ACTOR INTERVIEW: Interview with Merlisa Determined
I present Merlisa ‘Determined’ Langellier, she is our Valentine Special interview personality. We took time to seat with her and discuss her work, and career. I trust this will be interesting for your read. I found her quite interesting, enthusiastic and engaging.
OLADAPO: GIVE A CONCISE BIOGRAPHY OF YOURSELF?
MERLISA: Since acting Merlisa “Determined” Langellier has Won several Awards and received several acting nominations. She has won “Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards” Viewers Choice Award for Best Actress in Diaspora 2012, She also Won “NAFCA” ( Nollywood African Film Critic Award) for Best Docu-Drama Film 2012, Merlisa Won the “USAfrica Best of Africa Award” for International Heritage Actress of the Year 2012. Merlisa was Nominated for an “African Oscar” for Best Actress in a supporting lead role in Diaspora Film 2012, Nominated for “Nations of Pan African Award” Best Actress of the Year 2012, Nominated for “NAFCA Award” for Peoples Choice Award 2011 and 2012.Merlisa was born on the beautiful Island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. Raised by her mother Raymona a strong, beautiful, woman who worked hard to support and encourage a close knit, strong family. Witnessing her mother’s strength, compassion , wisdom and love for her children fuels her inspiration and builds the foundation that keeps her focused, grounded and driven. Merlisa has earned a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Texas Southern University. While at Texas Southern she also studied Theatre Arts, taking part in several stage plays at Ollington Smith Playhouse & The Encore Theatre. She then went on to study under Robert Simms at Master Theater Company. Merlisa has graced the stage of several professional stage plays, through out the years such as “Madea” Greek play, etc. Her desire to attend Law School took a detour as her passion and love for acting has taken her on an unforeseen route in Television and Film. She is currently the Host of Caribfest TV and Caribbean Vybez TV: shows seen in the Caribbean Islands and on local TV networks in the United States.
- Merlisa Determined
OLADAPO: WHAT ACTING TECHNIQUE DO YOU USE?
MERLISA: Techniques I used for acting vary depending on the project but for the most part I rely on what is know as the Stanislavski method. A method that allow actors to draw careful consideration of a character’s psychological motives and create a personal identification with that character. Getting into the character’s emotional state of mind and recalling emotions or sensations from the actor’s own personal life experience.OLADAPO: DESCRIBE WRONG IMPRESSIONS ABOUT ACTING
MERLISA: The first wrong impressions I find many actors hold about acting is everything is glamorous and everything comes easy (but to me what they see is the calm after the storm…which I personally feel it’s a never ending storm.) Once you have landed a role and complete that project successfully, guess what here comes the storm again and what I refer to as the storm is the showers of NO that will come raining down. Not because your not talented or have what it takes but you might not be what they are looking for at that particular time so develop a TOUGH SKIN and always, always continue with acting classes or improving and learning different techniques that could help sharpen your skills as an actor that way you STAY READY as an actor. I believe acting is a forever growing and learning process especially when it comes to dealing with different types of acting such as tv, film, commercial and stage. I believe all acquire a different type of acting skill to help enhance and help you capture that true essence of that particular art of acting.
- Merlisa Determined & Uche Jumbo
OLADAPO: WHAT ACTING BOOKS DO YOU READ?
MERLISA: “Fight your Fear and Win: Seven skills Performing Your Best Under Pressure, At Work, In Sports, on Stage” by Don Greene, Ph.D., a renowned sports psychologist, teacher at the Juilliard School, and “stress” coach to top executives and entertainers.OLADAPO: DO YOU TAKE COURSES TO IMPROVE YOUR CRAFT?
MERLISA: “I”ve discovered that my creativity is entirely within my control. I create my own states of creativity or blockage based on how I process the information coming to me all the time. The way I interpret this information is largely responsible for the quality of my experience of life and how I perform in my own life. Whether I am dealing with an agent, producer, director, auditioning, hanging with friends or simply relaxing. It suggests a profound transformation in the way we view what is possible for human beings. It challenges us to push the limits of the known and discover the vast resources within ourselves. Furthermore, helped me see clearly what my strengths and weaknesses were and thereby, focus my efforts on those particular skills which would improve my performance as effectively, efficiently, as possible.OLADAPO: HOW DO YOU KEEP FIT AS AN ACTOR?
MERLISA: Mentally I like to read different books, newspapers, magazines sometimes reading out loud with different voice expressions. Physically I love working out with my brothers, Jason who is an M.M.A. (Mix Martial Arts) Fighter, Shawn who is a Professional Trainer and Ajani who lives a Healthy eating lifestyle along with endurance workout. Combination of my 3 brothers keep me fit and healthy. Also lots of mirror exercises working on facial expression and so on.OLADAPO: WHEN YOU ARE OFFERED A ROLE, WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?
MERLISA: Once I am offered a role I have auditioned for I immediately start to CELEBRATE (pause) then reality sets in, you have lots of work to do, getting yourself mentally and physically prepared for this role. I read the entire script but to gain a full understanding of the story, I do my research. If there are any books written based on the script, I will read it and then begin to break down my character. To help with my acting and the development of my character, I take notes of the script highs and lows and write down key moments within the script for my character etc.
- Merlisa Determined on set during a production
OLADAPO: HOW DO YOU TAKE A CHARACTER IN A SCRIPT TO A HONEST, BELIEVABLE AND BREATHING PERSON?
MERLISA: In life we all experience emotional highs and lows, which is what gives our lives depth and interesting moments. When I’m working and breaking down any script, I work to uncover the emotional highs and lows of my character by Asking myself these simple questions: In what scenes do these emotional peaks and valleys occur? How does my character react to a certain situation? What is the reasoning behind her reaction? All these questions will help me form the emotional basis of my character. I also take notes to uncover the Objective of my character because the character’s objectives can likely change from one scene to the next; however, I will typically have a core objective highlighted by momentary objectives. Understanding these objectives help me to create a believable and interesting character and performance.OLADAPO: HOW DO YOU STAY FRESH ON A PRODUCTION SET?
MERLISA: Lol. I love eating Skittles (not the whole bag) while getting my hair and makeup touched up or during my wardrobe changes. Also when I’m on set, during separate cuts or breaks, most times I isolate myself from others and do breathing exercises, rehearse my lines, keeping a positive flow of energy around me.OLADAPO: EXPLAIN ONE CREATIVE CHOICE YOU TOOK ON SET?
MERLISA: While working on the movie production “Nicki a HipHop Love Story” 2012 I played a character name Michelle Lancaster, a popular, bisexual, untamed college student who lived dangerously by her own rules. I didn’t want this character to be too over the top but more so settled and calculated with everything she did.OLADAPO: DESCRIBE A MEMORABLE CHARACTER YOU PLAYED?
MERLISA: One of my most memorable character I’ve played thus far and would love to play more action packed characters is from the movie production “Page 36” 2012. I had to play a character by the name of Marisa, a Black Belt Assassin so therefore I had to get involved with physical combat on set (which I loved) and allowed myself to drift into that dark place.OLADAPO: WHAT DO YOU WANT MOST FROM A DIRECTOR?
MERLISA: Honesty, Trust, Guidance and also the freedom to be creative.OLADAPO: WHAT ACTOR DO YOU LONG TO WORK WITH?
MERLISA: There are several actors I would love to work with, or just sit in the same room and study as they become their characters. Idris Elba, Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Johnny Deep, Kimberly Elise, Joke Silva, Angela Bassett, Nicole Kidman and Angelina JolieOLADAPO: WHY THIS ACTOR?
MERLISA: Every Actor has something special and unique that draws me to them.OLADAPO: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE ACTORS AROUND THE WORLD?
MERLISA: Stay humbled, Stay hungry, Stay focused & Stay motivated. Don’t be discourage by the many No that will come. Be patient because what God has for you no one can take it away.https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMerlisaDetermined?ref=hl
My twitter: @inmerlisaworld
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