Valery M. Ortiz – Gabby Duran & The Unsittables

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) I finished “Gabby Duran & The Unsittables” in April. That’s the most recent. I will be launching my first book series, called Hola! Hello! There are three books in it and it will be released December 5^th and it’s called Coqui. So, I’ve been pretty busy!

Q) Please tell us the premise for “Gabby Duran” and about your character Dina.

A) The story is about a girl who has just moved to a new town because of her mom (whom I play) gets a job as a news reporter in this little place called Haydensberg. Gabby (Kylie Cantrall) kind of has a hard time fitting in at school and is trying to find new friends. So, she’s pretty much trying to do anything in her power to get expelled. But the principal (Nathan Lovejoy) thinks it’s all pretty fascinating and funny and that he’s this genius. So, he offers her a job as a babysitter. What Gabby doesn’t know is that it ends up being a babysitting job for aliens. That is pretty much where the adventure begins. My character is super proud of her because she is one of those kids who starts something, but doesn’t follow through. So, I’m proud she got this job as a babysitter and that she’s got this new little best friend. My job is going great. I couldn’t feel any better! My little daughter, Olivia (Coco Christo), is my mini me. She’s super studious and is already Student of the Month and we just got to town. I feel like for Dina, being a single mom, being Latina and chasing her dreams that she feels like everything is finally working out.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the series?

A) Oh man! There are a lot of things. I love kids and I’ve actually never been on a TV series that is mainly kids. So, I don’t have kids of my own, but anyone who has them or has ever worked with them knows they are so unpredictable. That makes every day on set so fun and so different. They are so talented! It’s funny because I had someone say, “Oh, the kids must be learning so much from you and Nathan.” Actually, we’re learning so much from them because I think as adults, we tend to overthink things. We have bills and a to-do list. These kids don’t worry about that kind of stuff. They are balancing their school work, memorizing lines and table reads and filming and they are just doing it with flying colors. It’s just such a different experience. Also, I’m at a time in my life where to be able to do something like this to be able to represent such a strong female character, Latina, on Disney Channel is a pretty big deal. And I’m happy to be a part of the movement.

Q) Was there anything you added to Dina that wasn’t in the initial breakdown for her?

A) She wasn’t Latina in the initial breakdown. I think Kylie is half Venezuelan and half American. I’m full Puerto Rican. I think they saw the dynamics between the two of us and, obviously, I’m a very proud Puerto Rican. They started adding Spanish lines and they have a Christmas episode where they have like typical Venezuelan food. By the Christmas episode they wrote in that we’re from Venezuela. So, I kind of feel like the writers were influenced by our own love of our culture and I love that! I’m so excited!

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film or some upcoming episodes our readers should look out for?

A) Okay, without giving too much away, the scene that was the most fun was where (as a teaser) my skin color turns very different from the tan or olive tone that I am. Dun-dun-dun! I had to do some crazy makeup tests and fun little stunts. I even had a stunt double for that episode. It’s such a fun episode!

Q) What do you think it is about “Gabby Duran and The Unsittables” that you think will make it a fast fan favorite show?

A) I don’t know. I can’t predict why people are going to like it, but I think why I like it is because it’s different. Our lead girl is Latina and she’s super strong and passionate. Gabby, much like Kylie, is into fashion and she’s very urban. And I think that’s very different for Disney Channel and I think that’s going to be fun for kids to see themselves in her. And what I love is that I think it’s going to be really fun for the parents and adults too because the writers did such a great job of making it super witty and super relevant. Right now, more than ever, having a show that focuses on accepting everybody for who they are – like Gabby does with these aliens – I think is super important. And I love the fact that young kids can watch the show and start getting that message.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive to episodes?

A) [laughs] Yeah! I am! I flew to Orlando to watch the premiere with my family and friends. It was surreal and whirlwind. It’s weird. We started filming last summer in Vancouver and here we are in October 2019! What’s going to happen?! I’m excited.

Q) Is there anything else about this new series you want to be sure we share with our readers?

A) I’m not sure they know, but it’s based off a book series already. So, if any kids like to read…Obviously, the book and our show interpretation of it is different, but that’s kind of a cute fun fact. I bought the book for some of my family members because I thought that’d be fun. It’s going to be a great series! It’s adventures and secrets. Of course, we want to find out who finds out about the aliens. So, you’ve got to tune in!

Q) We loved you on “South of Nowhere!” What did you personally take away from your time working on the show?

A) The best fans ever! Honestly, I never knew that “South of Nowhere” was going to have the impact that it did to the fans that it has. I cannot even tell you…Kids, to this day, are “South of Nowhere” fans. They are the best fans. I still get messages. People I met back doing that show I still talk to on a regular basis and are super supportive of anything and everything that any of us do. I don’t know if I’ll ever get anything like that again. It was my first TV series and to be on something that wasn’t that mainstream at the time…There were even certain carpets and events that we weren’t allowed to do because of how controversial our two main characters were. That’s really sad, but it’s also a really beautiful thing to see it so different now. What a gift to have been a part of a show like that and to have seen the progression and acceptance of people now in 2019 is incredible. We would never have guessed it would have changed so many lives in the way it did. My best friend actually came out to me after watching a couple of the episodes. She watched a few and was like, “It’s so realistic.” That’s when she came out to me! I was like, “How freaking cool!”

Q) What inspired you to become an author?

A) I have loved writing since I was a kid. I was talking to my mom the other day and we have books and poems that I wrote when I was like ten years old. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I wrote the Hola! Hello! series a few years ago, but started finessing all of the illustrations and sketching them out just recently. The series is about a Coqui, a tree frog that is native to Puerto Rico. What is special about the Coqui is that it doesn’t “Ribbit” like all the other frogs. It sings. It kind of whistles. So, he’s very different, but yet still loves who he is and is super proud. Everybody in Puerto Rico knows the Coqui because of his song. So, again, it’s about uniqueness, loving yourself and being yourself. The second book, which will most likely be released in 2020, the Coqui meets this dog from the city. I’m so proud. It’s been a life-long dream and I cannot believe it’s happening! To be able to have something to share with my family and my cousins’ kids and other cultures, to teach them words in Spanish, is cool. I have another stamp on the world and an influence in a different kind of way.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) Thank you! I know that’s so simple, but I can’t thank you guys enough. I can’t believe I’m here a lot of times. Like when you have big dreams as a kid and to be able to have had a career for fifteen years minimum in LA (that’s how many years I’ve lived there) is a dream come true. I encourage all of them to find me on social media. Reach out to me and say hello. Tell me a story. I love to hear all the things because I love to hear from the fans. Again, since “South of Nowhere,” it’s one of my favorite things and if anybody feels like they have this dream in their heart just keep going. Keep studying. Keep fighting. Stay grounded and go do it!