“I knew what I wanted to do; I always have.” (Mabel Velazquez)
As a child, Mabel Velazquez always questioned everything—why she had to do certain things, behave in a certain way, or learn in a particular manner. “As a child, I was a rebel; I would be good-hearted and excel in studies, but when it came to following the rules, I didn’t do it,” says the 27-year-old Dominican.
All these inquiries also led her to other places where her imagination awakened, something that later served her ambition to become an actress and work in the film industry. “I always remember grabbing my dad’s camera, filming everything—my dolls, myself, taking pictures of everything. I watched TV shows and saw myself on the screen; I knew I wanted to do that,” says the actress who has divided her time between New York, the Dominican Republic, and Los Angeles.
“I’ve always spoken clearly, speak my mind, and some people don’t like that. I questioned a lot; that could be interpreted as a form of rebellion,” she adds. Mabel grew up like many migrant children, spending time in New York and then in the Dominican Republic. Her parents’ pursuit of economic stability took them from one place to another.
“They’ve spent a lifetime telling us how we should be; Latinidad is an experience. I don’t have to pretend to be Latina,” she adds. (Mabel Velazquez)
“My relationship with them was always straightforward and honest; they understood that my creative area was thriving. There was no hierarchy between us; it was an excellent relationship of respect,” she says.
As a teenager, she tried to enter an art-focused school in the Dominican Republic, but it was impossible. However, in her school, they created works that allowed her to explore those talents. Her biggest aspiration is to be part of the Latin representation, in her case, Dominican, where there are so many stories to tell. Later, she migrated to New York, where she studied at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts for two years.
“I knew what I wanted to do; I always have. Entering that school was like a dream; I could finally understand from the inside what I wanted to do. I’ve always liked science, knowing what moves so that we see a certain result. This school allowed me to dissect what it meant to portray a role,” she says.
However, not everything was a pleasant experience. “Being Dominican and Latina was very difficult in those years, much more than now. I remember in a vocalization class, my teacher demanded that I speak more Latina, be more Latina. I looked at him without understanding. I was being myself; I was Latina. The problem is that these teachers wanted us to be what they thought Latinos were,” she says emotionally.
For Mabel, this is critical. “They’ve spent a lifetime telling us how we should be; Latinidad is an experience. I don’t have to pretend to be Latina,” she adds.
For Mabel, setting clear goals for what you want to do and being informed is vital in this profession.
After joining a group of like-minded people, part of the diaspora, she collaborated on a short film called “Todos somos iguales”, now in post-production. Before she participated in “El inconveniente de ser yo”, filmed in the Dominican Republic, which she also produced.
Mabel thinks that given the current situation, Latinos have to create their own opportunities and not just seek them. “I’m in a stage of searching and development. Right now, I’m in the Dominican Republic because of the importance that cinema is gaining on the island. But I’m willing to move anywhere I find an opportunity,” she says.
One of her current dreams is to be part of a series that represents that Latinidad, her people. “We have many ideas; now we are trying to put together that puzzle to make it a reality. Right now, I’m in a process of flowing,” she concludes.
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