Meet Kristina Perez | Actress/Writer/Producer

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

Hi Kristina, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote that I have discovered would be “Live like the sun and love like the moon”. I think its actually re worded differently but this quote has always stuck out to me and I guess it continues to remind me that as I continue to grow in this crazy world and into more of who I am as a person and as a woman, I should embrace the journey living fearlessly and bright like the sun and continue to love deeply through the good and dark times like the moon.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being an artist in LA is definitely a challenging experience. It’s a continuous cycle of rejection, insecurities, and comparison. What stories do I want to tell, who do I want to be in this creative world, and who am I. After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles in 2023, I went through a year of auditioning left and right, being part of background roles in student films, I was in a play at a theater in Burbank called Faithless and really just trying to find a way to put my foot in the door. I would say that year was a year of learning. Learning how to take rejection and use it as redirection. Learning what I was most interested in when it came to films and different types of storytelling. It all led me to take a step back and just think about what it was that I wanted to say as an artist. Then in January 2024, I decided that I was ready to create something of my own; after speaking with my innovative peers I was inspired to create my first short film. I also just really needed an artistic outlet to help me cope with what I was going through in my personal life. I hit up my friend/colleague Karyante who is an incredible writer and through months of so many rough drafts of the script, going through different producers, and really trying to lock this project down we were finally able to make The Duet happen. My first short film, “The Duet” is a beautiful, experimental short film that conveys the wearying symphony of the battle within. It’s what each artist feels as they continue to grow in their craft. It is a depiction of my relationship with my mental health and it’s a dance back to the little girl who found serenity in the art of storytelling. But of course this project wouldn’t be possible without the amazing cast and crew who was involved. A quick shout-out to my passionate director Gica Pucca, my talented co star Andres Garcia Arriola and my incredible crew, Dustin Silva, Micha Adams, Nathan Cayanan, Trenton Gromm, Duc Le, Marco Labate, Xan Shun, Elena Nicholson, James Leonida, Bailey Marie, Aliyah Hinckley, Agustina Alvarado, my brother Kile Perez and a special thanks to Ethan Ingram. I am so so grateful for each and every one of them and the hard work that they put towards this story. I can’t wait for the world to see the hard work displayed on screen. And I can’t wait for future endeavors as I continue on this journey as an artist in LA.

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.
If I were to give my best friend the ultimate tour of Los Angeles I would probably start with getting brunch first at a nice cute cafe, going thrifting afterwards in Melrose or even somewhere in the valley, maybe if they’re into it I’d probably take them to the Last Bookstore in Downtown, or if they’re feeling more adventurous I’d take them on hike at Griffith or somewhere in Pasadena, I’d also take them to a beach for sure either it be Pointe Dume or Manhattan and just lay around in the sun, walk around the shops and get dinner at a nice restaurant close by.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say that the person that I am today is an accumulation of puzzle pieces that are put together through the experiences I’ve had with family, friends and relationships. My family will always be my biggest support system and keep me grounded as I continue to grow. My friends have taught me to live life fearlessly and continue to inspire me everyday. My past relationships have taught me to continue to love deeply within myself and the world around me. Without them I definitely wouldn’t be the person that I am today.

Website: https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm14982105?s=eecb70ea-57e2-a6c0-f8f0-c68eba00828e&site_preference=normal

Instagram: https://kristina.prz

Image Credits
The Duet BTS images: Aliyah Hinckley, Kile Perez, and Agustina Alvarado
Feature Headshot: Anthony Anastasi