David Hernandez Actor
David is a Chicago actor who began his career by chance. Prior to having an acting career happen to him he only dreamed of performing for the world while performing for family and friends. Mostly improve and talent shows or assemblies at Wolfgang Von Goethe elementary school.
His career began on the corner of Rockwell and Augusta in the Humboldt Park Neighborhood of Chicago.
This day began much like any other day, David was working for his grandmother. She along with her boyfriend owned a video game room. He decided to take an early break and stepped outside to witness a production van that had the peacock logo and the larger than life letters NBC Cannel 5.
The Cameraman was video taping a mural on the side of a Spanish grocery store just across the street. David's curiosity got the best of him and he walked over to the cameraman to inquire as to the purpose of the taping of this mural of Puerto Rico.
As he and the cameraman conversed, Silvia Gianinni (Producer) and Jack Ginay (Director) walked out of this humble grocery store holding fresh fruit and a paper bag. They walked up to David and asked him if he lived in the neighborhood. He stated that he did live in the area and worked at the game room across the street.
As they continued the slew of questions aimed at David the production team realized that David was more than just another kid on the street. David was a young dynamic 14 years old. His answers were so interesting, informative and animated the knew that they had found what they were looking for.
It turned out that NBC was in the process of producing "Still A Stranger" a national docu-drama that introduces the Hispanic community to the rest of the world. These award winning members of the NBC team were burdened with the need of casting for a young Hispanic boy for the drama portion of the documentary. Silvia was convinced that the search was over! They had found their character " Carlos"!
Both Silvia and Jack agreed that David had to participate in this audition scheduled in 2 days. They loaded David with contact information and assured him that this was a great opportunity they would even pay for his cab ride to the NBC studio. David was skeptical, yet agreed.
DAVID'S FIRST AUDITION
David Hernandez was on time for his audition with a paper bag of props used to entertain his family and friends. He showed up alone, no parents, no guardian. David was and still is gutsy. David really did not know what he was in for. In the waiting room were a small platoon of professional child actors armed with portfolios and stories of previous and future work.
David was intimidated to say the least. He could not hide his brown paper bag with string handles and he felt so out of place. His head hung low waiting for a opportune moment to sneak back out the way he came in without being noticed. Then the production team walked out into the waiting room with eyes feverishly looking about. Silvia spotted David and let out a great big "YES"!
The team welcomed David and made him feel very welcome. They escorted David into the audition room while chattering about the chance meeting in the neighborhood. David made sure to look back at all the professional child actors just before turning the corner past the majestic wooden doors all eyes on him and jaws agape, David smiled and walked with a strut. The comments directed at him about being unprepared without a headshot by the other professional actors now meant nothing and his confidence returned .
His first Audition was opposite Myrna Salazar. Co-Owner of Salazar & Navas Talent Agency. After the audition he was asked to stick around. David was quite nonchalant about the whole matter.
He was the first person in to audition and he was the last to leave. David got the part hands down! It was destiny, David thanks GOD even to this day for such blessings in his life.
David Hernandez Turns down representation
Myrna Salazar a hispanic talent agent spoke to david regarding a possible future in the business, he was still skeptical and remembered the words of his grand mother "Be Careful". David would not accept just any story and refused until he could somehow research this woman and her claims. He was not sure how he was going to do it but david would find a way.
Myrna Salazar found herself searching throughout the Humboldt park neighborhood for David Hernandez to sign him as talent. David Hernandez was offered representation by Salazar & Navas Talent Agency at the NBC studios. David Hernandez Refused. Mr. Hernandez did not envision himself as a big movie star and thought that this was probably a fluke, a one time deal. He was then hunted down by this determined talent Agent ( Myrna Salazar) or Salazar & Navas Talent agency.
David recalls his friends from the neighborhood saying " a lady driving a Mercedes-Benz and wearing a fur coat was looking for you, David Hernandez". Word Spread fast, Mrs. Salazar's persistance paid off, she finally located David's grandmother who owned a gameroom on the same corner of Rockwell and Augusta. Mrs. Myrna Salazar explained her interest in David Hernandez and handed Mrs. Maria Mendez (David's Grandmother) a card.
Tell David to please call me. David received the information by the hand of his grandmother. She told him, "See what this woman wants, and please be careful, she says she can make you a movie star". From then on David was to be known in the community as Hollywood Hernandez.
Since then he has been in various films, videos, industrials and voice overs in English and Spanish. David has done cartoon voices for Colgate Palmolive, such as "Battle Of The Bands", films and television i.e. original Gangstas Nothing Like The Holidays, The promotion, helix and Go for it, Coqui-tv.
In the late 90s he was offered a contract (an exclusive contract) with NBC in which David was ready and able to accept. He would have to leave his home town Chicago and move to Los Angeles. His then agent somehow managed to screw up the negotiations and blew the contract all together.
David Hernandez found out later that his Agent was not ready to let him go to the network at any price. This was the first network opportunity and the let down hit him hard as an actor when his representation failed to look out for his best interest.
David then found himself in a situation where he had to leave the industry for many years to care for his ailing father and family.
At the age of 25 David Hernandez owned a Sea Food Restaurant in the west side of Chicago for 9 years and is now in the business of helping people fight and win foreclosure battles, he Produces television programs in Chicago.
Hernandez took full control of producing, directing and even editing the Bi-lingual television program Coqui-tv.com which has now been on the air for over 19 years in Chicago.
Now older and believing that times have also changed, he has been bitten by the acting bug once again. He is now working toward re-building a career in front of the camera once again. David Hernandez is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and has hit the floor running. This year alone he has managed to book 4 Feature Films all speaking roles and always with the main stars of the film. David Hernandez is an A-List Actor. Producers and directors have shown faith in David's strong acting ability by choosing him to work with the lead (s) of their films.
David Hernandez & John Leguizamo
Nothing Like The Holidays Movie
