Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolina De Athey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carolina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Carolina De Athey and my story started in Brazil. I’m from Sao Paulo, and I’ve always wanted to pursue entertainment. But I wanted to be able to pursue international acting and music and for that I needed to speak English. I had already been to America and I really liked it. It was a difficult process and challenging journey to take off and leave my family in Brazil, but I had to pursue my dreams. In America, I started modeling for catalogs, flyers, editorials and runway. I have to highlight I had an opportunity to get shot by the great Stan Malinowski who’s a legend. Then I had an opportunity to try a couple of acting gigs for horror short films…lol. And then I fell in love with acting and storytelling. It was another journey to make my way to LA. Always working hard, step by step. During the journey before I moved to LA, I was able to record my first original song, “Why”. Which is available on iTunes and the music video is on YouTube. After why I got a real taste of what the music industry has become. I had so many producers and managers asking me for so much money even if the music and lyrics were mine. My mind was blown away! The labels no longer help with anything they wanted a full package ready to go. Basically, the artist has to pay for everything. It’s so sad. So, I had to take a break as I couldn’t afford to “make music” and I decided to put my efforts into getting myself to Los Angeles. Which, I did, then I started to focus on acting and attending acting classes at the Actors Academy. I loved class and the passion and commitment with storytelling. I started going to some indie auditions and searched for an agent and a manager. I attended some casting directors’ workshops and finally booked a couple of pilots, short films, feature films, etc. But starting to know more about the industry, you start finding out how difficult it is. The industry has changed so much, you basically have to do everything — write, produce and act. I heard from different casting directors, “actors need to produce their own content”, and with that in mind, I produced a tight short called, “Confessions of the Fashion World”, which got me an award at a film festival, and it was showcased in a few film festivals. So that gave me a boost! I know people say you should only do one thing, but music has always been in my life and I keep listening to JLo’s advices (lol). She was saying that everyone wanted her to pick one thing but she couldn’t be put in a box because that’s not who she is and I kind of feel like that too. I know is not for everyone but I get creative in different ways. So, meanwhile, I launched another original song called “Jumping on the Floor”. I launched that single on my own through indie platforms and it’s available on iTunes.
Then I booked a film that’s still under pre-production named “Vampires vs. Aliens” by James Cousar. I’m on the cover of the book Vampires vs. Aliens and you can find sketch of me inside the book as well. Then, I auditioned for Crossing Flowers Motel by Jason Fisher and I booked, and I’m anxiously waiting to shoot. In between last year and this year, I got more involved with the influencer’s world. There’s a very strong community in LA and very nice people and companies that have been very generous to me. Managing social media is not easy and I do have the help of my sister Hevile Soares, my friend, influencer and to go Guru in the international influencer arena, Marcelo Cunha and a local content marketing company that designed my website D Hollywood Agency.
This year I shot a feature film called “Relentless Love” by Mejeyefilms, co-hosted two Film Festivals (produced by Lynn Tang), along with booking her film The Cupids.
I recently started collaboration with Hot Miami Shades and about a month in a half ago I had the pleasure to attend the Las Vegas Food and Wine Festival which is an awesome event. There I was schedule for 3 photoshoots for Barcelona Enterprises featuring 3 of their top clients, Maserati, Aniise Skin Care and Ketel One.
It was great and a lot of Fun! During practically the same week 21st Century Blitz Music video was launched. I love the song by the UK rapper Mr. Blarny and I’m a featured artist. The music video takes place inside of a spaceship and I love, love my character Zanetree. The song is available on iTunes and music video is on YouTube and we will soon have the remix to be released.
Nevertheless nothing slows down, lol and I’m attached to 4 feature films that are in pre-production. My manager Sharon Zagar is working hard to get me in certain rooms and hopefully she gets me to Martin Scorsese (lol) and get me noticed by big CDs. This past couple week I was featured on the Cover of Red Silk Carpet a Chicago based magazine that has reach in 96 countries. They interviewed me about the Maserati Photo shoot and for who wants to sneak peek there’s a video on my YouTube channel. I’m now working on writing a pilot and I do have two songs written that I want to finish. I started working on one of the with the local music producer Timothy Armstrong. I’m also “on hold” waiting to find out on a pilot I was offered a role. So, let’s cross our fingers.
I’m sure I forgot to mention other things but all and all the essence of me is I believe in myself and I think overall people should love their individuality and protect it. I think that’s what make us interesting and uniquely remarkable. With that being said I’m a hard-working girl always have been and to get anywhere one must to work hard unless you’re born into it.
And never take no for an answer. You have to really want it!
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it hasn’t. Well, with acting there’s always that “casting couch” which I’ve dealt with and “everyone is a producer type of thing but they’re not. It’s not easy at all, mostly for women. But let the record show there are plenty for serious men and women in the business as well. I’ve met many!
Age, mostly for the ladies. And now with commercials so many castings are “we want real people” …. (what’s that?)
Lot’s on Con artists, people that will even try to take your money. A lot of “pay to play” I was offered a situation like that and everyone on that film was pay to play. That’s so sad and disgraceful for our industry.
It’s also very difficult to keep up with the self-esteem, confidence, that belief factor because actors do face an unimaginable amount of rejection. Basically, when you’re called on an audition is already a win because there are so many actors that were dismissed.
My advice is to avoid all of those situations. Always be nice and courteous to everyone but say no to casting couch because that only encourages this type of situation to continue to happen to other women.
Don’t tell your age. There are countless stories about actors and actresses, even famous actresses, that have lost roles because of that specific reason. There’s no winning; you’re either too young for the part, or to old, and the reality is acting comes with what you can look like and if you can bring the role to life. It’s not a reality show! Stick to your truth and ladies should support one another.
If you’re doing liquor or cigarettes, all you say is” you’re legal 25″, if you are, of course. That’s the law.
In regards to commercials that want real people… aren’t actors’ real people? lol. My advice is to go and play the part because that’s what we do.
Don’t pay to play, if you’re going to be an executive producer do it for the right reasons and because you love storytelling and the business. But when you have every actor paying to play the role is a clear statement that they don’t have confidence in their own work and also take away the integrity of the project and who we are as artists. It’s disgraceful and shouldn’t be happening.
In regards to self-esteem, confidence and belief — it’s hard for all of us. I think is hard for actors and actresses, after all, our hearts are poured out there. I’m not a mega star yet so I don’t know if my advice works, but I do pull all my strength from within. I believe the core of our strength is our individuality. We have what we need when we are in tune with it and faith. I believe in a Higher Power. I call it “God, Jesus and His unlimited energy”; I’ve come to understand it’s everywhere, reachable and available for those who choose to see it, feel it and connect to it because we’re part of it. Something of Divine and has helped me to keep on going more times than I can remember.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into your business story. Tell us more about the business.
Hum, that’s so difficult. I would say I’m overall an artist that loves fashion. I’m an actress, a singer and a model. Modeling is what got me in. But I’m also a writer. I started with songs and now I’m onto other ventures. I’m a fashionista, for sure, as I love fashion. So, I guess as a brand what I’m most proud of is to be able to have a voice or know that’s there for me.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to adapt and get along with all kinds of people even if we disagree in most things. The other thing is the unwillingness to give up and have an active mind that doesn’t stop. But I think the number one thing is the ability to laugh and make fun of myself even in bad scenarios. I guess that comes with being Brazilian as we start to develop a shield since childhood. For centuries Brazil has been so deep in so much corruption that the nation as a whole learned how to create a shield. They’re going to have fun and keep on going no matter what. I think that’s so precious so I kept alive in my life.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Yes, I grew up in church. Baptist church, to be more precise. Although Brazil is a Catholic country, my dad was a pastor. Today, I don’t consider myself Baptist, but simply Christian. I do have to thank my parents for introducing me to “God” because there’s a very powerful thing about faith. Trying to break into Hollywood while being completely drug free…lol… it’s no easy task and, for that, one must have faith in addition to tons of drive, persistence and determination. For that reason, I believe my experience growing up so close to faith has carried me over here through all the difficult times and continues to push me forward. So I recommend to have faith and to believe in yourself.
My Music Pricing
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/why/1339534728?i=1339534740
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jumping-on-the-floor/1220965605?i=1220965607 and https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/21st-century-blitz-feat-carolina-de-athey/1436068286?i=1436068290
- No Price but I can share a Coupon to people who likes Fashion and vacation needs to shop at HotMiamiShades and have a 20%off discount. Must to use the link. https://hotmiamishades.com/discount/ATHEY20
Contact Info:
- Address: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5276140/
- Website: http://carolinadeathey.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinadeathey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtheyDe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/atheyde
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwUUHK66NeULNkjSWjDOf4Q
Image Credit:
Theatrical Head Shot by Lesley Pedraza
Zanetree shot from the set of 21st Century Blitz Music Video
Saona Island for Bikini for HotMiamiShades by Hevile Soares
Standing for MelroseTrend
Maserati for Barcelona Enterprises shot by Shawna Henrie
Hollywood Glamor shot by Sheldon McCullough
Sword Photo. Shot used for the Cover of Jumping on The Floor by RA Enterprises.
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