I've been doing independent features, but I want to get into the commercial world. Specifically, working in television and/or feature films, more mainstream stuff. I've also taught kids at various points through performance coaching, and creativity coaching, I help people to get creativity into their life.

EDUCATION | Theater Degree, Smith College

HOW TO GET STARTED | Books are obviously helpful. If you have school and structure work that's a great thing too. I like to have everything meticulously structured. There's a lot to be said for training. But, I've learned so much out of the context of school, there is nothing like going out in the world and going for it. I'm not a trained filmmaker, I'm fortunate enough to have met people along the way, I leapt into it everything without knowing how it was all going to work. It's important to develop a self-knowledge and go for it even if you don't know how it will turn out.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Charisma, Whimsy, Drive, Guts. Balls, can I say that?!

how I got started | I have always loved performing and started doing it at young age. It was the path of least resistance for me. In high school I didn't feel I would get the results I wanted. In college, I was thinking, I'm not going to do this as a career but I kept doing it. And with any kind of practice, you have to keep doing it and eventually I realized that I did believe in myself and I didn't want to do anything else with my life! I couldn't do anything else with my life. I tried to have a fall back career, but I couldn't feel happy and alive doing anything else.

why this job?| A lot of people I met along the way inspired me. I had some amazing experiences as a camper/ camp counselor at Camp Winnarainbow. It was this unique circus and performing arts camp in Mendocino, CA. There were random bursts of creativity all around the camp; it was awesome. I had conversations with lot of interesting people and really soaked in the environment. My ultimate dream as an actress is to make people think more sharply, feel more deeply, and see the world more open-eyed than they did before.

why I love this job!| I love the fact that I can make my dreams come true. I did a music video project a year ago and right now I'm at the tail end of a comedic short I'm working on. It's an incredible feeling to have an idea that is pumping through your veins. These ideas are unstoppable. Sometimes, I get seized by an idea and I have to make it happen. The fact that it happens at all is kind of mind blowing to me. From a tiny inkling in my head to something people can be inspired by, it's so cool! The impossible becoming possible is what I love the most.

my typical day| It varies a lot. Some days are a lull, like today, mundane errands to do, I need to get paperwork in order, make task lists, etc. I also send out my information to casting networks or go to auditions. On a shoot day or before a shoot, it's a lot more hectic. I have a lot of work to do with getting locations secured, getting equipment to the location, making sure the talent is there. Sometimes I recruit the talent myself, it is a lot of work to get everything together and make sure everything is running on time.

what they are | A really big challenge is money. I am really lucky to be supported by my parents, emotionally and financially. To have to work a fulltime or part time job, that's a big challenge. Because you don't feel you can put your best energy into it, I've done that before, and it's very challenging. Other challenges are people who say: You can't do it, or how are you going to manage it? It's a challenge to believe in your self, with my music video idea, I was wondering if people were going to get it and respond to it. My advice, trust your instincts, I renew it like a vow moment to moment. Everyone has their two cents to offer on your project but believe in yourself, that's most important.

all about growth | There is definitely growth in this industry. In my case, I want to move things along and get where I want to be as an actress. So, I need to get into a union, move to Hollywood, get an agent, and seriously make money at what I do. I would like to step outside of independent features, I really enjoy them, but it's not a sustainable career, financially.

my website| www.Karunatanashi.com