Meet Armida Lopez | Film Director, Actress

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

Hi Armida, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks has been part of every decision I have made to get to where I am now. The first risk I saw was my mom taking a risk to move from another country of El Salvador to move me to the United States when I was 9 years old. She is a lawyer in my home country, she left everything she knew to bring us here. She was also a single mother and sacrificed a lot to put a roof and food on the table. So as I got older I knew to succeed I had to take risks. I moved to Los Angeles from my home town of Sacramento almost 11 years ago and I packed my car, without a job, just a dream of wanting to be in the entertainment business. I didn’t know really anyone so I was completely out of my comfort zone, but I knew the city was calling my name for a reason. I actually started taking jobs as an extra, at first I thought those jobs wouldn’t get me anywhere but I took the risk anyways. I remember there was this really cool guy on set that knew I wanted to act so he gave me enough hours, to get my sag card. Shout out to angels that were in my path. Fast forward to a couple years later I booked my first commercial, after I was told by an agent I would never be a “commercial actress” At the time I didn’t “look” like the typical actress. I am Latina you know, I have curves and actually those curves helped me land my first body double job as Salma Hayeks body double, in one of her films. The same week I booked that job, I booked my first national commercial, so I had to decide to leave the body double job to shoot my first commercial as a lead. It was a tough decision as I was sad I wasn’t going to get to meet her, however I knew our paths would cross path again. I could tell you so many stories of taking risks, and not being afraid of what people say, or how many times people have told me something is “impossible” At this point I love it when people bet against me. I know have done almost everything everyone told me I couldn’t do. I am the first filmmaker in my family, I think they still don’t understand what that even means. Especially my abuelita, however I am proud to be a Salvadoran born, actress and filmmaker. Not many of us and to push against all odds, you have to be a risk taker.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art, whether it is acting or filmmaking, I always make sure to bring my most authentic self. I think it’s important to be as authentic as possible, and to never forget your roots. I believe being born in El Salvador is what sets me apart. My voice is like no other and that is special in a place where everyone always wants to fit in. I got to where I am by a lot of work, and honestly endurance. I believe anything worth having won’t be easy, but you have to have longevity endurance. You will get knocked down-I have had many, many, many rejections. However each one has made me hungrier and made me want to work harder, and I believe those rejections were just redirections to where I was truly meant to go.
I also have met people along the way that have believed in me, challenged me and on the days when I didn’t think I would make it, they reminded me I would. Your circle of friends and “board of advisors” I call them people you ask advice to is an important key to succeeding. Your instincts too are very important, people will try to guide you at times but you have to be not easily persuaded, and to listen to your own inner voice. I am currently working on a film, probably my dream film, I can’t share much yet, but It has taken me years but I am beyond excited to get this film out to the world. To get a film made is a miracle but for a woman to get a feature film made is truly a beyond a miracle, and many people play a part in that. I want the world to know once this film is out, It took a lot of work and it was because people BELIEVED. Allies in this industry are so so important. I hope one the world knows that my story is like many, a lot of hardship and sleepless nights wondering if I would ever make it. I don’t think I will ever feel I have “made it” but I know that me helping pave a path, will help other women, that look like me. What’s my brand? ah that’s a tough one to answer but A woman admire a lot is Katherine Bigalow, she truly fought the fight for many of us directors to be in the action genre. I hope I get to meet her one day, that would be a dream of mine. I also like to help independent filmmakers, I still do it to this day I probably always will. I believe indie cinema is what will help get new voices and their films out to the world. Also someone I look up to in that way is Sean Baker, he is a filmmaker I admire and how he has gone about his passion an true love for cinema and always fighting for indie films!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have lived Downtown Los Angeles for about 10 years. I am one of the rare people that actually loves Downtown. Lately I have moved to going outside my bubble to Echo Park and Silverlake. I also am I runner, I loveeee running and when I’m not creating art I am running so I will definitely make a friend run with me (they wouldn’t have a choice)
Firt we would start with waking up early and running in echo park, or silver lake reservoir for 3 miles. Then I would take them to get a coffee at “6xs Studio” coffee shop in Silver Lake. They make the BEST coffee and that place is so cute. I then would take them to eat at “Lady Bird ” Cafe, I love this place SO much, it feels like you transported to a vacation spot, that I would go sit there for hours to write. It is also a woman owned restaurant and every time I take someone there, they fall in love with that place. I would also make sure to take them to the beach of course, either Venice or Malibu, an LA trip is not complete without the beach. I would also make them run by the beach, running by the beach is my favorite thing when I can get out there! On another day I would take them on a Griffith Park hike, or trail run by the Hollywood sign. There is a secret path ( I can’t tell you) that I was showed and it’s so cute and you can see the Hollywood sign very closely. I would make them hike or run. Wow I am realizing I make my friends run or hike a lot, haha!
I would also take them to Alamo Draft House downtown LA to watch whatever new film is out- or take them to the New Beverly theater to watch an older film shot on film. I watch at least 1 film in theater a week, I try to do 2 if time permits, but going to the theatre is important for me. I believe we have to keep cinema going by supporting theaters!
Also I would invite them to my run club (if they were a girl) Good Days Run it’s an all girls run club I started with my running girlfriends, first it was just my friends I met at run club. Now it grew to a bigger club, and I truly look forward to Mondays. We meet at Mohawk Wellness Collective in Echo Park and then run 3 miles around the Echo Park /Downtown area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a shout to to my mentor Joe Carnahan. He has believed in me and truly not given up on me. I also want to thank my grandma Armida’s prayers, as I know with all the things I have gone through her prayers have protected me.

Instagram: @thearmidalopez

Other: @gooddaysrun (for run club)

Image Credits
Sabrina Garcia Diaz for headshot in sky blue jacket. Red carpet, black dress credit to Albert L. Ortega. Running pic Kevin S.