Hello everyone! This episode of #BlabWithSandy features actress Carmina Merrill! This interview showcases an international creative collaboration between India and the United States. Let’s go right into an intriguing interview 😊
Sandy: Hello Carmina, hope you are doing as lovely as you are?
Carmina: I am doing amazing because today I get to blab with Sandy!
Sandy: Can you let us know a little bit about your background?
Carmina: Absolutely. I live in the U.S. and attend Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. I am inspired by creative expression and am constantly seeking new ways to connect with others through performing arts. I love to wear many hats, some of which include actor, model, vocalist, photographer and writer.
Sandy: When and how did the acting bug hit you?
Carmina: I grew up going to the theatre. There was just something about live storytelling that always captured my imagination. I’d sit spellbound, watching actors transform themselves into different characters, showing me a world outside of my own experience. I wanted to be a part of that storytelling process and eventually began performing in local theatre. Fast forward a bunch of years and a few dozen performances later, connecting with others through the arts has become a way of life.
Sandy: Could you throw some light to the days prior to becoming a full-fledged performer?
Carmina: The early days of my journey were pretty much defined by a battle with stage fright. I remember the fear and anxiety that would hit me before every performance, and how sometimes the nerves would get the better of me, missing lines, missing marks, that sort of thing. I figured the more I practiced and the more I performed, it would simply go away. Yes and no, I suppose.
I still struggle with stage fright but I have gotten much better at managing it. Training and experience has helped. I spent two summers performing at an iconic summer stock theatre in New England. The summer season consisted of five different shows back to back performed for the local community. I also continue to train regularly, my most recent intensive being the Yale summer conservatory for actors in New Haven, Connecticut. In spite of the challenges, it’s hard to see a point in my life where I’m not involved in performance art in one form or another.
Sandy: You seem to have worked quite a bit in theatre. How different is theatre to you from facing the camera for a film shoot? Which one comes closer to your forte?
Carmina: This is such a great question. Screen acting and stage acting are two very different experiences in my opinion. Having grown up in the theatre, I was used to the interplay of a live audience, and the momentum of a timed performance. If something goes unexpectedly on stage, you have to be ready to roll with it and improvise, there are no re-takes. You also have real-time feedback from the audience that helps guide the performance. You can feel their energy, and you know when something is working and when it’s not.
I remember filming one of my first screen roles – a comedy – and thinking how disconcertingly quiet it was on set, questioning if I delivered my lines effectively because there was no one there to laugh, or, heaven forbid, not laugh! Also, on stage, actions tend to be more exaggerated and you need to project your voice to be heard. Not so when on camera, which captures every movement, every expression, big or small.
As life keeps getting busier, it’s become hard to make the time commitment required for stage productions, so I see myself doing less theatre, at least for now. At the same time, I’m finding screen acting incredibly gratifying. It gives me the chance to really push my boundaries and loose myself in a character. As I develop my skills in this area, I’ll hopefully continue to create performances I can be proud of.
Sandy: Now that plays and films are becoming more and more international, do you see a day wherein you’d come out of the comfort zone and enact roles in other international languages?
Carmina: Absolutely yes. It would be an honor to immerse myself in other cultures through film. To do so authentically means embracing language and dialect within the cultural context of a character’s background. This would be a challenge I’d love to take on.
Sandy: Have you had a chance to learn/ view Indian cinema? If so, what do you think about Indian cinema?
Carmina: Yes! So the first Indian film I ever watched was Dangal directed by Nitesh Tiwari. This film made such an impression on me between the storytelling, emotional depth, actor performances, and the way it challenged conventional female stereotypes. Growing up in the states, I was mostly exposed to Hollywood movies and only a handful of international films. Now with the rise of streaming platforms, we all have access to regional and global cinema, India being one of the largest film industries to gain international viewership, myself included! What I love about Bollywood films? They are not constrained in the way that many American films are, they go all in – big emotions, big visuals, big soundtracks. I love that music and dance are part of the storytelling, I love the focus on family values and traditions, and I love that Indian films often blend genres, rolling romance, action, drama and comedy into one experience.
Sandy: How open are you to threading down to India and other Asian areas? If given a chance, would you be willing to give it a try?
Carmina: This answer is easy, one hundred percent.
Sandy: What is your roadmap in the next couple of years? Apart from acting and modeling, are you also game to take to direction?
Carmina: I am open to moving into that role, and have assistant-directed a few pieces of theatre. At this point I feel like my energy is better spent developing my skills as an actor. I have learned, however, to never rule something out so I’ll say maybe some day!
Quick Shot Round:
– Your biggest fear: Getting my heart broken!
– Given a chance to barter your career for a day, with whom would it be and why?: Any international food critic because I could travel the world and try every type of cuisine imaginable!
– Theatre or Cinema: Too hard to choose
– What do you do when you have nothing else to do: Love my dogs
– Favourite actor/actress: Meryl Streep
– A film/role you wish you were a part of: Sandy from Grease
– Imagine being stuck in an elevator with two film personalities, with whom would you like to be stuck with? Audry Hepburn and Lucille Ball
– Your go-to food: Thai or Indian curry
– A habit of yours you’d like to change: Procrastination
– Your favourite Holiday destination: Sitting by a fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate
Sandy: What’s in the pipeline for you in the coming months?
Carmina: I am currently wrapping up two movies that are in the final stages of filming. These will likely be the last two screen projects I’ll complete before heading off to Dublin in September to focus on my studies for a few months. I am filming one final commercial and am involved in a modeling campaign, both of which will wrap by August as well. One of my other personal passions is photography. A big highlight to my year was receiving a national award for a piece of self portraiture. Attending the NYC exhibit and ceremony in June will be a dream come true!
Sandy: Any piece of advice you’d like to give to the aspiring artists?
Carmina: My mother always told me that a locked door isn’t the end of the road, but the beginning of a quest for the key. Don’t ever presume that barriers are insurmountable.
Editor’s note: It was indeed an enriching experience collaborating with Carmina Merrill. Wishing Carmina a fantastic career ahead! We hope to cross paths again someday soon.
Interview by Sandy (Sandeep Rao)
Follow Carmina @carmina.actor
Follow Sandy @blabwithsandy