Please introduce yourself, what you do, why you do it, and what you want people to know about you.
My name is Ruben Ramirez also known as “Baby Horchata”. I am an award-winning Director, Actor, Stand-up Comedian, Writer, Producer, and Model. I do all of these things because I love them.
It brings me joy and it excites me and has put me in amazing rooms and put me in circles filled with like-minded people. I enjoy creating but even better I enjoy making a difference in people’s lives with art.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I created my own film company due to feel like I was “waiting” on opportunity. So, I told my co-owner Mario Canon that we are done waiting and we will just create our own opportunities. From then on we have been able to put people to grow their skillset, resume, be on set for the first time, give people their first speaking roles, and just motivate filmmakers and non-filmmakers to grow.
Shoutout to my executive producer Adam Brian Dada who is one of the most important person on this journey that I have encountered. He has helped me bring my productions to life by allowing me to film at his studio called Indidb.
I am here to provide an outlet for artists from all walks of life and to be the guy that I needed when I FIRST started creating…. being the BIG HOMIE in the group is difficult but I LOVEEE seeing my people WIN!!
Describe THAT moment when you realized you wanted to do what you do now. Who did you tell first? What has it been like since that moment?
The moment I realized I wanted to do this is when I saw that I had an effect on people when I spoke to them. So, what better way to connect with people than cinema! I told my mom and dad that I was done pursuing criminal justice to pursue film. At first their reaction was not ideal but shortly after they both let me know that they support me and as long as I was happy, that they support that 100 percent. Ever since then they have been my biggest fans and their support is amazing. Once I had their support, it was no looking back. When my mom first saw me on a screen at the movies at a showing of “CANAL STREET” her expression was priceless. I did not have lines, I was just a featured extra and was in multiple scenes, but you could see me clear as day. She still said, “I am proud of you” and sometimes that is all we need to keep pushing through.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to face and how did you overcome it?
Living in central Illinois where there is little to no resource on film. I was super broke in my beginning stages of acting from living in a friend’s living room and having to drive 3 hours to Chicago to do background/unpaid work.
I still have no idea how I pulled that off lol I just kept hustling and then finally had enough to move closer to Chicago…but I was still really broke. I just recall all the times I did’nt have it to humble me on days that feel like I have it all.
If you had to pick the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could take your career (or business) to the next level…who would those 3 people be?
Kevin Hart, Guillermo Del Toro, Alejandro Gonzalez
List the direct links/URL to your social media profiles so people can follow you:
https://www.instagram.com/_babyhorchata/