Interview: Ash vs Evil Dead’s Ray Santiago is leaving his mark on the world
At 1428 Elm, we had the pleasure of chatting with Ray Santiago from the STARZ series, ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’. Join us as we discuss Sam Raimi, season three, the importance of family and the fight for the future.
Ray Santigo as Pablo in ‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ — Courtesy of Lionsgate
“Can I get a Ghostbeaters?!” — Pablo Simon Bolivar
The Background
Ray Santiago made his acting debut in 2000 in Karyn Kusama’s Girlfight with Michelle Rodriguez. Ever since, he’s been one busy performer transitioning easily between the worlds of television and film. Currently, he stars as Pablo Simon Bolivar on Ash vs Evil Dead.
1428 Elm had quite a few questions for Ray about the world of Ash, acting and the future. So, grab a Shemp’s, and get ready for some real talk.
The Interview
Film vs Television
1428 Elm: Preparing for the interview I was doing some research on you. Your list of tv & film credits from ‘Dexter’ to ‘Law & Order LA’ to ‘Meet the Fockers’ is pretty impressive. Is there a particular medium you prefer working in?
Ray Santiago: The medium where I make really amazing, creative art. Film and TV have been my life for over fifteen years. I started doing both of them when I was a kid in addition to theater. In the last five years I’ve really come to understand the beauty of what it is to work on a television show.
To be able to go in and live in the life of a specific character for more than what the audience sees for two hours helps me as a person to really dive into it and grow and tell a story in a more consistent way. It also grounds me as a person. I like telling people stories.
It’s about the Journey
1428 Elm: Do you like the pace of television more?
RS: It really depends on the project. Very rarely do I think any actor is afforded the luxury of working on a set where they can really take as much time as they want to tell the story. I think for me, television has helped me to hone in on my craft and become a better actor.
Television has kept me on my toes. It’s fast paced and you have to deliver very quickly. I also feel that television is a whole new thing now.
To me, you see all these film actors going to television because you can tell a character’s story in a way that will reach more people that is more complex. As an actor, it is the most fulfilling thing.
I recently rewatched the first season of AVED with some friends of mine. It was interesting to see the first kernels of Pablo and where he has gone now. It has been a really long journey and you can see the growth.
A Comedy of Errors
1428 Elm: Speaking of the first season, our readers love behind the scenes stories. Do you remember your audition for AVED? When you walked in the room and I am assuming you came face to face with Sam Raimi, what was that like? I can imagine for some it would be daunting.
RS: My initial audition for AVED, I was in a waiting room with a ton of Latino actors in LA. We all know each other and we root for each other. You come to understand what is yours is yours and what is theirs is theirs. If it’s in the cards for you to have something then it is in the cards, if it’s not and it’s for someone else then you celebrate!
It’s a struggle and a hustle for all of us. We understand and celebrate in each other’s victories. That being said, I did see a spark in the casting director’s eyes when I finished my audition.
My first audition for Sam was pretty crazy. I wouldn’t say that I was really nervous but any fears I had were quickly pushed out of me when I realized that I thought I had gone to the wrong audition studio. The day I was supposed to meet Sam Raimi, I walked into the audition studio and no one was there. I didn’t see a sign-in sheet. So, I thought I must be at the wrong place.
When I called my reps, I didn’t get an answer. I looked in my email and I was so flustered. There was an email for another appointment and I quickly got in my car to go to this other address. It was a completely different audition.