The thing is that faith without works is dead.You can have faith and believe that something's going to come to you, but if you put no work in, the faith is not going to just be like, let me just sit here and make it work.
Kari Bernhans is an award-winning actress, stuntwoman, and producer, playing roles in blockbusters like Black Panther and Avengers Endgame.And she's the banshee on the hit show Ultimate Tag.
She stunt doubles for some of the biggest names in the film business, and with a diverse set of skills that includes taekwondo, dance, and speaking six languages, her voice can also be heard in some huge games such as Spider-Man on PlayStation.
In addition to her work in entertainment, Carrie is a motivational speaker, brand influencer, and philanthropist.
She's previously joined us as one of the We Audition ones to watch at film festivals, and we've seen her continue to empower others through her travels, volunteer work, storytelling, relentless energy, and passion for life. Welcome to Carrie.
Go out.Write an email.Meet someone.Tell somebody you love their project.Be a human.Do human experiences.And whatever you do, you can't wait on it.Submit yourself.
Welcome to The Real Audition Show.Carrie Bernans, how are you doing?It's a joy to have you here.
Thank you.It's my pleasure to be here with both of you.
It's always great to see you.So listen, you've had a rollercoaster year, both professionally and personally, right?Tell us about that.
Wow, I don't know why I want to cry right now.It has been one of the craziest years of my life.And I'm like, God, what did I do to get a year like this?But you know what, sometimes years like this wakes you up.It wakes up a fire inside of you.
It makes you pivot on what truly matters.And yeah, I started this year getting hit by a car.Way to bring the new year in with a- Literally on New Year's Eve, right?New Year's Day.New Year's Day.1.30 in the morning, New York City.
A guy was drinking and driving and he was running from the police and he hit a total of 24 people, 12 cars, 12 people.I was, me and two of my friends happened to be one of like the last group of people he hit.
And basically in my, like how it worked for me is once he hit this food stand, I got like flew all the way back to the wall.The food stand fell on top of me.I got pinned down by a pole.
And it's going to sound really wild, nasty and crazy, but it cut the inside of my butt crack.And I'm laughing, but it's not funny.
Yeah, right.Not funny, but yeah.
I lost four of my teeth, cracked two other ones.I fractured my left foot and other parts of bones of my body.I have over 26 scars.Was in the hospital in New York City as well as in Atlanta, Georgia for seven, eight days.
And then I did a lot of in-home care, out-of-home care for really the last eight and a half, nine months.
And this was in Times Square, just off of Times Square, right?
Near Madison Square Garden, like 34th Street.
Near Madison Square Gardens.And I remember seeing that news and I remember hearing it and obviously like it's devastating.And equally, I thought if anyone can get through this and make lemonade out of the lemons, it's you.Like in some ways I was,
happy for you that it was you because you're just this resilient and you've always been that way, incredible human being that just turns these things into incredible opportunities.
But also just, you have this drive that you weren't gonna let that stop you.And now you're flourishing again, producing, got new shows on TV coming out, right?
It doesn't stop you.It doesn't stop me, you know what?And I'm just like over here, just crying. I think what you said was so, so right.
When I was sitting in the hospital and I remember on the second day in the hospital, they told my mom that I might die and they needed to do an emergency surgery.And I became like in a really dark place, right?
And I'm a, as you know, I'm a really positive person.I can talk a person off of a ledge that wants to commit suicide or whatever.I could talk a person out of a dark place.But at that moment, I was asking God, why me?Why is this?
But then for some reason on that third day, after coming out of surgery, although it was very difficult to even lay in the bed or even feel my backside or anything,
I was like, out of all the people that could have gotten hit, there was like an 80 year old woman.There was a younger child.There were so many other people that could have been affected and could have died.
But I'm thankful, like you said, God chose me.I'm a stunt woman, like out of all the people.I ain't never got hit by a car doing stunts, y'all, but I got hit by a car in real life.And you're right, I'm tough, I'm resilient.
One thing that God has shown me through my childhood is that I have always been a warrior.I have survived, you know, homelessness, poverty, crazy situations in life.And if I can make it out of those situations, I can make it out of this.
Now, this was more physical. but it was also very mental.
Because even when you're in the physical and you're healing, mentally you can dig yourself out and tell your body that you're gonna be better, you're gonna be fine, you are going to heal, you are going to prosper, you are going to...
you're going to come back better than you were.Even if you are imping, you know, words have power.And eventually I started digging myself out of a dark place.
It was hard, but... Have you ever imagined yourself in that scenario from your stunt work?Have you ever imagined the worst that could happen if you're about to do a motorcycle jump over a car?
That's a possibility being in hospital for eight days and nearly dying.
Do you think you managed?
You know what?Honestly, when I, it's so crazy when I do stunts, I'm not scared.I don't know.I, everything is so calculated for me and I, I'm a person that visualize and see everything.
Um, and if my makeup is bad, sorry, people that's watching this, it's okay. Sometimes that's what happens, but I visualize things, I calculate things, I prepare, I rehearse with the stunt coordinator.
If I don't feel confident or comfortable about something before I do it, I won't do it because I'm not willing to jeopardize my life or the life and expense of others and the set and the production.
If I need to say, stop for a minute, let me talk to the stunt coordinator or the second unit director and to just pivot on this and make sure it's as safe as possible, I do that.
So even when I do the craziest of stunts, getting thrown out of a window or pushed off a roof backwards, 40, 50, 60 feet in the air, or being flung into the air on nope at 80 feet.
All this stuff could be really dangerous real quick, but at the same time, it was all calculated.I already knew it was going to be fine.I saw myself afterwards.I visualized me sitting, chilling, being like, oh, that's a great movie.
And it always did that.This was just unexpected.
And you've always been amazing with the self-talk.Oh, I feel like you have.And just that incredible positivity and drive that you have.Ever since I've met you, I remember actually meeting you on a street outside an audition.
Uh, we've both been in the same, same building for an audition and your immediate positivity shines through on the first meeting of you to when we see you on the screen to when I see you in a van, you're always uplifting.
I think on that day or a couple of days afterwards.And you said, we were talking about this idea of ones to watch and, and, and maybe it might be even before that, but Dan's like, I've met this most amazing person.She's going to be a future star.
And that was very early in your career, actually.Do you remember that?
Yeah, I do.I do.And it was, you know, talking of that, so we had this program, The Ones to Watch, and Carrie was one of the first ones to watch we had.And it was exactly that.
It's like, who do we see in our We Audition network that literally has A-list potential and is uplifting and inspiring to other people all the time.And you just have that in droves, even through these dark periods.It's incredible.
And that's why I wanted to bring you on the show as well, is because having gone through that so recently, and you pick yourself up and you're here looking amazing and on fire again, like with the work that you're doing.
I think it's going to be incredibly inspiring to anyone that might be going through a little bit of trouble or a dark place to say, look, whatever you're going through, there's some light at the end of the tunnel.In fact, there's a bright light.
What do you say to those people that are feeling like, their career's not going the right way or they, you know, they, they might've got dropped by the agent.
Absolutely.I have a lot to say to it.First off, I want to say Richard and Darren, you both are like absolutely amazing human beings.My God, I am so grateful.
And I always said this in prayers, like, I'm so grateful that I have, God put me on a path to run into you.You both have unique light. I have more little favoritism over Darren because I've had more interaction with him.
But Richard, you are amazing too.Not only you're an amazing actor, father, but you are an amazing person.I will say that.And you're handsome as hell.Okay.
But no, Darren, I mean, Darren, you have that like- He is the handsome one between- Hey, no, both of you are handsome.You know, you are, cause I like redheads too.Oh God.But I want to say thank you all.
I don't want to like, just like prance over the ones to watch.We can talk about it more later, but it was absolutely like that alone, the ones to watch really truly like,
me and every individual that got to participate in that, we were exposed to things that we were not exposed to.
And several things that happened in my childhood, when you're raised with like, you have a teenage mom and things have happened and you think like you were dealt a crazy hand of cards of life.
when I went through organizations that showed me more than the street that I lived on, the neighborhoods I lived within, or even the stuff I had access to, it made me dream bigger.And the ones to watch made me dream bigger.
So because of you all, I have expanded even more.I've given, I've had more impact on this earth in a direct effect because of y'all.
So I just wanna say thank you both because y'all have truly like influenced me to do incredible things and just like took me places that I didn't have access to at that time.So I want to say thank you.
Thank you for that.Just to explain to anyone that's watching that doesn't know what that program was.It was a couple of years ago.We, we really believe in the power of film festivals and relationship building and being in the right place.
And as anyone that listens to this regularly knows, we do events around the world at the big film festivals.But for that time period, we were picking ones to watch talent and we were taking a group of talented rising people.
So it wasn't at the top of their game yet, but they were just a bit, a step down, I would say.
Future A-list we named it.
And basically the idea was to give a group of people a platform at these major festivals like Cannes and Sundance and Comic-Con to say, look, hey, don't wait until you're the star of the film that's playing there.
Go and make those relationships happen.We supported that and put everybody in a place where we can show them what we've seen for years.These festivals are a breeding ground for great ideas. they're breeding ground for collaboration.
And by going to these environments where top people hang out, you will elevate.Do you have any stories of success from that can or that Sundance that you came to?
Yeah, I have stories and success.Anyone that's watching this is like, well, I need to air the inspiration.Don't worry.We're going to come back to the inspiration if you're in a dark spot.Okay.I got you.
For sure, but a lot of success came from those festivals.I mean, God, I love our Sundance house was amazing.Our Kent house was amazing.Comic Con house was amazing.I have been very blessed.
I've connected with so many filmmakers and so many cast and directors that literally have cast me on projects that I got to film. It's a film called I think Platform with BJ Novick as the director, which I met one of the casting directors.
I believe it was either at Sundance or at Cannes.And through that connection, I was able to get an audition, secure the audition and go to New Orleans and film that project.I met like an agent that is now my agent. from one of the festivals as well.
I went on to work on, while I was in Cannes, France, at the house, I worked with Michael Duff on his project in France.And that was incredible. I mean, there was so it was a breeding ground, like Darren said, for opportunities.
These film festivals not only spark creativity, but it gives you an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, meet other people that are like you and just kind of like get your feet wet more and get you inspired.
And I recently went to TIFF, actually.One of my amazing producer friends, Rob Harris, He produced the Nutcracker, which just got bought by Hulu.You can see it on Deadline.
And he gave me the A to Z on that process of producing that film, invited me to TIFF, They know I didn't have that much money, got hit by a car, helped me take care of some of the stuff, and now I'm some weird shit, you know what I mean, y'all?
Because I don't want people to be like, she out there selling, nah, I ain't selling nothing but kindness, okay?And then I got to go on the red carpet and
I was debating if I should go or not, but I'm so grateful I went because I have been in a slump these last nine months.I have been to physical therapy three times a week.
I have been literally to, I don't know, more than a couple hundred plus doctor's appointments. And it's been a lot, you know?And I kind of went back and I was like, hold up, what really makes me happy?
I remember when I went with We Audition, we did Sundance, and I remember the people I met, and I remember Cannes, and I remember the people I met, and I was just like, I've been to TIFF, and I was like, let me go back to TIFF, because it's the most recent festival, and dang, now I'm like in consideration for a big action film, which I can't say
Cause I don't want to put on the record right now, but like so many incredible things just came out of that.
So all I can tell you, if you have an opportunity to go to a film festival and if you get an opportunity to be a part of We Audition or wants to watch, or even to just like come to a We Audition event, do not think twice.Go, go.
I appreciate you saying that because, you know, we see people come from all over the world to these events and- People fly in.People fly in.At every event we have now, we get people flying from other countries.And you know what?
I think when I meet someone that says that, I'm just like, they are on a path to success.And I'm not saying that in an egotistical way because they're coming to our event.
I'm just like, they take, they're taking an opportunity and they're running with it and they're committing to it and they are going to get something good out of that.It's just, it's just, you can't, sit back in this industry.
You can't.And when you go to these festivals and you go to these events, you need to like challenge yourself.Some people are like, what's the word?Uh, some people are outgoing.
The other people are inner flower, introverted, introverted.
Okay.You introverts.It's okay.Cause I get it.Sometimes I want to be an introvert, put out, cover myself with a cover and stay in home.But when you go to these events, even if you don't feel like it, tell yourself,
I ain't leaving until I talk to five people I don't know, get to know what they do, and they gonna know what I do.
And even if that turns into a relationship or not, what it does, it puts you under pressure to learn how to be more confident in rooms that are full of people you don't know, You're going to do that on set all day long, especially if you're an actor.
You're going to be the center of attention, 100 plus people around you to support the scene.And you can't have that fear.So it gives you that that practice there.But it also gives you an opportunity to like just connect with new people and
It challenges yourself.So you make yourself, give yourself homework, give yourself an activity to do so you don't feel that that event was a wash for you because you kind of sat around and was like, oh, I'm not sure.You never know who's in the room.
When I was just in Toronto, oh my God, I went to this Focus Future event.It was in this like kind of rundown looking shabby bar. I'm sorry, bar owner, if you watched it.
It was deliberately shabby.
It was, but y'all, everybody was there.All the partners of all the, the UTA, the WME, the CAA, everybody was there.And these are people I'm talking to people that I'm like, Oh, do you have a film at the festival?I got 14 films at the festival.
I'm like, okay, so I'm Carrie.But my thing is, you never know who you're talking to.And these people, sometimes they looking cool as heck.They're in sneakers, they're in jeans.You don't know who got money, who don't.
The person that look like the fanciest may be the brokest.You just really don't know.So the thing is, don't judge a book by its cover.Get to know new people and just get out of your comfort zone.
And then you know what, go back home and get back in your comfort zone if you want to, but at least you gave yourself an assignment.At least you came out with something and you're five up versus in the neutral place you started.
Right, you put yourself in the mix really.And you know, listen, it is okay if you're introverted, it is okay if you're shy, right?
But as actors, we have to, you know, we're putting ourselves out there for the work and part of the work is the business.And it's not to say that you'll never be successful if you don't do the exterior business. but that is a lot of it.
I've found- Yeah, show business.
Right, and a lot of people forget that and they'll quote that one person that, well, that person just stayed in their room and went to acting class and didn't.Yeah, but you can always give the anomaly.
There's always someone out there that you can say, you know, won the lottery.
But a lot of the time this is a relationship business and that's how you build relationships.
Very much a relationship business.I mean, all day, like it's so crazy.I was just talking about this.
Yesterday, I'm trying to remember, oh, wow, I can't even say this on record, but all I'm going to say is like, everything is about not only who do you know, but who knows you and who's willing to refer you, who's willing to talk game about you in the room that you've never been in before.
You need people like that.My prayer I give to God all the time is like, God, please let people be advocating on my behalf, behind my back, saying great things about me, saying like, yes, why not Carrie?You need her.
Let people talk good about me in rooms I haven't even walked in before.So when I walk in, people want to work with you.That's great advice. Yeah.
Someone's always going to have to put your name forward, whether that's the casting director or the producer to the director or the director to the producer.You, you're always going to have to have multiple people say yes.
Or confirm, you know, when, when you're in a, in a discussion around a table and someone's like, I'm thinking of this person to have five hands go and go, ah, she's great. Then you go, ah, I didn't know her, but okay.
There's five people that said she's great, which is, she's good.Yeah.I always think of that phrase, you know, that it's not what you know, it's who you know.I go one step further.It's not what you know, and it's not who you know.
It's what, who knows you knows what about you.
Right.They have to know who you are and what you do.You knowing them ain't good enough.
It's not, no, that's why you need to develop a relationship.Get beyond just the mere, you know, level.And also we have to remember that people are human.I think that so often people are like, oh, I'm so scared because this is so-and-so.
Like, yes, meet them, tell them.Also, people like to be complimented.They like to know you've seen their work.They like to know, like if I was talking to Hulu exec, I would like,
Y'all put out the last four shows, whoever made that decision, way to go.They deserve a raise.Because those shows, they moved me, driven me to do X, Y, Z. And they're like, oh, thank you so much.I was a part of that decision.
Or they could be like, I completely agree.And they can just say, that was a nice response.And then you can ask people, You got kids, ask if they got kids.Like, oh man, my son is at home.Do you have any children?
They're like, oh my God, we have commonality.Or you can say like, they're drinking on something.Oh, what are you having to drink tonight?Oh, I'll have tequila.Oh, my favorite tequila brand is this.Have you tried it?Blah.
Or have you ever been to Mexico?You got to go try it.Blah, blah, blah.You know, just come off with these like organic conversations.And I know not everybody can hop on and do it right away, but it's okay.It's called practice.
Well, but also be authentic, right?Because what we're talking about here is that you're not like arbitrarily talking about the weather, but also you're not going in with an agenda to get something out of it.
I remember one of them, I went to South by Southwest one year and I was in a hotel that was one of the main festival hotels and I was staying somewhere on a high floor. And in the elevator, I got in the elevator and I had some ribs, a bag of ribs.
And going down this elevator in the 35 floors, whatever it was, 35 seconds or whatever, the woman that was in the elevator with me was asking me about the ribs and if I know where it's good to eat and whatever.
And as she got out, she said, are you here for the festival?I was like, yeah, what do you do?I'm an actor.She said, oh, have you?I said, what about you?She says, I work for Amazon. and I'd just done an Amazon show.
And I said, oh, I was on one of your shows.She goes, I know which one actually.Quick, take my card, come to our event tomorrow night.The whole elevator, we just talked about ribs.The actual work bit was three and a half seconds.
Well, they hooked me up with the event the next night.And during that event, I met a casting director that I then went in for an audition for a different show.And it's amazing.You wouldn't think that that conversation could have gone there.
It's always, always worthwhile.It talks about you helping other people as well.You have CBC Foundation.Thank you.
Tell us about that because you know, you don't just stop helping people in the entertainment industry.You give them back to your community as well, right?
Absolutely.I mean, that's like my purpose of being here on this earth is to not, it's, it's bigger than me.I think everybody has to realize that in life at one point or another, even if you get hit by a car,
And I hope you don't get hit by a car, let me say that.But it's bigger than you and it's bigger than me.My nonprofit, CBC Foundation, we have helped over 1,200 families in the last six years.
These families are more in the Memphis community, some in the Los Angeles community.Most of them are children and their families that's living on or below the poverty line. I wanted to give back to children that grew up similar to how I did.
My mom worked two, three jobs to make ends meet.I saw how much she struggled.I also saw how much she grind and worked hard for us.She really instilled in us like some really core values.She also showed us how to make
$0.10 to $10 to $100 stretch in a span of a month, two months or whatever.She taught us how to have faith and believe even when we didn't have much.
And one of the things I wanted to do was create something like my foundation that gives back to children like me.So like I said, 1,200 families the past six years, we do financial literacy workshops, reading literacy workshops, comprehension.
We work on housing initiatives. finding access to health care, connecting them with providers in the area to making sure that they have the necessary things in order to be successful in life.
And then we also partner them with other organizations to expose them to more.So like a couple of our kids were a part of the Youth About Business program.They were able to go to New York City.
They were able to go to Vanderbilt campus, learn about the world of business. It was phenomenal.It changed these children's life.
The biggest thing that I wanted to do was to make sure that kids knew that there was a world outside of the streets that they live within.
Because so often you can become narrow-minded based on only what you've experienced and what you've gone through.And when you're in such a struggle or kind of a rat race of life,
It's like, yeah, you got 10 more dollars, more than you had the day before, but that only goes so far.It's like, how can we expose them to more?
How can we show them that there's more out there so they can dream bigger and then ultimately give back to other people that are like them?And kind of like each one teach one, each one reach one.
How do we just keep lifting these kids up, exposing them, inspiring them?
And that's involved, hasn't it?Because it started out with you doing a kind of Christmas dash, right?
Similar to what you won when you were a kid.Yeah, I did.I had, when I was 12 years old, I was surprised with a surprise shopping spree from Target.And I think it was like a football player associated with them.I couldn't believe it.
I remember dropping to my knees, crying.It was $500, more money than I ever seen in my entire life. And I remember buying everything for myself, for my mom, friends.I just couldn't believe it.
And I knew at that moment I wanted to do something like that again.And we started our first year with CBC.And I was like, the holidays is coming up.I didn't have much money.I had just did Black Panther.
But I remember when I did Black Panther, I made like, I don't know, 15, 20,000 in like a month.It was great, hallelujah.But I was on, I had some debt, y'all, because I had put a lot of stuff on credit cards.I was like-
So many of us did, especially starting out in this career.
I was trying to figure everything out, but then I was just like, no, you know what?I was like, even if I could take 5,000 in this money to just give back to some kids.
So then I connected with a friend of mine, Candace Renee Rice, that did a show called Floribama Shore.And I was like, look, girl, we got to help some kids.So we decided to start with 10 kids in the Memphis community.
We got some teachers to nominate them to find like the poorest of kids that needed some inspiration and a holiday spirit.And then we like partnered up with the Neighborhood Christian Center that provided transportation.
And we had got partnered up with Chick-fil-A that gave them like breakfast sandwiches.We went to Target, and then we were like, we got a surprise for you.And then we gave them a $500 shopping spree.
Now, the shopping spree amount has changed over the years because we have had, I think last year it was like 150 kids, year before it was maybe 175.But, you know, the more kids, depends on how much money you raise with how much you can do.
But it was phenomenal, though.The impact God, y'all, these kids literally be buying, some of them bought laptops with their stuff, apply for colleges, they're now in college.Like in six years, so much can change.
The kids can go from middle school to high school, high school to college.We all have the opportunity to give back and make a difference.And I need to say, you don't need a lot of money to do it.You can do it with nothing.
Just your time and energy and volunteering and your effort to show up and to just try to make someone's day better. If you gotta start there, start there.
If you got $10 and can donate it to an organization that's already doing something that you wanna impact the lives of, do that.But whatever you do, don't do anything.
When I see some people just standing by and saying, oh, I'll do it when I'm rich, I'll do it when I got this.I'm like, you're missing the true meaning of life.When you see the smiles on these faces, everything changes.
And then you see the impact, it's crazy.
Well done.That's all I can say really, because it's really moving and it's a big deal and it's an inspiration to all of us.Yeah.
How, how do you have the time to do that, Carrie?I mean, you're a stunt woman, you're an actress.You, you, you just mentioned all these programs.And a parent.And a parent.I mean, how do you, how do you manage your time?
Oh, that's a great question.Wow.You know, I've been living between the East Coast and the West Coast, but I just moved back to the West Coast.Yes.And I would say the East Coast, though, we start real early there.
And but, you know, I get up really early, I get up around 6 a.m.and I go to sleep maybe around 11 every day, probably.But I mean, we all have the same 24 hours in a day.It's just about how do we like best manage our schedules.
And I hate to say it, but I mean, I'm a big stickler for putting everything on my calendar.I set timers for everything.I give myself like, this is the goal I want to reach within the hour.
And I will set like 15 minute increments of saying, I need to complete this by 15 minutes.And I will have my a timer running, I put some music in the background if I can and I'll just stay focused and get on it.
And sometimes even when I wasn't focused or felt like I couldn't do something effectively, you call somebody and put them on Zoom with you and then have them do work while you do work.
Like an accountability partner.
Accountability partner.I have accountability group that I've been running for the last four years.
You've been running that as well?Yes.There are some AI Carrie twins out there somewhere.
Every Monday.Every Monday for the past four years.And it narrowed down from like 20 people.We only have, it's four of us left.
It's natural selection though, isn't it?
Would you advise actors out there to have some kind of accountability or people in their network to support them or should they do this stuff alone?
Oh no, it's a quote that I think they said, alone you can go faster, but together you can go further.And if you wanna go further in your career, you definitely don't wanna do it alone.The other thing that you said, how do I do this?
It's because the same advice I give to actors is I have a team.I don't do this, Excuse me.I don't do this by myself.I have a vice president, my nonprofit.I have people that serve on my board.I have other people that volunteer and help me out.
And when I do get stressed out or I'm thinking I got too much going on, I realize and I reassess like everything's going on.I prioritize what's the most important thing to get done now. and I take moments and breaks.
And it took me a while to realize that because sometimes I was burning myself too thin and doing way too much.But then once it came to my mind, I was more productive when I chose the things that really mattered the most.
And if I can make it to something or can do something else, and I had the time, I would do it later, but not make that commitment early on.For actors, I would say a team is everything.You need your agents, you need your managers.
Right now, I'm in a transition though. seeking new management, but I have a lot of potential people.I'm not in a rush to do it because I want to make sure the fit is perfect for my team and what I have going on in my life.
And how will you do that?That process for anyone that's also going through that, maybe they want their first manager.
What's your process for getting a manager?
There are several processes.I think it depends on what part of your career you're at, honestly, because I think early on it was a process of me making sure that I had my reel together.I had all my materials together.I had what I needed to access.
Do I even need a manager?I have a career that needs to be managed, you know?I do voiceovers.I do stunts.I do acting.I do producing.
I know I needed someone that is on that 360 spectrum that could support everything, and that they also had the expertise to take me where I want to go.
When I first started, and I got my first few managers, which is crazy because some people only have one manager their whole career.I know I've had three, but it's okay.We have good relationships still. I look at what do they see?
I want to know what is their vision they have for my career and make sure it aligns with the vision I have for my career.And if they kind of see me on a lower totem pole, we know there might not be an alignment.
If they see me on a higher totem pole beyond me, there may be some alignment.But also, are they connected?Do they get out?Do they meet people?If I'm not there, then my manager should be there advocating on my behalf.
You want to make sure that these people have the right connections and opportunities for where you want to go.I mean, people can submit via websites.They can meet people in person.
I have a Soho House membership, so randomly I sometimes meet people there.
That's funny.I actually had a manager, my first manager in Hollywood I met over dinner at Soho House.
Through my friends, my friend was being managed by them as well.
But it's also interesting you saying about the managers being out and about because whenever I'm at a film festival or even our audition events, there's certain agents and managers and, and, uh, talent reps that come to our events.
And I always look at them, but you are working for your clients.You are out there meeting the people and that's the clients that are with them are blessed because, because that is, you know, they're in, in the mix.
Yeah.If you'd like to join the We Audition community, go to weaudition.com slash show to get 25% off.Now back to the show.
Yeah, it's important.I think your team needs to be out there.The thing too, people are like, oh, I don't need an agent.No, you need an agent.Yes, you do.
Your agent needs to be submitting for you because you can't submit for yourself on the bigger projects.They all go through a breakdown services.They all go through back channels.
People, casting directors send out sometimes wide net emails only to the agent saying, hey, emergency, I'm looking for somebody that can be on set tomorrow.Send me offer only, reels only. They're only going to choose the absolute best.
Like, you're not going to get that.I'm sorry to tell you.You need a team.You need an agent.You need.
Eventually, you need management and then eventually you need PR, which I think is a good way to pivot this conversation is I think so many people I've met, like I've been very blessed and fortunate in my career, and I'm not even halfway to where I'm going to be.
But I have decided to take the opportunity at hand and to get PR and press early on, even when I had a smaller positioning in the film.
It didn't mean that I wasn't in the film, but when people sometimes they get on these really big shows, they get these guest stars, they get these recurring series regular. supporting lead roles in film.And sometimes it's like, oh, it's my first one.
I don't really know if I should get a PR.Yes, you should.Yes, you should.In my opinion, you got to take the iron while it's hot or you're not going to cook the food.You can't cook fish. on just a regular cold iron, okay?
And your career needs a little sizzle and popping.People are not going to know you, the world, unless the film just blows up, which the film might blow up and they start my Googling you and it's great.
But for really to like take advantage of the wide net of opportunity that the world offers through you getting the right press and publicity around it, if you have a role worth talking about.And I feel bad to say that.
I mean, several ways through recommendation from other people, through, you know, Google searches, going on IMDB, seeing who's who's the PR in this situation.But
Right.Because there can be bad PRs out there, and part of the problem with that industry is they can't guarantee you press.I think recommendation is the best.That's why it's important to build a network of actors.
You can even ask that on We Audition.You could go up and find another actor as a reader on We Audition and say, tell me about PR.Do you have any you recommend?If it's in a market that you don't know about.
Absolutely.Use the audition as an opportunity to meet people and get to know actors on levels that you want to go to.It's a direct line of communication.And even if it costs $15 to leave them a nice gratuity tip, it's okay.
Because I also, I hate to say this, but I hate when people text me and say they want to pick my brain.Like, unless I've known you for a while,
I really have to be convinced that I'm gonna go take 15, 20, it's usually longer than 15 minutes, because it takes 15 minutes to get to the place.
So 30 minutes to sit down and have coffee with someone, unless I'm really convinced that I really want to have coffee with you, or I just have the time on my hand, I don't want you to pick my brain.
But if you say, hey, I would like to take you to lunch, because I want to learn more about your career and tell you about mine, I'll be more inclined, because guess what?I'm going to eat lunch today. So if you want to take me to lunch, fine.
I'm going to eat lunch regardless.And we want to talk over lunch while we eat.I'm open to that.
Carrie's lunch schedule is about to get really busy.So I recommend you take on another assistant right now.
I feel bad because I know some people are going to be like, that's so mean.Oh my God, you're so bougie.No, I'm not bougie.
It's just that- No, it's not at all.It's about respecting time.I mean, you have only, as you said earlier, we all have the same amount of hours in a day and equally you only have so many hours in a day and that time is valuable.
And you know, I always think if somebody, I personally hate the phrase picking your brain.It sounds so aggressive. But any kind of advice sharing, it should be collaborative as well.
And, you know, if you are reaching out to somebody asking them to spend some time with you and you don't know them, I think always, you know, think about what you can offer them as well.
There's the founder of Lululemon.He's really interesting.I don't know if it's real.I've not done it myself, but I used to live in Vancouver and there's a very aggressive hike called the grouse grind.It's like a straight up, it takes some doing.
And apparently the folklore is he will meet anyone for a meeting as long as they do the grouse grind with him.He's like, I do it every morning.If you can keep up with me, you can chat to me.
And I'm like, it's interesting because what they're saying as well is if you're willing to put the effort in and I'm willing to give my advice.
Exactly.Oh my God.And this is exactly what I say.Cause people like, when I say I have so many messages and no offense to the people that send me the message, send me messages.I want to help.I really do.
And I've helped so many people throughout my career.But my thing is, is if I give you something to say, like do, then if you don't take that action and do it, I'm sorry.
My hands are off the, like, I'm not going to continue to help you or give you advice if I know you're not a person that applies the advice.
I'm a person that immediately, someone tells me something, they give me advice about something, I immediately go run for it.Somebody tell me like, this is my email.I would love to connect with you.
You better believe within 15 minutes, they're going to have an email.Even if we're at the same event, I have to go to the back and send an email just to say, we just met at this event.It was such a pleasure meeting you.
I'm looking forward to connecting again soon.Even if I just send it off then, I'm not saying you got to do it within 15 minutes, but same day, next day, just be reasonable.
My thing is, is that people that drag their feet and think that they reach out two months later or three months later or whatever, you're missing like you're,
You're just not operating at the same level, are you?
There's something I've noticed in my career as both like an actor or producer or business person.
One time when I was selling a film, when you connect with top people at their game, whether it's business people, film producers, actors, you know what, they're on top of it.They're the first replies you get.
And the other thing I noticed is they're always really concise. I've had emails back from Richard Branson, I've had emails back from heads of studios.They'll reply quickly and concisely.
One line, and here's the other thing I took from it that I try and put into my stuff is, they will say something nice and pleasantry, they'll tell you something about them.They'll ask you something about you and it will be done in like a sentence.
You know, uh, you know, it'd be like, Oh, Hey, Hey Richard, hope the kids are well and Barbados is great.I'm in the middle of producing this film.Here's the answer to your question.
And you go, this is incredibly concise.And if those people can do that at their level, then the person coming up sure as hell can.
Absolutely.And you know, it does take a bit of an art to get to the really conciseness, but definitely don't do the latter of sending a whole chapter of a book.Now, there is a medium place, right?
Especially when you want to display a message and you don't know how to get it across, but find the best way to get her across with
the least number of words, but as, you know, thoughtful and intentional and to the point as possible, you know, I think that's important.Oh, I love it.Yes.Kind brevity.
You see what I did there?I made it brief as well.Kind brevity.
I want to talk about connections just quickly as well.And like, Your stunt work, do you do that with new connections?Do you get submitted for that?Or is that part of a team that you communicate with all the time?How does that come about?
And are you still doing it?Are you going to do it in the future?Are you going to do it in the future?
Oh, that's a good question.So I will just tell you, because I know a lot of people wonder, how do you get into stunts?Stunts, honestly, is such a tight-knit community that it's based off of referrals.I haven't submitted to a stunt job in years.
Like, majority of the work that I've gotten has been straight word of mouth or referral. Maybe every now and then a coordinator reach out and say, hey, the director is looking for submissions on this.I thought about you.
I'm only considering three people.Can you just send me a selfie right quick so I know how you look?Send me the recent headshot you have.And oh, this one has some acting with it.So if you got a real, send that to me, too.
Or sometimes they might be like, hey, they're looking for someone that is really good with wire work at this, like going, I don't know, a hundred feet in the air.Is that something you're comfortable with?
I'm like, yeah, I'm something I'm comfortable with.Put my name in the pot and then, you know, I'm considered for it.
Early on, I think that it's a mindset of getting to know as many stunt coordinators as possible because the industry is so word of mouth and so referral based only based on like
who people know, sometimes they do use websites like stuntpoc.com or stuntplayers.com or istunt.com and they might look for people, but that's only kind of if they really can't find the people based in the network they already have.
So if you're a new stunt person hoping to break in and you have a really good skillset, you need to be number one, really, really good at something and then you need to be like good at other things.
And because I'm a 360, I ride motorcycles, I do wire work, I have advanced master diving and diving scuba.Shoot, I do a whole lot of stuff, you know what I mean?
So I've- Skiing, snowboarding.
I can ski, I can snowboard.I'm not an expert at it though, right?I mean, I've done it maybe like 15 times, but I mean, I feel comfortable if it's a small slope.
If it's big, I'm going to refer someone else because I also don't take jobs that I'm not 100% comfortable or sure about because I don't want to show up on a day and look like shit, okay?
And you've doubled for people as well sometimes, don't you?Do you need to look like the person?Because you've doubled for Mel Liburd who's been on this. podcast.
Oh my God.Mel.Yes.I do remember.I watched your episode and she was in a Will Smith's that film.Oh my God.I hope I'm in this.She doubled for her. I didn't double for her on Bad Boys, I doubled for her on The Idol.
Oh, on the, yeah, The Thing of the Weekend.
Yeah, when she was pregnant.
We're not to take away from this episode guys, but that's also a great episode.So if you're listening after this one, scroll back right to the start and you'll see Mel's episodes.It was the pilot episode of the show and it's fantastic.
Yeah, I love Mel.Mel is amazing and so sweet and she's British.She likes to cook potatoes.She doesn't look at milky potatoes, you know what I mean? You're a British girl.Okay, that was really bad actually.Y'all take that from me.
How much do you need to look like this person you're doubling?
Um, that's a good question.So, okay.Well, we don't like to do blackface in this industry.That was a thing of the past.So if you're white trying to be black, we ain't gonna work.
Now, if you are a black girl and that girl happens to be lighter skin, cause Mel is definitely lighter than me, but you have a skill set of what they need and the height and weight matches.Sometimes it'll be an opportunity.
You can still double someone.
So it's the physicality that needs to match, not your face, it needs the body.
Yes, physicality is a big part of it, because they want to make sure, more than anything, they would like to match skin tone and physicality, like height, weight.
This is for on-screen double, not stand-in.
Yes, and stand-ins are completely different than stunt doubles.Stand-ins, they're making $200 a day, usually.That's not dangerous, though.
They're standing there being lit.
Well, that's mainly for lighting and set up, isn't it?
You're not seen on screen, but you're actually seen on screen as that character, as that person.
Absolutely.As that person in stunt doubles. Uh-huh, yeah.They're making anywhere between, you know, the regular costar rate of the $1,046 a day for eight hours or the weekly rate, whatever, $4,000 or $5,000 it is.
Or unless if it's a low budget project, then they might be making, you know, $200,000, $300,000.But those are just dependent on every project, of course.But yeah, it's about physicality, honestly.And then
Overall, to find the right stunt double is about the skill set of what they're looking for.Not everyone can drive a car like Breonna Lynch.That's one of my friends.I drive cars.I drove a stick in Columbia on an Apple TV show.
It was actually a right side driving left hand stick.
Like a British car.It was a British car.And we call that manual in England.
Everyone drives manual in England.I drove a manual car, you know what I mean?It was a left stick or you know what you said exactly.And I did quite well actually.I was like, I drove a stick for a while and that was a skillset.
Not a lot of people were available or could do it. And it was actually for my friend, Alexis Louder, that needs to come on this show.She's amazing.That girl led in so many movies, Tomorrow War, that Christmas movie, another Chris Pratt show.
She's done a lot.But I stunt doubled for her multiple times.She's referred me.That's the other thing.Actors can refer you.
Yeah.Yeah.And did you stand out for Letitia Wright as well?
Letitia Wright.Yup.And Black Panther.And Wakanda Forever.
And we just had an agent on the show, Femi Oguns.
Oh, and I love Femi.Yeah.Yeah.
So his episode just dropped recently.So yeah.
I gotta check out Femi's episode.Oh my goodness.
That's cool.I mean, and Black Panther, what a film to work on.
What a film to work on.Black Panther changed my life.Bing and Dora Milaje cutting my hair, 16 inches of that, and to Bawd, and then working on Avengers right after with Captain America and everybody like that.It was quite amazing.
I look back and I'm just like, wow, I worked on Marvel's Luke Cage prior to doing Black Panther, which was phenomenal too, filming that in New York City.But you know, Marvel just moved to your city, y'all city, London.So crazy. So bring it back.
Did that feel like a really key change in your career?When you, when Black Panther came out, I would see the pictures of you places.I'd see you doing all the red carpets.Was that, was that a big difference?
That changed my life.Black Panther, Wakanda forever. two different films, but Wakanda forever, we say that in Black Panther.
We should be doing this right now, shouldn't we?
Exactly, yes.It changed my life in more ways than one, of course.Not only did my outside appearance change and I had to rebuild of what I felt beauty was, because some days I was like, oh my God, I'm bald.And then some days I was just like, I'm bald.
But yeah, it elevated my career, being a dorm elage, and it gave me access to a whole lot more.Like I have a picture with the cast if you go on Getty and I need to frame it.It's so nice.
And working with Chadwick Boseman and just like, honestly, it just gave me access.
Like we broke so many records, like we changed the history of what people, how people saw themselves on screen, what black films can do, black films centered around Africa could do.It, God, I love Black Panther.I'm so thankful for Black Panther.
I remember getting the call at six o'clock in the morning, L.A.time.And it was funny because it's 9 a.m.Atlanta time from an Atlanta phone number.And I wake up like, who's calling me?Like, hello.And they're like, hey, blah, blah, blah.
This is from Motherland.That was the key word for Black Panther.
Oh, so it had one of those secret titles.Did you know what it was at that time?
No, I thought this was for Black Lightning, honestly, when they called, because I was up for a role in Black Lightning.And I remember them saying something like, I was like, motherland, and then they're like, black, blah, blah.
And I was like, oh, Black Lightning.And I guess they didn't hear me say that, but they said something like, are you willing to shave your head bald?And I was just like, Huh?For this role?I set up for a national commercial right now.
I think I said that.I was so naive, y'all.I was like, this is my first year in L.A., honestly.My whole life changed.And I remember them saying, Well, Ryan Coogler is really interested in you.
At the time, I remember Ryan Coogler's name and I remember Fruitvale Station, but I, for some reason, never put Black Panther and Ryan together for a moment.
Very different films, aren't they?
Completely different films.And I was just like, I said, hold up, what?They said, Ryan Coogler chose just a few girls they want to add on as doors in the film.Would you be interested?And I remember I woke up and was like, hold up.
This is for Black Panther?Yeah, but the name is Motherland."I was like, oh my God, and they want me to shave my head bald?And he's like, yeah, you have to shave your head bald, but are you willing to do it?
I was like, can you give me a few hours to think about it?And I asked him that, yo, this is six in the morning.And he said, yeah, sure.And I remember hanging up.
And I'm over here, just like new to Hollywood, not knowing that if you, you kind of got to make a decision right away.I went to Mike Chad.Mike Chad is like one of my mentors.
He also is a Taekwondo instructor that is like, he's a former Power Ranger, like phenomenal man.
I remember- Oh yeah, I've met him.He's really, really lovely.He's the guy that looks 40 years younger than he is.We saw him in Comic-Con.We're on the roof.
Yes, we did.Lovely guy.Lovely guy.
Yeah, I went to Mike and I was like about to do my taekwondo class and I said, hey, I got a call for this Marvel project, like Black Panther, but they want me to shave my head bald, but I'm on a bell for like this national and I don't know what to do.
And he was just like, wait, wait, wait, wait, stop the class. Class, class, class.If you have an opportunity to be a part of a Marvel project and all you have to do is shave your head bald to be in it, how many of you would do it?
And so many people raised their hands.He says, how long ago was this?I was like three hours ago.He said,
Get out of the room and speak to everybody.What are you doing?
He says, call them.Do you not know how this industry works?The door of opportunity opens and closes.They may have already picked someone else.And I was just like, oh my God.I was so nervous.I called them.
I'm nervous hearing this right now.
I was like, OK.I called them back.I was like, hi, this is Keri.Yeah, Keri, I know.And I was like, hey.
I was like, look, I said, I know.
I said, I'm still really, really interested in being a part of Marvel's Black Panther or Motherland.I said, is there any way like I can shave my head right now?And they said, they said, don't worry.
Look, Ryan was really particular about the people he chose and they still want you.So if you're willing to shave your head bald, I'll let them know and I can call you back.They let them know I got a call back an hour.
They told me that they're going to call me back later that day to arrange the, Arrange your transportation."And I was just like, oh my God, I'm shaving my head while I'm doing this.I'm going to be a part of Black Panther.I just couldn't believe it.
And I remember them telling me I need to make sure they wanted me to send them some Bo Staff stuff.So I had to work on my Bo Staff skills some more.And I just couldn't believe it.But I remember later on, y'all, at that time I was driving Uber.
Cause I needed a flexible job at the beginning.I was in LA, you know, that's the time when you took the $50 a day jobs, the free jobs, the $200, you didn't know.And I had said, um, I was driving Uber.
I had got, I had, dang, I had somebody like some big artist manager in the backseat.And I remember saying like, Oh my God, the 678 number call.I'm so sorry.I really need to take this call.I know I'm not supposed to answer a call while I'm driving.
Do you mind if I put it on speaker?"He's like, just pull over.And I was like, okay.So I pulled over and I answered the call and I was like, is the transportation person?And she told me, Hey, we're looking for a flight.
The only flights that have first class.And I just, I remember melting.
I was like, perfect.Are you okay with that?I mean, just checking.
Yeah, so she's like, do you want to do an early morning or a late flight for the first class?Otherwise you will have to do like comfort if you do this flight.And I was just like, I'll take the earliest flight out, please.
How soon can I get there?
Sorry, sir, this is your stop.
Exactly.So then she said, OK, it looks like you're going to be flying now.It was like three days from that day.And then she says, we'll arrange a car service.We'll get them to pick you up.Can you confirm your address of your house?Blah, blah, blah.
I was like, car service to pick me up?I think in a regular car or whatever.Anyway, this guy was so excited.He was just as excited about me. And I remember dropping him off at the airport.I remember turning my Uber off.I went home.I just cried.
I was so happy.And I remember getting picked up by a black SUV.That was my first time driving like, you know, like with that status.And I remember getting to the flight and I was like Delta One, first class.And I remember just being like,
And I remember they put me on like the 22nd floor of the Aloft Hotel, downtown Atlanta.
And I remember that when I got there, it was a robot that came and then they had left me like a note with my name on it that says, Hey, Carrie, welcome to Atlanta.And my whole life changed.And I was just like, Oh my God.
But one thing I will tell you right quick is that also, although my life changed with Black Panther, it was the hardest project I ever worked on in my entire life at that part of my career.
And I wanted to give up like after a few days because there was so much choreography that I needed to learn in such a short period of time.
And I came on the latter end of the project after they had been filming for like eight months and I had to catch up as if I didn't miss a beat. And it was so hard.It was so much work.It was so much pressure.
And at moments when I felt like I wanted to give up, I remember calling my chat back and being like, they're like putting me in a circle and they're telling me I need to do the choreograph for like number five and then number two and then number one.
And I just learned this all in a matter of like an hour or two.And they're saying, well, you need to put your hands up more.You need to do this more.And I was like, I'm breaking down.He's like, no, you didn't come this far to come this far.
He's like, you better buy a broom.You better go buy something and you better work on it in a hotel.He says, pull yourself together right now.Remind yourself who you are.You are a warrior.
He says, you didn't go through all this stuff in your life to get to this point and not realize who you are. And I was just like, okay.And he kept giving me more speeches and I came back out of that bathroom like a G, like I was ready to go.
I was like, let me go in a war.Like I'm going to get myself into shape and I'm going to take control of my career and take control of this moment. I just ran into Rachel Morrison, the cinematographer from Black Panther at the TIFF Festival.
And it was a real crazy 360.And she's directing phenomenal films now.And it's just amazing.Black Panther took me far, but it was just a start.
Like... What do you say to that person that's sitting listening to this?It's like, you know, I'm a good actor.I've been to class.I'm just going to wait for these opportunities to roll in.Like, I deserve it.
If you wait on it, it may never come. Like, it's a thing that I'm a Christian person, FYI, if you didn't know.Like, I love God.I probably said it here a few times.It's a thing that said, faith without works is dead.
You can have faith and believe that something's gonna come to you, but if you put no work in, the faith is not gonna just be like, let me just sit here and make it work.
The universe doesn't just give it to us, does it?The universe listens to what we're putting into it.
Exactly.The universe will take your two steps, a hundred steps far, but you got to make the first steps.You got to walk in the direction of where you want to go.You have to put in the work.
And yes, you put in the work in the acting classes, but that's not enough.Go out. Write an email, meet someone, tell somebody you love their project and you can't wait to work with them.Admire their work.Be a human.Do human experiences.
And whatever you do, you can't wait on it.Submit yourself.If you're not getting work, go and... My first and second, maybe first year in LA before I got the Black Panther, I remember I was self-submitted on Actors Access.
I was just like, self-submit, submit, submit, submit, submit, submit, submit, submit, submit.And then I was doing that on LA Casting.Like I said, if it was free, if it was $50, if it was $200, if it was what?
That's how I actually ended up joining SAG.I submitted to a project that was $250.
that it was for people that own Priuses, and y'all owned a Prius at one point in time, because it was a car that was eco-friendly, and I like eco-friendly cars at that moment.I still do, but I got it something different now.
And I remember it was actually for a Ford commercial.I didn't know.I got to the place and I'm like, why Why did they want me here?"And they were like, hey, are you Carrie?And I was like, yeah.And they were like, oh, great.
And before you know it, it was one of those focus group type of commercials.And then the producer at the end said, wow, you were so good.I was like, I was just sharing my honest opinion.He's like, are you Sag?And I was like,
Oh my God, they tried to make me sag on this last project.They told me it was a sag project.He's like, no, it's okay.We'll Taff Harley you.And I was like, do you know what Taff Harley is, sir?
Because they told me they were going to Taff Harley me on the last project.He's like, look, ma'am, I've done this for 30 years.You're going to be Taff Harley.You're going to receive some checks in the mail, but here goes your 250 today.
do you mind putting all your information?"And I remember y'all within like, I don't know, two weeks to a month, I got a check for like $5,000.
And then I ended up- So they upgraded you to a psychiatrist.
And then you got into the union for that, which is a game changer in terms of- professional.I always speak to actors that are non-union, and I advise them to go union for a couple of reasons, for the protections and all that.
But non-union actors often say, well, no, I can do both right now.I can audition for both.But the truth is they're not really looking at the non-union actors, are they?
Not for the bigger roles.I mean, the unfortunate thing is that we have so many union actors that are so experienced, so trained, waiting for work, that for them to go to a non-union actor, you literally have to have such a unique level of skill set.
Like, you have to be the unicorn of the unicorns for them to be like, okay, I'm going to tap Harley, this non-union actor. Like in my position, I owned a Prius and I recorded a video why I love my Prius.
And then Ford decided that they wanted to compete with Prius and they wanted me to test drive a car that was similar to a Prius that Ford owned.And it was a unique positioning because I owned it.They wanted somebody that owned it.
I sent the video, they chose me, and I got to have Harley.But if you really want to be considered for the bigger opportunities, they're looking for union actors.Now, I'm not saying that you are not going to make it if you're a non-union actor.
If you get the opportunity to join, you should, and you should be looking towards doing that probably, right?
Absolutely.And the other reason, too, is that you want to, like, you don't want to be, you don't want to be, what's the word?Like, picked over or done wrong.You want people to pay you a set minimum wage.
You want them to have to pay you a set minimum wage.You want them to have to go into overtime after eight hours of work.
You don't want them to use and abuse you spending 14, 15, 16 hours on set with the makeup you did, wardrobe you brought, and then to say, oh, and then you get the footage and realize it's dark. And you can't use it.That's if you get the job as well.
Because when we were speaking to some casting directors on a previous episode, I can't remember who it was.They said that it's extra paperwork for casting to have to Taff Hartley.They have to do that work.
And sometimes they don't want to do that work.
Yeah, cause they had to get clearance from the union stating that this actor is okay with getting Taff Harley.
And then they also have to tell the union, like they have to write a statement that says like, this actor was so special and I couldn't find anyone like this person to Taff Harley them, so.
But I don't want to, you know, if there's any non-union actors out there, I'm not trying to say that it's hard, you know, it should be that hard for you out there to do this.
But what we are saying here is if you have those opportunities or go after those opportunities, do try and make it happen.
Because it will escalate your career.Again, back to the point I said when I meet people that think they're in both pots and the truth is they're not, but that's what they want to believe.
Yeah.And you know what, sometimes they may get the audition and they may get the call back.
But the reality is, is that by the time that they're ready to book someone, if they have a choice at a non-union actor and union actor that they have to do less work in doing, they might go the union actor.
But I'm like, Darren said, I also don't want to discourage any non-union actors because we all have to start somewhere.And starting somewhere means that you have to do some non-union projects to get some footage and get your feet wet.
Then I say, look, Don't mess up on the union project.Go.And I feel bad to say this, but get your feet wet.Mess up.Mess up your line on that nonunion project.That is going to be a lot less fragile with you.
They're not going to fire you right away because they understand they're dealing with a newer actor. And they're going to give you the opportunity to repeat the line and to refilm the scene and all of that.
But when you get to the union status, there is a little bit more pressure.You are kind of set to a higher standard.So when you get on set, they may only do one take.
They often do only one take.
Yeah.Then if you happen to get two takes or you mess up, I'm sorry, that might be a negative aspect.
The director or somebody might look at you or the casting director or whoever, and they may judge you based on that, even if you are newer and not as experienced.That's why you want to take the opportunities to
to kind of be under pressure as much as you can in a sense, get your feet wet as many opportunities as you can.So when you're presented with that big opportunity, you don't show up and fuck up, but you show up and fuck it all the way up.
And you do so fucking good that they're like, wow, that's amazing.Sorry for all my F-bombs.
I hope you guys can cut it if you need to.It's life.We're talking on takes.We've got to wrap this episode up.So I'm going to ask you, If you could go back over your career and do a second take, what would it be?
Wow.Why is this making me emotional? I'm thankful.I'm thankful with where I'm at.And I know it's only up from here.So I would like to say I wouldn't go back.
Every mistake, everything that has happened, it brought me to this moment and it taught me a lesson to where I'm at.And it informed me on where I'm going.It exposed me to something I didn't know before.Any mistakes I made, they were learning lessons.
So then the next project that got on, I was able to like come even more prepared, even with even more choices, with even more takes and, you know, connect in bigger ways.So that's going to be my answer.Don't get me wrong.
Look, could have said my line better in Black Panther so they could have kept it.You know what I mean?
And then I would have had, you know, people would have known me for that girl that said that, but they know me for the girl that was Adore Milaje, that was a warrior, that did incredible stuff. Hey, I'm here.I got a beautiful son.
I am back in Sunnyside, California.I am happy.And your girl's a mother... I don't know.Can I curse?I keep cursing.I'm a motherfucking superstar in the making, okay? I'm an A-lister in the making.Y'all gonna see me.
I'm a James Bond girl who speaks six languages.I am gonna be the voice you hear on all the voiceovers.I have done all of them.Spider-Man, PS5.I've done Fortnite.
I've graced your screen in many ways than one, and I'm gonna continue to grace your screens, okay?So.
Thank you so much for gracing our screens today, being here.
Thank you.Inspiring everyone out there.Your energy is amazing, and we just always love being around you, so.
Oh, wait, and check out my film that's going to be at Sundance, Sundance, okay? Keys, K-E-Y-Z.
Yes.Incredible story.Piano-based film.True story.Based out of Oakland, California.We filmed in Oakland, Los Angeles and New York City.I produced it.Grit, grind, hustle.When you talk about producing, it's next level.
I am also in it as well.Yes.
Pleasure to have you here, Carrie.Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Viola.
Thanks for listening to The We Audition Show.
Your hosts were Darren Darmborough and me, Richard Cambridge from We Audition, the leading professional actors community where you can connect, learn, elevate your career, and always get a self-tape reader on demand.We hope you enjoyed this episode.
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