Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Renata.
Hi Carla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, my sights were set on getting to New York City and being on Broadway. Fortunately, after seven years of struggle, I found myself in productions of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Life, Avenue Q and the Original Los Angeles production of The Lion King (where I was nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award). I worked with everyone from The Who’s Peter Townsend to Brian May from QUEEN to Tony winners Matthew Broderick, Lillias White and Billy Porter. But, as a swing/understudy for Broadway’s biggest and brightest talent, I found myself being pigeonholed. Looking to spread my wings, I dabbled in everything from being a background singer (Tracy Chapman, Michael Bolton) to commercials, film, episodic television, web series and voice-over.
Making history as the first African-American actress to hold down recurring roles on four sitcoms in one episodic season…twice was no easy feat. Needless to say, I just knew my series regular gig was around the corner. That opportunity has yet to present itself. Not for lack of trying or auditions, but simply due to the fact that me, the right project and producers haven’t crossed each other’s path quite yet.
Having reached a point where every viable means of employment disappeared overnight with the cancellation of my shows and not much work coming in other lanes, I needed find something and quick. Enter the complex and exciting world of film criticism and hosting. When the realization hit me that I could monetize my gift of gab talking about films in all their glory, I jumped at the opportunity. Although upon graduation from Howard University with a degree in Broadcast Production/Journalism and being honored to work and hone my tech skills at such outlets as CSPAN and BET, it was the world of cinema that drew me in. Ebert & Siskel “At The Movies” was my jam along with watching Leonard Maltin, but it became crystal clear how I saw not one woman on a national level reviewing films.
Sure there were gossip columnist and pop culture host, but no women that were breaking down the art of cinema as a critic and especially no one that was Black. I’m not saying there weren’t any women, simply that my gaze was devoid of that image on national television scale. So, knowing how vast my knowledge and understanding of the genre was coupled with my education, I figured I could do this…really well.
Turns out I was right. After being accepted into a plethora of high profile film critics groups including AAFCA (African American Film Critics Association) and CCA (Critics Choice Association) coupled with a profile in the Los Angeles Times opportunities to critique and discuss film became plentiful with opps to contribute via Turner Classic Movies, Fox 11-LA, Collider and ironically enough for the outlet owned and operated by Roger Ebert (now being run by his wife Chaz) brough me full circle from a dream to a reality.
My podcast The Curvy Critic with Carla Renata features reviews and interviews with talent above and below the line in the film industry. Its success is owed to Chaz Ebert, Gil Robertson, Daryle Brown, Derrial Christon, Tony Sweet and Keven Undergaro who all in one way or another mentored and supported me in every way conceivable allowing me to succeed.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest challenge as a Black female film critic is exactly THAT. There is an assumption that I only want to cover Black films or only interview the stars of a film. I’m a lover of cinema…period. Speaking with the directors, production designers, sound designers, costume, hair and makeup stylists are majorly interesting to me, as their jobs are intricate and complex.
#MeToo and #TimesUp created a plethora of opportunities for women – mostly my white female counterparts were receiving an embarrassment of riches. But, it feels as though Black women are only thought of and hired when there is some sort of diversity call of action. Art is art and should have no color stigma attached to it in any way, shape, form or fashion. I would LOVE to cover ALL types of cinema and not just because the hue of skin happens to be the same as the talent or creatives of the project.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for many things in very different lanes. To high school/college Juniors and Seniors, I am known as ‘The Branding Buddha, ‘where I specialize teaching branding and marketing for actors. Those workshops and classes are a complement to my book on Amazon – “The Actors Guide to Self Marketing: How to Brand and Promote Your Unique Image.”
To the theatre, film and television community, I’m an actress who made history becoming the first African-American woman to recur on four network sitcoms simultaneously in one episodic season – TWICE! Most recently, just completed a five-year run as Janet on the hit NBC sitcom “Superstore.”
My voice has been heard on everything from ABC News to ‘Lisa’ in the Grand Theft Auto video game – Liberty Series. Not to mention, as a graduate of Howard University, I have become known globally as The Curvy Critic through my film review/podcast, where I talk movies and interview talent above and below the line in the film industry.
I’m most proud of the fact that I have been able to navigate between all facets and lanes of the film industry whilst creating opportunities to stay booked and busy in them all.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I take risks all the time!!! Taking a risk unconsciously frightens you into tackling the unknown with confidence void of arrogance because there is simply not enough room for both.
Who knew my love of film would turn into a brand called The Curvy Critic? Who knew moving from East to West would provide opportunities I could’ve never seen coming for my life – personally and professionally.? Taking risks forced me to grow and learn as a human being through failure allowing me to really flourish a woman navigating within an industry that wasn’t built for me. There were NO Black women film critics, voice-over artists when I came onto the scene unless you were a celebrity. I was in Broadway shows with a cast of nearly 20 people and only two or four of us being people of color – specifically Black. I watched Diana Ross become the first Black woman to be nominated for an Oscar and decades later watch Halle Berry win. I watched Diahann Carroll become the First Black woman to headline a hit television series and nearly 40. years later watched Viola Davis win. I watched Octavia Spencer take home an Oscar as an actress and become a force to be reckoned with as an award-winning producer of film and television.
You can not be successful in this business or in your life without taking a risk. It comes with territory.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thecurvyfilmcritic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheCurvyCritic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCurvyCritic
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TheCurvyCritic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlaRenata
- Other: .https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1484341/
Image Credits
Photos by Tina B.
