We had the good fortune of connecting with Christianna Carmine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christianna, do you have any interesting experiences or advice related to making friends as an adult?
I genuinely like people so I believe that has a lot to do with my ability to forge long lasting relationships throughout my life. I believe that developing good and solid relationships in adulthood requires us to adopt a bit of what made it so easy as children and young adults – in short, the desire to make friends. Often, as we grow older, we also grow more suspicious of others and their “angle”. Not that this isn’t without some merit, but we shouldn’t allow our waning trust in others prevent us from forming healthy friendships that can serve as a tremendous benefit to our emotional, mental, spiritual and physical well being. My best friend of 12 years was someone I met at the gym. She seemed cool and laid back and one day I suggested we grab coffee – the rest, as they say, is bestie history! A few years ago, I kept bumping into a fellow filmmaker at events. Every time we chatted she would crack me up, so one day I reached out and asked if she wanted to grab lunch. Since then, she has become a close and treasured friend. Simply put, if I meet someone with good energy who I would like to get to know better, I make an effort to do so. Obviously, not to the detriment of my current relationships and/or responsibilities, but certainly enough to build a foundation of trust and respect. It doesn’t always work, there are going to be some false starts, but for the most part I have been pretty lucky in forming and maintaining wonderful friendships. I am really committed to “showing up”. I do my very best to show my friends that I care through my actions. I am not always successful, but I’d like to think I am more successful than not.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a commercial actor and indie film director. I spent years performing on stage as a young actor before moving to LA to pursue film and television work. During my early years working on set, I would grow incredibly bored sitting in holding and would keep myself occupied by hanging around and watching the crew work. It just seemed so fascinating to me. I remember being on the set of a low budget indie when a massive rain storm came upon us – on a day when we were to be shooting all outdoor scenes. Everyone hunkered down in their trailers and I stayed with the camera crew – covering up the equipment and running it back to the trucks. Later, I asked the director if I could observe when I wasn’t in front of the camera. He obliged and by the end of the shoot, I was hooked. A few days after we wrapped, I marched into Samuel French (a since shuttered industry bookstore) and bought every book I could find on directing. Shortly after, I directed my first short and can admit that I really didn’t know what I was doing. My thought process went a bit like this: ‘Shot lists? Why on earth would I do those? Hire a first AD? Pffft, I don’t need one!’ I look back now and have no idea how that film got made, perhaps it was blissful ignorance or sheer stubbornness. Maybe both. Suffice it to say, that is not how I approach projects nowadays! I enjoy telling stories with a lot of heart. I love working with actors and encouraging them to bring their uniqueness to each role, but by far my favorite part of being a director is the collaborative nature of it all. I get a thrill working with everyone on set from my DP (Director of Photography) to the PA’s (Production Assistants). To me, a film or television show operates like a machine where every individual working on set is an integral part of that machine. I try to create an energy on set that is one of support and mutual respect knowing that we are all part of bringing a story to life. I heard a saying once that many first time filmmakers never go on to do another film. I would have to say that I am most proud of the fact that I have been able to direct several projects over the last few years. I am humbled to be entrusted with someone else’s script and have the opportunity to bring their vision to life. Currently, I am pursuing a career in TV directing which has been a rather interesting challenge. Television is exceptionally difficult to break into as an independent film director and one has to really want it if they hope to get the opportunity to direct episodic TV. It requires a tremendous amount of patience on top of talent, tenacity and luck. I would say I am up for such a challenge!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love showing people around Los Angeles. I would likely start with a hike at Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills and head to Sushi at one of my favorite spots, perhaps Kiwami by Katsu-Ya or Asanebo Sushi. We would spend time in downtown’s Art District and visit the Broad Museum one day, Grand Central Market and one of several fabulous eateries like Bestia or Redbird another day. A visit to the beach is a must, so I would start early in the morning in Palos Verdes and drive along the coast, stopping for lunch in Manhattan Beach before hitting Venice to peruse the shops along Abbot Kinney and ending the day in Santa Monica where we would have dinner and drinks at the Misfit Bar. I would challenge my guests to a work out at the Santa Monica stairs during their visit, treating ourselves afterwards to donuts at Sidecar. A visit to Griffith Park is a must, afterwards checking out Tacos Tu Madre in Los Feliz. Since I am a nerd, we’d have to spend a day at the Getty and LACMA to get our culture on! If this visit were occurring in the summer, a movie night at Hollywood forever cemetery would definitely be on the itinerary, as well as a show at the Pantages Theater and the Hollywood Bowl. Los Angeles has so many incredible hidden gems that I would use being a tour guide as an excuse to check out some cool new spots to eat drink and explore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to give a shoutout to the Alliance of Women Directors, where I serve as a board member. Alliance of Women Directors is an incredible organization that supports and elevates female/female identifying directors through education and mentorship. I am incredibly proud to be part of an organization that is changing the narrative for women working within the entertainment industry.

Hanelle Culpepper and Mary Lou Belli are two extremely talented, working directors who have been instrumental in inspiring and elevating female filmmakers and deserve a shoutout as well!

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout to my husband. He has been a source of constant support and has gone to great lengths to help me carve out time to fully pursue my creative endeavors.

Website: christiannacarminedirector.com
Instagram: @ccarminedirects
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/christiannacarminedirector
Twitter: @ccarminedirects

Image Credits
Christianna Carmine, Richard Galli