Interview with Ana Araujo

Ana Araujo first started acting back home, in Brazil, doing mostly stage work and short movies. Ana Araujo was 12 when she did her first play and when she was 16. Ana Araujo was ahead of the theater department of her high school. Ana  took a hiatus on acting when she decided to do journalism college. Ana Araujo was trying to play safe, but it didn’t work! 3 years ago, already living in NY, she couldn’t resist anymore and started to audition again.

Remembering when I shot a series of videos about “How to Bartend”! https://t.co/HEhxlCwiw2

— Ana Araujo (@actanaaraujo) March 1, 2017

Did you study acting
Back home my training was more hands on, with not too much theory. Here I took classes at T. Schreiber Studios, with Susan, at The William Esper Studios, with Deb Jackel, and Elizabeth Kemp from Actor’s Studio. Those schools gave me a better foundation and made me feel much more grounded when acting. When you truly believe in what you are doing, the passion get’s greater.I have also taken classes at UCB, where I completely few in love with improv.

What acting technique do you use
I am a big fan of Meisner. Everybody is different and you have to find a method that can free your brain. Meisner technique helps me a lot. And impov!

What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
Acting is not glamour. You have to work. You have to study and to invest in it, time and money. It takes dedication, long hours on set waiting for the set up, heavy costumes, weird and super hot locations. It’s also a business, you have to know how to present yourself and convince people that they should hire you. You are a product and you have to try to be the best product you can. And it goes way beyond acting school.

Do you take courses to improve your craft
Always. Actors should always be in contact with their creativity. I am currently taking accent reduction classes with Page Clemens and doing improv. I am also writing sketch comedy with a friend, the videos should come out soon!

What acting books do you read
Acting Lions, by Penny Templeton is really good.The Comic Toolbox by John Vorhaus is also good. I also super recommend reading books by the people who you admire, like bossypants by Tina Fey and Yes, Please, by Amy Phoeler. It’s inspiring!

How do you keep fit as an actor
Take improv and scene study classes at all times. Read about the business of acting, there’s always something to improve, your resume, website, social media… I am not a super healthy person but I try to be good. Our body is our instrument of work and it dictates a lot of what kind of opportunities you will have. I got a invitation to play a mma fighter for the upcoming movie Janelle, the shoot will be in January so I already started going to the gym and getting some extra training to get ready for the part.

When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
Research! I read the script a lot of times and try to understand what the writer means in each line. What the character really is, what it shows, what is in the character’s mind at each point. If the movie is about a specific subject, you have to understand it as much as your character would.

How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
After all the research you did before getting on set, take a deep breath, and let all that information sit. It has to be in your subconscious. Then, let it go and just go for it. Forget about how you look on camera, if you know someone on set or what people will think. You should respect the director’s and the writer’s view at all times. You you are there to serve your character, that’s your job.

How do you stay fresh on a production set
Specially if it’s a intense character, you have to use the breaks you get. It’s hard to cry for hours, so take a walk and grab a coffee or tea, then you can keep going. Trust the crew! Constantly I see actors disagreeing with the cameraman or about the lights being used and really letting it interfere in their acting. You have to trust that they know what they are doing and do your part. When your hear the director saying “action”, close your eyes for a second and dive into your character!

Describe a memorable character you played
Isabella, from “Trent and Isabella”. David Wharton wrote and directed this great character that I auditioned for and right in the audition room I was like “she is awesome!”. She is a strong woman, in the beginning of a pregnancy. It’s an action indie movie, so I worked on scenes in which Isabella is kidnapped and tortured. I don’t want to spoiler the movie but it was so much fun and fulfilling! We shot in mid 2014 and the movie was released last October 29th.

Explain one creative choice you took on set
I was playing Irene, for the webserie “The Gray Area”. She was a bossy woman, dealing with diamonds and millions of dollars. I had a sensitive scene when her husband die and she tries to keep the control of the business. She is on the phone, talking with one of her employees right after berrying her husband. Me and the writer/director Lynne Ford had to find the right balance between the character’s sadness and proud. It came out very strong and definitely a scene that I am proud of.

What do you want most from a director
Direction. They have their vision and it has to be respected, but I like when they tell me what they need, the intensity and the message behind the scene, and then let me come up with the character, and with how we will get there. It’s their scene, and my character.

What actors do you long to work with
We had a great cast in Trent and Isabella, David Wharton played the villain and we had a lot of scenes together, he was super easy to work with. Mandy Whinchester is my comedy partner now and it’s been a lot of fun.

Why
They are passionate, respectful and generous. Some actors only do the work if they know they are on camera. But when you have a generous actors on set that will work for the scene and not only for himself, it’s gold.

What advice would you give to actors
Be a good person to work with. It’s doesn’t matter how talented you are, if we are doing a movie together, we will spend a lot of time together, so make that time a good one for all the cast and crew. Love your art, but don’t forget it’s a business, and you have to be a great product.

Briefly write about your career
I am currently playing “Detective Scott” for the independent series “The Swipers”, playing Tracey for the play “Why not tell the truth”, I am a member of the improv group “The Murdery Show”, and I am writing sketches.

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