Meet Gustavo David | Actor/Actress

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

Hi Gustavo, how do you think about risk?

For me, it is leaving my family, friends, and a great home environment to pursue my dream, MY career, I started studying psychology in Panama, I was one year far to finish my degree as a psychologist and at that prior time of my life I was doing theater and short films, suddenly I just fall in love with it, I couldn’t stop just having the feeling of loving something and not doing it in my fullest time, I needed it to have more, and that’s what I did, I quit before I finish psychology and I told my parents that I want to be an artist…an actor. They couldn’t believe how I was doing such a decision in a very precise way. My family doesn’t come from money, they are hardworking parents that have enough to pay for college in Panama, but not enough to send to California and pay for my college, housing, food, transportation, etc…nope, that’s not an option for us. At that time I was also very depressed, a lot of things were happening at the time, I was in a black hole with a big dream and a career that I want it to drop.

I apply for a scholarship that after I get my degree I have to pay back to the government of my country. And to be honest, I still do not have enough money to be free as a young soul, sometimes there are days that I have to repeat the same meals, reject hangouts with a friend and try to avoid spontaneous moments. But for me, this is all worth it, this path, this hardcore path that I decided to have for my future, I don’t care if I don’t end up being a famous actor, I just wanna be enough as an actor to pay my bills, invite my family for a vacation and be happy with my career, because acting is my passion, not my status, I want to survive as a human being with the job that makes my heart feel on fire.

I miss home, I miss my parents, sisters, nieces, my dogs, yes, I have a whole life back home, if I just could bring all of them here with me, but no…they have their own life, and I have my own. I heard how people say it is so good to live far away from the house you grew up with and to be honest, I get it, everyone has their own experience with their own family and mine wasn’t perfect, but they are just perfect the way they are and I Cherrish them forever.

So far so good, I am proud of the little career that I made on my own so far, I’ve done theater, short films, modeling, a whole movie in my country (Panama) as one of the main characters, tv and radio interviews, and to be honest, I am proud of myself, because no one leads me to this, or teach me the right door, I fought my insecurities and make myself the actor that I want to be, and as part of the LGBTQ+ Latin community, I want to make my community proud.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Since I was a kid, I’ve always felt like a specimen, I know it sounds cliche, but that’s the definition I can give a specimen.

Growing up, I was a very nervous teenager, still fighting parts of it, but yeah, I couldn’t even perform a speech in front of my class because I stuttered a lot, I was a stuttered kid, and sometimes I still am that kid.

How am I an actor? I fought/still my fears, I overcome everything that I was afraid of because I knew I wouldn’t get to where I am if I don’t try it If I don’t see myself doing it. When I’m performing, I am the actor Gustavo David, I am a fire, light…a star, the star.

I’ve learned that the negative feelings are just feelings that are gonna stay there until we die, we might overcome them, work them on therapy, but for me, there’s always gonna be a moment that I have to talk myself to get through my negative thoughts and moments of insecurity, there’s no time to feel fear and not doing the work, for me is feeling fear, using it for my performance and doing the work, because I’ve always gonna have those negatives moments, but my time, my moment, THE moment it’s just right now, I’m only gonna be the age that I am right now, 2022, and next year would be another year with different age and other problems.

I want the world to know that I am a proud genderqueer Latino that started my acting career when I was 18 years old, and I’ve done stuff that I’ve never thought I was capable of, and until this moment, I am proud of those moments, I’ve done theater (the stuttered kid), I was part of the cast of a comedy movie from Panama (the stuttered kid), I did short films (the stuttered kid) and I am doing my second degree in Acting for film and theater (the stuttered kid). All this stuff that I was capable of, started with applying for a scholarship that I still have to pay for after I graduate, but every second of this journey is worth it.

My brand is to represent my LGBTQ+ Latin community as the artist that I am, to send a message with my art and passion, and to connect with people that understand me and wants to be understood, heard, and loved. I am here for that, to give my art for love and union.

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?

The trip that I would create for my BFF would be, coffee, food, hiking, beach, picnics, thrift shops, and a little party never hurt anybody…! haha.

first, let us go to this amazing ramen place that I love with all my heart, it is located in downtown Burbank, called Kopan Ramen, I just feel at home when I’m there, amazing ramen, refill (heaven) for the soda and great appetizers.

If we feel like some sneaky late hang out for burgers and milkshakes ad midnight?! let’s go to Bobs.

Coffee or tea? Aroma & Coffee Tea Co is an amazing place to relax, and have some chat and feelings with the wind of fall. Coffee never looks so fetch.

main places to hike? to connect with the soul and nature? Burbank Peak, Wonder View Trailhead, Glendale Peak, Griffith Park. And we take a little time for the picnic!

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 credit to my family (Parents, sisters, nieces, my dogs, and Aurelia) the people that stood for me the most every day and still support me in so many ways, I don’t have enough words and love to show them how much I am grateful for everything, because I don’t know how to explain how big are these feelings that I feel towards them for everything that they still do for me.

My friends, they know who they are, I am tremendously happy and grateful for giving me all the love and support from afar, they are part of my family too. Thank you for loving my art, for supporting, and loving me even tho I am always far away.

Thank you so much for your time!

Website: https://gusphotosgallery.wordpress.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gustavodavid__/?hl=es

Image Credits
Image credits: Gino Rovetto Armando Millan Victoria Martonne