Senior-itis (not quite)

So, I'm entering into an interesting period of college. The last two weeks of school before my senior year of college. Senior year. What does this bring up? Dreams of police raided parties, running through trenches (ruining white shoes) escaping drug dogs, and...homework. Lots and lots of homework. Because of course, that is what happens when you are taking 20 - 24 hours (possible because of online coursework) a semester. Oh, the joys of higher education.

I ask myself, where will my degree take me? It is no small fact about my life that I used to attend the University of Kansas's younger brother, (technically, not true, but by academic and extracurricular standards absolutely true), Kansas State. Although my time there was quite illustrious and filled with incredible times, it was also filled with some of the worst times of my life. Never have I encountered so much bullying of my personality and self as I did there in both academic settings and social. I found myself, with a 3.7 GPA and plenty of involvement on campus, isolated. I hated who I was and the people around me reminded me of this every day. I lost the essence of self worth and began to perform in social settings just to fit in! How sad. At the urging of my wonderful girlfriend, who single-handedly changed my life for the better, I began to look at other theatre programs. I looked at Minnesota, UMKC, etc., etc. Never did I think to look at KU. Some of the students I had known at KSU promised me that I was "not good enough" to compete at KU, that I wasn't good enough to leave KSU. Although I had some wonderful friends in the program there, it seemed that the negative influences outweighed the positive, which unwittingly played on every fray of every nerve I had. Although I had worked professionally and was well on my way to my Actor's Equity Membership, I was stricken by those words and doubted myself. I asked myself over and over, why am I doing this? Against my better thoughts, I came to visit the University of Kansas.

How amazing that day was. My dad, my best friend, and I were wandering around this gorgeous campus with John Staniunas, the Chair of the Kansas Theatre Department. He was telling us all about he illustrious alumnus from KU Theatre, the boards, scholarship opportunities, KC connections, NYC/LA showcase, and the list goes on. We were floored (My dad and I). I met some of the students and I knew I needed to come here. I immediately, for the first time in college, felt like I wholeheartedly fit in somewhere.

So, I came. After spending the summer in beautiful Macon, MO working as an actor for Maples Repertory Theatre, I came to Kansas with one of my best friends, Caiel Noble (also a transfer from KSU). We immediately fell in love. We were accepted by the theatre department and auditions went well; I was cast as Noah in Noah's Art (an original musical) and Caiel was cast as three roles in Shakespeare in Hollywood. Right off the bat, we were in. Just like that we were part of the family.

This year has been nothing short of incredible. A wonderful (almost) Championship run, fulfilling professional acting training from a FAR-ABOVE average faculty, and meeting some of the best friends I have had since starting college. So, how do I feel? I feel sorry I wasn't here since the beginning. I am thankful for KSU because of the lessons I learned but I will always wonder how much different (maybe better?) my undergrad would have been having been at KU all four years instead of just a quick two.

Heres to junior year and my Friday nights with my home away from home; my family here at the University of Kansas.

No pare, sigue, sigue!

Don't stop, always look forward. No pare, sigue, sigue! A beautiful saying I've heard my grandmother sing, Lin Manuel-Miranda rap, and always hear ringing in my head. Sometimes, you sit back and think about the things that inspire you in life and you realize; you don't choose your inspirations. I didn't choose any of my mentors, they each came to me out of need and "right place at the right time" type situation. So what if its cheesy? What is the point of living if you aren't looking towards something? I want to act. I love entertainment. There is nothing I love more in the world than the work that I do. The filming, the rehearsals, the memorizing, the dissection, the dream, all of it. It is a beautiful thing to have purpose, to have love, and to dedicate oneself so entirely to something that you know nothing else could substitute. So, no pare, sigue, sigue! I would challenge all of us to always strive towards something greater than ourselves; to never let our heads be put down by reality, jealous/angry people, and our own minds. They say that our mind is our greatest enemy; nothing could me more true in a profession where we are constantly looking in the mirror.

So, this weekend I shot my first series pilot. Talk about amazing. A fresh cast (possibly the most talented I've worked with to date), a director from Los Angeles, and two days to shoot something that could turn into something huge. So many dreams on set and they all come together for the perfect conglomeration shot on a RED.    

Its a wonderful life that we have and we only live once. The doors are all open to us; lets not close them. I would have never thought I would be cast as a lead in a comedy series. I would have never imagined half of the things I am up to constantly but they happened all the same.

Luck favors the prepared mind.

No pare, sigue, sigue! Que todos encontremos bellesa en nuestras vidas.

So, I suppose I should do some quick updates...

I was recently cast in a Show Pilot as a principle role (Michael). It is being produced by humoresque productions (check them out these guys are awesome!). It is a comedy show and will be my first chance to apply improv and (attempts) at comedy.

I am shooting a movie next week. I'm playing "the driver", a criminal who takes part in a robbery.

I just wrapped a feature short called "Spark", produced by Alan Ginsberg Productions. Amazing experience as it was my first principle role in a film. You can watch it here....

http://www.aginsberg.com/#mi=1&pt=0&pi=11&p=-1&a=0&at=0

It is a great story with great cinematography and (hopefully) acting worthy to watch!

My two man show, "A Steady Rain" by Keith Huff has secured a producer and rehearsals are in full swing.

I'll be spending the summer in between the prestigious William Esper Studio studying Meisner and the Second City furthering my study in writing and improv.

Doing a professional show in Kansas City (my KC Debut) directed by one of my great friends and mentors Alex Espy in May.

Other than that just ready to finish off the semester. I am more than ready to be done with Undergrad; nothing is more frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

I named this "Friday Nights with Stuffed Animals" because not too long ago, in pursuit of a role, I became homeless for two days. I didn't go home, I didn't use my phone, I merely took $5 with me and begged for the rest. Needless to say, that emancipation left me needing a shower and some 'alone time'. Anyway, I spent Friday and Saturday night with a guy who called himself "Teddy", ala, stuffed animals. 


So, in lieu of having a counselor, I try to let out my musings on non English/Spanish speakers and stuffed animals. Goes to show, huh?


A little "about me". I am a professional actor. I trained at the University of Kansas (2011 - 2013), the Second City Conservatory (2012), and The William Esper Studio (2012). I briefly was in a 'Fraternity' but after one too many "eiffel towers" I had my fill of the Stepford Husbands and stepped out. I enjoy music, writing, fitness, and charitable work (cheesy, I know. Hell of a pick up line though when I try to say I want to be a re-constructive surgeon in Nigeria). I love reading and am definitely a "driven little runt" (little, because I am 5'6, 155. Welterweight?). I am always looking towards tomorrow; the next opportunity, the next job, the next skill I can learn, the next person I can meet. Sometimes I revel in today but I've found that, at least for me, too much reveling leads to forgetting what lies ahead. We have dreams for a reason and I certainly keep mine in mind.


Need to know anything else? I think you can contact me through here. I love e-mail. It is gilpajr@gmail.com. I'll post updates of my life, work updates, photos, and attempts at jokes. I'll probably say inflammatory things and I'm bound to crack some dieeeeck jokes, Latino/Italian jokes (since I am, for all you player haters out there), and theatre-major jokes. It is my nature to be cynical; I don't take things at face value. Never have, never will.