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Don't Quit Your Day Job: Santiago Vazquez

The face of Santiago Vasquez, as portrayed in the movie poster for "First Date."
The face of Santiago Vasquez, as portrayed in the movie poster for "First Date."

The phrase: "Don't Quit Your Day Job" is usually an insult. Like if someone sings badly, they're told "Don't Quit Your Day Job." But it's funny, often for an artist, it's the day job that provides the inspiration, material, or even just a structured schedule for their art. One Kansas City Police officer honed his acting skills working as an undercover cop. By Sylvia Maria Gross

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-854042.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Today on KCUR's "Don't Quit Your Day Job," we remember an interview KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross did several years ago about a Kansas City police officer. Santiago Vazquez developed some of his acting skills as an undercover cop. And when Sylvia spoke to him in January of 2006, he had just released a short film called First Date, in which he played a sexual predator. That movie was screened at Sundance.

Since then, Vazquez went back to Sundance with another film, called The Grass Grows Green. He's now working on several short films as a writer, director and actor.

This story was produced for KC Currents. To listen on your own schedule, subscribe to the KC Currents Podcast.

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