Andrea Orta
INTERVIEW
Tell us about one of the earliest memories of your career
When I was still at uni in London I started seeking out opportunities to work on sets. My first job was on the set of a music video for a now very well known British artist, Declan McKenna. I remember I was so nervous because I was essentially showing up to a random location, and part of me wasn’t completely sure the job was real or safe because the turnaround from me submitting myself to the shoot date had all happened so quickly. But in fact it was a really professional set, and whilst myself and the other actors were in hair and makeup I was able to talk to other industry hopefuls like myself for the first time ever! I say hopefuls, but in actuality everyone else had a lot more experience than I did, so it was just fun to ask a lot of beginner questions (which in hindsight was probably a little annoying) and soak in as much learning as I could. Funniest part of this is we had to wear these huge paper mache animal masks over our heads, so in the end you couldn’t even see my face at all in the video. But there’s still something very special to be able to point you out and be like “see that strand of hair!” or “those are my hands”[laughs].
Almost immediately after I had the opportunity to be an extra on “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and now that was a MASSIVE set. Same drill, it was a concert scene and I’m on a random guy’s shoulders so obviously you see my back for like 0.1 seconds. But you bet you that if I ever happen to see that scene now I’m like “that’s my butt on that guy’s shoulders!”
I mean these were literally my very first jobs in front of a camera, and I completely fell in love with the magic. Seeing a camera on a dolly or on a crane was just magical to me, and I knew right away that this is what I needed to be doing.
Almost immediately after I had the opportunity to be an extra on “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and now that was a MASSIVE set. Same drill, it was a concert scene and I’m on a random guy’s shoulders so obviously you see my back for like 0.1 seconds. But you bet you that if I ever happen to see that scene now I’m like “that’s my butt on that guy’s shoulders!”
I mean these were literally my very first jobs in front of a camera, and I completely fell in love with the magic. Seeing a camera on a dolly or on a crane was just magical to me, and I knew right away that this is what I needed to be doing.
How do you prepare yourself before you start a new project?
I like to over prepare! So obviously having as much time with the text to really soak everything in is hugely important, and if you’re able to meet and read with other cast members prior to shooting that’s even better. I always read the script multiple times to get the first impressions of my character and then dive deeper each time. I really prioritize analyzing the wants and motivations of my character to get into that headspace and be completely emotionally prepared. Getting the lines up on their feet prior to shooting (as in literally physically moving around a space and speaking your lines) is also incredible helpful to find my voice, cadence and feel completely at ease with how my body flows with the character. The last thing you want is to feel stiff, so it’s good to explore and be open to new moments so it all feels fresh and natural!
If you had to define yourself to the world, what would the headline be?
Bringing Venezuela to Hollywood
If you could write your own story, what would your destiny be? What goals would you like to achieve?
I want to be able to produce my own stories. I have a background as a writer as well as acting, so it’s important to me that I continue to collaborate with other creatives in the future on my own projects and bring those ideas to fruition.
What does success mean to you?
The day I have the freedom to be super choosey over projects, or be forced to decline a project because I’m already too busy, that’ll feel pretty successful to me!
There are also of course certain writers, directors and actors who I greatly admire and would love to work beside, so having the opportunity to create something with them is absolutely a success to me.
There are also of course certain writers, directors and actors who I greatly admire and would love to work beside, so having the opportunity to create something with them is absolutely a success to me.
How has the perspective of your dreams and objectives changed over the years?
I’m a firm believer that it’s great to have dreams, and big ones at that, but I think the biggest thing that’s changed for me in recent years is that to me dreams are by no means the same as objectives. Objectives HAVE to be in your control and attainable. So setting a goal to “get cast in a sitcom by the end of the year” is a dream, because that’s up to other powers that be. Instead, I think objectives need to be focused on things you CAN do to provide you all the skills and exposure to make that dream occur. Maybe that’s networking and getting to know specific casting directors. Changing your management reps or agents. Or producing your own content so that you always have an updated and high quality reel. If you feel you’re missing someone and you can make a change – do it. But definitely don’t burn yourself out by setting an “objective” that simply isn’t up to you.
What has been the most important learning during your career?
Someone told me recently that being an actor or freelance filmmaker may mean your schedule is flexible but that this doesn’t mean you’re unemployed. What they were trying to say is that in the same way that anyone working a 9-5 has certain responsibilities and duties, artists have to be very disciplined about our own. It’s very easy to waste days away, and you simply can’t afford to do that, so setting strict benchmarks is a good way to measure your progress.
Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
I’m actually wrapping up post-production on my own Sci Fi short film, Pretty Bird, so I’m very excited to finally premiere it!
PROJECTS
ABOUT
Andrea Orta immersed herself in the world of dramatic arts from an early age, dedicated and passionate about bringing acclaim to Venezuela in the American film industry. Her journey began at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, an institution that has shaped some of the most iconic figures in theater and cinema, such as Judi Dench and Andrew Garfield. During her time in this venerable school, Andrea acquired the skills that would catapult her to success with a fundamental step in her artistic development being her participation in the National Youth Theater in England and various performances at the West End Greenwood Theatre. Since, she has set her sights for the big screen, perfecting her craft at the New York Film Academy. Her recent foray into the digital world has further brought her into the spotlight, acting for BuzzFeed, a popular entertainment company, and racking up over 15 million views on her videos. This exhibition consolidated her as an actress and prepared her for even more exciting projects with Pokémon and WBTV.