When I was in high school we had a project that involved creating a fake newscast. We got to come up with all of the content, stories and interviews. Roles were handed out, and I was responsible for writing the entire show and was also called on to do some live interviews with studio “guests”. That was the very first time I felt I had found something I enjoyed, a class that didn’t feel like work, that was fun.
The following year I took drama and remember that we did a play based on the Sue Townsend novel “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole”. I thought I was gonna be the lead for sure, and was royally pissed off when I didn’t get it. What an ego! I had the supporting part of elderly communist Bert Baxter. I recall thinking everyone else in supporting roles had a few different parts. So not only did I not have the lead, I was only in around 5 scenes. Outrage! But……that moment stands out, because it showed me that the role is what you make of it.
Thank you @actorsawards for the best #actor award win. Very grateful! #acting #indiefilm #shortfilm pic.twitter.com/EczA19FUac
— Ashley Tabatabai (@AshleyTabatabai) January 10, 2018
When we first performed the play I went on stage and did my thing as this croaky sounding overly opinionated grandfather, and got laughs, lots of them. As I went backstage one of the girls asked me “How did you do that?”. I had no idea what she meant so I asked her to explain. “How did you get them to laugh?” she said. I honestly didn’t know. I was just having fun. But from then something clicked, I’d awakened something that I wanted to explore. Now, at that time, I never really thought it was viable as a career.
I went and pursued academics and a degree in management. But towards the final year of that I felt unfulfilled and knew I had to properly embrace acting. And like almost all actors starting out, I built things up at a steady pace, doing student films and local projects, and building on each little piece. There was then a moment around 4 to 5 years ago where I really decided to shift into creating my own content as well. That’s where the power is as an actor, because you get to tell your stories. I had been working with my business of acting coach Bonnie Gillespie who helped spark that fire inside of me, and has been a great source of guidance throughout.
indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Ashley: I have studied at various studios and done countless workshops over the years. However for me my main training has been at Antony Meindl’s Actor Workshop (AMAW). I did countless intensives with Tony before there was a London studio. He would come to London to do 2 to 3 day workshops a few times a year. And then I studied at the London studio for 3 years when it opened. My acting teacher was actually Mitchell Mullen, who plays the lead role of Henry in my short film “Falsified”. It is where I and many others have found part of their artistic community. And it’s been a privilege to get to work with many of the actors there on projects outside of class. That is the beauty of a great studio/class, you cultivate a community and the work continues and exists beyond the studio doors.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Ashley: The technique of life? That does sound cheesy reading it back. But it’s true so I’m leaving it in. I have taken Method classes and Meisner as well. I found them all valuable and am glad I did them. I think everyone should take the bits that work for them and throw everything else away. There is no one technique or golden path. The real technique is simply to listen and react. So simple and yet so complex. But that’s what I try to allow to happen when in a scene. Otherwise, if I’m in my head about some preconceived notion of what I should be doing or sensing then it’s over.
indieactivity: Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Ashley: Definitely where I can. However I am trying to creating enough of my own content that the development of that craft is consistently coming from working on a new project and on set.
Ashley Tabatabai and Mitchell Mullen in Falsified
indieactivity: What acting books do you read?
Ashley: I could list them all, I’ve read everything from the staples of “An Actor Prepares” (Stanislavski) and “The Art of Acting” (Stella Adler) to “Acting in Film” (by Michael Caine) and “The Art of Film Acting” (Jeremiah Coney). I am going to advocate a book called Self Management for Actors by Bonnie Gillespie, which taps in to the business side of acting, especially around branding and targeting. Many will have heard of it, but if you haven’t then do check it out. The business side of show-business is not covered as much as the craft, and yet hugely important for anyone looking to create a career as an actor.
indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Ashley: Mindset is everything, no matter what you do. I believe in continuous learning and growth and am fascinated by the mind and how we can work with it to empower ourselves. I try to consume content that is informative and inspirational, whether that’s reading of through video content. Physically, aside from general workouts I train in JKD (Jeet Kune Do) which is a martial art system developed by Bruce Lee. I’ve been taking weekly sessions in that for over 5 years now. It’s a great workout but beyond that, it teaches discipline, self defense and an understanding and appreciation of energy, flow and human physics.
indieactivity: When you’re offered a role, what do you do next?
Ashley: It really depends on the role. I think every time it’s different based on what’s required. And that’s part of the joy of it, because you’re getting to tap in to new things and learn new skills that perhaps you wouldn’t have otherwise. I would say that initially I’d look to read the script a few times simply as a story, and to try and remove any prejudice I have from the perspective of my character. And things then go from there.
Ashley Tabatabai in Arena
For “Falsified” the lines were easy because I wrote the script and had lived with it for months before the shoot. The prepetition was more around delving into real cases of children that had been stolen at birth and to fully understand the logistics. Whereas other roles the prep has been vastly different, on “Color Me Grey” my co-star and I spent the 6 months leading up to the shoot communicating as the characters. Which helped us create the world and the relationship organically. And that was required for the piece because it was all about the dynamic of the two.
indieactivity: How do you create a character from a script into a person?
Ashley: It probably starts by not seeing the two as a separate thing. The “character” isn’t real, the only thing that is real is whatever I have in me that resonates with the material on the page. So, the process is more about finding those areas, exploring them and bringing them to the forefront of who I am. I feel that all has to come from empathy. I always want to read through the piece and find where I can empathize with the person I’m playing. We all think our stuff is the most important stuff in the world, and in the moment we always find ways to justify to ourselves that we’re right. Finding a way in, involves exploring how I can understand that point of view and latch on to it, but from my vantage point.
indieactivity: Describe a memorable character you played?
Ashley: In 2015 I played a character called Johnny Clemence in a TV pilot called “Color Me Grey”. He was an enigmatic undercover cop who had infiltrated a crime syndicate and was trying to bring them down from the inside. He had to work his way up the ranks, which included being partnered with a loud mouth foot soldier with delusions of grandeur. Johnny had to find a way to co-exist with this guy, whilst keeping his cover and gathering as much intel as possible to complete his job.
Ashley Tabatabai, a Portrait
indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you took on set?
Ashley: Ok, I did a feature a few years ago and I was playing an artist who was a little cocky. In the scene I get handed this antique cup which is an heirloom. The scene was supposed to end on me sat on a couch with this heirloom in hand. Except, in one take I sat down, and then decided to throw the cup on the couch next to me. Just a blasé putting it to one side action.
Except, the cup bounced off of the couch and landed straight onto the concrete floor. It shattered right away, everyone behind the camera was biting their lips, because the prop was a personal piece of the set designer! Yet somehow, I stayed in the moment, and simply said “Oops” whilst leaning back nonchalantly. I don’t remember it being as heartless as that at the time, but the footage suggests otherwise! It was all fine by the way, the set designer and I made peace 🙂
indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Ashley: Collaboration is everything. Ultimately it is always the director’s’ vision and our job as actors is to help execute it. For me, a director who can clearly communicate that vision is essential. And from there, the ideal is for them to be open for you to bring your ideas and to give you the space to explore (where possible of course).
indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Ashley: I can’t really say I have any one actor that stands out. There’s countless great actors out there and I think it’s more about finding the ones that you have a great chemistry with.
The Poster for Color Me Grey
indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Ashley: Create your own content. You have stories to tell, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing this. So tell them. We live in a time where technology and the internet provides us with so many opportunities. There are platforms to get exposure and a fan base that never existed before. That’s where the power is. So go and create, constantly, because you love the process. On top of that, I’d say it’s imperative to know why you want to act. It’s imperative to know why you do what you do, whatever that may be. And it has to be more than surface level stuff like “for the money” or “to get a big house” or even “because it feels good”. You need to figure out the contribution you want to make to the world through what you do. Everything can flow more fluidly once you have that.
indieactivity: Would you be willing to talk to actors in a workshop?
Ashley: Absolutely. I’ve already done a handful of workshops on the business and marketing side of acting for students at AMAW London. And I have an online course that gives my insight and advice on creating content, specifically geared towards actors. I feel like the business and marketing side is one that’s not covered as much for actors, especially in the UK. So, I’m always keen to share my knowledge and experiences on that and as an actor in general.
indieactivity: Briefly write about your career?
Ashley: I’m an award winning International actor and filmmaker from a culturally diverse background. After growing up in Spain and then attending University in the UK, my focus gravitated towards an acting career. I have worked with numerous leading acting coaches in LA and Europe, namely Backstage winner Anthony Meindl. I have appeared in various independent films, including Allies (eOne Entertainment), featuring alongside Julian Ovenden.
My degree in Management has provided an opportunity to add value as a producer as well, a role that I undertook on the Feature Film “Digital You”, in addition to starring as “Charlie”. I went on to work on “Color Me Grey”, where I once again was involved in both capacities, helping to produce the project and performing as the complex and enigmatic “Johnny”. I produced, wrote and starred in the award winning short film Falsified, which was my first project under my production company Taba Productions.
The film premiered at the prestigious Los Angeles International Short Film Festival in August 2017. I’m represented by leading talent agency Mondi Associates.
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
