Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelie Melsness
Hi Amelie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was 9, my immigrant mother had created her very own lifestyle blog. Although she was effortlessly eloquent in her first language, the confounding principles of English were foreign to her. And so I rolled up my sleeves and donned the task of paving the bumpy road of expression. The exercise was undoubtedly a challenge for my little mind and fingers, but my unofficial position as Editor opened the doors for my first passion: writing. I would discover that I had a real knack for it as the years went on, a knack that would manifest itself in various formats.
I took on writing like a fish took on water partly because I read so much, which was mostly because I was a social anxiety-ridden kid. My biggest fear was the perception of others. It was therefore with great fortitude that my mother twisted my arm and forced me to take theatre in the 6th grade. She thought it would at least partially remedy my fear of talking to people, a hurdle that had constantly barred me from making friends in elementary school. Every class period was nightmare fuel, but slowly, miraculously, I fell in love with it. I realized that I could express myself through characters that were made by me, yet were entities of their own. Although this made drama a crutch during my parents’ divorce, it became a deliberate liberation thereafter, one that I want to spend my life pursuing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every good actor has had periods of self-doubt, but mine used to last longer than most. I suffered from what I considered my “mediocrity” for three years of high school. I bludgeoned my self worth because I was never spectacular, which meant that I might as well have been awful. I was left sincerely doubting that I was good enough to reach success in acting after high school. But a seeming restraint turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Our director/drama teacher quit during the middle of our spring musical my senior year (about a year ago), and so its cast was suddenly left to our own devices. We had to band together to make things work out of sheer will, and we did so by exercising our creative freedom in a way we couldn’t have otherwise. I found myself obsessed with this production and my character in a way I never have before. The people I performed with were some of the kindest, most enthusiastic, most talented individuals, and their belief in me made me finally believe in myself. It feels so silly to talk about a random high school production now, but the seemingly small stuff can really change your life. I will always think of that musical and that role as my all-time favorite simply because it was so formative.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m currently a communications major at USC, and it’s been one of the most freeing experiences of my entire life. The possibilities comms provides are limitless. I’ve already gotten to cultivate several passions in college without feeling the need to constrain myself to one specialty, from promotional materials and social media to film and creative writing. That being said, acting stands out from all these shimmering escapades. It’s the love of my life. (I know this because it terrifies me the most.)
I’ve befriended quite a few film majors here, and it’s been a blessing in more ways than one. I adore being in their film projects, as it has expanded my skill set from stage to onscreen. (I also enjoy their company.) But it has also encouraged me to take on roles behind the camera. For instance, my buddy James Simon and I are currently working on a mean girl-slasher video game that is entirely filmed, complete with 32 possible endings, a mysterious backstory, and pop culture references up the wazoo. Although writing it has proven to be a serious undertaking, it’ll lay the groundwork for a project that will be so demanding yet creatively rewarding. And, of course, I plan on acting in it. Between this and my current internship at Honora Productions, my varying interests in the entertainment industry may seem to stray from my ultimate path. But, I must say, there is no better way to overcome the scarcity of work as an actor than by making your own opportunities. Not only can you ensure the quality of your role and the overall success of the product, you can better understand the process of film production as a whole, which can only make you a better actor. Most of all, you meet people with diverse skill sets that help you grow, gaining experience and opportunities in the process.
I am the people that I meet. I am the way we connect and the experiences we have together. So, I feel lucky to have met the most talented, passionate, intelligent, and loving people at USC. I think that, more than anything else, will make me a great actor.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
If you know my work, then you know me. I try to put myself in anything I create as much as possible. If there’s anything about me that surprises people, then I’m probably doing my job wrong.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
1. Sam Walker
2. Jordan Geiger
3. Sherry Mohebati
4. Abraham Herrera
5. Sam Walker
6. Monica Melsness
