Meet Hernando Caicedo | Writer/Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hernando Caicedo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hernando, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
My parents came to America in the 80’s through Mexico. They swam across the border into Texas. They came to this country, literally with a bag full of clothes and a ziplock back taped to their underwear with cash they’d saved up. In a way, the risk my parents took by coming to this country created this mindset for me that taking risks in life and career is a normal way of life.

My dad once said, if you’re mother and I can make it in this country with what little we had, you can do whatever you want to do no matter what. I’ve had that mindset all my life. not so much thinking about, no risk, no reward. But more so, risks are opportunities to learn and grow in a way that perhaps staying on the comfortable path could not be possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an actor/writer what I’m most proud of is the variety of work I’ve been able to do. From Spanish speaking role on Madam secretary, to a Boston fisherman on Netflix’s The politician, I pride myself on not being pigeon holed into stereotypes of what Latino actors can be.

As a writer, it’s been a long and challenging in a different sense in that it’s taken some time for me to find my voice and the stories that I like to share.

Overall, being an artist today is difficult as has always been. With the growth of social media becoming streams of revenue, it’s harder to create a brand as an artist that is not tied to views or likes that correlate to financial gain. In a society that measures success based on money, it’s hard to lose sight of the joy that creating brings rather than focusing on the outcome that your art can provide. I’ve learned that at the end of they day, when I go to bed, I like the feeling of being satisfied with whatever work I’m currently focused on regardless of where it goes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Okay, def have to start the day with a coffee and gluten-free berry scone from All Time, legit my favorite scones in the world.

Then a hike up to Griffith Observatory. There’s a few rock scrambles that I like that are decent workouts and lead to amazing views of the city. Afterward, we’d make a pit stop at The trails cafe at the bottom of the trail entrance because their biscuits are too damn good.

Tatsu ramen in West Hollywood for lunch. I love movies so one day to check out a movie at the Vista theatre because I love how it was remodeled and it has that classic event theatre vibe.

If we can swing it, definitely take a day trip out to Catalina island, it’s the closest to an Italian getaway without hopping on a plane.

Lastly, Id say we take a drive to Pasadena and hike Eaton Canyon falls because nothing feels better than standing under that waterfall after a good hike.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Colman Domingo. He’s an artist I’ve been following for over 10 years.
I met Colman while doing a show at Actors Theatre in Louisville. He had a play he wrote that was playing in an adjacent theatre. He was so kind and generous and seeing an artist create in many ways, be it writing, acting, or producing was a breathe of inspirational air. He is one of the main reasons why I shifted my work as an artist to write and create my own work.

Instagram: https://hc.mov

Image Credits
stephanie naru photo