Hollywood Uncensored

August 15, 2016

Gerard Butler's acting coach Michelle Danner signs Italian actress Gabriella Giardina in Bandit Hound II

Earlier this year Gabriella Giardina, a notable Italian actor, landed a role in the longest French cabaret in Los Angeles “A NIGHT AT THE BLACK CAT CABARE” as an actor and dancer in the title role of “Katrina”. After a promising career starring in nation-wide TV commercials for Exhibit and Tuborg Zero, Giardina moved to Los Angeles and has been landing role after role in big musical productions and popular web shorts. But no one was more surprised than Giardina when she landed a title role in the feature film ‘The Bandit Hound 2’.

Please begin with a brief introduction of yourself?
I was born in Ragusa (Sicily), in the south of Italy, far from the spotlight of the world of cinema, but since childhood I have nurtured my passion for the arts, the joy I find in entertainment. As my family moved abroad, I developed the ability to adapt easily to different environments helping me to empathize with different social realities of the world. Which is something that I value as a strong tool to use in my acting roles. I was still in high school when I was asked to perform with a drama group and performed in theater plays; a variety of genres. This helped me and my characters open and grow on many different levels, emotionally, physically, and vocally. In 2013, I graduated from Whistling Woods International Institute of Film in Communication & Media Arts. In the same period, I played a supporting role in a Bollywood film, Yaariyan, from T-Series, one of the most important production companies in Bollywood. Since then, I have been involved in numerous other projects. I starred in TV commercials such as Tuborg Zero, for the 30-Seconds-of-Fame Production; Alor Coconut Water, for the US Group Vink & Beri LLC; and Exhibit, coproduced by the prestigious Exhibit Magazine and HTC. I’ve also been in numerous photo-shoots for various well known brands. Meanwhile, I’ve played leading or co-leading roles in a number of short films.

What first drew you to acting?
Since childhood, cinema always greatly fascinated me. A movie or a TV show would always captivate me so much, I’d run to my room to repeat a scene. Of course everything was a game then, but I made a character mine and I re-played it, according to my way of seeing the scene.
When I started studying classical plays, my attraction towards this art form has evolved. As I mentioned before, I was called to perform with the “Scuola Teatrale Dionysus”. A drama group sponsored by INDA (The National Institute of Ancient Drama); one of the twelve best Italian theater schools of theatre. Which is also where I studied diction with Gianni Battaglia, performing in classical pieces. By this time, acting had become something to work on, a commitment and I was very happy about that. Later, I followed my family abroad which lead me to take part in the musical, Grease; experiencing a whole new kind of entertainment. This experience taught me that music, song and dance were equally incisive forms of expression in comparison to words.
They were all very different and thrilling experiences. At this point in my life, when I would ask myself “What do I want to be?” I always had the answer.

What was your performance education like?
Once I studied my major, I began exploring and expanding. It was a long and careful process that led me to the choice of Whistling Woods International Institute of Film. Then later at Communication & Media Arts in India, an institute of the highest international level that boasts students from all over the world, where some of which went to work on the Academy Award winning film “Life of Pi”.
Today I’m in Hollywood, to pursue my professional path and improve my skills attending courses at the Michelle Danner’s LOS ANGELES ACTING SCHOOL. But I feel more than ready having studied with Dionysus where I took my first steps learning diction, how to set tone and the importance of stage-presence, as well as, the rigor of the profession. Every element has been important in my training. Thanks to these experiences I have been able to smoothly enter into the industry without any difficulties, even when led by established directors, working on productions for both the Indian and the American market.

Which actors do you draw inspiration from?
There are some names that are the pillars of the cinema industry. From my point of view they are Catherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and Matthew McConaughey, Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani. However, as a young actor (and this is fundamental for the authenticity of any scene) one must learn that he must only refer only to himself.
You can admire the art of a great actor, learn from him, but never imitate him. One of the key things I’ve learned is to first of all compare myself only to myself. Scene Study is an important subject where you learn to read a side from both the classical and contemporary repertoires, and make it yours. From there, you learn to bring in personal emotions, because in the end these emotions are what nourish your characters. What an actor then does, is refer to himself and assess whether he communicated what he wanted, with the intensity he wanted.

Which of your roles have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
There are no work experiences more important than when you must give the best of yourself. So I’ve always approached my projects, repaying the trust that was placed in me and every role has been important because everyone has made me grow professionally.
However, the leading role of Katie in Suitcase was quite a challenge because it told the story of a young woman who had to live her life separated by her companion, because he was distracted by his friends and alcohol. It was a story told through flashbacks. The intriguing challenge was that there was more of recited expression, rather than dialogues.
This is the most important challenge for an actor, giving people a sense of the depth of a character’s soul using just the expressiveness of the actor’s eyes. There was much work to do in order to be able to connect emotionally with the viewer. These roles are definitely the ones I love to do.

Do you have any future projects planned?
My plan at the moment is to focus on my career and make the right decisions for it. I then hope to help others by maybe joining charitable organizations.

If you could co-star with anyone, who would you chose? Why?
There are so many great actors! But if I had to mention some names, they would be Catherine Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and Matthew McConaughey. For all of these actors, there is so much passion in their style, so much humanity and so much reality. It would be a dream to play such roles but at this point in my career, they are great lessons for me.

What are you goals for the future?
There are many things that I would like to accomplish in my life, but obviously there is a time for everything. My first priority is to send out a message and reach people, that touches them and perhaps make them see things from another prospective. I’d love to make movies that give a voice to people that didn’t have it before.

Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?
What I would suggest to anyone who had to approach the working environment in general is to follow their own inclinations, and prepare for the best and never give up nor stop perfecting their discipline, whatever it may be. I think today, there are no “easy” professions but that goes double for those linked to the world of arts and entertainments. It is a very competitive environment and therefore it is crucial to have a good artistic preparation and a great determination, to let your passion lead you, always being honest and never compromise the dignity of an individual.
My personal motto, following the teachings of my parents that I share entirely: “Two things are essential to ensure success in life: follow your passions and always seek excellence in what you do”. That’s what enables you to become competitive.

How was your experience at the Michelle Danner’s LOS ANGELES ACTING SCHOOL
Michelle Danner is one of the most successful acting instructors in Hollywood, just think of how many of her students received Academy Awards, Emmys and Golden Globes?
My experience at this acting studio, is still on going and is giving me the opportunity to approach acting techniques differently and enrich my skills with tools that prepare you for any professional role. Her tools teach you to rediscover emotions and utilize the potential of a scene to make a character interesting and original.
Michelle Danner goes in deep, since the philosophy of her school addresses human growth as well as artistic growth, and this I think is the reason why so many of her students have found success!