Juan Pablo Olyslager, here at Bionic Buzz we are all about people’s passions. Tell us where your passion for acting came from? Was it a certain movie or performance that inspire it? Or was it something that was natural for as a kid growing up in Guatemala City?
I FELL IN LOVE WITH MOVIES AFTER WATCHING STAR WARS WITH MY MOM. WE USED TO GO TO THE MOVIES OFTEN, AND I WAS CAPTIVATED BY THAT EXPERIENCE. I WANTED TO BE A PART OF MOVIE CREATION EVEN THOUGH THE INDUSTRY IN GUATEMALA WAS NON-EXISTENT. I STARTED MAKING COMMERCIALS, THEN I TRANSITIONED TO THEATRE AND THEN TO THE CINEMA.
Tell us your own journey after you found your passion for acting that lead to you getting the lead role in the critical acclaimed movie Temblores.
I STARTED DOING MOVIES IN 2003. I WORKED IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES DOING MANY FILMS. BY THE TIME THAT JAYRO BISTAMANTE WAS CASTING THE MAIN ROLE FOR TEMBLORES, I WAS DOING THE LEAD ROLE IN THE THEATRE PLAY TWELVE ANGRY MEN. JAYRO ASKED ME TO AUDITION AND EVENTUALLY I GOT THE ROLE. I WAS THRILLED TOMWORK WITH JAYRO AS I REALLY ADMIRE HIS WORK.
Temblores, is a movie about the coming out of an evangelical father that shatters his family, his community and uncovers a profoundly repressive society. Your portrayal of Pablo a gay man won Outfest 2019 “Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance in an International Narrative.” Congratulations! Tell us what it was like when you won?
I WAS IN SHOCK. I WAS IN ECUADOR AND A FRIEND OF MINE THAT WAS ATTENDING THE CLOSING CEREMONY SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE SCREEN SHOWING ME AS A WINNER. I WAS VERY HAPPY AND THANKFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or appearances that are you allowed to talk about?
I PARTICIPATED IN JAYRO BUSTAMANTE’s THIRD MOVIE, CALLED LA LLORONA. IT HAS WON SEVERAL PRIZES WORLDWIDE. I WORKED IN ANOTHER PROJECT CALLED EL TUNEL, EL OJO Y EL MURO,IN WHICH I PORTRAY A HUMAN TRAFFICKER IN AN APOCALYPTIC WORLD. FINALLY, WE ARE ABOUT TO SHOOT JUSTIN LERNER’s EL CADEJO BLANCO,IN WHICH I PORTRAY A RUTHLESS DRUG DEALER. I AM HAPPY TO BE PARTICIPATING IN ROLES THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MY PREVIOUS ONES.
Where can we follow your journey going forward on social media?
