Carlos Antonio Leon balances acting and social work.
Venezuelan actor and producer Carlos Antonio Leon came to the US some twenty years ago to start a brand new life, away from the limelight of his previous career in the showbiz. “I was tired of the biz and the ways it worked. In Venezuela you could only be a Soap actor. Movies were so marginalized and theatre was almost unexistent. I wanted to leave and do something else with my life” says Leon. That “something else” came in the form of a new career: Social Work. Carlos Antonio got a Bachelors in Psychology and later was accepted at one of US most prestigious universities: Washington University in St. Louis ranked in the national top 10 best universities.
After getting his Masters Degree, Leon joined several local agencies in St. Louis aimed to assist Latin people with Alzheimer’s and other mental health issues including addiction. “I was fascinated by how powerful your message can be when you believe in it. Like in acting, you must believe in what you are doing in order to be believed by others. I was so involved in educating Hispanics in regards of mental diseases and how to access help if needed that I totally forgot about acting.” But Acting was on his way. After joining a Missouri-based TV show called “Enterate” that aired through MyNetworkTV (then UPN), Leon was casted to play “Lazarus,” an ancient vampire in the indie sensation “Shadowland,” then the lead role in the Venezuelan comedy “Suddenly, a Film,” and later a supporting role in the Zombiesque “Sound of Nothing.”
The Venezuelan cinema finally started to gain form and reputation and more movies were made. Leon joined the production team in one of those films titled “Complot” (Conspiracy) and also played a supporting role. “Complot was a ‘guerrilla film’ meaning filmed in unconventional ways and basically ‘on the go’” explains Leon. “Very fast paced and heavily improvised.”
The film opened in Venezuelan theatres to much success bringing up the idea of making another one. “And so the movie ‘Los OchoSeis’ (The 86) came up. My buddy Thomas Piedra who also produced in ‘Complot’ brought me a script to Los Angeles, we agreed, and last summer we shot this amazing action film in some of the most dangerous areas of Caracas.” In “The 86” Leon plays a suave and classy man with obscure intentions named “Casanova” while also being part of the production team. “I love this character. It was such a joy to play a man who is the complete opposite to me.” Leon versatility was however put to test during his latest film “Ann,” an artistic and experimental film shot in Miami in just five days and in which Leon interprets a transgender woman. “This is the first time I work under a female director” says Leon of working for Venezuelan director Carla Forte. “This is a very deep work. ‘Ann’ is a very different movie. There’s only two actors and a very heavy psychological topic to cover.” explains Leon referring to Ann’s underlying theme, the ego. Both films “The 86” and “Ann” are slated to start the festival rounds which would keep Leon even busier.
He will also be seen in Wyatt Weed’s fan film REBIRTH playing a cameo as the Joker. “Life is all about creating balances. My life is definitely not boring at all,” Concludes the Miami based actor.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2742725/