Working as an Actor and Creating Your Own Projects

Big Apple Film Festival

A conversation with Francisco Solorzano on acting and building a business around your craft. Francisco is an award winning filmmaker, actor who most notably wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed/sold-out, first ever stage adaptation of DOG DAY AFTERNOON (Theatre Row Theatres). He's also known for his leading role in the two-act drama, SINS OF THE MOTHER (developed w/ Ethan Hawke, Chris Cooper, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Stuhlbarg). Francisco has acted in and directed many productions with prolific companies such as The Flea Theatre, 59E59, INTAR, The New Ohio, LAByrinth, Rattlestick, Dixon Place, HERE Arts, Florida Stage, EST, Orlando Shakes, Stella Adler Theater, Art of Acting Studio in LA and many others. He has led the Barefoot Theatre Company as Founder/Producing Artistic Director for the past 18 years as well as co-founding the sister co., Barefoot Studio Pictures (recipient of several awards). Proud member of The Actors Studio's Playwright/Directors Unit, Actor's Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.
Film work includes The Riverside Bench (Austin Chang, Dir.); Lesson # 1 (w/ Shirley Rumierk; Alberto Ferreras, Director); Leash (Jennifer Derwingson, director), Love Simple (HBO Latino Film Festival), Between Something & Nothing (Berlin Film Festival), with Barefoot Studio Pictures, THE GIRL WITH THE JACKET written and directed by Caitlin FitzGerald, award winning FLOATING SUNFLOWERS (also dir.) w/ Anna Chlumsky, Lynn Cohen & Christopher Whalen. Most recently wrote and directed A NORTHERN STAR starring Lynn Cohen, Mateo Solorzano and the Barefoot Theatre Company Ensemble (Best Short Film at Barcelona International Film Fest; Best Screenplay Semi-Finalist at Hollyshorts Film Festival). Currently developing the short film, CONSENT as screenwriter (Finalist/Semi-Finalist Screenplay competition: HollyShorts Film Festival, LA Cinefest, Reel Erotic Film Festival).