Eps 37: Finding Her Voice: Loren Escandón on Art, Culture, and Resilience

In this episode, award-winning Afro-Latina actress and filmmaker Loren Escandón shares her inspiring journey from Cali, Colombia, to Hollywood. Growing up surrounded by cartel violence, Loren’s mother enrolled her in ballet to keep her safe, which sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling. She shares how her early training in ballet, tango, and jazz eventually led her to theater and television, as well as the challenges of navigating cultural shifts and learning to embrace her accent. Loren has appeared in hit series including Gentefied, 9-1-1, S.W.A.T., Selena: The Series, Truth Be Told, and Freevee’s Casa Grande. She is best known for her breakout role as Marisol in Netflix’s Purple Hearts. Beyond acting, Loren is an accomplished director and writer. Her debut, Phone Tales, premiered at multiple festivals, and her latest short, Los Patines, has won numerous awards including Best Short at the San Pedro International Film Festival and Best Latino Short and Director at the NYC Downtown Short Film Festival. Throughout the conversation, Loren emphasizes resilience, self-acceptance, and the importance of representation in storytelling. She offers insights into her creative process, her experiences navigating multiple cities and cultures, and her vision for what’s coming next.00:00 Introduction and Early Life 00:25 Discovering Ballet and Storytelling 01:32 Transition to Acting and Moving to the US 02:27 Navigating the Acting Industry 03:48 First TV Role and Learning the Ropes 05:49 Settling in LA and Finding Representation 11:24 Audition Challenges and Self-Acceptance 16:59 The Importance of Training and Comedy 25:17 Wardrobe and Character Embodiment 26:50 Collaborative Costume Design 27:22 Realism in Acting 28:57 Transition to Directing 31:57 Creating Los Patina 34:50 Challenges and Triumphs 39:34 Future Projects and Aspirations 46:44 Reflections and Inspirations 49:46 Inside the Actor's Studio QuestionsEPISODE LINKS:· Loren’s IMDb· Follow Loren on IG @lorenescandonHost: ⁠Colleen Foy⁠Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing________________Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠