Ashley Campuzano – East Los High

By starrymag | July 15, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Right now, my recent project is “East Los High” and I’ve also been working on some projects that are still in development.

Q) Where do we pick up with the cast this season of “East Los High?”

A) This season is a lot of action, drama and a lot more dancing compared to other seasons. One of the new focuses this season is The Bomb Squad, which they bring in boys this season and start competing in bigger competitions. Other elements of the storyline are teen pregnancy and there are issues that teenagers face on a daily basis going to high school.

Q) What is new with your character Tiffany this season?

A) For the second season, Tiffany came in as the new girl and she wasn’t necessarily from East LA so everything was new to her. She was the typical beauty queen dancer and gets everything she wants. She came into the school making some mistakes and doing some bad things to ruin some of the friendships she made. Tiffany comes in this season a bit more aware of what she has done last season. It’s kind of a growing experience for her. She comes across some problems that make her change her morals and values and look at things in a different perspective. She reunites, apologizes and becomes friends with her friends. It’s kind of a growing experience for Tiffany this season.

Q) What do we find out more about her being a part of dance?

A) She is still on the dance team this season. There are only four girls on the dance team so they are auditioning guys. They go and compete at different competitions and they end up winning and really focusing themselves to win money for the school and for the dance team. They want to make a name for themselves as the Bomb Squad in East Los Angeles.

Q) Is that a big part of what drives her, her love of dance, or is that just a part of who she is at her high school?

A) It is who she is as a persona. She grew up dancing and was the dance captain at her old school. So, coming into East Los High she had to join the dance team. It’s part of what she does. It’s part of her persona. She is the type that always wants to be the dance captain and be in charge. She tries to make up dance routines.

Q) We know there are new faces this season. Tell us a little bit about how they will be introduced into the storylines.

A) Christina Milian is a producer on the show with Vanessa Vasquez (who plays Camila). The Bomb Squad was hired to do a music video for her so there has been some dancing for her. It was a pretty fun working with her and she is a really great actress. She’s down to earth and it was really fun working with her on set. We’re glad to have her on board this season.

Q) What is your background in dancing?

A) I’ve been dancing for many, many years – since I was about seven years old. I did all types of dance from tap and jazz to salsa and hip-hop. I also did professional cheerleading for a time for a soccer team. That was a great experience for me. My dancing background has definitely prepared me for this role on “East Los High,” which is pretty nice to have for the role.

Q) What have you found challenging about playing Tiffany?

A) One of the challenges for Tiffany and for me with portraying her is that we all portray something that we are not. Some of the things challenging for me was being the mean girl and being super mean on set. Then, I’d have to switch it off when they would yell, “Cut!” I’m really down to earth and really nice. Playing the mean girl is totally not me so it was kind of a challenge for me.

Q) What have you added to role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) She plays kind of a little ditzy. I added that to the role because I thought it would be more interesting, especially with a girl living in East Los Angeles not knowing anything about it and coming into the environment. I think I gave a little twist to it and adding the ditziness added a little fun to it.

Q) Who have you not had many scenes with or hope to work with more in the future?

A) I didn’t really have any scenes with JD [Pardo] or Catalina [Sandino Moreno] as well as some of the older characters like Jacob [Aguilar], who plays one of the coaches. I would really like to have more scenes with them in the upcoming season because I would really like to work with them on set. I’d like to work with JD and Catalina a little more and Gabriel Chavarria who plays Jacob.

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming this season?

A) In Season 3, I would have to say the most memorable would definitely be having the guys on the dance squad. It brought more energy into the room and I feel like on set as well. It was more intricate partner dancing on the show with the guys. That was pretty exciting because we got to do a little bit of salsa on the show, have a partner and do really cool tricks. It was pretty exciting and probably the most memorable this season.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive when the episodes premiere?

A) Yes! Last year we did kind of a live tweet after every episode each week. I’m planning and hoping we do that again this year to interact more with the viewers and fans. We talk about the episode after it is aired and answer questions as much as we can.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about Season 3 of “East Los High?”

A) This season we brought up more issues on what teenagers go through in their every day lives in high school. I think that all of our viewers will be interested in the topics we cover this season and the characters. The issues and the drama will be great for them. Just be excited for this season. The Bomb Squad has the boys coming in, which is a very exciting part of Season 3. It will be a lot of fun for you to watch!