As part of a Q&A series with our faculty, the USC School of Dramatic Arts spoke with faculty member Gabriella Santielli about her multifaceted career, her approach to actor training, and her philosophy of staying in motion as a working artist.
Tell us a little about your professional career.
Gabriella Santielli: I’m an actress with a voice, and I listen for a living. I grew up playing instruments (badly), dancing (passably), singing (well) and acting (a lot). By my senior year in college (studying acting, directing and music), I was singing opera professionally. So I decided to go through the open door, and pursued a classical singing career in opera, operetta, musical theatre and choral singing. While living in London, UK, I dove headlong back into Meisner Technique, and pivoted back towards acting and directing. More recently, I’ve delved into screenwriting, with my first feature film currently in pre-production.
What is the most rewarding part of teaching?
Creative breakthroughs through the deep exploration of acting training. Sanford Meisner said, “The seed to the craft of acting is the reality of doing.” There is a difference between education (learning about the thing) and training (leaning to do the thing). Helping actors develop and hone acting techniques that will endure for a long-haul career is truly rewarding.
What research or preparation do you do before beginning a project, whether you’re coaching or performing?
When coaching dialects, I refresh my technical understanding of the more rare accents, the ones I don’t work with as frequently. If I am coaching an actor on an entire role (acting or accent), I read the script beforehand. When singing, I learn the music (notes/rhythms), and the interpretation (diction, language, text analysis). When acting, I research the role and/or the production (historical background, intellectual property, who’s directing, etc.), and I use the Essential Elements Checklist (for more info, enroll in my new course: Bridge To The Profession: The Essential Elements of Professional Screen Acting).
What is your favorite advice to give to students?
Strive to be an Object In Motion! Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion (aka the Law of Inertia!) says it best: objects in motion stay in motion (and objects at rest stay at rest). So go through the open door to keep moving. When you say YES to the opportunities coming at you, magic will conspire to elevate you. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “At the moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires to assist you.” I have experienced this again and again, and it’s based on another scientific principle: The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or transferred from one form to another. In other words, when you put positive energy out there (an audition, a meeting, a production), your effort will reap a response. Not always from the direct thing you were moving towards, but something will always ping back. You will learn and grow from every opportunity you say YES to. And one thing definitely leads to another.
But if you’re not sure about a particular opportunity, ask yourself: does the project check at least one of these boxes?
- Will I work with an amazing actor, director or writer?
- Will I perform in an exciting venue?
- Will I travel and see a new part of the world?
- Will my work be seen by a lot of people?
- Do I just love the show/role?
- Will I earn enough money to make it worth it?
- Will I be able to join one of the actors’ guilds?
ABOVE ALL — STAY IN MOTION!
What opportunities or resources at SDA should students explore if they’re interested in your areas of expertise?
Qualifying students can sign up to coach with me via the PDC (Professional Development Center), typically on Thursday afternoons.
Any fun facts we should know about Gabriella Santielli?
While living in the UK for 15 years, I performed in a dream show at a dream venue: Jerry Springer – The Opera at the National Theatre in the West End. I won a Best Supporting Performance Olivier Award and sang on the original cast album. Dreams come true!