Interview with Producer & SAG-AFTRA Actress Gia Franzia

Gia Franzia was born and raised in southern California along with her four older siblings. Raised by her mother, she learned at a very young age how to be strong, independent and hard-working. Her mom worked full time owning several yogurt shops and catering jobs on the side. Often, Gia and her brothers got dressed up in tuxedos and worked at the catering jobs picking up dinner plates and helping with the cooking in the early morning hours. Sleeping in on the weekends was a rarity as her family had a lot of animals to tend to and chores around the house. As a child, there was always a lot of dreaming about what she wanted to do when she grew up, but it wasn’t until seeing Alyssa Milano on the big screen with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Commando that being in movies was the ultimate dream.

Miss Nobody is available on Vimeo for rent or purchase (only $1.99). Here is the link if you are interested https://t.co/amMOeNjALV #movies pic.twitter.com/krFBl0HkRa

— Gia Franzia (@GiaFranzia) February 15, 2017

It was difficult for her mom to travel from Orange County to Los Angeles to pursue any type of acting jobs. It wouldn’t be until Gia graduated from Long Beach State University and move to Los Angeles, that her career would begin.

For over a year, Gia worked as an extra on movie sets and commercials and was able to get her SAG card. Being on set, she says is the most important experience an actor can gain in learning how movies are made. With an unsurmountable desire to learn about film sets, crew and how cameras work, a year later, she would be starring and producing her first feature film, Peace of Heart. She laughs when she pulls out her VHS copy.

For over a decade, Gia Franzia has consistently worked, produced, created, and/or acted in movies she’s auditioned for, with friends or her own films. Learning how to produce your own films, to her, is essential to continually work and stay motivated in the industry.

indieactivity: Did you study acting?
Gia: I studied acting at Long Beach as well as production of stage plays. I enjoyed learning about the behind the scenes mostly because I realized that without understanding the roles of crew, lighting, blocking and directing, an actor wouldn’t shine just based on talent. Each semester was designated to lighting, designing and sewing costumes, make-up and building sets. I found this to be extremely helpful when I transitioned over to film. I have so much more appreciation of the whole process.

After graduating, I moved to LA and signed up with every “Extras Casting” agencies. Maybe this doesn’t apply to studying acting, but I think there’s so much more to learn on set. Here is where I really learned how everything works. I was always the “extra” talking to camera crew, asking questions, learning everything I could. I had never been on a set before so to see it live completely fascinated me.

I also think that having made as many films as I have, falls under the actor/student category. When you make your own films, you have to learn to budget, cast, schedule, plan and prepare meals, and still work on your craft and be prepared as an actor. It’s a lot to undertake, but I enjoy all the work. It always pays off in the end.

For five years, I studied at Playhouse West in North Hollywood. This is where I truly learned how to act under the Meisner Technique. I finally understood acting and how to apply the lessons learned into film. Every film I work on or even rehearsing for an audition, I still use what I learned from Playhouse West.

indieactivity: Do you take courses to improve your craft?
Gia: Yes of course. My mentor offers classes throughout the year that touches on all aspects that play key roles in being a good actor. Physical work, mental work, and spiritual work.

indieactivity: How do you keep fit as an actor?
Gia: I think this is a really good question. Staying fit as an actor, is just part of the job and believe me, when you get to my age, it gets harder and harder. Or maybe it just becomes less important. But staying fit mentally is always a challenge. As you get older and the time seems to be running out, your mind gets a little wonky. There’s no stability in this industry, you have no idea when your next job is, if you’ll ever get paid for something, and the competition is beyond any words I can think of. It’s always a challenge. It’s easy for your mind to constantly reevaluate the choice you made to become an actor in the first place. It’s passion and desire that always brings me back. I don’t want to do anything else so I keep going. Having said that, I diet every Monday, I submit to projects daily hoping for an audition and keep dreaming.

indieactivity: How do you prepare for a role, when you get it?
Gia: I recently had an audition for a television show. My really good friend came over on a Friday and we rehearsed for nearly four hours. I had my lines memorized already so we were able to rehearse with every possible scenario we could think of so nothing could throw me off during the audition. We also filmed it at different angles and listened to delivery and was able to make a lot of changes that way. This was so helpful. I knew immediately what worked and what didn’t. When I went to the audition I was so prepared and as relaxed as I possibly could be. In the end, it was the best audition I think I’d ever had. You don’t realize how important it is to rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Once you’re on set, and you know your lines and character so well, when that camera roles, it’s all about listening and reacting and having fun.

indieactivity: How do you take a character from script into a person?
Gia: When I read a script, I can know immediately if I relate to this person or not. I think once you can relate, then you keep building back story from there. For me, when I take a nap or when I go to sleep at night, I think about me as this character. I play out scenes in my head over and over and over again. I never realize until I’m on set how much this has helped me especially when it’s an emotional scene. I’ve thought about this character so much that I’m filled up. On the contrary, in my latest film Miss Nobody, I play an assassin. I couldn’t relate to a bad ass woman who killed, but I could relate to why she had to do what she did. For the physical fight scenes, I trained for three months. Physical strength and endurance makes up for my lack of singing and dancing skills. For the killing part, I was able to find the emotional and vulnerable side to her and I let the guide me through the rest of filming. By the last shot of filming, I walked off crying so hard from the intense weight of this character. It was a pretty incredible feeling.

indieactiivty: Describe a memorable character you played?
Gia: Who would have guessed that 15 years of pursuing acting, that my favorite role would be the character in Miss Nobody and one that I produced. Adam Hodge wrote and directed the film. It’s the fourth project I’ve worked on with him. He is an undiscovered talent. When I took this part, it was something I had never done before. Actually, I never even imagined playing a part like this. Yeah, I love Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I pictured being his kidnapped wife or young girlfriend-hahahaha, but never a Laura Croft type. When Miss Nobody was completed and Adam showed it to me, I couldn’t believe that was me on the screen. I couldn’t believe I had done that role. I put everything I had into it and I’m so proud of it.

indieactivity: What do you want most from a director?
Gia: I like when I get direction to try something different other than the choice I made.

indieactivity: What actors do you long to work with?
Gia: Arnold of course. And so many others. Any one I name I know everyone else has named and I think that question gets boring to be honest. However I will say this. I love working with actors who are far more talented than I am. It only makes me want to work harder and be the most prepared I can be.

indieactivity: What advice would you give to actors?
Gia: Go a different career path. Is that harsh? I guess it is. When people say it’s a tough business, it’s a tough business. It’s so up and down and you have to be strong. It’s not an industry for weak people who can take failure or judgement. It’s a lot of work, a lot of money and a lot of disappointment. I can say take classes, work hard, make your own projects, but there’s no guarantee for work or success. I say, “Good luck.”