Get to know and love other actors, writers, directors, and crew members. These people are your set-family
I was a very quiet child who didn’t have many friends, yet had a very vivid and large imagination that I submerged into. On the outside I was very shy and sweet little girl, inside I was lost in storytelling. When I was about 8 years old, I auditioned for choir and then joined a group called “the Pop Rock Singers” created by my music teacher Steve Fortgang. After school besides doing homework, I spent all of my time rehearsing and performing all around town.
When I became a teenager I was extremely serious about having a career in entertainment. I competed in a showcase called IMTA in both Los Angeles & in New York where I was scouted and quickly signed with an agent and manager in Hollywood. From my teens to early adulthood my dream was to be a pop singer and focused primarily in music.
Eventually I realized my true passion lied solely in acting. I decided in my mid 20’s that I would put all of my work and energy into doing only that. Once I began to really develop my craft and network within the industry everything started to fall into place and I joined the union SAG AFTRA.
Earlier this year in March I relocated to Hawaii and signed with ADR agency. Currently I am the happiest that I’ve ever been and staying very productive with my career while living in paradise.
@WebSeriesChat Paradise Justice Web Series in production.. Coming soon @PJusticeHawaii http://t.co/Ju9ioaCuwN pic.twitter.com/Cyx3ZJaGnD
— Paradise Justice (@PJusticeHawaii) August 19, 2015
Did you study acting
Yes, when I was in middles school I was in band, but secretly wanted to be in theatre instead. So I ended up enrolling at John Robert Powers when I was 14 years old to study acting. Then, majored in theatre in both High school & in college. Since then I’ve continued to study with many different teachers and continue to attend acting workshops regularly.
What acting technique do you use
Definitely method acting and lots sense memory. Before being on set I build my connection and create a back-story for my character. On the day of filming, when I’m in the green room I listen to specific songs, look at saved photos / artwork in my phone and carry my (character’s) journal around to write in and read during my spare time. Beyond that I just go with my gut and do whatever feels honest and natural in the moment.
What wrong impressions do actors hold about acting
That it’s easy. Acting takes lots of hard work and you need to go deep down into your soul to the places that people normally stay away from. Some people think acting is being fake… wearing a fake smile or fake crying, but it’s actually the opposite of that. It’s tapping into real emotions and real feelings. Living what your character is going through. You also have to be very vulnerable yet brave at the same time. As an actor, you have let your walls down to have those vulnerable moments yet also be brave enough to be raw and take real risks in your choices. There is a reason why everytime we watch our favorite movies that we feel exactly what the person on screen is feeling… because it’s real.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
Currently I am working with fight chorographer / stunt coordinator – Art Balligui and take acting workshops with Scott Rogers when he is in town. I also enjoy taking workshops with the casting directors that I’d like to meet and who may possibly cast me in future projects.
What acting books do you read
My favorite acting books are: “Eight Characters of Comedy” by Scott Sedita, “The Art of Acting” by Stella Adler, and ‘An Actor Prepares” by Stanislavski. I also enjoy studying books on Psychology and human behavior too. It’s just as important to understand why people do what they do and the psychology of the human mind.
How do you keep fit as an actor
Mentally – I enjoy going out into nature to center myself. Also, I do a lot of meditation, chanting and chakra alignment. I am certified in Reiki and crystal healer so I believe fully in holistics.
Physically – I am vegan, so I don’t consume any dairy or meat products and I eat raw fruits and veggies as often as possible. Living in Hawaii, I am an out door person. One day I ride my bike up a trail, the next I hike up a mountain to go swimming in a waterfall. It helps both the mental and physical to live in paradise.
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
I definitely read the script to understand my character but then I put it down and leave it alone for a while. My main focus is to start to build my my character from the inside out. I emotionally, spiritually and physically start embodying her more and more each day… taking my time to get to really understand and get know her. Memorization is what I focus on the least.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
Developing a backstory and doing exercises to get into her emotional and mental zone. Creating her world in my imagination- the people and places she knew, whom she fell in love with and whom broke her heart, significant memories, exc. Also the little stuff like what kind of music she listens to, her favorite color, her favorite things to do… I go in real deep with specifics then do any research on topics that go hand in hand with her situation.
How do you stay fresh on set
I don’t think about the lines or about the choices that I made in previous takes. First I just cycle breathe and get back to a neutral state of being. Then I go back to my character’s emotional state and mentally to where ever she was just at prior to where the scene is about to take place. The most important thing is to not overthink anything or even better to not really be thinking much at all- clear my mind.
Describe a memorable character you played
My favorite character that I’ve ever portrayed is the one that I am currently portraying in the web-series I am working on now. The name of the project is “Paradise Justice” and I am portraying a deadly, devious, sexy woman named Portia. She is completely the opposite of me and is the embodiment of what I my alter ego would be. She is a femme fetal, a seductress and she is the queen b*tch of the mob she runs with. It’s really fun to get to be her because I feel like she’s so much cooler and so much more of a bad girl than I’d ever allow myself be.
Explain one creative choice you took on set
During a short film I worked on called “Cuddle Bugs”; there was a scene where in the script I was arguing with my soon to be ex husband. We had lines to follow but it wasn’t feeling organic or coming out right. The next take I just started to completely improvise all of the lines and got extremely emotional as if I was really going through a divorce and was about to loose the man that I was completely loved with. It completely took my on screen husband by surprise… suddenly having to deal with my pain rather than the anger and arguing that was initially suppose to happen. It actually made him stop talking to me completely and emotionally shut off because he could feel how upset that I was… which is something a man would naturally do in that situation. Since he wasn’t giving me any of the answers I was seeking, I ended up crawling into a ball in the corner of the room and cried. I was actually only improvising to get all the sad emotions out of my system so the anger and the lines would come out better in the following take… but they ended up scrapping everything that was supposed to happen in that scene and instead used that in the film.
What do you want most from a director
Honesty, support and for them to keep pushing me until I give them either exactly what they want or something even better than what they’ve ever imagined. For them to know that we’re a team and I really need and respect all the energy as well as the advice they give me. And for them to not be afraid to really make me work hard for it.
What actors do you long to work with
Oh that’s easy… I want to work with guys that are hilarious like Adam Devine, Andy Sandberg, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or Keegan Michael Key
Why
Because I love to laugh! And would love to do more comedy instead of my typically dark and dramatic roles… also these guys are all talented beyond words.
What advice would you give to actors
Believe in yourself and never give up! You’re going to have to deal with rejection time and time again, but don’t take it too personally. There are a million reasons why you might have not been chosen for the role- that have nothing to do with your talent. As long as you’ve made bold choices that feel right in the moment and you have done everything to give it your best; you should have no regrets. Don’t replay every second of your audition in your head wondering if you should have done this, or that. Just let it go & be confident in your performance.
Stay humble and be thankful for every opportunity. Also, always appreciate everyone you work with. Support one another and never stop networking. Get to know and love other actors, writers, directors, and crewmembers. These people will become your set family and without them there wouldn’t even be a production. Everyone on set is just as important as you are. Kind words and appreciation can go a long way.
There will be down time, just as much (if not more often) then days that you will be working. One minute you’re booking role after role, then suddenly it’s slow and quiet. Live your life and enjoy every minute of if- the good as well as the bad. Having a full life will inspire all of your moments when you are back on set. It will give you real emotions and life experiences to pull from. Surround yourself with people you love and whom support your career. And study, study, study. You can always be better at your craft.
Briefly write about your career
Every film, movie, web-series and commercial has helped me grow and mature as an actress in every way. I really have loved each and every character I’ve had the blessing to portray, as well as each and every person involved in creating these projects that I take part in.
Some of the production I have worked on in the past include: “Cowboy” by Jeremy Helal which won Best Film at the Short Dam Film Festival 2012, “Bubblegum & Broken Fingers” by Somnium Productions which won Best Nevada Feature at VIFF 2011, Best Feature Film at The Urban Suburban Film Festival 2012 & Audience Choice at Action On Film Festival, and “Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West” starring Gregory Popovich (performer of Las Vegas show the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater).
In the film “Two Little Monsters” by David Schoeller (creator of Puppet Master) I portray the character Darla, Carl Withers co-worker and crush. “Two Little Monsters” will be airing in October on Lifetime.
Coming this fall will be the official release of the website and pilot episode for “Paradise Justice” the web-series. Also, in 2016 be sure to be on the look out for the movie “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” directed by Jake Szymanski and starring starring Zac Efron, Anna Kendrick, Adam Devine and Aubrey Plaza. You can see me as close friend and bridesmaid of lead character Jeanie.
