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

Hi Natara, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Initially, it was Guy Nardulli and Aidan Bristow’s idea to start First Take Acting Studios. They really had a passion for providing an open and safe space for serious actors to hone their craft. When I came on as their assistant, recruiting actors who were interested in trying our new acting studio, I also developed an eagerness to see actors come to the studio and develop in their craft in ways they never thought they could. As an actor, I definitely know what it’s like to discover something new about yourself that you didn’t know you were cable of. So to see other actors do the the same after being apart of our studio for months is really exciting and inspiring to witness.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Guy and Aidan introduced a character development process that’s different than what any other studio offers. We have improvisation nights that cater to the characters and scenes that we’re doing in scene study class. Instead of writing out events and memories our character’s have had that trigger the way we react in our scene, we come in and talk about what potential scenarios could have happened that make our character who they are in the present. Then we bring those scenarios to life in the studio using improvised conversations or interactions. For example, in one session, I played the role of Becca in Rabbit Hole. I did the specific scene where she sits down for the first time since the accident and has a conversation with her sons killer, Jason. That scene was very challenging because I had to really understand what was being said sub-textually between both characters. It was like they were being very polite to each other while avoiding bringing up the big elephant in the room that Jason had killed my son. But in order for me to understand why it hurt to bring up the accident, I had to know how it felt to experience that horrific accident. So in our Tuesday night improv class, we created a scenario of me running out of the house and finding my 6 year old son in the street after accidentally being hit by Jason. We redid that improvised scene 2 or 3 times until I felt comfortable emotionally expressing myself with something sensitive like this. But after putting myself through that experience, i began to feel these feelings of anger, heartbrake, panic and fear all at the same time as I was trying to bring my son back to life. That eventually truly helped me comprehend how I, Becca, was feeling in my actual scene. I believe that our bodies don’t really know the difference between what’s real and what’s not when it comes to feeling strong emotions. So when it was time to recall why I wanted to avoid talking about the accident with Jason, it was easier to feel why.

This is a process I think many actors would appreciate using to help elevate their skills in stepping into a character. Not only does it help with their current scene, but it prepares you with future similar characters that they may be asked to play whether for an audition, or film or class scene, because you’ll automatically physically remember what it’s like to be that same kind of character. I think right now the challenge we are still having as a studio is getting actors more actors in here so that they can realize how much this process is beneficial. But i know with time, we’ll eventually get there.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

First Take Studios is located in North Hollywood, so there’s so many eat out and hang out spots to try. I’d say one of my favorite spots around there is Pitfire Pizza on Lankershim blvd. The vibes their at night are so chill and relaxing. You get the luxury of having a nice drink with desert and some pizza while sitting around a fire with friends. It’s just the perfect wind-down spot I’d recommend trying.

Rockefeller in Manhattan Beach is also one of my favorite places to go. I have a great friend who lives near there, and it’s our go to spot before hanging out at the beach. Great tacos, burgers and such. But I highly recommend their banana bread! I was in shock when I first tried it because I’m usually not a big sweets/desert person, but basically I ended up taking almost the whole thing home that day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I’d like to give credit to my amazing grandmother Cynthia. Ever since I’ve decided I wanted to act and got myself parts in shows , she’s always made sure to book a seat front and center and support my love for acting no matter the season or the day. She’s given me so much advice on my career and continues to stress the importance to keep strength and persistence when it comes to following my dreams. I’d say i’m usually pretty self- determined but on those occasional days when I have doubts as a normal human and think no one will understand or be there to lift me up, she always just knows exactly what to say to keep me seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in this business and to never give up. She’s the one telling me to never settle to be just ok, but be the best version of myself as an artist and as a person that I can be. I just love her so much!

Website: https://1sttakeactingstudios.wixsite.com/first-take-acting-st

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Other: Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@1st.take.acting.s?_t=8lgB8LPZAyc&_r=1

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