Dominican actor Juan Fernández´s 3-hour acting workshop at the Global Foundation Auditorium was an entertaining talk and exchange of experiences in Spanish from an actor who has spent several decades in the movie Mecca of Hollywood. Nearly fifty people sat in on the workshop and actively participated in Fernández´s various exercises.

At the beginning, after having placed a series of chairs on the stage in front of the audience, Juan Fernández asked if anyone knew what the most common human needs were. This was the first step in creating an interaction with his audience and was one of the first details he would use to open up his presentation. Every one present agreed that the most important needs in life are health, money and love.

“This is totally different if we are talking about the needs of an actor. To desire, to attract, to accuse, to seduce, to love, to reveal. This is what an actor needs,” he said.

Standing in front of the empty chairs which he defined as the elements with which to do a good and necessary internal exercise, Fernández went over some of the moments in his career without forgetting that he is currently playing the role of the dictator Trujillo in the film Trópico de Sangre (every night he spends 40 minutes in the shower washing his hair and face in order to cleanse himself of the character and to be able to sleep. Some nights he can´t sleep). He made a point of mentioning the defense of emotions as an important part for any actor facing any challenge.

“If one seeks wealth, fame and glory, none of that will make you a good actor,” he added.

He said that by way of commenting on the personal and professional moment he is living right now which he noted is characterized by maturity and tranquility. And even so, he noted, it doesn´t mean that he has ever stopped feeling afraid or nervous in that face of a new project.

“The interesting thing is to know how to take advantage of this fear and make it your ally, never your enemy.”

The public insisted on asking about his acting method, to know more details about his professional career, to ask more information on how to confront emotions that one has never personally experienced but must be reflected in the character being played.

Juan Fernández never stopped moving, gesticulating, acted like he was walking in and out of a door, flirting, laughing. The actor is a manipulator, he said shortly after beginning the workshop. The actor takes everyone with him wherever he goes. Fernández said if he were the president of the country, he would obligate all citizens to take acting classes. He made it clear that “the idea that to be an artist, one has to suffer simply is not true.”

The acting workshop was carried out as part of the many activities underway at the II Dominican Global Film Festival..