Ekin Naz Demirok is an actor and writer based in New York and Istanbul. She grew up in Turkey and trained in India, Germany and New York. She graduated with Honors at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she majored in Acting and minored in Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health. Her short film “The Absence of You” won her 5 awards for “Best Actress” from various film festivals around the world. She is an open mind and her philosophy is creating honest and purposeful characters. In her free time, Ekin Naz can be found singing to karaoke videos on YouTube, painting in her living room, on Face-time with her grandmother and baking the same chocolate cake over and over again.
indieactivity : Tell us about yourself?
Ekin Naz Demirok : When I was a kid, Neco (Nejat Sati), my cousin who is now a renowned artist, would bring his paintings with him whenever he visited me and my family. At that age, you could show me a Matisse painting and I would argue that I could have done a better job, and so understandably I was very confused with Neco’s abstract pieces. I wanted to believe that my cousin was a “real artist” and wasn’t just randomly splashing paint at a canvas, so I pushed myself to decode his paintings. The more I pushed, the more I found myself looking inward.
My experience with my cousin’s paintings also taught me that a personal work always be unique. I wrote poems, monologues, stories, and songs my whole childhood. Either inside my head or on a piece of paper, I was always creating. I sang at school, danced in academies, acted in commercials and posed for prints. My first time acting on stage, I played Rosie in my high school’s production of Mamma Mia Musical and I immediately knew, of all the things I practiced, acting was going to be the way I told my truth to provoke others to find theirs.
indieactivity : Did you study acting?
Ekin Naz Demirok : Due to the political climate in my home country, I had no doubts when I left for New York. I wanted to be somewhere I could explore freely, with no unnecessary restrictions. I was eager to find my voice and personal limitations. I don’t think I would’ve really seen my potential and know myself as an artist as much as I do now if I stayed. I am very privileged to be here and I acknowledge that every day.
I studied acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where I minored in Childhood and Adolescent Mental Health. I did my primary training at Meisner Studio for two years. Afterward, I was selected to participate in two highly competitive programs and I got to train in Bangalore, India and Berlin, Germany. Upon my arrival back to NY, I attended Stonestreet Studios where I was trained for screen acting, screenwriting, pre-production, production, and post-production. Whenever I go back to Turkey to see my family, I try to attend as many workshops as possible. I also continue taking classes in New York. When it comes to your passion, I think studying never ends.
indieactivity : How would you describe yourself as an artist?
Ekin Naz Demirok : I am an actor, writer, and lover. I wouldn’t be any of them if I wasn’t all of them. People often laugh when they hear the lover part. They don’t comprehend that love is my biggest motivation in everything I do. I identify with it because I put as much soul and hard-work in it as I put in writing and acting and they all compliment each other.
indieactivity : How much work; creativity and energy do you put into your scenes?
Ekin Naz Demirok : I’d say, a lot. However, I am pretty skilled at balancing my personal life and my craft. Hence, I am never out of creativity or energy. I am very focused when I am working, so when I am at a rehearsal or daydreaming, I will give all my energy to embodying and understanding my character and what her objective is. Once I end my session, I try to stop actively thinking about it. The work I do subconsciously shows itself in the real world and I let myself explore. They are usually subtle things. The way I see and interact with other people, move in space and talk is inevitably influenced but never to a disturbing degree.
I played the character of Fanny in As it is in Heaven, written by Arlene Hutton and directed by Karen Chamberlain. Just to give some background, Fanny is a young shaker in Kentucky. She begins to see visions at the meadow which disturbs the life in the Shaker Community. After I finished all my rehearsals and research, I went on a solo trip to New Orleans. I visited many psychics, graveyards and churches. I read books about divinity, angels, and magic. I was opening myself to possibilities and letting everything speak to me. That was my way of exploring the divine power and spirituality. The day I was leaving my hotel, a painting in my room captured my eye. It was a painting of a beautiful meadow and it looked exactly like how I imagined the meadow in the play, where Fanny visited the angels, would look like. It was a special moment, and I don’t really have any words to describe how that moment felt.
indieactivity : What are some things you focus on when you are acting on screen?
Ekin Naz Demirok : A lot of stage actors will disagree but I think the art of acting on screen is as challenging and personal as acting on stage. I expose myself to thousands of people through a lens, it’s just so powerful. I focus on breathing, letting go of any habits, listening to the other person and being as true to myself as possible. The most exciting thing about it for me is how much it can resemble real life. Those moments are to live for.
indieactivity : What technique do you use?
Ekin Naz Demirok : I studied Meisner, Eric Morris, Chubbuck and Spolin. I don’t use just one technique; I try to study as much of them as possible and implement what helps me into my own craft.
indieactivity : How do you think your Turkish background influences your career in the United States?
Ekin Naz Demirok : It is complicated. Here they are looking for diversity but not really giving opportunities to foreigners. They look for authenticity, however, even if you have a slight accent it causes problems. I am mostly casted in Middle Eastern roles, and those roles are very limited. Despite all that, what I bring to the table will always be unique and as long as there are people who can appreciate my differences, I will be working. I get a lot of positive comments on my eyes and the way they can tell a story. I do believe that it is a strength of mine and I have to thank my parents for it.
indieactivity : Do you think art should always have a meaning?
Ekin Naz Demirok : It is a tricky question. People can find an art piece beautiful but meaningless or simply don’t appreciate anything about it. However, in my opinion, with or without knowing, every artist creates with a purpose.
indieactivity : What are your exceptions with “The Bed Time Story”, a short film you wrote, produce and will play the lead in?
Ekin Naz Demirok : “The Bed Time Story” is a short movie I wrote based on my life with depression. It is about the complicated nature of this condition and tells the true story of a long time battle. Mental Health is often stigmatized in society, stereotyped in movies and normalized in social media. However, conditions like depression have unique influences on each person and they can get as life-threatening as any other illnesses. It is neither something to take lightly nor to be afraid of. For the viewers who can relate to my journey, my hope is they know they are not alone in theirs. For the people who can’t relate, this film is an opportunity to start asking questions.
indieactivity : If you could be remembered for one thing what would it be?
Ekin Naz Demirok : I would like to be remembered as a kind person. That is a quality that is and will take me far beyond my imagination. As long as I am doing good in this world, whether in my career, life or in the lives of others I am worth being remembered.
Tell us what you think of the interview with “Ekin Naz Demirok“. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Lets have your comments below and/or on Facebook or Instagram! Or join me on Twitter @oladapobamidele
Follow Ekin Naz Demirok on Social Media
Website
IMDb
Facebook
LinkedIn
Instagram
The Key Facts Behind How Jeff Nichols Made The Indie Hit MUD
Jeff Nichols gives himself directorial challenges to master on every project.
In Conversation with Michael Oblowitz Director of Confidential Informant
Confidential Informant stars Mel Gibson, Dominic Purcell, and Kate Bosworth
