It can seem so glamorous looking at it from far away, but there are so many tough days. Sometimes you'll be soo close on getting a role on something that you think could change your life - and it goes to the other actor because you were "too tall", 'too short", "too pretty", "not pretty enough" - almost everything is out of your control. It can be heartbreaking when you're not sure what's around the corner. On the flipside, there is nothing more invigorating than the sense of possibility and the rush of joy and triumph when those chips do fall into place and you win a certain battle. Seeing your dreams come true is just... I cannot describe it. I've cried with joy on many occasions.
What is your most memorable moment on set or on location so far?
One of my most memorable moments has got to be arriving in New Orleans (for College) during the last three hours of Mardi Gras (on Fat Tuesday). That was certainly... a spectacle! Another one of my most favorite moments was shooting one of my first handful of episodes of One on One and having the live audience sing happy birthday to me and being surprised with a cake during the middle of the taping. It was one of the warmest and most unique birthdays I can recall.
How would you describe yourself in just three words?
How about "big fat nerd" (laughing), does that count? Hmm, it's kind of embarrassing describing yourself to strangers. I think I am "open", "ambitious" and "caring"... I don't know if those are the best three, but that's my best stab at it!
What would your dream role be?
I would love to be on a series like Freaks and Geeks - I love offbeat, but poignant writing like that and that show was nearly flawless. And my favorite kinds of movies are smart independent films with heart. I don't know if I can envision a dream role, so much as knowing that I aspire to work with the writers, producers, and actors who are of the highest talent and have the most heart and wit. I think substance behind artistic teams is the most important thing.
You’ve worked in both film and television. Which do you prefer and why?
They are both exciting for totally different reasons! In TV, it's great because you get to tell part of a story every week and you're literally in "people's homes" and so there is a connection and familiarity that viewers feel with you! It's fun because it's ongoing and you become a family with the cast and the crew over a long period of time. I totally miss TV and hope to go back to it between films. The movies I've worked on have been so overwhelming, because my first two projects happen to be large scale productions and I love both smart scripts and funny scripts and I got to do one of each!
You produced the short film ‘Equal Opportunity’ which won Best Film in NBC/Universal’s First Annual Comedy Shortcuts Film Festival. Congrats! Is producing something you plan to continue with in the future?
Yep! I produced a follow-up project to "Equal Opportunity" called "The Good Ol' Boys" for NBC, it was a webisode series. I am also working on a dramatic feature, tentatively scheduled to shoot in spring called "The Things We Carry". It is very exciting learning other skills in filmmaking, and it makes me much more appreciative of every single person who works on a film because everyone contributes such valuable parts to the whole! It is kind of scary taking on a full-length project from start-to-finish but I am excited to learn by doing. After this, I am planning on co-writing, and producing a comedy feature. We'll see how everything unfolds between acting projects...
I hear you’ve been studying Japanese sword-fighting for your new film “The Samurai of Strongsville, Ohio”. Wow! What’s that experience been like?
It was interesting, because aside from physical comedy, I haven't gotten to do a lot of acting that seemed to take my body into account as much as my brain or emotions. I grew up dancing through most of my childhood and high school, so learning movement was not foreign to me. It is a very different experience when you are acting in such a physical way though. There was a lot of trust involved with the swords as even though they weren't real blades, we certainly could have injured each other with the unsharpened metal swords so we had to be extremely focused at all times. It was challenging and a great time.
If you could travel for a film; what countries would you most like to visit?
Ooh! Great question. So far this year I got to travel to Pittsburgh and to New Orleans - one very cold and one with very interesting culture and history. I would love to travel to England to do a film or play, I think London is a blast! I have never been to most of Asia or Europe, so that would be very interesting. I'd pretty much be grateful to go anywhere for up to 2 months. I get homesick after about that long, my friends and family are so important to me and I tend to miss them a lot!
What has been your best career related experience so far?
I know this is totally cheesy, but I am grateful for all of them. There were times I didn't think I wanted to pursue it anymore because there were so few jobs out there for me, and at other times I have to pinch myself because I cannot believe the things that have come my way. Having my mom in the front row of my very first taping of One on One was really special, because I think she finally understood what I'd been working for and was so happy for me. That was a really good moment. I have been thrilled to take part in "One on One", "Smart People" and "College" - they were all extremely different but amazing in their own ways.
If you weren’t pursuing a career in acting and producing, what other careers could you see yourself in?
Hmm, I love music... a lot. For a while I considered going into the music industry to work for a record label. My parents always thought I was going to give up "this acting thing" and be a lawyer. It would be interesting and worthwhile to be a human rights attorney. Either that or the circus. :)
Portrait Magazine is an online magazine. What are some of your favorite websites?
Nylon Magazine - www.nylonmag.com
The Onion - www.theonion.com
Bust Magazine - www.bust.com
What are your hopes – both professionally and personally – for 2008?
For the most part, I'm working on continuing to grow as an artist - and a young woman. I think that is key. I'm trying not to lose sight of why I wanted to do this in the first place, and I'm learning a lot about myself as I grow up in this weird world of Hollywood. There's a lot to adjust to and I want to stay grounded in every way. Professionally, I would love to do another great independent film (or, like five of them!) like Smart People, and would really love to return to television, I really love offbeat shows like everything Judd Apatow has ever done and poignant shows like "My So-Called Life". I want to challenge myself so I know I'll keep producing and starting to write more! It would be a blast to do a cartoon series too. I am really excited for the premiere of Smart People at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and I think the film will be very well received. I hope College and Smart People both do very well in theaters, and I would love to do a sequel to College if it is a hit!
Do you have a Myspace or Official Website?
MySpace: www.myspace.com/camillemana
Official Site: www.camillemana.com
College on MySpace: www.myspace.com/college_themovie
College on YouTube www.youtube.com/collegethemovie
