Sometimes you can physically feel the talent in a room, so forcefully tangible that it makes itself known with every waking moment. Such a space that possesses that feeling is the drama room, characterized by a couch worn-in with love, a circle of mismatched chairs filled with character, and a makeshift stage at the center. Most importantly, it is distinguished by the passionate students who work in there every day.

However, what would students be without a guiding hand to lead them to success, that guiding hand being from Mr. Jaime Tintor? 

Tintor is the new drama director gracing Ayala’s halls, bringing with him a purpose: to bring the drama department to new levels through his creativity as an artistic mind. Faced with the cast of the “Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” gathering for another electric rehearsal in the aforementioned animated drama room, Tintor took a page out of Edmund Gwenn’s book for some words of inspiration. 

“Dying is easy,” Tintor said. “Comedy is hard.”

Tintor’s career is a roadmap that allows one to trace his pursuit of his passions and dreams throughout the years. Graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in teaching English and later receiving his Masters in Fine Arts from Asolo Conservatory, Tintor moved to Hollywood to pursue his true calling, acting. After an incredibly successful career, being featured on shows such as “iCarly,” “General Hospital,” and “Young and the Restless,” Tintor turned to teaching.

For the past ten years, he has been a dedicated educator and has now come to share his creative vision with the drama program at Ayala, which clicked for him as a marriage between his two professions. 

“This has always been an ideal job for me,” Tintor said. “To bring my professional and personal skills from acting and writing, and also my vocation as a teacher and put them together in a community.”

Tintor’s responsibilities lie with teaching two Introduction to Theater classes, an Advanced Theater class, a Performance and Production class, while simultaneously being the drama director that oversees theater productions such as  the “Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon.” Upon receiving his position, he has taken it upon himself to do his utmost to nurture the growth of the drama program by rethinking the vision of the program and what it means to be a student actor at Ayala.

Building from his experience as a member of numerous exceptional theater departments and companies, Tintor has tried to replicate the foundations of these programs for Ayala’s theater program. Above all, he values establishing a welcoming community while achieving creative excellence.

“[It’s about] really coming together, connecting, and producing some excellent art,” Tintor said.

Already, the drama program has flourished this year under his guidance, working steadily towards his ultimate goal. Though Tintor has more brilliant ideas he wishes to implement in the long run, such as an improv class or opportunities for students to perform at local colleges, so far the changes he has made are stupendous.

“Every decision he has made thus far in terms of expanding the program has really benefitted us as performers,” Luna Maciel (11), a second year in Ayala’s performance and production class, said. “I can’t wait to see the other ideas and the rest of the season play out.”

Taking over an already extremely successful program, Tintor’s choices regarding plays are a product of meticulous thinking to keep the ball rolling. Tintor’s success in shaping the drama program towards his vision is largely due to his unique way of approaching obstacles and executing his ideas.

“I’ve always been kind of two minds,” Tintor said. “They talk about your left brain and right brain. Your right brain is your creative side, your left brain is your logical side. I think I bring the creativity and heart of an artist, but I’m also a very logical, organized, big picture thinker.”

Furthermore, Tintor’s experience as both a teacher and actor allows him to truly understand the model that he has to set for his students. His personal teaching method is hands-on, acting out lines when students require direction and participating in warm-ups alongside his students. Sometimes the way to help students truly prosper is to get involved, and Tintor is acutely aware of such.

“He’s not afraid to go big and all out,” Sofia Esparza (12), a third year veteran of the drama program, said. “I think he definitely knows that in order for the energy to be filled in the room, he has to be the energy.” 

Tintor also keeps students’ preferences and opinions in mind, understanding that the art produced in the program should be the fruit of students’ ideas just as much as his. Tintor allowing students to explore their artistic expressions creates true art that one is proud of making.

“He gives us notes on how we can improve but also gives us a say in how we would want to perform our characters, as well as giving us a say on how we want to run the theater company in general,” Maciel said. 

An actor’s voice should be heard, and through this communication between teacher and student, Tintor’s vision is brought further to life, elevating the drama program to new heights. Tintor takes this connection one step further by being unafraid to have fun with his students, and takes special care to bond with them. 

Oftentimes, he joins in with his students’ antics, even joining in with the impromptu singing his performance and production class often fondly partakes in. Through little actions like these, he truly shows his warmth towards his students.

A shoulder to lean on and a person to look up to, Tintor has already truly made an impact on students in the short time he has been at Ayala. For all those who need a helping hand, and all those whose dream is to pursue the arts, Tintor is always there as a constant source of motivation.

“Not only is he an inspiration by majoring in acting and going to school for that but I also think just the way that he interacts with students,” Esparza said. “I see him so much as a role model and at times like a friend.”

Tintor came to Ayala with a vision to make a difference in the drama program, and help students excel like never before. Almost like fate moving the stars so they could perfectly align, Tintor is the ideal person to usher in newfound prosperity for the drama program.

“It really was karmic destiny,” Tintor said.