Eimy Carhuaz - Interview

---

What's the absolutely necessary ingredient to be a good actor/director/screenwriter?

Definitely motivation. You need to have a clear idea and stay passionate about it until you're able to actually put something together and express it, through the actors, the crew, and the overall production. Another essential ingredient is effective communication. You need to make sure everyone is following your lead and on the same page. Especially in film, where you collaborate with people from so many areas-makeup, sound, lighting, choreography-you have to be able to share your vision clearly so your idea can truly come to life.

First and last cinematographic crush?

Lawrence Sher. The first time I saw Joker, back when it came out in 2019, I fell in love with the cinematography. Of course, it’s also deeply connected to the director’s choices, but the cinematography was incredibly effective in portraying the main character’s mental state, how unfair society can be toward innocent people, and the transitions between hallucinations and reality were just perfect. More recently, a film that made me fall even more in love with cinematography was The Substance, shot by Benjamin Kračun. It’s my favorite film among the most recent Oscar nominees.

How old were you when you decided you wanted to be an actor/director/screenwriter?

I was in my last year of high school when I decided I wanted to pursue a career in film instead of acting. I had been a theater kid since I was a little girl, but right before starting college, I began to wonder how everything was made and what happened behind the scenes. That curiosity led me to fall in love with directing and storytelling from behind the camera. 

For you, a film is...

Expression. Free art. And sometimes, a form of protest against the injustices of the world, but through art. Film allows you to say what you need to say, to deliver messages that society often refuses to acknowledge or understand.

What do you feel when you're acting/directing/writing?

When I’m writing, I let my imagination take me anywhere it wants. Sometimes I catch myself coming up with strange or unusual ideas, but then I realize that’s exactly the point. Telling stories that haven’t been told before is the heart of filmmaking. If your thoughts are original, that’s one of the most powerful things you can offer. When I’m directing, I feel truly fulfilled. I get to guide a team of talented people, all working together to bring a vision to life. It’s exciting to think that what we’re creating could leave an impact on others.

You can go to the movies with an actor/director/screenwriter that you love. What kind of movie do you choose and who are you going to watch it with?

I’m definitely going with Bong Joon-ho, and if we could watch Parasite together, that would be the best day of my life. I have so many questions, like how all those ideas came to his mind to create such a masterpiece, how the entire production was executed, and so much more.

Audrey Hepburn used to say “Nothing is impossible.” What do you think about it?

I believe that can be true, as long as you're willing to work for it.

Can you live just off your passion?

I definitely will live off my passion. And I’m proud of every single brave person who made the decision to follow what they truly want in life.

What’s more important: talent or luck?

Talent. If you just wait for luck to come to you, it might happen in some cases, but you won’t truly get anywhere by just waiting. And even talent isn’t enough on its own; you have to use it, work hard, and keep improving to really get somewhere.

You must go to a desert island but you can bring with you just one movie...

JOKER.

Have you ever accepted a part/a movie to direct/a script to write even if you didn’t like the project?

I was the cinematographer for The Battle of Princeton documentary, a project I worked on with a group for a class. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I didn’t like it, because I actually loved it. But I had no idea about the topic at first, I’m not gonna lie. I had to do quite a bit of research just to understand it and be able to contribute meaningfully.

I believe that’s part of the journey, not every project you join is going to be a “perfect fit” from the start, but that doesn’t mean it can’t teach you something or help you grow.

What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your job?

One day, an actor told me, “You’re such an aesthetic filmmaker,” (for how my visuals were looking) and that honestly made my day. I was directing on my own set and feeling super stressed out, but that compliment felt like a sign that everything was going to work out.  

Are you satisfied with your career?

Yes, I am. I know there’s still so much to discover, and I’m willing to work hard to find new opportunities and keep growing.

Do you have a good luck charm?

No.

What’s the worst moment on set?

When everything goes wrong at once, an actor gets sick, the location falls through, the weather’s a mess, or we’re missing a key prop, and everyone turns to the director like, “Now what?” As one professor said, “Someone has to ride the bus.” It’s stressful, but I also love the challenge of finding solutions and keeping the project alive.

How do you feel when a job you’ve been part of is ending?

Proud.

Have you ever lied to get a part/job?

Next question.

If you were to win an Oscar, your first thought would go to…

My mom. And then my dad. Easy.

Do you prefer comedy or drama?

I like drama because some of my favorite movies are dramas, like Devil's Advocate, Valmont, and Dangerous Liaisons. Some of my favorite actors are Viggo Mortensen, Carrie Fisher, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne and Meg Tilly. Acting transforms a person into someone that they're not. It encourages and inspires me that I can do it too.

Life imitates Art or Art imitates Life? 

Art imitates Life and an example is the movie 8 Mile, about Eminem doing a film about his life. I really enjoy the scene where he overcomes his fear and shares his rhymes with confidence in the rap battle. 

If someone made a movie about me it would be named “The Amazing Mara Stevë”, because I am amazing, versatile, perky, bouncy, witty and full of energy.

Which is the best Moment on set?

The first day on set. The reason why the first day on set is magical is the excitement of being on set for the first time. The first set I was on was this little indie, I don't know what happened to it. I played a Junior INS agent, it was one of my first roles in a film. I have been on set quite a bit. I have been an extra for several major productions and had many character roles on lots of indie productions. On my most recent set, I had the lead role in a short film called The Mad Rabbit. I played Alice in Wonderland who went through a crazy version of Wonderland. It was a film challenge at Filmapaooza where we had 45 minutes to shoot a 1 minute film.

Did anyone ever tell you weren't good enough?

When I was in school, a teacher told me I wasn't good enough to be an actor; But in a play that I was in (the teacher was directing), a Casting Director from LA was in the audience. A friend that I rode the bus with to school was in the audience too. My friend told me that the LA Casting Director said that if they were to call actors in for an audition for a film/tv show that they would call me in for an audition/meeting (the friend never told me who the casting director was).

How can you stay focused on your goal?

I like to read on my craft, stay in touch with my agents, take classes, and post about events I did in acting like events, projects that I'm on, etc. Some of my current goals are to work on mainstream films and tv shows and become full SAG (I am currently SAG-AFTRA eligible). Some of the acting books that have influenced me are Acting is Everything, Self Management For Actors, and Your Film Acting Career.

Have you ever had a breakdown because of your job?

I don't get tied up in things going on except techie issues, then I go Chicken Little. Like, where Google docs don't work, my email starts taking a life of its own or I click on something and everything goes wrong.

Talent is a blessing or a curse?

Talent can be a blessing because you can step into another world and become someone/something amazing. My first acting role was in “David and Lisa” and I played Sarah-5-year-old girl who befriends Lisa. It was my very first school play that I was in. On opening night, I got an autographed picture of Carrie Fisher in the mail - and when I was a little kid I saw the Oscars and since then I always wanted to be an actor. One of my favorite characters I have played is a tie - Martha, who is a social media influencer and also a no-nonsense serial killer and Suzie who is a social influencer who wants to be InstaFamous and is also a little “off”. Martha is from a Sag-Aftra web series “Nancy Days” and Suzie is from “Sam and the Butterflies”.

What would you like to improve about yourself as an actor?

Be able to remember lines faster. Some of my current ways are, to say and repeat, read out loud and read it silently. The acting classes that I take are mostly online-zoom and include script analysis, script techniques, and scene study.

What's the worst critic you have received?

I haven't received any yet, maybe except for me (my inner critic).

If you weren't an actor what would you like to be?

A casting director or an entertainment lawyer. The reason why I'm drawn to the entertainment industry is because of the glitz, glamour, the red carpet, and the fashion. My biggest, fun experience on the red carpet was at the 2025 Filmapalooza awards ceremony held in Seattle, where my film “The Sizzle Stars Intergalactic Galaxy Tour” was playing at the festival.

If cinema was a color what would it be?

Purple. Because purple is my favorite color.

A day without a movie is...

A day where I would have to find something else to do. I usually watch a couple of movies a week, sometimes more if I have more free time. I share a pretty large dvd collection. I like storytelling. I used to make up stories when I was little, it's rumored that I could tell stories in my sleep when I was little. My mom even put a recorder under my bed and was able to catch a few stories. I like eating plain buttered popcorn, Reese's Pieces, and a jumbo Diet Coke while watching movies. I like dramas, horror, and those epic dramas.

I really loved those period pieces with the big puffy dresses when I was little.

 If someone offered you to play in a movie that you despise but that for sure will make you rich and famous..would you accept the job?

I would reluctantly take it, especially if it were to get me into better roles and projects. My dream role would be to be in a Lord of the Rings style of film.

What's your greatest ambition?

Become a working paid SAG actor. I would like to be in films and tv series like, Constantine 2, John Wick 5, a Peter Jackson film, Bridgerton series, and a Game Of Thrones spinoff series. I would like to play a character that's innocent looking but can be lethal and be a great leader.

What's your biggest fear? 

Spiders. I'm ok with tarantulas, the big furry kind. I had a tarantula when I was little. Her  name was Lady.

Does music help you play? 

It helps me study. I like show tunes, some current pop, new age, and 80's music. Like Total Eclipse of the Heart, Glory of Love, Hell is for Children, Radioactive, Born this Way.

You have the chance to make a silent movie, what's your message to the audience?

You can act without actually speaking. I'm really good at non verbal acting roles, but I can also do your regular speaking roles too.

Share your speech if you should win an Oscar.

I want to thank the Academy, my agent and team. Monty for supporting me, my mom for telling me to keep going and not quit acting. The director, producers, and all the cast/crew. And everyone else that I forgot to mention. Don't let the joy suckers tell you not to give up pursuing your dream.