Meet Oscar Torre | Actor (The Haves & The Have Nots , The Hangover III), Director (Pretty Rosebud, Just a Man &a Woman)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Oscar Torre and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oscar, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is essential to being able to succeed in life. The first risk I took towards my dream of being an actor was quitting my job as a substance abuse counselor to pursue acting. I needed to move away from my safety net.              I love the quote, “Jump and the net will appear.” Everything that has happened in my career has been the product of moving away from my comfort zone. Taking chances. Most people that knew me before being an actor would have never imagined me doing this, much less having success. I was somewhat shy and never one to seek the spotlight, but I had a passion to tell stories, to act, to experience these characters/roles that I wanted to play. My passion for acting was greater than my shyness. I believe if the dream/goal is big enough, you might surprise yourself how far away from your comfort zone you’re willing to go.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Persistence, staying with it, constantly working on my craft has been important for my development as an actor, When I first started acting, I wasn’t very good, it didn’t come naturally to me but I worked hard, studied and slowly it started clicking, making sense to me. I started seeing improvement and with that I started gaining confidence . Eventually I started booking jobs, building my resume and people started noticing my work. The truth is that people only see the success but those who know me and saw me when I first started, know that I’ve been working on my craft for a long time. I still work as hard as when I first started because you really never stop learning and growing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I personally love to stay at the Georgian Terrace. I love the history of the hotel and it’s so conveniently located. I cross the street and I can go the Fox Theatre and catch a show. I love to go eat at Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill or across the street Mary Mac’s Tea Room. I also love to go to Ponce City Market to eat and shop. Piedmont Park is a great place to spend the day and exercise outdoors. I’m a big soda drinker, so the World of Coca Cola is always a lot of fun for me. I also love to spend the day at the Georgia Aquarium. Atlanta is such a great city with so much to see and do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that have been crucial in my life and career. These are just a few of many. I’m blessed to have two loving parents Emilia and Jose, who supported my dreams, regardless how crazy they thought it might be. My first acting teacher, Teresa Maria Rojas, who invited me to attend her acting class. My ex-wife Judy, who encouraged me to pursue my dreams when I was first starting out. My acting teacher in Los Angeles, Sal Romeo, who allowed me to attend his classes for free when I couldn’t afford them. My wife of 13 years, actress/writer, Chuti Tiu, who is my best friend and has stuck by me through all my ups and downs. She also gave me the opportunity to direct my first film, Pretty Rosebud. (She wrote and starred in the film.) Last but not least, every director, writer, and producer who has taken a chance on me. I am truly grateful and blessed for the opportunity that each of these people have given me.

Website: imdb.me/oscartorre

Instagram: @oscartorreactor

Other: https://vimeo.com/531978993

Image Credits
Albert L Ortega (red carpet photo) JP SanPedro (full body shot)