Meet Melody Parra | Actress, Writer, Director, & Producer/Investor

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

Hi Melody, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m a big believer in the larger the risk, the larger the reward. Throw that saying in with another of my favorites- “Fortune favors the bold”- and I would definitely label myself a risk-taker. This belief is something I’ve applied to both my acting career and all areas of my life in general. I think the ability to see opportunity where others see fear or worry is powerful.

However, that doesn’t mean I don’t calculate the risk I’m taking before jumping in. One way I measure risk is by playing out the outcome in my head if everything goes to plan versus the outcome if everything goes quite opposite. I am someone who strongly trusts in my own intuition, so I tend to lead with my gut and it has always steered me in the right direction.

Besides being an actor, director, and producer, I am also an investor. I currently own two properties and work as a swing trader.
The nature of all these fields is risky and I personally love that. I love the idea of taking a chance on something you believe in, that speaks to your soul, ignites your spirit and fuels your passion. For me personally, this philosophy when it comes to risk is something that makes me feel alive, challenges me to be resourceful and creative in moments that don’t go according to plan and contributes to my own personal growth and strength in paving a life that’s worth living by my own personal standards.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always known I am very passionate person, yet being a working actor, as well as writer/director/producer has taught me to what lengths I will go when I am presented with a story/project that I am absolutely in love with and feel needs to be told. I remember getting my SAG card and being like this is it! Well, that was only the beginning. Joining the union is a huge milestone for any actor, however, that taught me that it’s truly up to you to continue working, whether that means creating your own material or juggling two bookings in one day.

When I was directing my first film, Nena: The Untold Story (available on Prime), one actor called me a force of nature and that really stuck with me, not because it was a compliment to my work ethic, but rather because to me there was no other way except to push forward. This is not an easy business in the traditional sense of the word; you never know where the next project will come from. Yet there’s so much beauty in that too! Each win is exceptionally rewarding, whether that is being cast in a film, getting a script optioned or simply meeting someone else who is as passionately invested in telling stories & collaborating together.

Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way is that there will be doubts, fears, worries but if you get your mind right, everything is possible and it will serve you well in trying times and allows you to trust the process with confidence. This in turn taught me that you must always take care of you and prioritize your well being before work. I love to start my day off with a walk alongside my pup and a good breakfast. That time to myself gets me ready for a productive day regardless of what comes my way and it also provides moments of peaceful stability in a business that is by nature unstable.

I am so honored and proud to be a working actor and creative & I got to where I am by being committed to my craft every step of the way. I’m pretty relentless and love doing things my own way, whether I stand or fall by those choices. When I’m up at 2, 3, 4 in the morning still working on getting a film made or on set or fleshing out another draft of a script I’ve been writing, it is a reminder that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. There is nothing greater than the feeling of being energized by something that consumes you because you’re so in love with it that sleep or rest is the last thing on your mind.

I look for the lessons in every situation, I’m always learning: what went right, what went wrong, and what can I do better?
For example, when it comes to acting- and creativity in general- I truly believe that the more you know who you are, the easier it is to connect to the character you are bringing to life and the more connected the audience will be to your performance. In my experience, that has always been what naturally follows. The more you live, the more you experience life and observe life in others, the better a creative you will be because all these experiences put you that much more in tune with human nature/the art of living and essentially that is what creatives do: Recreate life.

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?
We would definitely have a day in Studio City, go to Universal Studios so they could get a glimpse of movie magic haha and then maybe do dinner at Firefly, one of my favorite restaurants. Or if we’re in the mood for Mediterranean food, Joe’s Falafel is a great stop.

Then we would explore the boutiques and quirky shops consisting of fun socks, comics and old school records in Silver lake, my original stomping grounds. Dinner and drinks at Cafe Stella where you feel like you’re transported to Europe for dining and to the 2os at the bar.

Malibu would be the next stop, walking along the beach and grabbing fish and chips at Neptune’s Net. We’d definitely have to do this on a weekday because the line goes on for days since the food is just that yummy. I would also love to do a Dolphin/Whale Watching Tour at the Marina. Venice is always a trip too

And of course, Hollywood where we would watch a musical at the Pantages, stop at the Wax museum and Ripley’s

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would definitely say my mom, Sonia Parra, who has taught me what drive, ambition and strong work ethic can achieve by embodying it herself. Thanks Mom!

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6311459/

Instagram: @parra.melody

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parra.melody/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDOASfdShVc

Other: https://www.amazon.com/NENA-Untold-Story-Melody-Parra/dp/B08ZH7M39X

Image Credits
Melody Parra