Conversations with Carter Jude Dau

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carter Jude Dau

Hi Carter Jude, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Australia and moved to the US at 10 y/o. Since the age of 4, after my very first trip to the Cinema to see a brilliant Australian Movie called Paper Planes (Staring Sam Worthington), I knew this is what I wanted to do. My Mum said I didn’t move the entire movie and was glued to the screen. I started taking acting lessons was I was 8 after a few years of begging my parents, and I truly fell in love with everything about acting. But I can truly say my love of Cinema was definitely born that day. at the movies.

My Mum and Dad were reluctant to let me get representation as where I lived in Australia, there wasn’t a lot of big productions happening. They told me if I wanted to really be an actor I would have to prove myself by doing lots of acting training.

I started training and knew this was what I wanted to do. Not long after, my Mum had an agent contact her to ask whether I was interested in representation. My Mum said no initially however after the agent called again, she convinced my Mum to come in for a meeting. I was very excited and so happy that we signed with my first agent.

My first audition for a supporting role in a feature film called Penguin Bloom came through the next week and I got two callbacks. Shortly after, my second audition came through for the lead role of Luke Skywalker in the Obi Wan Kenobi Series. It was top secret and I had nearly a year of auditioning for it. I got so close before they rewrote the script and changed the director, and the lead role was rewritten for Princess Leia. But although I missed out on the role, it was such a great learning lesson and now I can say I am grateful for the lesson as I would never have been able to understand how difficult the industry is.

Since then I have gone on to book, have Director’s Sessions, Callbacks, Pins and been in the mix for some incredible projects. Including recently being ‘In the Mix’ for Ron Howard’s new movie Eden, amongst many others feature films and TV Series. Unfortunately, most times after the booking, production has been unable to get my work Visa in time so I haven’t been to work on these roles. But I continue to audition knowing that I will be working on set before I know it,

In the meantime, I have been able to do 6 really great short films, (most have entered festivals and some have won awards), a proof of concept for something I am really excited about and recently just finished writing my very first feature film, which I hope to one day, direct and act in.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
If it was a smooth road then I would never be able to truly appreciate the good that is coming my way. Only hard things truly bring out the best in people, so for the last five years of not being able to act in roles that I am booking, I know think has been invaluable. I want to be acting, producing, writing and directing my whole life, so I know I am only still young and this adversity and hardship in this first few years, will only make me that much stronger and resilient.
Getting told I am first choice, or I have booked and having the emotion of feeling like I am on top of the world, to being told there was no way to get the Visa in time, has been so hard for me but I truly believe things will happen when they are supposed to happen and I know that I love what I do so much and will do this forever so I am grateful for the ups and down. All of them,

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a 14 year old actor so passionate about everything to do with the Entertainment Industry. I have wanted to act since I could remember and love all aspects of film. I love to write and just finished writing my first feature film, which I hope to act in as well as produce. I would love to get an amazing director on.

I really just specialize in whatever character I am playing with whatever genre, film or series. I feel like what sets me apart is my story and roots. I moved to San Diego from Australia just before Covid. I was with nothing but high hopes but in the end I have just kept having to find the motivation to move forward. I would also say my maturity and empathetic sides gives my acting a captivating feeling. I am very proud of how far I have come in regards to my skill, and how many mistakes I have made and lessons I have learnt.

But I am mostly proud of the feature film sized script I have written entirely on my own, it was such a journey and I am so excited of what it will become. Honestly, I think that what sets me apart from others isn’t my story or script but my true desire and passion to create and play a role.

I find it so easy to connect with a character when I have to. Every character I play has stuck with me to the next, and that is what makes me different. I appreciate all the pain and mistakes I make because although the road and industry I have stepped into is a long journey, I am so excited for what is to come.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: CarterJudeDau

Image Credits
Dreamotion Studios, Lonesome Pictures, Claudine Dau Photography,