Rene Aranda

Last updated
Rene Aranda
Rene Michelle Aranda.jpg
Aranda in 2018
Born
Rene Michelle Aranda

(1990-12-06) December 6, 1990 (age 34)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesRen
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2011–present
Known for Papa
FamilyMichael Aranda (brother)
Websiterenearanda.com

Rene Michelle Aranda, sometimes credited as Ren Aranda, (born December 6, 1990) is an American actress and singer, best known for Searching and Midnight in the Switchgrass . She has won Best Actress (Silverstate Film Festival, 2018), [1] Best Supporting Actress (LA Edge Film Awards, 2018) [2] and Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Kennedy Center ACT Festival) [3] [4] [5] and finished as a semifinalist in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Center's Irene Ryan scholarship program. [6]

Contents

Early life and family

Aranda was born in Whittier, California, to Frank and Cheryl Aranda. She was raised in the nearby city of Chino Hills, where Aranda grew up with older brother Michael Aranda (YouTube creator and musician), older sister Sara Ann Aranda and younger brother Frank Nathan Aranda. Her mother was a self produced singer/songwriter through CD Baby and secretary to the college dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Cal State Fullerton [7] until she died June 27, 2009, after a seven-year battle with breast cancer. [8]

Career

2009–2012: Vocational training

Aranda is an alumnus of the Los Angeles City College Theater Academy, a three-year, audition-only acting conservatory at which Morgan Freeman, Mark Hamill, Cindy Williams and Bette Davis studied. [9] Just before graduating in 2012, she won the national award "Outstanding Performance by an Actress" in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her role as Willy the Space Freak in a gender-bent adaptation of Sam Shepard's The Unseen Hand. [3]

For her role as "Van's Sister" in LACC's stage production of Bert V. Royal's Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead in 2010, Aranda was nominated for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Irene Ryan scholarship, [6] for which actors compete as a part of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. She made it to the semi-finals.

2013–2014: Early career

First invited to the set of network Cinelatino distributed film Smile Now Cry Later as a background actor by a fellow Theater Academy alum, Aranda was later asked to replace a crew member on a subsequent film before being locked in for two more features (Fighting Chance and Cherry Red Kiss) and by the fourth production (Until the Day I Die), she served the company Plus Entertainment as an in-house producer, appearing on screen in each title she helped produce. [9]

Aranda was featured with touring architect Alán Ramiro Manning in the Woodbury University Neo-Tribes Runway Event [10] on May 1 and 2 2013, donning a Jenny Erin Davis (Black Lightning) design of a Bram Stoker's Dracula inspired Elisabeta (Transylvania 1462), wearing Stila makeup.

2018: Music

In addition to her film and television career, Aranda debuted as a musical artist in 2018, releasing two pop singles a few months apart on Spotify, [11] iTunes, [12] iHeartRadio [13] and other online streaming platforms.

Youth programs and education

Aranda is a regular volunteer reader and occasional coordinator for Reading to Kids, [14] and ran on the foundation's charity relay team in the Los Angeles Marathon in 2016. [15]

She also participates as a volunteer actor in Young Storytellers "Big Show" productions.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011For a ReasonEvaShort
2012Wake-up CallIrisShort
Sin_EaterRebekaShort
2013Smile Now Cry Later-
Fellatio Is Fo SuckasRene the SweetShort
The Pain KillersElise
It's Dark HereFuneral Mourner
The Mountain-Short
2014The Unexpected GuestAmy FlintShort
Cutting Corners 2-Short
FattyStudentShort
The Tragedy of Petey PompeiiKateShort
ContestMelanieShort
Expelled Police Officer
FrankenchickMad ScientistShort
Sins of a Call GirlDiner Patron
Fighting ChanceSabrina
Cherry Red KissEva Alvarez
2015A Family AffairPaulaShort
Suckas Fo FellatioRene The SweetShort
VioletFemke KlebbShort
Faraar SWAT
RelentlessRachelShort
A Lesson in Love-Short
D.O.P: The Director of PhotographyMad ScientistShort
Performance ArtLanaShort
2016Until the Day I Die: Part 1Officer Bracamontes
The Fertile Fiend from Outer SpaceRachelShort
Until the Day I Die: Part 2Cholita
Stories for the FireKittyShort
I Know Where Lizzie IsEMTTV movie
A Killer Walks Amongst Us-
2 Lava 2 Lantula! S.W.A.T.
Black FlagS.W.A.T.Short
Shadows of the DeadPolice Officer
Like the First TimeElleShort
Inspired to KillInmateTV movie
Christmas with the AndersonsPolice OfficerTV movie
The Green FairyMrs. Ferrer
SelfishParty GuestShort
2017Try HardVeronicaShort
Open Mic-Short
Destruction: Los Angeles Police Officer
A View from the MountainLucyShort
UniversitEDEA AgentShort
2018Eruption: LAArmy Soldlier
FrankieSkater GirlShort
Searching Emergency Medical Technician
Papa Robin
When You Lose Someone-Short
Woman on the EdgePolice Officer
2019The Final Journey of Hartwick StanceHartwick's WifeShort
Debbie & Doug Drop Acid in the DesertBunnyShort
The Fanatic Tourist
Intolerance: No More9-11 Operator (voice)
Boris and the BombSonia
12 Pups of ChristmasAlex's Mom
2020Sinister SaviorIzzie's House Medic
Cops Like UsLAPD Officer Ronnie ArandaShort
The Undead of the Z WestUndead Farm GirlShort
Mommy is a MurdererEMT
One of These DaysPolice Officer #6Short
DustersThe RetrieverShort
Open MicCouple in AudienceShort
Happy Horror DaysParty Guest
PeekDet. Liza SeppsShort
202186 Melrose AveCo-Worker in Background
BlursdayNurse Rene
Midnight in the Switchgrass Prostitute [16] [17] [18]
2022Emily or OscarLawyer Laura [19]
Lizard BrainSandyShort
In Love with My Partner's WifePolice OfficerTV movie
Tavern Tony ReturnsMargarita GirlShort
Four Hour Layover in JuarezValeriaShort
My Nightmare Office AffairBusiness WomanTV movie
The Stepmother 2 Hostess
2023ImaniParamedic
The AssistantCouple at Restaurant
City of Dreams Girl in Pedicab [20]
No Way OutParamedic
The Stepmother 3 Paramedic
Proof SheetFemale Police Officer/Brothel Worker
F.L.Y.Postal Worker (mid credit scene)TV movie [21]
Night MistressShelly Steele
In DeepS.W.A.TShort
Still HereFan Girl
Mystery Incorporated and the Threshold of ChaosThorn (voice)
FalaqS.W.A.T.
Our Broken FamilyAmy [22]
2024Upon WakingParamedic
The DisinvitedSarah
SomniumVictim #3
Holy CashSinner

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014 HitRecord on TV HerselfEpisode: "RE: Fantasy"
2014-2018WhatImDoingRightNowHerselfMichael Aranda's vlog, 9 episodes
2015TabloidBracamontes/ S.W.A.T2 episodes
2016 Murder Among Friends Officer MejiaEpisode: "Unholy Friends"
Take My Wife Hotel PatronEpisode: "Holiday Special"
Dangerous Games
2016-2017 Blood Relatives Police Officer2 episodes
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television ParamedicScene Deleted
2017 Germany's Next Top Model Herself3 episodes
BetrayedPolice Officer/ S.W.A.T.3 episodes
Extreme MeasuresCSIEpisode: "Oh Mother, Where Art Thou?"
2019IntrigueJury
CollegeHumor Originals:Kingpin KatieOfficerEpisode 8
CryptTV: Fight NightSpectator
2021 Nova Vita Nurse Julie3 episodes
2023Double CrossPatient AllBlk Original Series

Music videos

YearSongArtistRole
2014All About YouRay CastleInterviewer
2016JoHn Muir ScHoolboy Q Police Officer
One Time Comin' YG Police Officer
Let You GoBobo Norco feat. The PromisePolice Officer
2017High SpiritsPierreLead
Math Quin EMT
2018Need You Anymore Patrick Nuo Dancer
EvidenceBashrockGirlfriend
2019Stay BrokeTokyo YensInmate
No Sudden Moves Julia Nunes Hand Dancer
2020We Can Make UpGuy TangLGBTQ+ Couple
2021
Rap Demigod Dax Police Officer
SuffocatingDaxRapper Entourage
2022I DanceYG feat. "Duki" & "Cuco" Guest

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilmResult
2010Irene Ryan (KCACTF) [6] Acting Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead Semifinalist
2012Outstanding Performance by an Actress (KCACTF) [3] [4] [5] ActingThe Unseen HandWon
2018LA Edge Film Awards [2] Best Supporting ActressA View From the Mountain (short)Won
2018Silverstate Film Festival [1] Best Actress A View From the Mountain (short)Won
2019Rising Star [23] Industry AwardWon

References

  1. 1 2 "Silver State Film Festival 2018 Awards". Silver State Film Festival. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  2. 1 2 "Winners". LA EDGE. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  3. 1 2 3 "National Awards – The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival". web.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  4. 1 2 "Los Angeles Collegian". Issuu. Apr 30, 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  5. 1 2 "Los Angeles Collegian". Issuu. Mar 13, 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  6. 1 2 3 "Issue 1 Spring 2011 Volume 164 Feb 23 | Egypt | Student Financial Aid In The United States". Scribd. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  7. "Cheryl Aranda Finds Inspiration in Her Children and in Song". calstate.fullerton.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  8. Gutierrez, Guerra (July 2, 2009). "Legacy Obituaries". Los Angeles Times.
  9. 1 2 "What Show Business Looks Like In Your Twenties". Ms. In The Biz. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  10. Aranda, Rene Michelle (2019-05-20). "Remembering opening the Bram Stroker Dracula-inspired collection in the @Woodburyfashion Neo-Tribes Runway Event, May 2013". @therenearanda. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
  11. "Ren Aranda". Spotify. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  12. "Ren Aranda on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  13. "Ren Aranda on iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio.com.
  14. "Reading to Kids Monthly Reading Club Recap". ReadingtoKids.org.
  15. "Reading to Kids - 2017 Sketchers Performance Los Angeles Marathon". ReadingtoKids.org | News. 2017.
  16. Midnight in the Switchgrass - IMDb Full Cast & Crew , retrieved 2020-09-22
  17. "Rene Michelle Aranda (aka Ren) on Instagram: "I missed set meals like this. #lunchat8pm #becausefilmmaking #masksuntilseated #midnightintheswitchgrass #i❤️acting"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  18. "Midnight in the Switchgrass - Google Search". Google. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  19. "Emily or Oscar". IMDb . 2022. Archived from the original on Jan 20, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  20. Fuente, Anna Marie de la (2023-02-22). "Oscar-Nominated Yalitza Aparicio to Executive Produce Sweatshop Drama 'Dreamer' with Infinity Hill (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  21. Albarrán, Rafael; Kendrick, Trent (2023-07-18). "F.L.Y. - Apple TV". Apple TV. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  22. Services, Matts Marketing. ""Our Broken Family," Becomes Multiple Award Winner". PRLog. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  23. "Rene Michelle Aranda Wins the Rising Star Award at the 2019 HSSF". Eye on Entertainment.