JUAN FERNANDO MONGE
Juan Fernando Monge is a Colombian-Australian actor.
His recent film & screen credits include Bloody Hell (Eclektic Vision) and The Invisibles (Beyond Productions), among a number of short films and TV commercials.
He is a graduate of 16th Street Actors Studio's Part Time Program and has studied with teachers such as Patsy Rodenburg, Carol Rosenfeld, Justin Lehmann and the late Elizabeth Kemp, as well as with accomplished directors Paul Currie, Jason Raftopolous and Iain Sinclair.
Juan's is a versatile actor who has been cast in a variety of roles ranging from the hardened villain in the Western-drama Dancing with the Devil (Douglas Films) to the unintelligent friend in the comedy Movie Night (Aristeia Entertainment). His vulnerability and gravitas on stage has seen him play a sensual mining magnate in Extinction (Tierney Productions, dir. Sarah Tierney), a concerned engineer in Challenger (La Mama, dir. Nick Musgrove), and a domineering control freak in Alienation (FDS Productions, dir. Frank Sita).
Having lived in Colombia until he was five, Juan is fluent in Spanish, and is also intermediate in Italian. Juan has played soccer for the majority of his life, can play the guitar & ukulele, and is a tenor. Juan also works for the Starlight Foundation entertaining patients at the children's hospital
MORE FROM JUAN:
Production Company - Aristeia Entertainment
1. How have you been keeping up with your acting during isolation?
It's been unconventional, that's for sure, but I've found some form of routine. Daily vocal and body work, practicing & putting down self tapes as much as I can, lots of reading, online workshops, and most recently I've delved into story structure & writing. I also spent a period of time focusing on the business side of things - something I totally recommend. At the end of the day, we actors are a mini-business within a much bigger business and we need to learn to navigate the world of it.
We're definitely fortunate with the technology we have at our fingertips. Our phones have pretty good cameras and most have access to free editing software. I've absolutely taken advantage of that. I focused on self-taping monologues during the first period of lockdown, then moved back to dialogue when restrictions began to ease. There's been lots of film technique, lots of studying my work - learning what I do well and what I can improve on. Getting feedback from people I trust is invaluable and that's the kind of work that never stops.
I've also been trying to absorb as much as possible. I had a pile of books and a long watch list waiting for some downtime, and during this quarantine I've been able to immerse myself in as much media as possible. I've read a bunch of plays, acting technique books, graphic novels, & scripts, and watched a bunch of movies and shows. Also books that focus on storytelling and story structure are invaluable - Joseph Campbell has been my muse throughout quarantine.
I've taken advantage of the shift to online, working with some of our casting directors and learning about their processes, as well as getting feedback from casting directors and acting coaches from the US. My very proactive agent also facilitated a bunch of Q&A's with some industry people here and overseas that offered great perspective on the craft itself and the business machine that roars in harmony alongside it.
And I had to do some at-home ADR for a feature film I'd shot at the beginning of last year. My session was scheduled, but after returning from my honeymoon I was forced into quarantine for 14 days. Needless to say, I couldn't make it. I'm part of a production company - Aristeia Entertainment - and luckily had some recording equipment handy. Some cardboard and a few large blankets later, my closet was transformed into Fort Soundproof - an at home ADR studio. I got to work and it was lots of fun.
2. Who's your biggest motivator?
I'm very fortunate to have a strong network of friends, a small but incredibly reliable group of people I can count on. We all work in similar ways, which definitely helps.
I've surrounded myself with people who are equal to, or better, than I am - as actors, writers, producers and people. We motivate one another.
In addition to that, I have an excellent relationship with my agent, who keeps me on my toes in the best way possible. He holds me to my highest standard and his guidance has been crucial to my development.
3. What's the best advice you've received?
This one is tricky. I've been given lots of great advice over the years. I would say having a good support network (as mentioned above) and looking at this industry as an industry are two pieces of advice that have stuck with me. I think we actors get into our heads about the industry, particularly about who the perceived gatekeepers are. I remember needing an agent, and needing relationships with casting directors. I used to put these colleagues on such impossibly high pedestals that I would set myself up for failure. I would lose the play, the sense of fun, and forget that, actually, I really enjoy this. I work for the Starlight Children's Foundation and my experience is that enjoyment is contagious. Never forget to play.
4. Where do you draw inspiration from?
I'm banging on about it but I really care a lot about my support network. I have a strong personal drive to keep creating but the people around me definitely fan those flames.
All the wonderful artists, teachers and mentors I've worked with have definitely influenced my love for the work. My desire to tell stories and the knowledge I gather along the way. All of that adds more and more fuel to the fire. I think human beings are storytellers and I think the work we actors do is very, very special.
