Luce/profile

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> ― Luce
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## Personality

An opportunist susceptible to notion of adventure and the promise of new environments, people and experiences. From the outset, Luce is an idealist who would rather turn a blind eye to worldly concerns than trouble himself thinking about problems he doesn’t feel equipped to resolve. He very much lives in the present, in the here and now, an individual who’d much rather be absorbed in the brighter possibilities that might come of today than the grudges born out of the past. Each day brings new stones to turn, and Luce’s natural inclination for curiosity compels him not to leave any stone unturned.

There’s no place he seems to prosper more than when he’s surrounded by other people. A people pleaser who’s most comfortable when he can ride on others’ expectations, Luce doesn’t like to make decisions on his own and structures his entire identity around being the type of person that others would like best. Finding solace in the fact that he can reliably assume the role of an unobtrusive supporting character, Luce is the sort to easily become invested in other people’s problems by mere virtue of how inconsequential his own concerns seem by comparison.

Leave him to his own devices, away from prying eyes, and Luce definitely seems to withdraw a little bit. Without another person to anchor onto, Luce experiences insecurity over his own identity and generally tries to make himself as insignificant as possible. He’d much rather adhere to the judgment of individuals far more remarkable than he is than face the full brunt of consequences resulting from decisions made on his own.

## Background

Who doesn’t love a rags to riches story? The acclaimed film star, Marcelo Cardoza, was brought up from humble beginnings in a small village overlooked by the eyes of hungry tourists; a self-contained community in which inhabitants would, more often than not, spend their entire lives. Marcelo’s father was the first person who ever attempted to preserve his village life while simultaneously pursuing a career in the nearest city, a four-hour commute that he made twice a week — early mornings on Monday and late nights on Friday. His long absences lead Marcelo to develop an early sense of responsibility, taking it upon himself to fill in the gap his father left behind. With his father as a role model, and a budding desire to make the absolute most of what he had, Marcelo sought to become a father figure to his younger brother and a secondary support system for his mother, a homemaker who’d abandoned her chance at a high-caliber job in order to stay home and care for her children.

The key words in this story are hard work, dedication and discipline. Marcelo, with a handsome face and charming personality (and the abundance of free time that came with being young), had grown to become a beloved member of his community by the time he turned ten, and his father revealed that he’d applied for an immigrant visa. This had enormous implications, the most prominent being the possibility that his entire family would move to the States. That possibility roused something deep inside of him, made him realize how much he wanted something he’d never known he wanted — and that was perhaps the moment Marcelo Cardoza, as we know him, began to take form.

Fast forward several years. Feature Marcelo, an average student and a stranger to the nuances of most sports, developing a profound interest in performing arts. A deep-seated passion that shone through in every audition he took on, that brought him into a college drama program, that landed him his very first job as a non-speaking role in a low-budget film.

That lead him to face the reality of his industry, where he hit a four-year long slump.

The key words in this story are genuineness, passion, and perseverance. The support of his parents despite the fractured income they received as a result of moving into a new country. The hope he held in his heart as he faced a relentless series of minor, low-paying roles. The shock and rush of euphoria in receiving a job with actual weight to it, that might be the start of a coveted turnaround.

And… what role is Lucero supposed to play in this story, you ask? Well, that’s easy. He’s Marcelo’s little brother, of course!

## Trivia

* When he received the message, he was in the middle of a round-the-world trip funded by Marcelo’s money. It came in the form of an anonymous email, and Luce — drawn by an underlying sense of adventure — made plans to accommodate the proposed meeting.
* Formally a film student at USC, though he’s been on academic leave for over two years.
* Very passionate about film production and photography. He’s been trying to find solid footing in the industry for the past two years, and it’s one of the few things he seems genuinely enthusiastic about.
* Started to gain a significant social media following around two years ago, when he decided to take a break from school. The overwhelming majority of his followers are spillover from Marcelo.
* He appears on tabloids sometimes.
* A beast at truth or dare, but almost always picks dare.
* Though he doesn’t adhere to conventional practices, Catholic ideology has been drilled into him since childhood and serves as a baseline moral foundation.

## Quotes

* > "*Val, would you stop and take a look at where we are?*"
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― Luce to Val