If you haven’t seen the documentary ‘Val’ yet, and you’re in the arts, it’s worth a look. It’s a look at his life as an actor through the many lenses from home footage that he shot while working different jobs.
Most actors would be happy with the career of this legend. It’s illuminating to see that even he has had his misgivings about roles he has taken, and choices he has made. It’s nothing I wouldn’t expect - I hear most actors, and people for that matter, are always looking toward the next thing, wanting more.
Desire is what makes human beings human. (an insight from my friend Miles)
He ends the film with footage from him playing Jim Morrison, reflecting on his own nature as an artist, and there’s a great deal of synchronicity between the two. He sums up his approach to acting by offering that he’s found a little bit of himself in the character, and found a little bit of the character in himself.
Another inspiring bit was how he unabashedly pursued roles that he wanted, failing more often than not.
Siempre luchando - a favorite Puerto Rican quote of an actor I worked with (Rudy Willrich) that I’ve held on to.