It may sound cliché’, but do never ever ever….give up on your baby, your, dreams, your purpose, or your destiny!
Jacinth Sutphin was born and raised in Jamaica. At the age of thirteen she relocated to Brooklyn, NY. She is very passionate, driven and determined. She started her modeling career at age 17 appearing in numerous hair magazines and print ads. She has graced the runway for many local, national, and international fashion designers. She studied theatre while attending Kutztown University of PA. After graduating, she participated in community and regional theatre to gain experience. Since then she has booked principal roles in numerous commercials such as Atlantic City International Airport, John Yurconic insurances, Senior Solutions, and schuylkill valley sports. She has play the lead and supporting roles in numerous feature and short films. Her Principal role in the feature film Voiceless has qualified her for Sag-Aftra union. She recently booked a principal role in her first television pilot and she will be launching her online radio show coming December 2015.
As a hobby she enjoys doing improv and has worked with improv troupes such as Flighty Ducks. She also enjoys writing dramatic & comedic scripts. She enjoys mentoring adolescents while helping them to discover and follow their dreams. If I had to sum up her personality in just a few words, it would be compassionate, motivator, outgoing, spontaneous, driven, selfless, very caring, ambitious, and a go-getter. She has such a positive energy that lights up any room.
Did you study acting
While attending college at Kutztown University of PA, I began to study acting by taking theatre classes. What trigger my hunger even more for wanting to become a professional actress was when I wrote, directed, and ministered a skit called “The Gift” for my church’s Christmas program. That’s when I realized how I can use my gift to be a blessing to others and how I can change lives through my roles and through the messages delivered through the cast collective performance.
After graduation, I began to participate in my local community theatre: Touchstone annual theatre festival, to gain experience. I continued to minister through the Arts in church where I gained a lot of experience and a deeper meaning as to why God blessed me with these gifts and visions. I gained a lot of on-screen training and experience when I started studying at the Walking Fish Theatre with the lovely Kenneth McGregor, who’s also my acting coach.
What acting technique do you use
The acting technique that I use to create a memorable and authentic performance is mainly Sense Memory/ Emotional Recall by Lee Strasberg. This technique involves recalling a sensual experience (sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch) to stir up an emotional reaction appropriate to a moment in the scene. The method I choose to use depends on the type of role I am portraying.
If I have an emotional role I find that sense memory or emotional recall works best for me. My imaginations are fueled by my life experiences. So I use them! I use sense memory/emotional recall mainly as a preparation technique, so the focus is on the character’s life and not my past or my life directly. I use this exercise to connect to the role and bring authenticity to my character. As an actor you must do your homework in order to prep, so that when it’s Showtime you can just focus on being the character, being creative and create magic while interacting and reacting.
Also as an actress, I love to use my imagination. I use my lines as motivation to start painting the big picture based on my interpretation. I use my imagination to paint the picture from scratch. I get to take the audience on ride and into my character’s world. Emotional recall and imagination both go hand in hand and you can’t have one without the other.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
That this business looks fun and easy. Setting unrealistic goals of wanting to be a star and becoming rich for all the wrong reasons. It is a lot of fun but it takes hard work, passion, drive, and dedication to keep pushing in this business. There are days in which you will lose sleep. From early morning call times to late night shoots. Being called in at the last minute for an audition the same day because the client wants to see you. This career can end relationships that are shaky and not built on a strong foundation. There are times in which you will have to sacrifice valuable times with love. While your friends are out having social time and getting beauty rest, you will be up studying your scripts, learning lines, developing your character, and prepping for your shoot or audition. My job as an actress is an on-going development.
My mind is always going, always creating. It really helps a lot to have a strong support system. It does not matter what it looks like, feels like or seems like, NEVER give up on your baby, your dreams. You must have thick skin, determination, and perseverance to survive in this business. Most of all, have faith, work hard, and believe that your vision will one day become your reality. Speak life over yourself at all times and speak things into existence as if it is so.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Absolutely. I am constantly trying to perfect my craft and finding ways I can grow as an artist. I attend different workshops, enroll into different acting classes and most of all, I have an acting coach. I read different books on audition techniques and the business. I am constantly watching a lot of YouTube videos about the business and reading articles on backstage to educate myself on what’s current.
What acting books do you read
Some of the books that I’ve read that I really like are “Acting as a Business: Strategies for Success” by Brian O’Neil, “Audition” by Michael Shurtleff, “Acting Honestly: A handbook and reference for actors” by Tesia Nicoli.
How do you keep fit as an actor
It is important to be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually fit whether you’re an actor or not. An actor’s life can be very hectic and it can be difficult to maintain a consistent workout regimen. There’s no set schedule in acting. I’m always on the go and I have to make time to exercise. So this brings me to finding balance and having good time management, which I struggled with. I’ve learned that waking up extra hour earlier than my norm works best for me. I use that extra hour to have that time to myself to workout, meditate, worship and just get into my zone. I would be lying if I said that I stick to this schedule everyday but I am getting way better.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
When I am offered a role and as soon as I receive the script, the first thing I do is read the script. I read the entire script so that I may have a clear vision of the entire story being told. I try not to pay attention to my lines. Then the second time I read the script I start to break it down by focusing on my lines, my objective and what I am trying to convey to the audience. Then I start to develop my character. I start to build my character from scratch by creating a back story. I use Stanislavski’s acting technique with the 10 key acting questions to develop my character, to connect more to my role, to be more well-rounded, and to be more authentic. Such as Who, when, where am I?, what do I want & why?, How will I get what I want? etc.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
I pull from my life experiences and from people I know that my character can relate to. If I can’t pull truth from my past then I draw my character from people that I know or grew up around. If I have a character who is an alcoholic I might choose to refer to some of the behaviors that I can recall from being around an alcoholic and his/her mannerisms. I also do research for my role.
For example, in a film just wrapped, I portrayed a veteran who struggled with PTSD after returning home from Afghanistan. I did a lot of research on women in the military, struggling with PTSD, and what is it like to be a woman in a leadership position in such a male dominated career. This also ties back to creating a backstory for my role and doing character development. If you refuse to find time to do your homework and develop your character it will look like you’re just reciting lines and you’re stuck in your head instead of being the character.
How do you stay fresh on set
I live in the moment and never break character. While on set I address everyone by their character’s name instead of their biological name. It helps everyone to collectively stay in character while on set. I also meditate internally to stay focus and in character. I also use music to motivate me and shift my mood in preparation. Overall, I stay focus and I stay tuned in.
Describe a memorable character you played
A memorable character that I played is my role in the film Violations, as a veteran who struggled with PTSD.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I had a cathartic moment while filming Violations. It was liberating for me. The director told me to release everything that was building up and all the frustration that my character was internalizing. At that moment, no one knew that I was also going through a lot in my personal life that I needed to release. Well I released it all that day while I was in the moment. Lets just say I gave her what she needed and more in just one take. I just let it all out. That’s what I love the acting. I get to release while on set. Being an actress has helped me to live in my truth and just be free. I can take risk, and do things that Jacinth would never do but everything that my character would do. That is so exciting and amazing!
What do you want most from a director
I love knowing the director’s vision and purpose behind the script and the characters. I love a director who has a clear vision and knows what he/she wants. I love when a director can challenge the actors to go beyond their limit and take them to a creatively place they’ve never been. I also love when the director trust the actors and give them creative freedom with their character.
What actors do you long to work with
I would love the opportunity to work with Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, and Halle Berry.
Why
I love the way these ladies dominate the screen and most of all the business. I love their work ethics and how they prep for a role. Most of all I love love love their versatility. They’re can tackle any role and it is impossible to box them in. They really inspire me to have that same work ethic and versatility throughout my career. I don’t want any limit on the type of roles that I can portray. In the roles that I’ve played so far, I try to take on roles that are different and far from the norm. I love roles that challenge me.
What advice would you give to actors
I know it may sound cliche’, but do never ever ever give up on your baby, your, dreams, your purpose, your destiny. You know the vision and the gift(s) that God has blessed you with. He didn’t bless you with the vision for you to babysit it. Follow your heart and live in your truth. Stop waiting on validation and confirmation from others to do what’s already in your heart and what God already pre-destined you to do. I stop allowing fear and opinions to interfere with my dreams and my goals. I stepped out on faith and I JUMPED. I haven’t looked back ever since. Even when I have fallen I dust myself off, learn from my mistakes, and keep pushing. When you begin to walk in your purpose you’d be surprise how God will bless you more than you’ve ever imagined. I challenge you to jump. I challenge you to give birth to your dreams and stop babysitting your vision. I challenge you! Now once you’ve started, you must stay persistent, dedicated, and don’t lose your passion or your drive. Let your trials be your testimony. Also when one door closes, I always tell myself it’s because there’s something better just around the corner that I need to be available for.
Briefly write about your career
At the age of 13 was when I was pregnant with my visions and dreams of being an entertainer. My baby’s name was purpose aka destiny. At the age of 17 I knew for sure that I was ready to give birth to my dreams and transition my dreams to reality. My drive instantly shifted to 3rd gear as I started to research how to get started in this industry. That’s when I started training at Barbizon on how to rip the runway, apply makeup, have on-screen training and confidence etc.
I started my journey in the entertainment industry as a model appearing in numerous hair magazines and print ads. I’ve graced the runway for many local, national, and international fashion designers. She studied theatre while attending Kutztown University of PA. After graduating, she participated in community and regional theatre to gain experience. Since then she has booked principal roles in numerous commercials such as Atlantic City International Airport, John Yurconic insurances, Senior Solutions, and schuylkill valley sports.
She has play the lead and supporting roles in numerous feature and short films. Her Principal role in the feature film Voiceless has qualified her for Sag-Aftra (union). She recently booked a principal role in her first television pilot and she will be launching her online radio show coming December 2015. The best is yet to come. Stay tune!
