot like when Mother Nature
asserts her absolute strength over us, we are rendered powerless.
Something important to note when viewing the film is that these
characters are mythos; they represent humanities masculinity and
femininity confronted by a patriarchal society.  Not two humans
playing out drama but it is more of a bird’s eye view of all of us.  We
are unbalanced and not our true self.  This has a tendency to lead to
destruction as our history clearly has demonstrated."
 
 

I know you're friends with Candy Minx (Actress and Director of
Jigsaw) what can you say about the project ("Making Sex") you are kind
of working together on?

"It's interesting that we chose to explore
these two contrasting topics and bring them together in post in a
dynamic and organic way.  I know I have my script, she has hers and we
will bring the two aspects of the human psyche together during
editing, aside from that we don't know.  I love working in an
experimental format such as this, it's like painting without a plan,
simply to let it all flow in that moment, I'm so excited because I've
never worked in this format nor with another director in film"
 
When do you expect your film "Making Sex" to be available for the
masses to see?

"Spring 2013, it is currently in production.”
 
Lastly, what words of wisdom do you have for struggling actors,
directors and producers?

"First, I want to say that if it is your
passion, meaning you live, breath, think it, every moment then go for
it.  If you have a backup plan this is not for you, it is the type of
industry that you need razor sharp focus, intention and passionate
commitment come what may.  Guess what started my career!  I asked
another actor how he did it, he said, "Just Do It!" literally is all
he said, I took it to heart and haven't stopped since then!!!!"
 
"I thank you, Tracy, for the opportunity to have shared my experience
with you and your readers, I wish you all much success!”
 
For more info about sweet Zandra Rivera, please visit the following site:
www.MainStreamMediaEnt.comZandra

*photo credit Art Miller