My+Interview+with+Karen+Bair

Back

Karen is my aunt's sister and she has been in a few independent films including Skirty Winner (directed by Jeffry Bair) which is about a struggling actress looking for her big break. This is her story.

In 4th grade she was in her first play and ever since she wanted to become an actress. She took classes after school and was in plays from the age of 13 until she was a senior in high school. She took 1 year of college and then decided to take a year off, which then led to her going to to acting school in New York with a major in acting. She met Jeff in college and she was the star of the movie he directed, //Skirty Winner////.// She got an agent and started to get auditions. After doing a few movies she decided that the things she really wanted, a good bed, a house, to get married, and to have kids, all costs money that she didn't have. So, she decided to give up on acting and get a more stable job. But, since she didn't want to give up acting completely, she formed an acting group for children called Colfax Kids which she now teaches. So I thought she would be a good contact.

Here is the interview. __Do you get close to the people that you work with?__

Yes, you get very close to the people you work with, almost like a family, and you meet a lot of people.

__Did you work with people who have turned into famous actors/actresses?__

Yes, I worked with William H. Macy who has been in a lot of movies. (Which include //The tale of Despareaux,// //Wild Hogs,// and he was Tunafish Father in //Searching for Bobby Fischer.)

__Do you have any advice for becoming an actor?__

Yes, get an agent, take lots of classes with different teachers, make sure the teachers teach you something you didn't know, know your lines cold, at auditions be flexible and positive, an actors job is to show what the playwright is trying to portray so show emotion, give your ideas, and be on early to the set or for rehearsals. There is an old saying that says if your 10 minutes early your already late. Be there at least 15 minutes early and in that time you have to be warmed up physically, mentally, and vocally. One other thing is to love what your doing, have fun, and stay positive.

__What does acting mean to you?__ // To me, acting is finding what is really going on in the scene. For instance, in two actors are sitting at a table eating an apple, that's all it is. But, what is the actor trying to do or make the other actor feel? Is he trying to make him laugh? Give him money? Scare him? Make him be his friend? Whatever it is, the playwright is trying to make the audience feel something. That is what acting means to me.

// __What are your favorite movies?__ My favorite movie I was in was //Skirty Winner//, my favorite movie ever is Casablanca, my favorite play is Meet me in St. Louis//, and my favorite comedy is //Wedding Crashers.

__Can I use your name in my project?__

Yes.

__Thanks for your time.__ // Anytime.