“I can’t make all these requests, like, ‘I need weights on set,'” he said with a smile, acknowledging he’s a bit of a ways off from having that sort of presence. So, he works around his call times, making it “a point that I have to get at least one hour in, either weights or cardio, before I go shoot.” The same goes for eating during long hours on set, he added. “You got to work with what you got.”
Which, incidentally, is what he’s been doing his entire life, taking what he started with and studiously building on it.
Physically speaking, his goal these days is improving his athleticism and agility so he can take on more action—horseback riding, fight scenes, perhaps some superhero maneuvers (he’s not opposed to such opportunities, MCU and DC)—and be pumped for whatever productions come his way.
Auditioning remains fun for Baena, though he admits it’s also the hardest part of his chosen profession because there’s such a quick turnaround between finding out the part exists in the first place and reading for it, in person or sending in a tape. “When you land a film,” he said, “we have a lot more time to prepare for these roles.” But he is not complaining. Rather, he’s ready to show up and put in his 12-hour days.
“I’m just really happy to be working and to be getting these calls,” he said. “Even if I don’t land them, I’m just happy that people are thinking of me.”