He’s only 12, but Andres Croci-Valdes has already had so many great experiences onstage and in front of the camera that he wants all kids to have the same opportunity.
Croci-Valdes, of Arlington, is one of the stars of the Tubi original action movie Prepare to Die, along with Lorenzo Lamas and Ryan Padilla, directed by Jose Montesinos. He plays the younger version of Padilla’s character, who sees his family killed before his eyes and makes his way to China to learn the fighting skills he needs to take revenge.
Croci-Valdes is a lot more disarming than that in conversation. He’s only been acting for about a year and a half, but landed the role after going to the annual iPOP talent convention, where he won several competitions and acquired an agent/manager.
“I’ve always wanted to be on the big screen,” Croci-Valdes says, and though he’d only been in school plays and one commercial before landing the role, he takes to acting like he was born to do it, says his mother, Maru Valdes.
“He always told me he wanted to do it,” she says, “but then again, I also always wanted to be a singer. I kind of blame myself for not supporting him earlier. I always thought he was good, but I always thought I was seeing him with mom’s eyes. And it was until we went to this competition that I was like, ‘Oh, I guess he is really, really good.’”
‘I Want Kids to Express Themselves’
While his school has been “incredibly supportive,” Valdes says, in terms of making allowances for traveling for shoots, Croci-Valdes hadn’t had any acting or drama education in school, and he hopes to change that.
“I want kids to express themselves, and usually schools do not provide acting experience or any arts. They usually only have music. They don’t have any dancing, acting — all those other arts. I know a lot of kids love the arts. And most of them don’t get to follow that career because the school does not provide them that education. And kids should get the chance to explore that area and get to follow their dreams or career.”
Croci-Valdes doesn’t seem like a shy kid in conversation, but Valdes says he is — until he starts acting.
“He transforms when he’s on stage — when I see him, he’s not even nervous,” she says. “Like at the competition — I was on the edge of my seat. And he was chatting with a friend who was going first, or just super-relaxed. He really just transformed himself.”
On the way home, she adds, “He said, ‘I wish more kids could have this opportunity to come to L.A. and experience what I experienced.’”
She advised him that he could probably help make that happen, so he’s written to U.S. Rep. Don Beyer on the subject. “He’s a big advocate for the arts and education,” Croci-Valdes says. “And he is looking forward to giving us his support.”
Croci-Valdes is also talking with his principal to start fundraisers for more arts education, and he’s on Save the Children’s list of “voice of the youth for education.”
And even if becoming a movie star is a long shot, his backup plan doesn’t stray far from the world of showbiz: He’ll become an entertainment lawyer.
Feature image by Maru Valdes
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