Up And Coming Actor Eric Barragan discusses the value of building communities and creating your own path
We sat down with Eric and talked about his paths to a successful career in film.
He grew up in Anchorage Alaska where he discovered his love for acting at the University of Oregon. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and is currently working in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
What led you to New Mexico?
He was going to school and his friend Fischer Knapp were on their senior year of college where they decided to go on an exchange to the University of New Mexico. Their film professor in Alaska pushed them to go to NM. They heard rumors of Netflix moving to ABQ and decided to spend their last year in at UNM with Netflix.
The First Moment of Inspiration…
He said “In high school I was a bio major for four years and was set to become a physical therapist for years and I hit a wall. I was still in Alaska, I knew I didn’t want to go to med school, the pace was too slow and I didn’t have agency to control my life. Instead of taking a gap year I decided to go on the National student exchange program to University of Oregon. Instead of taking the Bio path, I took every class that interested me from acting to film production and journalism. I took philosophy classes and creative writing classes. I stepped into my first acting class. Literally to this day, that was the most nerve racking thing I have ever done. I felt like I was watching myself from outside the building. I was on my phone trying to see what other class I could switch out off. At the time I asked myself, what’s the scariest thing I could do, it was acting and so I stayed. I feel like there was always this part of me that wanted to pursue acting. The scary part was that I was in a shell, I was never around that. Up unto that point, acting and films and all that was etherial, I felt that actors were not real people. Actors were a magical thing and it wasn’t a reality. I never connected that to an actual human being.”
The first time performing…
”Everyone was welcoming but they were also competitive, the first thing we did was, she lined us up and she put us up in front of the class. She told us to be “In the moment”. Just stand there, take in the world and be in the moment for a minute straight. It was the most exhilarating thing I’ve done up unto that point of my life. That made me feel alive, Seeing other people do it too made me vulnerable . That initial group we came together and were a family. We called ourselves the red carpet because we told each other we would see each other on the red carpet. Alot of people ask me why I continue, it’s really from that core, from those people who changed my life. The more I grow from it the closer I am to them.”
What started that desire to build communities…
He called it “The Only Child Syndrome as he Chuckled. He continued “I grew up an only child, I have tones of cousins but when I turned seven we moved to anchorage, I had no friends around or siblings. I think if it as a survival technique, I thrive off having people around and having a community. You develop a skillset when it becomes a necessity in your life. I feel like community has been a big part of my life.
The Brigade and the Red Carpet community…
“I don’t really see that I’ve started these groups, I may have had the starting idea but it’s the community. We recently did a documentary called “Soaring 20s”. Everyone was so willing and down to have a cool friend group. We are all in a very similar part of our lives where we are hustling. It was cool to document a very specific time in our lives. Being out of school, it was hard to find these communities and I think it was time to make those communities to actively do it together ourselves.
Eric Barragan hanging out at SlowBurn coffee in ABQ, NM.
When you think of good art, what does that look like…
I like American realism, I like Lady Bird, Beautiful boy, Timothy Chalamet. I’m definitely on the hype train, he’s definitely one of the most down to earth and talented dudes out there. He is compelling to watch and he loves what he does.
The biggest thing an actor is for me…
One of the biggest reasons I want to be an actor is to understand, to have the ability to empathize with everyone, it takes risk and effort; That’s why we do what we do. To me, this is the biggest way to get the most life out of this time we have on earth.
Hollywood archetypes…
I don’t really know old Hollywood, like I grew up with Timothy Chalamet, I didn’t really pay attention to the old actors, All I really know is the new gen. I feel like we are moving in the right direction, i’m hopeful we are.
What would you tell other people thinking about becoming an actor…
“It’s never too late, everyone has their own story to tell and everyone is unique and talented in their own way. If you really want to become an actor there is nothing you can’t do in this life. At the end of the day everyone is just a human being like you are. Congratulations on starting your journey and enjoy every second of it. It’s all apart of the process and everything you do is a step forward.
Value of creating your own path…
After sitting down with Eric, He represents the perfect archetype of the persistent and determined creative who has paves his own path, created communities and brought value to all who are around him by his positive attitude and consistent approach. He is kind and listens to everyone and without a doubt will be continuing his exponential growth into this industry we call Film & Television.
SOARING 20’s…
You can view his documentary Soaring 20’s which features the community and group he has began cultivating in NM with names who without a doubt will leave their imprint on the entertainment scene for generations to come.