Today we’d like to introduce you to Em Genovese.
Hi Em, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started acting at twelve, when a local theatre director named Joel Meriwether asked me to audition for the bratty Gloria in ‘Wait Until Dark.’ It was easy to fall in love with the magical environment of handmade sets and secondhand costumes. People working all kinds of day-jobs brought worlds to life on stage in the evenings. Their imagination and love for art was inspiring.
Writing my own stories became a passion in high school, and I studied theatre and acting throughout college. The pandemic struck right as I graduated, so while there was nothing to audition for, I wrote. The most helpful skills for writing screenplays was during my time co-writing a TV show pilot with Sam Greene, a real estate developer who had his own show on Comedy Central. His knack for comedic timing and tight format taught me how to grab someone and make them laugh before they throw the script in the trash.
The first film acting role I played came two years ago in a feel-good, spiritual mockumentary called, ‘Hidden Blessings,’ directed by incredibly kind and insanely talented, James Arnold Taylor. That experience helped me start in the Soap Opera industry shortly after. Amazing Things Media was filming short, reel-style dramatic episodes for their platform. I realized that even though theatre and film were completely different sports, the memorization and adaptability skills learned on stage, were helping get consistent work on screen. Amazing Things is a wonderful production team led by Max Fata, Sam Dionise, and Kaleisha Walker, and I’ve continued working for them for the last year and a half.
I wrote some scripts for their shows, and then I wrote audio scripts for companies that wanted themed stories for their listeners. I have sold about twenty seven scripts total.
Then, last fall, I began acting for local Nashville directors, and twin brothers, Johnny Reeves and Weiss Night. They are my favorite kind of filmmakers- where the gritty, messy chaos of making movies just feeds their fire and drive. I showed Johnny a short comedic script I had written called, ‘Margaret and Gracie.’ He read the whole script at lunch while I sat there and then looked up and said, “I think we could film this in one day.’
From co-directing with him, to fundraising, to casting the actors, to acting in the film, I was able to wear every hat and experience every aspect of making a film. ‘Margaret and Gracie’ is currently in post production, and I am looking forward to continuing on this path.
I learned the most from my parents, hit songwriters Jess and Aggie Brown. Though their industry is music, the same principles apply. Entertainment is a craft that requires sensitivity and vulnerability, but it is equally a business, that demands strategic movement and sharp judgement. They taught me that balance, and they are an example of joy and success every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any career on the entertainment road is filled with devastating potholes, confusing exits, and ninety mile an hour car crashes. Not having the right connections, not getting roles, not fitting the trending beauty standard, not being in the right city… And an agency? You can’t get great roles without a great agent, but you can’t get a great agent until you get a great role. It’s competitive, hostile, discouraging, and taxing on the actor’s mental health.
Your favorite actors were once picked apart, insulted, demeaned, and rejected. They found a way. There is always a way to plow through the ever-changing frontier, and scribble on the map as you go. And the rewards are endless. People who get to tell stories, transport an audience, entertain people with words and fake mustaches, are lucky people. Learn to have a thick skin, a small trustworthy circle, and a hobby that has nothing to do with acting, and you can keep going with passion and love.
My personal hobby is baking. I highly recommend it as a way to recharge and quiet the mind. Creating something from scratch gives you all the lovely accomplishment hormones, but because there’s no monetary gain, it’s low risk, and therefore, low stress. Plus, the results are delicious…
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a film actor and freelance writer. My most notable roles so far are Esme in ‘Going Postal,’ Stella on the Soap Opera App, ‘Passion TV,’ and Ava Lee-Scott in, ‘Hidden Blessings.’
The project that makes me the most proud is the comedic short film, ‘Margaret and Gracie,’ which I wrote, directed, and acted in. We filmed the short in one day thanks to a fantastic cast and crew.
Though I am always willing to travel for work, I’m in no hurry to move to L.A. or New York to “make it.” I think the opportunities are coming to Nashville. Nicole Kidman and Nate Bargatze are pushing the tide, and my goal is to make movies they want to be in, movies that bring back the joy of going to a theatre and eating popcorn before a glorious adventure.
“It was easy to cast her, because the authority she brought into the interview room was similar to the authority she brought into the audition. She’s just very confident, […] confident and humble, in the same breath.” -Matthew Budds on the podcast, “Talking to Myself.”
“She carries herself well, she’s got a great voice […] she’s the whole deal.” -James Arnold Taylor, writer and director of ‘Hidden Blessings.’
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
If you feel that having a mentor would benefit your career trajectory, I would suggest two kinds of people.
The first kind- people who are retired from your industry (or have changed to a different industry…) We often want someone who is currently in their successful peak to help us, but I find that it can be a dismissive endeavor. Someone no longer in your industry has distance, a lack of bias or ego, and a helpful sense of cynicism that might just save you from making a costly mistake.
The second kind- someone *in* the industry but who is entirely different from you. We always look up to the older, more successful carbon-copy of ourselves, but you may find a competitive streak or falsely encouraging energy within them that just isn’t helpful. Surround yourself with people older than you, from all walks of life, with varying advantages and disadvantages in the industry. Find sarcastic people who will tell you the truth. Authentic advice comes from people who do not see you as competition, either because you both are so different that you need different opportunities, or because they’re not in it anymore and want to give you fair warning.
And as far as networking goes, nothing is more appealing in my opinion, than the ability to make a person laugh. It has a memorable effect, and it creates a bond that goes beyond career talk. It’s a daunting thing, being an entrepreneur where the product is YOU. So don’t think of yourself as a product. Think of yourself as a well rounded person someone wants to hang out with. Someone who has quirky hobbies, hilarious stories, and interesting questions. Then networking is just a social opportunity to have some laughs, learn a few things about a few people, and leave somewhere between being invisible and oversharing.
The right people will see your magic. They will understand you, and the more people you meet, the closer you’ll get to bumping into a meaningful contact.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @emgenovese
- Other: https://www.backstage.com/u/Em_Genovese/
