Cristina Fernandez Acting MFA 14 Cristina Fernandez I think there is a higher level of expectation for an actor-artist at CalArts than at other places. You’re an active participant in making a piece of art. When I started, I didn’t think I had that capacity as an actor to make my own work; I didn’t understand the language. I’ve begun to create my own work and produce projects. I’ve stretched past being an actor-performer. The cool thing is that you start to trust your own wacky ideas. We all have that experimental part in us, and you begin to honor that. Sometimes things work and sometimes they don’t, but you learn. CalArts is this great experiment. I was always amazed at how kind, open and excited people were to share and see each other’s work at CalArts. There’s a true collaborative spirit in the Theater School and the entire Institute. You naturally start to find folks, and you begin to find yourself in a group of people that you trust and that trusts you.