Meet Rod Lara | Actor & MIme artist.

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

Hi Rod, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I believe everyone can be successful. Find something you are passionate with and make great things with it.

That is exactly what I have attempted with my brand. Mime and visual comedy is a very niche skill to acquire. But, I truly believed in it and felt it was my purpose. Of course, at start it was tough, But went with my gut feeling that this specific art was for me. The rest is history.

I believe everyone has got a purpose in life. Find that purpose and give 100%. You will be rewarded down the line. That is success – Passion, persistence and believing in yourself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well, I had never planned to become a performer. Performing found ME! Let me explain how it all started:

I was in junior high and had only been in Australia for less about 2 years (I’m originally from Chile, South America)., where I found myself in a Theatre Studies class by sheer accident.

My subjects got scrambled for 2nd term of Junior High and ended up in a room full of very eager theatre students. I was 13 years old and extremely shy. At first, Theater Studies was simply playing games. I thought, “I can handle this class for a bit and then I can go back to my other nerdy subjects”. Weeks have gone past when our Theatre Studies teacher brought scripts to perform on stage! I went cold!

Being a naturally shy kid and absolutely petrified of speaking publicly in a completely (then) foreign language in such a public manner. Anyhow, I found myself performing EVERY single role without uttering a single word. My teacher put me aside and mention that I moved really well onstage and that I should become a mime. “What’s a mime?” was my reply. That was my introduction to the Greats – Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Jacques Tati, Marcel Marceau, Mr. Bean, etc…

The whole mime became more or less a party trick throughout school until I graduated.

After graduating high school, I took a gap year to work to possibly pay my University fees. I know my parents would have helped with that, but I wanted to contribute financially.

Anyhow, a friend of mine invited me to attend a gymnastic club. I though, “Why? Will I be wearing leotards and spinning ribbons around?”. I went along anyhow.

My gymnastic coach was a dance teacher also who had connection to the entertainment industry where I got suggested to audition for circus shows. BOOM! That began my performing arts career! So twice the universe intervenes, and I became a performer.

During my circus training, I began introducing mime into my acts. But, I discovered that that simply wasn’t sufficient as I wanted to move well onstage, so I put myself through dance training. I also felt that I wanted to convey emotions more believable, so I put myself through intensive acting classes. Although I felt something was missing.

Around that time, I began watching the films by Buster Keaton and Jackie Chan. I WANTED to learn slapstick/visual comedy skills of that high caliber.

At my gymnastic club, there were two stunt guys who had worked with Jackie Chan in ‘Mr Nice Guy” here in Melbourne. I began asking endless number of questions. They suggested I should train in stunts with various coached in then New Generation Stunts. So, I specialized in Stage Combat and falls. My aim was never to become a stuntman, I just wanted to enhance my slapstick skills.

Of course, when I began performing solo routines it got tough… very tough, I was a freelance mime artist with all of those skills. What do you do with them? Where do I get work? When I approach venues to perform in, the usual question would be, “What do you do again?”

Instead of wallowing in my sorrows, I decided to busk. Best way to hone one’s skills.

I always say, believe in yourself. Now, two decades later, I make a good living from my art. I have a great agent, performed in massive theater productions, and has appeared on TV & Film.

Since I learnt all of those skills early in my career, I am now the leading mime artist here in Australia who not also dances but performs high level slapstick skills.

For the past few years, I have begun running my own mime & slapstick works to prestige performing arts institutes (Eg. National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), CircArts, etc…). Love teaching to the new generation so they can make good things with that knowledge.

During Covid Lockdown, I also began making short films using my original character, Banjo. Being a mime artist, my films are basically silent. A nice collaboration with music composer, Moxie.

Now, my lockdown trilogy (‘Isolation’, ‘Lockdown, & ‘Rise’) have won awards and accolades around the world. My short silent films have even been screened in Silent film festivals in Conventions such as The Niles Silent Film Museum in Niles (California), and the Buster Keaton Convention in Muskegon (Michigan)

My awards now hang proudly at my home. A nice way to pat yourself on the back for doing a good job… it has been 25 years of progress.

My films can be watched on Youtube (link below to my channel)

As I have mentioned before. Believe in yourself, be persistence, and give 100%. without any distraction. All the best in YOIUR journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Melbourne is a beautiful city. Very cultured metropolis with great art galleries, museums, theater shows, etc… I would explore the city with that friend. Then take a road trip around Australia.

Every single stage/region has got its own peculiar beauty and history. It’d be a 6 long month getaway. Bliss!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I don’t want to sound like a sappy Academy Award speech. But, I like to thank my parents for their endless support throughout the 25 years as a performer. I sometimes get a message from them that they’ve just seen me on the latest TV ad.

Would like to thank my agent for understanding my skill and what vehicles will highlight that skill.

Also, my closest friends who have been forever supportive.

I’m a huge believer of one attracting one’s tribe.

Website: https://www.rodlara.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therodlara

Linkedin: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rodlara

Twitter: https://twitter.com/therodlara

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therodlara/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rodlara12

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therodlara

Image Credits
Keith Porter Photography. Stephen Pong Photography. Christopher Boot Photography. Isabel Padilla Photography.