Abel Parada plays Ralph in Play the Game, one of the short comedies in Happy Hour – four short comedies. He tells us a little bit about his experience of transitioning from film to theatre:

"Despite the merciless pace of time, I think of myself as a young actor. A few years ago, I discovered the beauty of filmmaking and learned how to act through independent short films. Although I’ve got experience in front of the camera, Play the Game constitutes my theater debut. And I cannot wait!

'Meaningful things are created through struggle'

I believe proper timing plays a crucial role in every single aspect of our lives. My engagement with acting came at a time when nothing else made sense: the outbreak of the pandemic.

Acting was more than just a way of coping. It was sustenance! A journey of self-rediscovery where I allowed myself to be creative, to be whoever I wanted to be, to rediscover and express myself without caring about the prying eye of shame or fault. In no time, performing became more than just a hobby.

Soon after I started in the theater, I realized that performing in front of the camera differs greatly from being on the stage. In theater, building character happens progressively and chronologically, as opposed to film, where scenes are shot and performed in a non-chronological basis. Not to mention the importance of vocalization!

As a non-native English speaker, proper enunciation is a constant battle, and one better win that battle in the theater on the first try!

My performances on camera include the crime/drama short Impulse Response and the horror short Ouija Board."