I don’t remember a lot of things about living in Russia, since I left at the age of 5, but I do remember being ridiculously inspired by a TV show (I think we only had one that I could access) and I knew that I had to do what the people on the screen were doing. Maybe it started as a chance to escape present circumstances. I went on to take singing lessons with my sister who also studied dance as was customary in Russia but everything changed when we came to the States.
40 degrees never felt so cold. #filmmaking pic.twitter.com/gfXvZj2nvS
— Marzy Hart (@marzapproved) March 5, 2016
Did you study acting
I continued to study singing and began to study dance when we emigrated from Russia but I was very overwhelmed by having to acclimate to this totally new environment where I didn’t understand anything or anyone and my survival instincts kicked in. I was unable to focus on those things. Also, my dad had a stint as a stage dad, which gave me reservations about chasing my dreams. I kept taking classes but it was around the age of 17 that I found Harold Guskin’s book, “How To Stop Acting” and felt I found my home. Researching Guskin led me to the coach Seth Michael May, whom I studied with privately and in group improv scene study classes from 17 – 25. I’ve since taken classes at MN Acting Studio and The Annoyance Theater. I’ll be in classes for life!
Tell us about the work you produced
WOW. There’s no short way to answer this truthfully. Firstly, every actor should produce at least once. Production is f’ing hard and producing via pulling favors and convincing people to believe in you when you have nothing to show is 100000000 x harder! If acting and showing your true self is like being in a bikini, writing, acting, directing, & producing is like being skinned and walking around all bloody and shit. People judge you and pretty much only you on everything. My first attempt was a web series I called, Teamwork Like Wolves, a show about 3 girls trying to survive off of CraigsList jobs. I struggled so hard to make that happen and then Broad City hit and touched on a lot of what I wanted to touch on but with a much bigger budget which was super discouraging. Looking back on the pilot now, I’m SUPER proud of it and I want the world to see it, but I showed it to the wrong people and received crippling feedback, and let that stop me from making more. Eventually I tried to make a second episode but everything got really screwed up and I hated how it came out. About 6 months after, Daniel Ferry and I made, Slice, which I produced and starred in and I never want to go back! The lesson is, don’t be afraid to suck. SUCK SUCK SUCK and when/if someone says your work sucks, make more work, and it will suck less. I don’t often regret things, but I do regret the amount of time I spent with my tail between my legs. This isn’t the business of external gratification. Love yourself, push against the haters! Lastly, if you produce because you want to tell great stories with great actors and crew, it’s not SELF producing. It’s just producing and it’s awesome.
Do you take courses to improve your craft
The last workshop I took was Ela Thier’s Screenwriting Intensive. It was SO good. If you’re in NY, take it. Even if you aren’t a “writer” you will learn a lot as an actor, producer, whatever your passion is. Collaboration is way easier when you’ve experienced every facet of the job! I’ve been super busy with productions lately, yay, so I haven’t had time to take classes but I learn every day and I’m itching to get back to a workshop at The Annoyance, T. Schreiber Studios, or Kimball Studios! As far as private coaching, I’ve got my eye on a few great coaches such as Matt Newton in NY!
How do you combine acting and producing
So far, I’ve learned producing by doing. I just say “I want to do this thing, I’m not getting these parts, I want them, I have the internet, I don’t need permission” and I start drawing from my resources, for example, my home, people I’ve done favors for, people I just LOVE working with, things I’ve seen that inspire me (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, duh). I recently co-produced the feature film, Landing Up, and learned a ton and work with the star, producer, writer Stacey Maltin all the time. FILM FAMILY! There are so many great resources. I just started attending Film Interchange created by Jenn Mello, where I’ve met industry leaders it would have taken me years to get to otherwise, Jenn included. Now I want Adam Leipzig’s book Film-Making In Acting and to take Ela Thier’s Independent Film Production class, because there’s always always always more to learn and those are great ways to meet people.
How do you keep fit as an actor
Mentally, Meditation. I don’t meditate as regularly as I should but every second counts. I also find it helpful to read about other storyteller’s experiences, to see I’m not alone and that you can succeed against the odds. Everyone seems like an overnight success once their big break hits but the truth is that many of today’s stars were damn near giving up right up to that break! Physically, I like to switch it up with walking a lot, yoga, belly dancing, archery, fencing, boxing, anything I can get my hands on that I can afford at the time. Thank you Youtube and exercise apps that are there when I’m putting every cent I have into a project!
When you’re offered a role, what do you do next
First, if we’re being honest, I get scared I’m like, “oh no, what if I can’t deliver?!” then I tell myself to get a grip, that I’m a trained professional and I’m capable, worthy and have something amazing to add to the role. Holding other positions on set has really shown me that so much of actor’s job is being ready to have all of your prep be ripped out from under you and going with the flow. Listening to direction, trying different things, letting other characters affect you, that I work mainly on memorizing the lines and staying open. I like to read the script in a bunch of different ways, in different places of my house or outside, listen to different music, and focus on connecting to the emotions rather than getting things word for word, a fear that used to paralyze me. Something Guskin suggests is tackling your fears by doing them. If you’re afraid to yell in character, yell the whole fucking thing, laugh through the crying scene, flirt during the doctors office scene, remember that it’s supposed to be fun.
How do you take a character in a script to a honest, believable and breathing person
So much of this comes from taking it off the page for me, then filtering it through the character’s point of view. Actor/coach, Rob Clare, once pointed out in a workshop, that whatever character you have, doesn’t know the story isn’t about them. Giving each character, no matter how many or few lines they have, the respect and attention they deserve is key. I used to rush through lines because I always felt like my character was just there to move the story along, and I’ve come to see how wrong that is! I give everyone who’s skin I wear everything I have.
How do you stay fresh on set
Dancing. Being super silly. Listening to music. Improvising scenes. More dancing.
Describe a memorable character you played
Lily Drover, in Slice, released in 2014. In, Slice, I approached the character Lily. I approached her with a lustfulness, as if killing was a fetish she was just discovering, while her motive remained unclear. She’s memorable to me because of how flawed, powerful and relentless she is and she’s totally two faced!
Explain one creative choice you took on set
I recently acted in a short film for the 48 HR Film Fest, which is being turned into a series, and Fred Henry III, the director, told me to go over the top, and a super fun playful character was born. He then dubbed me “the disney princess from hell”. One of my favorite things I’ve heard.
What do you want most from a director
Someone that is open to trying things, someone patient, focused on the journey instead of the end goal, someone that can present alternatives and help me go to places I wouldn’t necessarily go to myself. That collaboration is such a huge part of what I love. Someone who wants to explore.
What actors do you long to work with
So many. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Tatiana Maslany, Zoe Saldana, Meryl Streep, Louis CK, Aziz Ansari, James Franco, Rosario Dawson, Jenny Slate. I can go forever.
Why
All of the actors I mentioned are truthful, bold, transformative and in the moment.
What advice would you give to actors
Find what works for you, don’t apologize, be open to learning, try things that are beyond your comfort zone, make things of your own.
Briefly write about your career
I produced and acted in Slice, created, acted and produced Working on It, co-produced & acted in Landing Up, guest starred in an episode of For Ex Lovers Only & 20 Something’s Birthdays, currently producing a series called Bite Me, acting in the short film Goddess on the Loo, & location managing for Beautiful Women Live By Night.
