American singer and actress (born 1990)
Rene Aranda
Aranda in 2018
Born Rene Michelle Aranda
(1990-12-06 ) December 6, 1990 (age 33) Nationality American Other names Ren Occupation(s) Actress, singer Years active 2011–present Known for Papa Family Michael Aranda (brother) Website renearanda.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]
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
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2011
For a Reason
Eva
Short
2012
Wake-up Call
Iris
Short
Sin_Eater
Rebeka
Short
2013
Smile Now Cry Later
-
Fellatio Is Fo Suckas
Rene the Sweet
Short
The Pain Killers
Elise
It's Dark Here
Funeral Mourner
The Mountain
-
Short
2014
The Unexpected Guest
Amy Flint
Short
Cutting Corners 2
-
Short
Fatty
Student
Short
The Tragedy of Petey Pompeii
Kate
Short
Contest
Melanie
Short
Expelled
Police Officer
Frankenchick
Mad Scientist
Short
Sins of a Call Girl
Diner Patron
Fighting Chance
Sabrina
Cherry Red Kiss
Eva Alvarez
2015
A Family Affair
Paula
Short
Suckas Fo Fellatio
Rene The Sweet
Short
Violet
Femke Klebb
Short
Faraar
SWAT
Relentless
Rachel
Short
A Lesson in Love
-
Short
D.O.P: The Director of Photography
Mad Scientist
Short
Performance Art
Lana
Short
2016
Until the Day I Die: Part 1
Officer Bracamontes
The Fertile Fiend from Outer Space
Rachel
Short
Until the Day I Die: Part 2
Cholita
Stories for the Fire
Kitty
Short
I Know Where Lizzie Is
EMT
TV movie
A Killer Walks Amongst Us
-
2 Lava 2 Lantula!
S.W.A.T.
Black Flag
S.W.A.T.
Short
Shadows of the Dead
Police Officer
Like the First Time
Elle
Short
Inspired to Kill
Inmate
TV movie
Christmas with the Andersons
Police Officer
TV movie
The Green Fairy
Mrs. Ferrer
Selfish
Party Guest
Short
2017
Try Hard
Veronica
Short
Open Mic
-
Short
Destruction: Los Angeles
Police Officer
A View from the Mountain
Lucy
Short
UniversitE
DEA Agent
Short
2018
Eruption: LA
Army Soldlier
Frankie
Skater Girl
Short
Searching
Emergency Medical Technician
Papa
Robin
When You Lose Someone
-
Short
Woman on the Edge
Police Officer
2019
The Final Journey of Hartwick Stance
Hartwick's Wife
Short
Debbie & Doug Drop Acid in the Desert
Bunny
Short
The Fanatic
Tourist
Intolerance: No More
9-11 Operator (voice)
Boris and the Bomb
Sonia
12 Pups of Christmas
Alex's Mom
2020
Sinister Savior
Izzie's House Medic
Cops Like Us
LAPD Officer Ronnie Aranda
Short
The Undead of the Z West
Undead Farm Girl
Short
Mommy is a Murderer
EMT
One of These Days
Police Officer #6
Short
Dusters
The Retriever
Short
Open Mic
Couple in Audience
Short
Happy Horror Days
Party Guest
Peek
Det. Liza Sepps
Short
2021
86 Melrose Ave
Co-Worker in Background
Blursday
Nurse Rene
Midnight in the Switchgrass
Prostitute
[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
2022
Emily or Oscar
Lawyer Laura
[ 19]
Lizard Brain
Sandy
Short
In Love with My Partner's Wife
Police Officer
TV movie
Tavern Tony Returns
Margarita Girl
Short
Four Hour Layover in Juarez
Valeria
Short
My Nightmare Office Affair
Business Woman
TV movie
The Stepmother 2
Hostess
2023
Imani
Paramedic
The Assistant
Couple at Restaurant
City of Dreams
Girl in Pedicab
[ 20]
No Way Out
Paramedic
The Stepmother 3
Paramedic
Proof Sheet
Female Police Officer/Brothel Worker
F.L.Y.
-
Night Mistress
Shelly Steele
In Deep
S.W.A.T
Short
Still Here
Fan Girl
Mystery Incorporated and the Threshold of Chaos
Thorn (voice)
Falaq
S.W.A.T.
Our Broken Family
Amy
[ 21]
2024
Upon Waking
Paramedic
The Disinvited
Sarah
Somnium
Victim #3
Holy Cash
Sinner
Television
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2014
HitREcord on TV
Herself
Episode 2: "Fantasy"
2014-2018
WhatImDoingRightNow
Herself
Michael Aranda's vlog, 9 episodes
2015
Tabloid
Bracamontes/ S.W.A.T
2 episodes
2016
Murder Among Friends
Officer Mejia
Episode: "Unholy Friends"
Take My Wife
Hotel Patron
Episode: "Holiday Special"
Dangerous Games
2016-2017
Blood Relatives
Police Officer
2 episodes
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television
Paramedic
Scene Deleted
2017
Germany's Next Top Model
Herself
3 episodes
Betrayed
Police Officer/ S.W.A.T.
3 episodes
Extreme Measures
CSI
Episode: "Oh Mother, Where Art Thou?"
2019
Intrigue
Jury
CollegeHumor Originals: Kingpin Katie
Officer
Episode 8
CryptTV : Fight Night
Spectator
2021
Nova Vita
Nurse Julie
3 episodes
2023
Double Cross
Patient
AllBlk Original Series
Music Videos
Year
Song
Artist
Role
2014
All About You
Ray Castle
Interviewer
2016
JoHn Muir
ScHoolboy Q
Police Officer
One Time Comin'
YG
Police Officer
Let You Go - Ft. The Promise
Bobo Norco
Police Officer
2017
High Spirits
Pierre
Lead
Math
Quin
EMT
2018
Need You Anymore
Patrick Nuo
Dancer
Evidence
Bashrock
Girlfriend
2019
Stay Broke
Tokyo Yens
Inmate
No Sudden Moves
Julia Nunes
Hand Dancer
2020
We Can Make Up
Guy Tang
LGBTQ+ Couple
2021
Rap Demigod
Dax
Police Officer
Suffocating
Dax
Rapper Entourage
2022
I Dance
YG feat. "Duki" & "Cuco"
Guest
Awards and nominations
References
^ a b "Silver State Film Festival 2018 Awards" . Silver State Film Festival . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ a b "Winners" . LA EDGE . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ a b c "National Awards – The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival" . web.kennedy-center.org . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ a b "Los Angeles Collegian" . Issuu . Apr 30, 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ a b "Los Angeles Collegian" . Issuu . Mar 13, 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ a b c "Issue 1 Spring 2011 Volume 164 Feb 23 | Egypt | Student Financial Aid In The United States" . Scribd . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ "Cheryl Aranda Finds Inspiration in Her Children and in Song" . calstate.fullerton.edu . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ Gutierrez, Guerra (July 2, 2009). "Legacy Obituaries" . Los Angeles Times .
^ a b "What Show Business Looks Like In Your Twenties" . Ms. In The Biz . 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ 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 .
^ "Ren Aranda" . Spotify . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ "Ren Aranda on Apple Music" . Apple Music . Retrieved 2019-03-18 .
^ "Ren Aranda on iHeartRadio" . iHeartRadio.com .
^ "Reading to Kids Monthly Reading Club Recap" . ReadingtoKids.org .
^ "Reading to Kids - 2017 Sketchers Performance Los Angeles Marathon" . ReadingtoKids.org | News . 2017.
^ Midnight in the Switchgrass - IMDb Full Cast & Crew , retrieved 2020-09-22
^ "Rene Michelle Aranda (aka Ren) on Instagram: "I missed set meals like this. #lunchat8pm #becausefilmmaking #masksuntilseated #midnightintheswitchgrass #i❤️acting" " . Instagram . Retrieved 2020-09-22 .
^ "Midnight in the Switchgrass - Google Search" . Google . Retrieved 2020-09-22 .
^ "Emily or Oscar" . IMDb . 2022. Archived from the original on Jan 20, 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023 .
^ 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 .
^ Services, Matts Marketing. " "Our Broken Family," Becomes Multiple Award Winner" . PRLog . Retrieved 2023-09-15 .
^ "Rene Michelle Aranda Wins the Rising Star Award at the 2019 HSSF" . Eye on Entertainment .
External links