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

Claire, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have been so grateful to have been a part of something as meaningful to me as Undying Faith. When you take on any project you should always try to find some personal meaning in it. Wether its something small that maybe only you will relate to, or something like Undying Faith where the meaning is clear. This faith-based drama is not only something people can be touched by, but a message that I hope reaches people who may have never heard of Jesus Christ in quite this way. Besides the story being something that I really believe in, the people I have worked closely with while making and marketing Undying Faith have also come to mean a lot to me. They have such a heart for people and for God, which inspired the plot for the show as a way to love people by sharing the message of God’s love.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began entertaining as a kid at 5 years old. I took my first dance class after school one day and I loved it so much that there was no going back- I was in it for life, of course something I didn’t realize as a 5 year old. I went on to dance competitively for the next 6 years and soon realized I wanted something different. After many pep talks from my amazing mother, I auditioned for my first play at a community theater called Playhouse in the Park. I got my first role as a tap dancing chimney sweep! It took me a while to get comfortable with something so different from competitive dancing, but after a while it was like my second home. I eventually got more significant roles after I started taking acting classes with Danny Molise, who is the owner and director of the theater. I can truly say during my nearly 7 years there I learned more about acting and about life than I ever thought I would the day I walked in. In the last year or so of my theatrical career in 2019 I began auditioning for television and movies. Shortly after I began, I auditioned for a faith-based pilot called Undying Faith. After not only being cast, but cast as a lead character, I was ecstatic! We began filming when 2020 came and Corona virus shut down the industry. After months of waiting we were finally able to continue filming with safety protocols. It a wonderful learning experience for me working with such kind people.
I continued auditioning and once again was cast as the female lead in an indie film called Jublowski. That is where I met some of my best friends. I now know they are also some of the most creative and ambitious filmmakers in Alabama. I have been in several other short films in the last year and also have been growing my skills as a crew member.
I began working as a production assistant in 2020 and now have worked various positions such as Assistant Camera, Grip, Boom Operator, and my most recent job in the costumes department on a feature film in Birmingham.
I continue to learn everyday but I know I’ll never grow tired of story telling through any aspect of filmmaking.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Two of the biggest projects I have been an actress in have been shot in the wintertime, sometimes in below freezing weather. They were both lowbudget, a.k.a no where to go warm up between takes! One scene required me stepping into a creek in this harsh weather. I know it sounds silly, but at times like that it makes you question yourself! Of course in the end I made it through, but those were brutal days.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I have had to unlearn is that a “No”, in the industry, isn’t always a loss! Often times just getting an audition is considered a win when you consider how many people submit for each project. There can be many reasons why you weren’t cast that has nothing to do with your skill or talent. Maybe you don’t look like the daughter of the mom they’ve already cast, or maybe you’re too tall for the love interest they had in mind. There are lots of reasons why you shouldn’t be discouraged by a “No”, because any actor will get plenty.

Contact Info:

• Website: claireecarley.com
• Instagram: Claire.carley
• Facebook: Claire Carley