Ariana D’souza, rising actress, singer, and model, chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about her career in the entertainment industry and her future plans.
What inspires you each day as an actress and performer?
I’m inspired by the people I see everyday, its not always the people I see on TV. Being a performer, feels like making the people around you laugh, cry, reflect, hope and dream. So as an artist, I am consistently inspired, by the people around me and the people I see that are relentless and resilient. It’s not just to tell my story, but to depict others in a world where voices can feel very dimmed.
How does it feel to be a part of the digital age?
The digital age causes us to move at a faster pace. At a pace that we’re still getting used to. While there are a lot of changes in the digital world that are happening right now that can negatively impact art. I find that I have been learning and am inspired by artists around the world because of the connection and communication that having social media and a phone has given me.
Adaptability is the most important thing in life and ultimately makes the most successful individuals thrive and I feel fortunate to be in an age where information, art and opportunity is so accessible to me through my screen.
What do your plans for the future include?
I just released my first single ‘End of Route 66,’ a folk- rock song and I have plans to release an EP as well. Recently, my short film that I produced, wrote and starred in has been selected and nominated for the Cinematography for Actors Film Challenge in Los Angeles as well as the First Time Sessions Volume 11, in London. The international success of my own work has inspired me to write more, hence, I’m in the process of releasing a sci fi feature, produced and starring myself which I am excited to share with the world.
When it came to my short ‘Dog or Man,’ I collaborated with a director who worked on the 2020 Winner Daytime Emmy award winning, Outstanding Children’s Animated Series ‘The Dragon Prince’ and an extensive team, I knew my film was up for a lot of success. A lot of my future plans include leading in various features and shorts which are currently in pre-production and also continuing to inspire young artists through my coaching and directing.
Who were your biggest influences growing up?
My biggest influences have always been the direct inspirations around me. I think about how so many people have dreams but weren’t able to or didn’t have the means to achieve them. That influenced me to be the first, me to be the one to change, to adapt and to represent. I feel very proud about that and I think that we should be encouraging more artists worldwide to always strive to be that first.
What do you love most about acting?
Acting is just another word for storytelling. It’s one of the many ways one tells a story. A lot of people don’t have a voice. It’s our job as actors to be that voice, to tell stories that are untold. When I embody a character, I’m not reading lines. The lines become my words and my story that I am telling as that character.
Acting is one of the few places where my mind goes to feel truly alive, present, and like I’ve served this purpose of being on this planet. It’s like missing a limb; it really is.
What is your advice for young actors?
I coach acting and direct musical theatre for young students. I recently directed a production of Alice in Wonderland, the musical. The young actors I worked with came in not really knowing what acting was and left wanting to become an actor. That is how powerful acting is. But it’s not just acting that gives us that power; it’s us. It’s community, empathy and understanding one another globally. My biggest advice for young actors is to simply try.
Try and try and try again, not until you fail, but until you get what you want. It may take an extra couple of months; it may take a different direction. But you can ultimately achieve your goals by being incredibly grateful and disciplined.
Who are your dream acting partners?
I want to say that my dream acting partners are the ones that haven’t even been truly discovered yet. Like the 17-year-old writing an indie film in their garage or the 60-year-old woman doing community theatre for years. Look today at films like Obsession, Backrooms, The Invite. They all started with an individual story, perhaps some of these films being low budget and turned the world around.
I would also love to work with Sandra Oh, Emma Stone, Viola Davis. These are female front actors I heavily admire currently and would love to work with. At the end of the day, everyone has a story, and I have my story, mine that is yet to tell and share with the world.
What does the word success mean to you?
I’ve mentioned this in various other interviews. I think that the measure of success varies from person to person, artist to artist. You could say that the leading role I played in the theatrical release of ‘Only A Girl,’ in Hong Kong, was a success.
Or the various film festivals that ‘Congratulations You Died,’ another leading role of mine has been nominated for; Scumdance, Venezia Shorts, LA Indie Horror Fest, Bmore Horror Film Fest, International Film Gala London, which includes a jury of Oscar and BAFTA-winning and nominated professionals- is success.
Along with many of my other greatest achievements, I like to consider my success on the basis of my improvement and how I can turn my losses into wins. It’s not a race; we start at different starting lines and it’s not about who can book something the fastest; it’s longevity and passion that wins at the end of the race.
What would you say have been your greatest achievements that have led to your career path?
I am so grateful to have been given opportunities to audition and try. That’s something to be thankful for everyday. Some of my greatest achievements have shaped the way I conquer specific goals in my career path. Before the age of 18, I had already led and supported in various international commercials and led in various theatrical stage plays and films that have been premiered all over Hong Kong, such as ‘Fallen Leaves, Broken Lighters,’ at its finest art centres and some projects at cinemas around the world, such as ‘East Wind’ which premiered at the Tokyo International Short Film Festival.
I’m very grateful to be able to apply my craft through my extensive work in film, commercials and coaching. Recently, Congratulations You Died, a film I lead in has gone on to be selected for numerous nominations, the LA Indie Horror Short, has invited me to present at the festival and share words of success which I am incredibly honored to do.
Followed by the success of my own film ‘Dog or Man.’ I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to host film festivals and become a board member secretary of the LA Film Fest and to give back by coaching and directing to young artists in need.
To learn more about Ariana D’souza, follow her on Instagram.
