Meet Amy Cassandra Martinez | Entertainment Host & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Cassandra Martinez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy Cassandra, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I grew up knowing that I was interested in a lot of things a lot of other kids my age weren’t interested in. I loved going to the movies, watching musicals and performing. As I grew up, I had classmates put me down for wanting to go into film and tv. They would say things like “We’ll I’m going to get a real major” or “So, you just want to watch movies?” This hurt me because I felt I had to prove to others why what I loved was important to me. I loved watching interviews, seeing films that moved me. I loved playing my violin, singing and dancing. Those activities were the highlight of my school life and I knew that I wanted, heck, NEEDED those in my life to be happy.

I pursued an artistic career because I cannot see myself doing anything else. I am a host, an actor and singer because there are experiences in life that I am able to feel so deeply only through these media. I saw this quote online and I couldn’t find who originally said it but it hit home: “No one else is supposed to understand your calling. It wasn’t a conference call.” I put so much weight into what these other people thought about my future career that I started doubting myself. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for why you want to have a creative career. I’ll leave it with this quote (another one Amy? I know! Haha), it’s from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Whoopi Goldberg’s character, Sister Mary Clarence, is giving live advice to a young student, and she says “If you wake up in the morning and you can’t think of anything but singing first, then you’re supposed to be a singer girl.” If you love something so deeply that you can’t see yourself truly loving anything else, then do the thing and. be happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an entertainment host, an actor and singer. My journey to call myself any of these has been full of speed bumps. I’ve loved performing since I was 8 when I was first on stage and since then I’ve been learning a little bit about all aspects of this industry. I’ve worked in news, I’ve worked in commercials. I’ve been on camera, I’ve been a production assistant. I’ve written, shot and edited all kinds of content. I’ve questioned what I’m doing with life about every couple of months since graduating from college, and honestly, I think that’s what has kept me checking in with my goals.

It hasn’t been easy, but if I’ve gotten past the rejections, the career detours and still feel like I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing, then I see that as a good sign.

What I think makes me unique is my life experience and I think that’s something that everyone can understand and relate to. There are things that children of immigrants can relate to. There are things that Mexican-Americans can relate to. All of our experiences make us unique and I think that’s something that we should cherish.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh my goodness! I love this question! I would definitely start by asking if there were certain things they DEFINITELY wanted to see and incorporate those. In addition, here are some options too!

MONDAY
– Wake up and go to Black Cow Cafe in Montrose. Their service is amazing and their food is SO freaking good. I love their breakfast the most but you really can’t go wrong at whatever time you go.
– Go to the Americana and walk around. This area is so peaceful and I think it gets overlooked a little.
– End the night in Pasadena, walking around some more. Dinner at True Food Kitchen — definitely getting the Organic Tuscan Kale Salad. I looked up the recipe and make this at home at least 3 times a week! (Although there’s nothing that beats having it there at the restaurant).

TUESDAY
– Work out at Orangetheory Glendale. Can you tell I love this area? OTF is a way of life and I would definitely show them how fun and challenging working out can be!
– Home-cooked breakfast and then off to Burbank we go!
– Lots of driving around – checking out Burbank Town Center, then going closer to the city, stopping at Perky Nerd, walking around Magnolia, and driving down Barham Blvd. Maybe do a tour or something!
– Lunch would be Porto’s in Burbank. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I’ll be honest, we could eat there every day!
– Would probably end up having dinner at Barney’s Beanery in Burbank and watching a movie at the AMC!

WEDNESDAY
– I know this is a tourist-y thing to do, but Universal Studios is a must for people that visit me, because, we’re geeks in my household haha. This would most likely be an all-day event and we’d end it getting Mexican food in Van Nuys at either a food truck or Tijuana Grill! Both are perfect options!

THURSDAY
– Santa Monica/Venice day!
– With such a packed day on Wednesday, we would use this day to relax at the beach and walk and drive around these areas. Oooh and eat poke from a place near the beach!
– We would go to the little aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier to pet a starfish or two!
– Definitely eating some frozen lemonade from street vendors!

FRIDAY
– Melrose and Sunset Blvd day!
– Melrose, we would just walk around. Maybe find a nice little coffee shop, obviously take a picture in front of the Paul Smith pink wall!
– Lots of driving around Sunset and maybe seeing another movie at the AMC on Sunset! (Y’all, movies are such a big part of my life).
– For food, we’d be spontaneous!

SATURDAY
– Start the morning with a nice little hike at Griffith Park, followed by some spontaneous spot for brunch.
– Later in the day, we go to WeHo, Hollywood and walk around a lot.
– We would probably also just wing it!

SUNDAY
– Relaxing a little in the morning.
– See DTLA in the evening where all the lights downtown look like a freaking postcard. It’s beautiful and I don’t even know how to describe it.

There are so many places to go and food to eat that I don’t think we could squeeze it in one week but I think this would be a good starting point!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe in the term “it takes a village”, because gosh darn it, it freaking does. Whatever you’re doing, whether it be pursuing a career or raising a family, a good support system is needed. I was thinking about this earlier, but all of my current jobs (#freelancelife) have come to me because of connections or referrals. You’ll hear that a lot in the business right? “It’s all about who you know.” While that may be true, it’s also about surrounding yourself with genuine people that lookout for each other.

I would love to dedicate my shoutout to the most beautiful soul I’ve met since moving to LA five years ago, Kiyra Lynn. If you’re in the small entertainment hosting space, and you don’t know Kiyra, do yourself a favor and follow her on social media. If you’ve covered red carpets, chances are you’ve shared a carpet with her. Kiyra deserves all the credit and recognition in the world for her work ethic, her kind heart that is hard to come by, and her true professionalism in the business. Kiyra has been on the Reelz Channel, can be seen on Hollywood First Look and is a member of the Hollywood Critics Association and the Television Academy.

Kiyra has taught me the ins and outs of being an entertainment host and a producer. She’s the kind of person you text when you have a career question, when you want to vent, when you just want to have a soul sister in the trenches with you as you navigate your career. Kiyra is a rare find not only in this industry, but in the world and I’m so lucky to be alive at the same time as her.

Website: https://www.amycassandra.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amycassandramtz/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cassandra-martinez-b625a074/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amycassandramtz

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