Seeing Ourselves
She recalls fondly working with Charlie Oates , faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance ( 1996 – 2017 ), and writing a one-person show for his class . For her show , Butiu focused on a trip to the Philippines she took with her family . Having the opportunity to explore that part of her heritage was “ pretty special ,” she says , because at that point it wasn ’ t common to have the opportunity to share Filipino stories in the mainstream arts world .
As her career has grown , she ’ s seen the industry itself undergo a major shift . At the onset , she was told that she might consider changing her name and learning Spanish because Filipino roles just weren ’ t readily available . But now , those roles increasingly exist and there is also a wider evolution within the industry to “ cast authentically ,” she says .
The evolution within the industry over the last decades is exciting , she says . “ We ' re just little-by-little trying to take our place at the table .”
Due to these changes , she has not only been part of the David Byrne disco musical Here Lies Love , which documents the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos , former first lady of the Philippines , but she was also cast in Easter Sunday ( 2022 ), a studio film based on actor / comedian Jo Koy ’ s Filipino American family — which
— Melody Butiu ’ 96 , MFA ’ 99
intentionally hired Filipino actors . And , most recently , she spoke on a panel at the Manila International Film Festival , held in Los Angeles , about her experiences and perspectives as a Filipino-American and member of the Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists .
The evolution within the industry over the last decades is exciting , she says . “ We ' re just little-by-little trying to take our place at the table .”
She adds that finding your own career successes and “ moments where you really get to shine ” is a cumulative process . There are “ times where it feels like it ' s so busy you can ' t get a breath in ,” she notes . But there are also times of drought . And in those times , she suggests digging into the type of work that is exciting to you and that you want to do , supporting your community and lifting them up .
It ’ s advice that works for anyone , at any age , in any career . “ It ’ s about leaning into the unknown , understanding that certainty is not a real thing in this business or in life , and that not knowing all the answers means you can be open to all the incredible possibilities that lie ahead ,” she says .
It ’ s those experiences that can turn out to be the most invigorating and truly transformative . •
In the Spotlight : Alumna Melody Butiu portrayed Estrella Cumpas , childhood nanny and friend of Imelda Marcos , former first lady of the Philippines , in the David Byrne disco musical , Here Lies Love , on Broadway in 2023 .
UC SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE 43