Today we’d like to introduce you to Murisa Harba.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I founded About The Work Actors Studio in 2013 on the premise that actors should have a safe place to explore the depths of their craft and the possibilities of their artistry. When I moved to LA, I hadn’t found a place like this. Everything felt so competitive and cutthroat. I know for myself; I thrive best in an environment where I have complete trust in my teachers and peers and am able to leave my ego at the door. Something easier said than done. I devoted my time and energy over the past decade to creating and upholding that space for all artists that walk through the door. Being that our character creation is based on the art of shaping energy, having a safe space to work in is a must.
We got our name because it is actually a belief that me and all my like-minded artists shared: it’s About The Work. Not the fame or popularity. It is about the quality of the work you are contributing to this world. That is your legacy.
We started our journey in a small blackbox at the Complex Theatres in Hollywood on Theatre Row and have grown into our very own home, a storefront studio in East Hollywood which has its own raised proscenium stage, 16ft ceilings of exposed brick wall along with a zen garden out back which we regularly use for on-location shooting in our on-camera classes.
Our Groundwork Engineer 16-week series has upleveled so many of our actor’s careers because it gets right at the heart of what you need to submit a confident audition which is a combo of understanding your branding on an intuitive level as well as making strong choices for your character’s journey which all gets packaged into the creation of your performance.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Pandemic presented some challenges as the work we do is very physical. I was worried it wouldn’t translate over zoom. We pivoted online almost immediately, and I was pleasantly surprised with how well the energy translated through zoom. In fact, I began holding worldwide online Masterclasses expanding our student base across Europe, South America, Asia, Canada, and Australia. A dream come true from our humble beginnings on Theatre Row in Hollywood!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a professional actress, I have most recently starred in The Shattering, a psychological drama about a woman who will do anything to keep her family together, which is available on Amazon Prime. I won four “Best Actress in a Feature” awards for the role of Claire which I poured my heart into. This film, dealing with mental illness and loss, was incredibly challenging as an actor because of how raw the main character becomes throughout the film. Luckily, I was able to put my acting technique The Chakra Approach® to work and it literally saved me. Using my body from an energetic standpoint to play chords of emotion allowed me to be present and deliver take after take! Speaking of my book Acting With Energy hit bookshelves last year and hit #1 international bestseller status! My hope with this book is that it gives actors and artists a step-by-step process to learn how to listen to their intuition so they can create repeatable brilliance in their performances take after take. Many non-actors have read the book and have reached out to me to say how much it has affected their own personal life, which gives me no bigger thrill! I am on a mission to empower artists and am already writing my next book, which zooms out to a macro perspective of storytelling and how it can truly affect an audience on a cellular level. I have much to share with all types of storytellers out there and simply can’t keep all of this information to myself. Birthing my first book was certainly a labor of love and I’m excited to do it again!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a very curious child growing up and I loved asking probing questions to get to heart of why anything happened. That, of course, lent itself well to becoming an actress and director in my professional life. Starting to understand why a scene needs to happen or why a character says something or behaves in that way were delicious ponderings that I devoured as a storytelling artist. Even now, my students would tell you home much I love getting to the heart of a scene and diving deep into the human condition, especially from a physiological perspective. I grew up dancing competitively in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Hip Hop which then expanded into the Ballroom world during my college years. I even petitioned to get a minor in ballroom dance from Boston University when they didn’t even offer it! I studied with a private acting coach and also did private voice lessons, as well. I love learning and always kept myself busy with extracurriculars. The performing arts became a safe haven to me and I love being able to give that safe haven to others, especially in a professional sense, when you are seemingly supposed to have it all together. There needs to be space to take risks and try new things to expand your craft and that just doesn’t happen in a competitive atmosphere.
This type of environment was first given to me at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts where I majored in Theatre Studies, with a focus on acting and directing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.about-the-work.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutthework/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AboutTheWorkActorsStudio
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aboutthework
- Youtube: youtube.com/@aboutthework
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/about-the-work-actors-studio-los-angeles-2
- Other: www.murisaharba.com
Image Credits
Theo & Juliet Photography
Sean Emer
