Emily Roman is an actress and dancer hailing from Canada. Recently, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion in the arts and entertainment industry. I found Emily to be wise beyond her years in this interview in which she shares her thoughts on social media, networking, and much more!
You are an actress and a dancer. Why do you think social media is important for young actors?
I think social media is important to young actors, not for popularity but for having a presence and a stage for your creations and work as an actor. I want my films to be in the theatres one day, but for now having social media as a platform to release my short films, or anything you as an artist create, is a great and easy way to expose your work to the world.
Do you have any advice for your followers on how to handle negative comments on their social media?
All the people at the top of their game usually say the same thing; don’t engage, don’t even bother to look. Of course, people’s opinions and feedback are what I love to hear, but every now and then when you come across a negative remark it’s okay to see it and read it. But don’t ever believe it. Anyone who takes the time to say something poor to you is already below you, so don’t give it your energy to analyze.
What do you look for in a film role?
I love film roles that are layered and complicated. I want to be able to dive into the character and learn all the different ways they live their life to therefore understand why they do what they do. I know there’s a lot of things about myself that are contradictory per say, so when a role also provides that substance and depth that we all face in reality, I get excited. Every character, no matter who it is, allows me to learn more about myself through becoming it. I love characters who are naturally flawed but try to do what they believe is the right thing. Characters with that motive and desire are really interesting to play, because they take you on a journey of how far they will go to achieve what they want.
How did you get started in dance?
I auditioned and joined my dance studio, the Canadian Dance Company, back when I was 8 years old, and got into their competitive program. Before then, I did a variety of sports and gymnastics recreationally, so I had an athletic background, but really no dance education prior. I stayed with my studio for 10 years, until graduating high school. It truly offered me some of the coolest and most memorable experiences of my young adolescent life. Plus, all the ruthless training and high-pressure circumstances really shaped who I am.
What is your favorite moment from being on stage dancing?
There are so many, it’s hard to choose. Whether it’s a solo, duet, or group, I have favorite memories for all of them. Yet, nothing really trumps the group dance experience. So, I would say my favorite moment dancing on stage would have to be at this one regional competition, the year right before the pandemic hit, so it technically was one of the last few competitions I did. It was the final night and there was a dance off, so we were re-competing a number for the final prize. Might I add, the whole competition so far, we weren’t doing very well, this other studio kept beating us, so we were going into the dance off feeling like the underdogs. Anyway, my group and I perform this group dance and I just remember there was this subconscious feeling that we were all on the same page, fighting for the same thing with all we had. There was this shared hunger when we danced unlike ever before, and to top it off our friends and families in the audience were screaming so loud for us, it was incredible. We gave it our all and when we won the dance off, it was a different feeling of victory, more earned I would say. Not like there haven’t been times before when we had to fight to win, but this time I really wasn’t sure if we would, I just knew we had to step up. There’s this video of us onstage cheering and jumping together after we won and I would always look back on it and smile, shout out to my dance fam love you guys.
You go to a lot of red-carpet events. What has been your favorite event so far?
I’ve been lucky to attend some great carpets so far, and to be festive, I would have to say the Love Actually Live premiere was my favorite. The venue it was held at was beautiful and very chic, and the performance was filled with incredible vocal talent, and it’s one of my favorite holiday films so how could I not enjoy it?
How important do you think networking is to a budding career?
I think the term networking can stir up a lot of different feelings and preconceptions. I personally don’t like to call it “networking”, because it automatically turns into a very self-serving act that no one really wants to deal with. When interacting with new people in your industry, you have to be able to stay human and be a genuine person; take interest in their life before pitching yours. That being said, the art of networking can be stripped down to connecting with others. I’ve found that through experience in these different situations, there’s always a way to inform the other person of who you are and what you want to do, if you just relax and be yourself, the right time can sometimes even present itself, when you don’t have desperation clouding your vision. To sum it all up I would say connecting with people is half, or more, the job in the entertainment industry, and no one wants to employ or collaborate with someone they don’t like, so always be kind and truthful, and the right people will see the potential in you, so you can form a true relationship.
Are there any upcoming projects you can share with our readers?
Yes! I’m in preproduction on my next short film I will be directing, it will be shot here in Los Angeles. I have recently expanded my American team and am excited to keep auditioning in the US!
Photo Credit: Maureen Stockton
