We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emma Burnside. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emma below.
Emma, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Growing up I was an athlete, so I’d say that definitely helped. During my career as a competitive gymnast and an acrobat and the years of training prior, I had discipline instilled in me from an early age. That routine, consistency and desire to push myself to the next level bled over into every facet of my life – especially once I found the love, exploration and freedom that exists for me in the creative aspects – specifically acting, filmmaking and singing. When I find something gives me fuel and my life becomes more intensely alive because of it, I can’t help but devote all of my time and energy towards it. I’ve always been hungry for growth and working for that growth is really the only way I know how to live my life. And I love it that way.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Acting is a truly remarkable craft. You get to use all of yourself. You get to explore yourself, humanity, connection and everything that goes with it. There’s so much freedom in that. To be in a constant state of play and entirely committed to the circumstances and the story you’re a part of portraying, is surreal. To lose yourself in the moment and step out of your shoes, completely immersed in another world – there’s really nothing quite like it. It’s like a parallel universe right at your fingertips.
I’m in constant search for this sensation and I’m so grateful that I’ve been given the opportunities I have so far. I’m always wanting to dig a little further, understand a little bit more. I’m very excited about a few upcoming projects on screen and in the theatre, and I cannot wait to be a part of bringing them to life.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Frist and foremost, curiosity, tenacity and a deep sense of knowing/belief that this ability exists in me and that my creativity (specifically acting, filmmaking and music) is how I best connect with the world and all it holds. I think the combination of those factors gives me the drive to keep going, even through times when it didn’t feel like I was progressing career wise. During those periods of what could have otherwise felt like stagnation, I always had my craft. Come to think of it, I’ve found it’s actually the best way I can connect with myself, too – through my craft. The more active I am with acting, filmmaking and music, the more it makes, the more I feel I make sense in the world.
Now I’m focusing on getting those 10 years of meticulous exploration of honing my acting craft out into the world. Being bold and fearless with my actions so that I can continue to build the career that I want. This is through networking, creation of my own projects in the past, and upcoming projects in the future. I really don’t want to play it small anymore. I’m beyond ready and it’s time to break through any remaining fears.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Personally, I like to go all in with the couple of things that I’m most drawn to. I like to excel in these specific areas and take the time and effort to master them. Then I like to have a team that are equally as passionate about their specific roles. For example, when I’m acting, I love being able to let go and get completely absorbed in my character during takes, trusting that the rest of the team are supporting me and each other. When I’m producing, I’m hiring people that I believe can work together to bring the story to life. I think this kind of leadership is important because whatever it is that lights your soul on fire is always the thing that you can gain that next level of expertise in. And I think it’s important to acknowledge that – to have the confidence to say “this is what I’m great at” and the humility in other areas to say “this other person is able to do something next level with this position, so it’s right that they have it”. There is also simply not enough time in the world to be an expert in everything! Although, that’s not to say you pay no attention to the other departments that you’re not actively participating in. When I’m acting, I need to know a bit about cinematography and lighting so I can work with those departments during each take to help most effectively tell the story. That knowledge makes me a better actor because I’m able to work cohesively with the rest of the team.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @emma.burnside
Image Credits
George Ganio Jonny Marlow Catherine Bonny Jamil Karn
