In early May of 2010, the lovely and super talented actress Georgie Caldwell allowed me to interview her. We talked about movies, theater, and living in New York City. Be on the look out for her starring in Le Chat Noir’s “Werewolf” coming soon!
Jus Buckingham: Where are you from and what do you do?
Georgie Caldwell: I’m from the suburbs of Detroit. I am an actress. As well as a baker, culinary enthusiast, friend, and artist.
Jus: How long have you been in New York and how did you get there?
Georgie: I’ve been in New York for five years. I got here by plane to study acting at the Atlantic Acting School through New York University.
Jus: How has your experience been as an actress in New York?
Georgie: Fun. Every project I work on, everything I read, and every day in the city inspires me. I’ve been fortunate enough to originate theater roles (Jane in “Disillusioned”) and had a film role or two written specifically for me (Felice in Le Chat Noir’s “Werewolf” and Monique in LCN’s “Cut”). When I’m working on a project – film or theater- I’m happiest and most fulfilled. It’s an uphill battle to get auditions, let alone book a job, but when I do, I go into the room put my best foot forward and work. A great person once said that luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. I try to live my life by that. I’m constantly going to classes to stay sharp, reading the casting calls and endless amounts of scripts/books/newspapers, submitting myself and working with my fantastic manager, Jeffery Patterson, to get out there and do some good work.
Jus: What do you think New York offers you as opposed to LA?
Georgie: I haven’t spent any time in LA so I can’t say anything about what is there for me, professionally.
New York has so much to offer. I can walk down the street and run into someone I know or someone who I know through two other people. This is a great city to just happen into people. New York also has so much art to see and participate in. Museums – modern artists and work that has inspired modern artists – have been what I have been into lately. I like being able to go see an exhibit and have an experience with whatever I am seeing. Also, I like to know a bit about the artists before I go. This winter I had a subscription to the New York City Opera and was able to see three beautiful performances. Their production of Madame Butterfly by Puccini (my favorite opera) was so heart wrenchingly gorgeous.
Aside from the art and culture New York has, there are also ample ways to work. A great way to be able to crossover between theater, TV, and film is to be in New York. Tons of shows shoot here (“30 Rock”. “Damages”, “Gossip Girl”, “White Collar”, “Rescue Me”, and the show to get a career started on, almost a right of passage job – “Law and Order”). Tons of movies are made in New York City about New York City (“Wall Street 1 & 2”, “Two Lovers”, “Sex and the City”, “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “Annie Hall”, “The Muppets Take Manhattan”, etc). Many of the actors, directors, and writers whom I admire who are or have worked on those projects live and work in New York. The really good ones are known to pop up at smaller shows to see what’s new and fresh, whether it be performing or enjoying the show.
I’m working to be one of those actors who gets to work on TV, film, and theater.
My work has shown some progress in the crossover between theater and film. Last summer, my performance in “Disillusioned” at the Midtown International Theater work helped showcase my work and abilities as an actress. From that production, my dear friend and director, Matthew D’Abate of Le Chat Noir Productions, knew how to challenge me and have fun when we went to work on “Werewolf” last fall. These projects lead to more work. Working on Broadway or Off Broadway, can get me out there to book more work with a legitimate performance to get me noticed and working in TV and film.
And, in New York, I don’t need a car.
Jus: Would you ever consider a move to LA or any where else?
Georgie: When LA calls for work, of course I will go. It would be a wonderful new adventure. But I’d request a Katherine Hepburn clause – wherever I am living to work I would get to keep my New York apartment. New York has my heart and will be home for a good long while but I can live just about anywhere.
Jus: What do you prefer more film or theater?
Georgie: They offer different things and require different skills. They are different mediums of storytelling. From my training at Atlantic and application on set and in rehearsal, acting in theater or film it’s about knowing where the audience is. If the camera is close up, I am going to work to the very close lens. If I am doing a play at the Imperial Theater, which has about 1400 seats, my work has to land not only with my colleagues on stage but also to Mr. and Mrs. McGillicutty in the rear mezzanine. Regardless of medium, the basics of acting stay the same – tell the story, be truthful in the moment, and be ready for anything. I am having fun doing both. I’d like to keep my options open. The actors who I admire the most get to do both (Marissa Tomei, John Tuturro, Cynthia Nixon, Meryl Streep, John Goodman, Jeff Daniels, America Ferrera,). Both make me feel alive.
Jus: Where would you like to be professionally in 10 years?
Georgie: Doing good work in the art that I love – storytelling. Making good movies, doing theater, and television (or webvision, however it evolves). I ‘d like to be working with people who inspire and challenge me as an actress. I would also like to host Saturday Night Live. The projects I’m working on now will help get me into the playing field.
Jus: Who’s your favorite actor/actress?
Georgie: This one has had me stumped since I read the question! I can’t pin down just one. There are performances that jump right up in my mind and make me gush, so here goes. Deanna Dunagan in Tracy Letts “August: Osage County”, which I saw 3 times on Broadway. Ms. Dunagan was electric and wild. Watching her performance of Violet Weston sent shivers down my spine and I loved it. Meryl Streep in “Angels in America”. All the characters she plays – Ethel Rosenberg, the Rabbi, Hannah Pitt, The Angel Australia – are performed with such ease of finesse, I can’t help but be inspired, by her performance and the story. Kate Winslet in “Romance and Cigarettes”. Ms. Winslet plays a bawdy lewd loose woman with such veracity and freedom that is loquaciously delicious. Rosalind Russel in “The Women” gave such spot on, whippingly charming, bold performance. Tina Fey on “30 Rock” makes me want to move to Chicago, eat donuts until I can come back to New York and be funny. Marissa Tomei in “The Wrestler”. All of these actresses inspire me and I want to do work like them.
Jus: What’s your favorite film?
Georgie: Such a hard question! There are so many movies that I wish I could talk to the filmmakers about what and how they made them. I love Casablanca. It’s so iconic and brilliant. I watch it all the time. Movies that take risks inspire me like Romance and Cigarettes, a film director John Tuturro personally distributed. I love “Amelie” because it’s such a simple story that is told so beautifully. “The Fall”, “Pan’s Labrynth”, “Annie Hall”. I also love movies that follow the journey of the Hero: “Toy Story”, “Star Wars”,“Pleasantville”.
Jus: What are you listening to right now?
Georgie: Monsters of Folk, Lady Gaga, The Miseducation of Lauryn HIll
Catch up with Georgie Caldwell:
Watch the trailer for Georgie’s new movie “Werewolf”
All photos courtesy of Simon McDermott-Johnson
