Meet Adrienne Acevedo Lovette | Award Winning Actor, Director, Producer & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrienne Acevedo Lovette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrienne, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

I’ve always felt a deep connection to the arts. From the age of 3, I found myself immersed in drawing, singing, dancing, acting – you name it. It was as if creativity was woven into the very fabric of my being, an intrinsic part of who I am. Growing up alongside my sister, we’d embark on imaginative adventures, crafting movies with a bulky VHS camera, choreographing dance routines in our best friend’s living room, and even staging theatrical performances. Our shared passion for the arts was nurtured by our single mom, an enthusiast of television and film. Together, we’d delve into cinematic worlds that felt nothing short of magical. What fascinated me just as much as the final product was the intricate process behind the scenes.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised in Orlando, Florida, I found myself surrounded by the enchanting allure of theme parks that celebrated the realms of film and theater. With my mom working for Disney, our frequent visits fueled my love for the arts.

My journey into the professional world of acting began at the age of 10 when I found myself singing in an opera. It was then that I experienced a profound sense of belonging on stage. Later on, I was accepted into Dr. Phillips High School theatre magnet program, where I delved into set design, theatrical production, and technical work. Guided by my passion, I directed a thesis show during my senior year called Patient A by Lee Blessing, a play based on a true story, an exploration of the first-known instance of HIV transmission from a health-care worker to a patient. Directing that play was a pivotal experience that paved the way for my professional directing debut straight out of high school. I also had a musical theatre career out of high school, but felt I needed more skills as an actor, so I atteneded the Circle In The Square Theatre School in New York City to further my training. We were fortunate to have a lot of teachers who also taught at Julliard, and I left that school a much stronger actor filled with technique and experience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

After graduating, I tried my hand at theatre again but grappled with the harsh reality of the industry’s lack of representation on Broadway, and the industry as a whole. I began to pivot and wanted to pursue being an actor for TV and film which I was told was equally as difficult. I had never attempted to pursue it even when I loved it. Repeatedly I was told that my identity as a plus-sized Latina rendered me uncastable, that I had to conform to a narrow standard of beauty epitomized by Hollywood icons, like Jennifer Lopez or Selma Hayek. For years, I internalized these limiting beliefs, hesitant to pursue my dreams in TV and film. Until one year I finally said, “F*ck it, I’m going to try!”.

With the unwavering support of a compassionate agent in Florida who believed in my talent as an actor (despite my lack of tv and film credits), and my fierce determination to challenge the status quo, I ventured into the world of television and film. I went on my first big audition for a supporting role in a feature film. I wasn’t what they were looking for on paper, but four callbacks later, I changed the director’s mind and booked the job. I ultimately landed a breakthrough role in the feature film “SUNLIGHT JR.” alongside Naomi Watts, Norman Reedus, Matt Dillon and directed by Laurie Collyer. I remember being on set and feeling this extreme comfort, like I was home.

From that moment on, my path took a transformative turn towards filmmaking, both in front of and behind the camera as a director, writer and producer. I have had the good fortune to have acted opposite Michelle Williams, Sam Rockwell, Richard Gere, Aziz Ansari, Joaquin Phoenix, and Colin Farrell, just to name a few. I have worked on TV shows like THE PENGUIN (MAX), BETTER CALL SAUL (AMC), RAY DONOVAN (Showtime), and FOSSE/VERDON (FX). I began creating my own work, giving myself opportunities that no one would, and started a production company called The Garage Productions. Through my production company, I sought to amplify the voices of underrepresented people, shedding light on stories often overlooked by mainstream media, and that also showcase the LGBTQIA+ community and differently-abled individuals.

With the encouragement and aid of my best friend John A. Rice, who’s also my filmmaking partner and a gifted writer, I wrote, produced and was one of the leads of my first feature film called WHEN I’M WITH YOU, a poignant narrative inspired by true events, directed by the wonderful Daniel Armando. It premiered at Cinequest (an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival) and won “Best Feature” at the Sacramento Music & Film Festival. It received distribution and still lives on Amazon Prime, TUBI, and APPLE TV.

Making my first feature inspired me to start directing film, and I was off to the races. My very first directed project was the psychological horror called HIDDEN DAYLIGHT, which premiered at Dances With Films, and won “Best Film” at Phoenix Comicon, “Best Short Film” at Freak Show Horror Film Festival, and earned me the title of “Women in Horror Honoree” at FEARnyc. After that, I directed the supernatural horror called THE DARK ROOM, which premiered at the Catalina Film Festival and won “Best Ensemble” at the Crimson Screen Horror Film Festival. Following those award-winning horror films, I changed gears and directed an award-winning female-driven comedic web series called YOU’RE THE PEST. I continued to direct short films and produce several other indie features which toured the festival circuit and ultimately got distribution. I’ve always been a fan of music, being a singer myself, and directed several music videos by artists like singer-songwriter (Featured at SXSW) ARMSTRONGLEIGH, New York City native rapper STASH CASH, and Florida native rapper-singer WOMBINO. I produced a coming-of-age drama called BROWNSVILLE BRED, which premiered at SXSW and won the “AUDIENCE AWARD” for best episodic pilot. I was a winner for the SUNDANCE collab film challenge, for my personal documentary film called LITTLE BEAN. Most recently, I proudly directed/produced a coming-of-age pilot, based on the true life story of creator and writer Joseph Catillo-Midyett entitled THIS BOY’S VIDA (Made In America), which will be touring the festival circuit this year.

Guided by a deep-seated desire to redefine the portrayal of plus-sized individuals in media, I co-wrote, directed, produced and starred in my second feature film, I’M OKAY, WE’RE OKAY. It’s a psychological drama about a woman dealing with dissociative identity disorder (once called multiple personality disorder) on a road trip with her unfaithful boyfriend. I co-wrote and acted alongside my filmmaking partner John A. Rice. I had an incredible skeleton crew that championed myself and the film we were creating. I decided to play the lead role because I still hadn’t been given the opportunity to play such a complex character. Nothing in this film or story revolves around the female character being plus-sized, it just so happens that she is. I wanted to show that a plus-sized actor could lead a film without her size being a storyline. Since it’s festival run, it has been extremely well received, and I was fortunate enough to win “Best Actress” at the prestigious Catalina Film Festival and “Best Actress” at the Chain NYC Film Festival. The film was also awarded “Best Cinematographer”, “Best Feature Film” and I received the “New York Filmmaker Award”.

Today, as I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the entertainment industry, my mission remains unchanged: to empower underrepresented filmmakers and artists, to amplify their voices, and to pave the way for a more inclusive future. Because in the end, storytelling isn’t just about entertainment – it’s about representation, empowerment, and the profound impact of seeing ourselves reflected on screen. And I am determined to be a catalyst for change, one story at a time.

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 live in New Jersey/New York City, so both states have wonderful things to offer. In New Jersey I would visit the Watchung or Eagle Rock Reservation mountains and walk some of its many hiking trails. We would probably have lunch in one of the quaint restaurants in Maplewood Village like ‘Village Coffee Co.” or get some tea and scones at “Sally Lunn’s Tea House” in Chatham. if we wanted a bit of nightlife, we could head to Jersey City, and try one of the many bars and restaurants near Gove St., specifically “Barcade”, cause I’m a video game nerd, or “Hudson Hound” for a cocktail.

In New York City, I would love to walk the high line because it never gets old for me. If you want pizza, “John’s Pizza” on Bleeker St. is the way to go, but there are so many restaurants, most of my favorites being in Hell’s Kitchen, it’s hard to choose. I would probably want to visit the MOMA PS1 in Queens, NY which I always feel is overlooked, as well as the Museum of Moving Image. I’d want to see a Broadway show and walk around the less crowded areas below 30th Street. It’s hard not to be inspired but the ugly and beauty of the city.

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?

Fortunately, I have a husband that’s a fan of my work, friends that champion me on, and a family that support my need to create, especially my mom and my sister, who are a huge part of my inspiration to continue as an actor, director, and overall filmmaker. How I grew up has a significant influence on the artist I am today. My mom and my sister not only encouraged my need to tell stories, but to this day, I find myself using them as characters in my own films, and I gravitate towards stories with a very similar family dynamic. Even when times could be hard, my mom never put down our dreams, despite the obstacles life threw at us. The strength, imagination and support of my mom, has made me feel like I am capable of anything.

Website: http://AdrienneAcevedoLovette.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/AdrienneAcevedoLovette

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-acevedo-lovette-a8484352/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSP2mVupTHxZ7pu59-usWA

Other: Director Website: http://DirectedByAdrienneAcevedoLovette.com Production Company Site: http://TheGarageProductions.com

Image Credits
The Garage Productions