We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarina De Viso. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarina below.

Sarina, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Perfecting the craft is an on going journey unto itself. . Every experience we have in life contributes to the arsenal we have available to use on camera… the good and the bad. As much as I’m against labels I struggled in school with a learning disability. The frustration at times would eat away at me and eventually bring on insecurities. My parents decided to put me into sports and chose to keep me off of sugar for the most part, to help with focus and clarity. I realized I had drive at a young age because I excelled at sports. With raw talent, determination and discipline I was able to succeed greatly. I loved sports but I was coming to an age where I would continue or go in another direction. I always loved being creative and so I moved on from sports at seventeen to go into a creative field. I was always drawn to Theatre and Film so I decided to study acting and got myself into Meisner training.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Having studied Meisner for two years I was able to get in touch with my authenticity and become more present and aware. It really guided me to get out of my own way and trust my instincts. The training allowed me to express my emotions. It gave me an outlet and permission to be free. The discipline it required reminded me of my upbringing and my sports background. I then fell in love with what I was learning and the growth that came about. I then decided it was maybe a path I would choose professionally and so I sought out to get into the union. I think through the hardship of my personal insecurities stemming from my learning disability that my tenacity and determination along with talent means that no goal is beyond reach for me or anyone willing to persevere with creativity.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Last year I took a personal hit on something that was very important to me and I was so down and out, I was at an all time low in my life and at the same time I felt like my progress as a working actor was truly at a deadlock. Through the support of my family and a couple of dear friends I decided to persevere with everything in me to make some significant changes. I took initiative and started exploring. I got involved with a friends short film project and helped direct a bit and I felt like I was in my element once again and that lead me to thoughts of my own project that I had put on the back burner for years. So I then got my own project off the page and shot my short and started to explore. By exploring, this lead me to other projects including a short film “GUSH” that I star in and I just signed on to direct a Proof of Concept for a movie called “BISCUITS and GRAVY”. Initially I opened myself back up to a world I’ve been longing to continue to explore and I’m excited for the many doors I have yet to open!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part is definitely the process. I love the craft of it all. I love creating and working through the breakdown of a scene, a script or a song. Putting it all together is like one big puzzle to me and my process comes from different angles at times depending on what I need to pull from. Being acknowledged for great work is a bonus but for an audience to relate and feel what I intend my stories to tell is the most fulfilling to me as a creator.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: sarinadeviso
• Other: IMDB / Sarina de Viso

Image Credits
3 headshot images by John Keifer