Looking Back and Looking Forward

What Next for Robert?

Over the past few days I have been reviewing whatever material I could immediately get my hands on regarding Robert Beltran’s career. The genesis was the realization that we have not seen any new work from Robert since the end of Voyager, two years ago. He has made one small film, Broken Sky, which has not been publicly viewed. A CD recording of a poetry reading he did at the Museum of Latin American Art has been released. Fans hungry for opportunities to enjoy his work welcomed it, but it is from a past event. For an actor who has been continually performing since 1979, whether in theater, television or film, this is an unusually long break.

Voyager was the first long running television series in which Robert played a regular character. The others never lasted more than a season. Given the rigors of filming a television series for seven years, it isn’t all that surprising that Robert has taken a break. However, this is the same actor that organized a production of Hamlet, which he performed in during the series hiatus in spring 1997. Robert played a role in Managua, released the same year. He also did a short film (How Else Am I Supposed to Know I’m Alive). To be involved in that much activity in a fairly short period of time requires a great deal of energy. So what has changed?

For one thing, Voyager may have provided Robert with the financial capability to sit back and review, perhaps modify, his personal and career goals. It has been suggested that his remuneration from the series left him in that enviable position, surely every actor’s dream. An interview with Robert as the series was ending included a comment that he could be more discriminating in his choices for work.

Like many of the fans, I first learned about Robert via Voyager. The character Chakotay held the promise of opportunities for storytelling, which were not always realized. When they were, it was marvelous. Resolutions, Timeless, Nemesis, Memorial, Scorpion, and One Small Step are a few examples. From Voyager many of us moved on to Robert’s movies. Like any actor, Robert has performed in his share of forgettable films as well as films that should be remembered. Part of what makes a film memorable is the directing, and Robert has worked with directors holding substantial résumés. Where to begin?

Luis Valdez – La Pastorela, La Bamba, Cisco Kid, and founder of El Teatro Campesino

Barry Levinson – Bugsy and producer of Analyze That, The Perfect Storm and numerous other films.

Mimi Leder – Rio Shannon, Deep Impact, The Peace Maker, Pay it Forward, John Doe

Wayne Wong – Slamdance, The Joy Luck Club, Maid in Manhattan

Luis Mandoki – Gaby-A True Story, Born Yesterday, White Palace

Paul Bartel – Eating Raoul, Scenes From the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills and numerous other films as actor or director.

Haskell Wexler – Latino, Medium Cool, won Oscars for cinematography on Bound for Glory & Interviews with My Lai Veterans, cinematographer for In the Heat of the Night, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Thomas Crown Affair, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and numerous other films.

Clearly, Robert has not spent his entire time with directors or producers who simply churn out formulaic stories. That is not to say the directors in the list above scored a home run every time, but neither are they one-hit wonders. So while Robert may have to shop himself around to the current crop of casting directors (he commented on that during a European tour) one would think that his résumé would garner positive attention. Which brings us to the core question; what next for Robert Beltran?

This is a perfectly proper question for a fan to ask. I have been critical of some of Robert’s movies, but that doesn’t mean I think Robert is a poor actor. On the contrary, I think he is a very good actor who sometimes found himself in not so good films. Not every movie was worth watching, even though Robert was in it. Those that are worth watching always demonstrate Robert’s abilities and you want more. Members of the audience for the poetry readings, or his production of Hamlet inevitably want more. Will we get more?

Robert himself has not indicated any immediate need or desire to return to acting. At various times he has spoken about writing, composing music, and working on an independent film. He has run at least one drama workshop (in February 2003) and may have run more. Listening to an audio clip from the workshop I was struck by his intense attention to what the students were doing and how they were doing it. He cared, and he alternately encouraged and exhorted his charges throughout the process. Slackers were not allowed! I can visualize him as an acting teacher, preparing the next generation. It is his future, and therefore his choice, but as a fan I would like to know what to expect.

The Official Robert Beltran (ORB) site has Robert’s endorsement and reports on his public doings. Fans rely on it for the definitive word about Robert, who occasionally posts to the Message Board. The ORB has nothing new to offer the fans (aside from memorabilia auctions and the poetry CD), and Robert is far too young to be viewed solely through a retrospective lens. There is no indication at the ORB that he has chosen to retire from public performances, other than his absence. So we are left to presume he will return to public view at some unknown point in the future. Is that his intent?

On March 28, 2003 Robert is scheduled to attend the Grand Slam convention in Pasadena, California. If I were there I would want to ask him; what’s next Robert? Will we see him in live performances, or in a film? Has he decided to share his gifts via teaching? What should we expect of this talented man? Surely he has not reached the pinnacle of his acting abilities? One would hope that time and experience provided him with the ability to bring even greater depth to the characters he plays. But if we don’t see him performing, how will we ever experience that evolution in his abilities? I hope that this break is temporary and we will see Robert performing again. Perhaps an attendee at the convention will ask the pertinent questions and he will share his plans with us.