Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to GINA DAIDONE. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, GINA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with 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?
When I was a kid in school, I was not what one might have considered a good student. I loved English class and PE, but my adolescent brain had trouble processing principal subjects like math and science so traditional “learning” didn’t really interest me, and my grades were generally mediocre at best. I find it tragic that our education system still tends to measure an individual’s intelligence with aptitude exams or acquired accolades about a set of fixed topics that we often have no choice about.
As an adult, I learn my craft(s) with so much enthusiasm and passion because they are topics that I choose, topics that excite and intrigue me. Now, my craft falls into three definitive categories: acting, writing, and cocktails.
As an actor, I learn by consuming content such as movies, TV shows, and live theatre, studying how other actors perform and emote. I’m currently in ongoing training at Anthony Meindl Actors Workshop and absolutely love the studio. Going to class, observing other actors’ work and practicing scenes for my own artistic development is the best part of my week. I also take stage combat courses which instructs actors in various stunt techniques and weapons training for being on-camera.
For writing, I devour books and other literature to find inspiration from the way other writers tell their stories. Sometimes I watch Masterclass where notable authors and screenwriters share their thoughts and advice. I have a handful of other writer friends whom I share my work with and vice versa; we edit each other’s writing and give constructive feedback.
When it comes to cocktails, I learn through online research or watching Instagram and Youtube videos about different spirits and cocktail creations. I also study the cocktail menus at restaurants and enjoy having conversations with bartenders when I’m out and about around town.
The best part of it all is that learning a craft is a lifelong undertaking. For as much knowledge as I may currently have in my different disciplines, there will always be more to learn, which is something I now find exciting and not at all daunting like it was back in my school days.
GINA, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born and raised on a little island called Manhattan, in the heart of New York City. There, I obtained degrees in Creative Writing & Literature, as well as International Relations with a minor in Journalism. For a time, I thought I wanted to work for the United Nations or State Department, but instead fell into a career as a criminal justice reporter for the New York Post. I did that for almost three years, before deciding that news media was no longer for me. I wanted to pursue more creative endeavors and to grow personally and professionally, so I packed up and moved to Los Angeles. Since moving to LA, I’ve transitioned from creative writing and journalism into screenwriting, which is a perfect blend of both; undoubtably creative but with many technical aspects. I’ve written several short film screenplays (mostly dark comedies with some supernatural elements) which have been produced by local independent filmmakers and I’m currently working on the script for my first full-length film. I am also working on a novel which is loosely based off my time as a newspaper reporter.
I’ve acted in numerous short films and a handful of TV shows, as well as a supporting role in my first feature film last year. The last production I worked on earlier this year was a proof-of-concept about corruption within law enforcement where I play a dirty cop and had an amazingly fun fight scene that I can’t wait to share once it becomes available for viewing. I’m also very happy to have recently signed with Aqua Talent agency and look forward to what the future holds for us, especially once the SAG strike ends.
Outside of acting and writing, I’m currently (and proudly) Head Bartender at the Chateau Marmont hotel restaurant where I’m helping develop our beverage program, focusing on offering cocktails that are both classic and will honor the historic energy of the hotel, while also incorporating new trends in the ever-growing sector of mixology. I believe that similar to acting and writing, cocktails are another wonderful way to tell stories through spirits and spark interesting conversations. Occasionally, I also work as a bartender/bar manager doing special events all around Southern California and beyond. I’m very proud of my “survival job” having worked in hospitality for most of my adult life; I have a wealth of food and beverage knowledge and my work in the service industry has afforded me many excellent opportunities. I have bartended at prominent awards shows, massive weddings, music festivals, and other incredibly cool events in cities all around the country, as well as Mexico and Canada. I’ve been fortunate to have had endlessly unforgettable experiences and met tons of wonderful people along the way.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
My time as a newspaper reporter was complicated in more ways than I can ever explain. For one thing, often times you have to put your emotions aside in order to get the story done and remain as objective as possible. Casually talking about murder and mayhem on a daily basis takes a certain kind of… personality. I’m only human and it wasn’t always easy, but I think I got really good at it for a while. Maybe too good. When I finally accepted the fact that I loved acting and wanted to pursue it professionally, I had to unlearn compartmentalizing my feelings and figure out how to allow them to flow more freely. How do you go from stoically observing the world around you and keeping your emotions at bay for the sake of self-preservation and professional advancement, to then allowing all of it (the good, the bad, and everything in-between) to affect you in ways that you can actually use as a valuable tool for your art? Well, I don’t quite have that answer yet since it is something that I am still working to unlearn. I know I’m making progress and even when it feels too hard to continue, when I feel like I’m failing, I stay strong in the belief that ultimately it will benefit me tremendously in my work and my personal life too.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think something that people in non-creative career fields sometimes fail to understand is that even though a person in a creative career may not have “made it big”, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve the respect to be taken seriously in their craft. It’s common to hear the phrase “aspiring actor” or have someone say that you’re “trying to be a writer”, “trying to be a musician”. We aren’t trying, we are. I am an actor and I am a writer. Just because I haven’t acted in a blockbuster movie or award-winning TV show yet, just because I have not yet been published by a major distributor or made it to the NY Times best seller list, doesn’t mean I’m not a professional in my field. I struggled with imposter syndrome for a long time, so I’m especially proud when I am able to give myself credit as a serious artist. For a long time, I was guilty of thinking of myself as “aspiring” because I came into acting a bit later in my life and felt like I had so much catching up to do. I’ve seen such outstanding actor performances, read the work of truly impressive writers and felt like I would never be as good as them. And the truth is I won’t ever be as good as them because I will be different and can still be great in my own right. Non-creative and creative people should also know that you can be many things. We shouldn’t put ourselves into boxes. You can be a creative person who also enjoys and excels at “non-creative” work or technical endeavors. You can be someone who works in a non-creative field and have creative hobbies. You don’t have to be one thing or another. Just be you and do what brings you joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ginadaidone.com
- Instagram: @ginadaidone
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginadaidone
- Other: https://vimeo.com/ginadaidone