Felipe Bonilla in "Love Stories"

F.A.: What made you decide to become and actor and when did you take your first steps in this business?

Felipe: First of all let me just say thank you for having me on the forum and being such a useful outlet for artists all over, keep up the good work!
 
I guess I knew all along that I wanted to be involved in the arts, in particular acting, from a very young age, for me it was a matter of timing being that I was a late bloomer since I started to actively pursue it in my 20s and not earlier. Once I decided I needed to enroll in classes in the National Theater Conservatory Program which was a huge deal for artists in Colombia, my home country, I then realized that acting and theater arts was what I needed and wanted to do for the rest of my life.

F.A.: Is there any person in your life that influenced your decision?  
 
Felipe: I would have to say my friends and family definitely influenced my decision, they supported and encouraged me to pursue acting, I think it’s key to have a solid foundation of people who believe in you and whose willingness to support you is unequivocal.
 
F.A.: I know you are one of the Bats, the theater company of The Flea theater here in New York. What do you love about being part of the company?
 
Felipe: Well The Bats has been a great privilege for me to be a part of, here you have the hungriest, most talented, competent, driven, and smart group of actors who are willing to donate most of their time and energy on any given project for little or no compensation, that says a-lot about the Bats. 

The payback is all worth it, you get to work with some real heavy hitters in the industry as well as some leading up and coming playwrights and directors. Plus it’s a theater company so you really get to know the actors who you constantly work with and it translates into high production value.

Felipe Bonilla in "Offending the Audience"

F.A.: Are you currently working in a project or a production?
 
Felipe: Yes, I’m currently playing a lead role in “Till Death Do Us Part”, an independent film directed by David Michaels, whom I honestly think is on the right path to becoming a leading figure in the film industry, it’s a pretty dark drama with a sort of Mad Men tone to it, and some serious Stanley Kubrick cinematography, fun for the whole family right?
 
F.A.: What’s the worst and best part of this job?
 
Felipe: I guess the worst part about it, for me, is not having a job or gig to go to next, not even auditions, it sucks. The best part about it is being in a production doing something you like and getting along with the director, playwright, actors, etc and being a team who is seeking to collaborate for the same purpose.
 
F.A.: I know you've done plenty of work on stage, but also on the small and big screen, from "30 Rock", to "Enchanted" to "Entre nos" and also you are a very talented voice over artist as well...how do you feel about watching yourself and listening to yourself?
 
 
Felipe: At first watching and listening to yourself is kind of weird, you become judgmental,  but once you get past that stage, it’s interesting and rewarding  in many ways because you start to really hone and craft those specific skills you need to improve on, so it actually becomes a very useful tool.

F A : Who was your favorite character played to date, in either film or on stage? And why?
 
Felipe: That’s a hard one, I think that whenever you discover something very familiar about yourself in a character and vice versa or even when the similarities are as distant as possible,  I think it’s those characters that are my favorite characters to develop and play.
 
F.A.: I would love to wrap our interview with the Pivot questionnaire, that became famous here in the United States with "Inside the Actors Studio".
 

What is your favorite word?
Felipe: Flapatischchurrpikiriniki
 
It’s true, it’s actually a word a group of my high school friends and I came up with to basically try and explain an odd or seemingly bizarre situation, brings back great memories.
 
F.A.:What is your least favorite word?
Felipe: No

Felipe Bonilla in "The happy sad"

F.A.: What turns you on?
Felipe: Uncontrollable, uncensored honest laughter
Education
 
F.A.:What turns you off?
Felipe: Ignorance, indifference, burocracy.
 
F.A.:What sound or noise do you love?
Felipe: Drum duets
 
F.A.:What sound or noise do you hate?
Felipe: A pesky mosquitoe hovering above me in the middle of the night.
 
F.A.:What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Felipe: Directing.
 
F.A.:What profession would you not want to participate in?
Felipe: Aiport Traffic Controller, my sense of direction leaves much to be desired.

F.A.:What is your favorite curse word?
Felipe: Nojoda! (the English equivalent to damn it, it’s how strong you pronounce the J that makes saying it so relieving.)
 
F.A.:If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
Felipe: Both your grandmothers and grandfathers are waiting for you, they’ve missed you.
 
F.A.: Thank you Felipe for you time and good luck with your career. 
Felipe:Thanks for having me!
 
If you would like to know more about Felipe Bonilla search for him in our community and view his profile.