Knowing the odds, of “making it” as an actress, Risa made a bold move when she decided to focus on experimental theater in her acting training. As a result, the creativity involved in this training has given her the ability to play a range of characters including a teenager turned gremlin David Lynch style, an abused girlfriend in her latest film with Carlos Dengler, the bass/keyboard player of the band Interpol, all this while producing some of the most hysterical comedic videos including her very own Tina Turner impersonation (see video below).

Age? 25
Places you have lived? Upstate NY, Italy, New York City
Places you want to live? London at some point
What do you do? Actress and Writer

Coming from an experimental theater background, how hard is it for you to get roles in that particular genre? How much of the work you get ends up being acting in commercials, straight plays, TV spots, etc… and do you also have to take other jobs to pay the bills?

I immediately started pursuing commercial work after I left the Experimental Theatre Wing at Tisch. As an actor, it was very exciting for me to make money right out of school. That first year out I worked on independent films, music videos and other commercial jobs that I was very fortunate to land.  After a while, I started to miss the more creative and personal work. I began writing, making my own little films and collaborating again in stage work with a more experimental slant. I really enjoy both types of acting, so I try to maintain a balance. Like all actors, to make ends meet there’s also a need for assorted hostess jobs and other work flexible enough to mesh with audition, rehearsal and performance schedules.

The words “experimental theater” bring up all kind of images in my head. Can you tell me what was the strangest role you ever played?

One pretty strange role I played was in the Mac Wellman play  “Sincerity Forever” where I portrayed a wholesome teenager who turns into a “furball” which was something like a gremlin. Something about it was very David Lynch inspired.

You were in the film “My Friends Told Me About You” co-starring with Carlos Dengler, the bass/keyboard player of the band Interpol, who also co-wrote the film and a text for the film entitled “The Ontology of Celebrity” in which he asserts that “the onset of celebrity is a tragic fall from grace and dehumanization of the famed-ego.” Do you agree with him and how does this idea come through in the movie?

Celebrity worship in our culture right now is both repulsive and fascinating to me.

The film represented this issue very abstractly.  Carlos’ character is far from being a celebrity but experiences paranoia, alienation and distrust brought on by his confusion and dismay with being incapable of living up to his expectations for his life and his perception of what the world expects from him.  Ultimately, he turns on his girlfriend, the character I play, in a violent and unexpected way.

How does our culture’s seemingly never ending obsession with celebrities affect you as an actor?

It always makes me very sad to hear about great, highly trained and talented actors being less appreciated than “stars.” I guess it’s just the nature of our culture right now and with the economy being so bad, big Broadway shows feel a need to do what it takes to sell tickets. I’ve met so many remarkable actors in the NYC theatre community who deserve more of those opportunities. It’s disappointing.

I have said it before on my blog and will say it again; you are hilarious. What inspires you to create these videos and how much of it has to do with your experimental theater background?

Thank you! I think a lot of it has to do with my experiences at Tisch in general, through ETW (Experimental Theater Wing) and outside of it. I took a Spoken Word class with Karen Finley where we created a lot of our own work with very few rules. I actually took it twice because I loved it so much. Writing has always come more easily to me than acting and I also think my acting is strongest when I’m speaking my own words.

What outlets do you use to practice your comedy? Are you happy to have the Internet as a place to post and have the world watch what you have been working on?

Besides work at Upright Citizens Brigade, right now, I’m developing a show with my friend Lauren Blumenfeld, which is loosely based on a big political scandal that happened but more so on our imaginations. As for the Internet, I’m so happy to have an outlet to show the films I’ve made.  I can also post trailers for Independent Films I’m in or even create a film to promote an upcoming play. It’s a really great way for an actor to feel empowered.

Your videos must get all different types of responses, what was the most eccentric?

Well for sure my dating video gets a lot of attention. I still get daily messages online about it from people who’ve seen it on funnyordie or youtube. I’ve been contacted by guys, half of whom seem to think it’s a real dating video, which is pretty funny. Last year a guy from Canada called me and wanted to meet up after watching it. That was before I realized I should take my cell phone number off my website…The best response on the videos though, is that people might come across them and call me in for auditions. I’m really thrilled with how often that has happened because it drives me to create more of my own work.

How important is it for you to package yourself?

I think it’s very important. The standards are less stringent in theatre than in film, but you still need to have a certain identifiable and marketable personal style that comes across. My friends who get the most work in film have very specific looks and types.

Is it a problem to get stuck in a “type.” Do you have a type?

It can be. I have friends working in LA right now with very definite looks, who are so talented and versatile, but because of their physical appearance have a hard time getting a chance to show their comedic sides or do powerful dramatic character work. I personally get a lot of lost girl characters or quirky girls, so I guess that’s my type.

Given how much you have to sell yourself and be marketable as an actor, do you think it easier for your generation because of the options you have thanks to digital technology?

It’s a huge advancement for actors to be able to be widely seen by putting up a website or videos online.  At the same time, actors have to be very careful and mindful of how they are representing themselves on the Internet, and project their image correctly.

How much does the need to maintain your physical appearance affect your life? Have you seen friends become consumed with how they look as opposed to who they are as an actor?

There is no way around the fact that appearance is a huge factor that actors need to keep in mind. Our bodies and faces are our instruments.  We have to take care of ourselves and it takes discipline to stay looking like the best versions of ourselves. I’ve seen friends become consumed at times. It’s a tricky balance but the goal is to be thoughtful about it…just not obsessive.

When someone gets a great gig, people tend to think that they have made it. Is that true?

It’s amazing to get a great gig but in no way does it mean you have made it. It never hurts to add great gigs to your body of work, but I have friends who have landed roles in huge, successful films and television shows and now find themselves back to square one and broke. It’s crazy! An actor just has to keep finding fresh interesting work and challenging himself.

As someone who is sensitive, how do you deal with daily rejections?

I’m still learning how to deal with it. In the past I would swing one way or another with rejection. Either I would be crushed about it or I would have the defensive “I didn’t want that part anyway” response. I’m trying to teach myself to look at auditions as objectively and logically as possible and really learn from them. Of course, it’s all easier said than done. Auditioning is no actor’s favorite part of the profession.

I have friends who have played the same role for over eight years but are making decent consistent money on Broadway, what do you think about that career move?

It might not be a choice that I would make, but I think it’s amazing. The opportunities to do high quality, steady work as an actor where you can support yourself are few and far between. I’m sure there is a monotony to it, but if you love the show and the people you’re working with, I bet that sense of community is nice.

Being a comedian but also interested in experimental work, how important is it for you to be silly or ridiculous outside of your work?

I think it’s crucial to always have a sense of humor about everything…but outside of work I don’t know how funny I am. People are always really surprised when they see my work, they say, “I didn’t know you were so funny…!” I’m pretty shy in real life.

What is your biggest worry?

Probably making enough money to continue supporting myself.

Correct me if you disagree but when you are in high school and college, people tend to encourage you to play roles for which you may not be suited. Do you think that in school you received honest guidance about the realities of life as a working actor?

It’s great how challenging and limitless the possibilities are in the educational setting. In the real world actors do play characters closer to themselves most of the time. In college, acting is pure art, without concern for making a living. I’m not sure that it would be better if acting students didn’t get encouragement to try out a range of roles, but it would be useful if programs did more to help students understand the business of acting along with the craft, which certainly includes analyzing and pinpointing their types, because it’s something they immediately have to figure out once they get out of school and have to market themselves. As far as discouragement or honesty about the reality of acting, I don’t remember anyone ever misleading me to think it would be easy. The hard parts, though, you don’t really understand until you are out trying to be a working actor.

What has been your favorite part so far in your career? What part would you love to play?

I’m not sure I have a favorite part…I recently played a female detective in an independent film. It was a modern day Film Noir, which is my favorite genre so I really enjoyed that.  In college I played Abigail in “The Crucible” and would love to take it on again now with the knowledge I’ve gained in the last couple of years. I love playing delusional and manipulative characters.  I enjoy trying to figure out what makes a person that way and what methods they use to distort the realities of those around them.

Please check out below Risa’s video Being Tina Turner:

Tags: actress, carlos dengler, experimentation, funny or die videos, hilarious, interpol, my friends told me about you, obsession with celebrity, Risa, tina turner