Interview with Tamela D’amico. When someone feels others through their characters, the realities pass through their veins. When she experienced the people of India, it taught her true and deep values of life. Keep reading and exploring Tamela D’amico’s journey to learn how she found the true values of life. Equilibrium in life comes when there is a balance of mind, body, and soul.
Tamela D’amico discussed her recently released song, “Boring 20s,” and ideas behind writing the lyrics, as well as, her recent role as Raina in the movie One Little Finger. It is a universal truth that humans keep learning every day, especially from experience.
Interview with Actor Tamela D’amico
How many talents under one roof? Have you taken special trainings and courses for being a singer, actress, and filmmaker?
Tamela D’amico: I studied at Florida State University’s Film school and Strasberg Actors Studio, as well as trained in many well-known Master Classes for acting and singing in and around Los Angeles. I have been fortunate to have a lot of amazing mentors. Craft can be taught, but I believe talent and desire is generally innate.
Tamela D’amico would you like to sing your favourite song in your voice for your audience and readers?
Tamela D’amico: How about you showcase my new single release Boring 20s which is out now on all platforms?
Have you ever written lyrics for your song, if yes, please write it down and tell us more about how the ideas of writing came from?
Tamela D’amico: Do you mean the lyrics for Boring 20s? I love melody. In traditional pop jazz music that I have released, I have recorded mainly American Standards and other people’s written music and have some of my own that is set to release. My own music is usually born from my poetry or journals. I find that whenever something is taxing me, I need to get my feelings out on paper. I never set out to write something, specifically for my career. It just happens. For Boring 20’s, while in quarantine, I was getting a little stir crazy, staying home. So, I dipped into my bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish in the downtime. So, I utilized a lot of my time to do all that had been on the creative back burner. The new 20s started in a way that was less than what I had dreamed of, being a Jazz baby.
I had notions of grand revivals of the Jazz Age for the 2020s. My father was sick and then passed away, I was unbearably sad. I needed my music and after trying to uplift myself listening to electros wing music. I reached out to producer Wolfgang Lohr & songwriter/performer Ashley Slater (I didn’t know them) after hearing one of their awesome electros wing tunes on Twitter, of all places. I told them that I wanted to write a song with them about how this new twenties time period is not the “roaring twenties” I imagined, but rather the “Boring 20s”. We brainstormed, and they did the magic they do and while in 3 different countries, we agreed to work together all through email and never spoke live until the product was finished. That amazes me the most.
Why did they say yes? How did we get it done? The song concludes all I was feeling at the time which I learned was pretty much what everyone else was feeling thanks to the masterful wordsmith that Ashley is, feeling the feels with me. And Wolfgang uplifting us up with these beats to dance to. They are truly an amazing team.
Song Boring 20s by Tamela D’amico
I had my phaser set, I set it to fun This roaring 20s was gonna be the one The parties, the booze, the life, the nights Ready to roar Then came the virus baby, life was no more I was gonna strut my moves, work the schmooze Drink the booze, ignore the news, work my shoes Then it all went wrong Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh Just let me out or I will kick down the door Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh This roaring 20s is the boring 20s There is no nightlife and there is no daylife No Jenny Diver cos I ain’t Mac The Knife Four walls and walls and walls and walls is all that I see If I can’t break out soon, there’ll be no more me. I was gonna strut my moves, work the schmooze Drink the booze, ignore the news, work my shoes Then it all went wrong Can’t even get out of my bed every day Even when when the sun starts to shine A Tik Tok diet but I can’t even play The steps to heaven number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh Just let me out or I will kick down the door Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh This roaring 20s is the boring 20s
Tamela D’amico what role you would love to act and with whom you wish to work with?
Tamela D’amico: I don’t like to discuss things before they are in motion, but… I have a project in development right now that I would love to work on with Anthony Hopkins.
Do you have any further plan to work with Indian actors and directors? Moreover, tell us more about the story while shooting for “One little finger” how did you enjoy in India. Please tell us more about what culture, food, city, and people you liked there in India?
Yes, definitely spread the word that I would love to be hired to go back to India to do more film roles and even a thriller! I loved filming in the beautiful tea gardens of Assam. By day, they are beautiful and by night there is a lot of shadow and I think there could be a great thriller story some place in there. I loved all the people, traditions, and colors I came upon as we traveled locations in India. I was welcomed with warm hearts and have kept lifelong friends in those I met while filming. If I went back to India to film, I would love for it to have musical elements and would just be thrilled if my dear friend and music superstar Asha Puthli could be a part of it.
In One Little Finger, I played a character named Raina, an American neurologist in a not so great relationship with her Rockstar boyfriend. He believes she has made her focus on music therapy only to grow closer to him. That being far from the truth, she uproots her life to research music therapy in India at a disability institute when her mentor offers her the opportunity to do so. She leaves the stresses of her personal life behind and finds herself in a new land teaching children and adults with disabilities through her exact music theories as therapy. When she sees the students are responsive to her theories, she inspires them to challenge themselves through their abilities, and their lives are transformed, having to plan and put on a concert at the end of her time there. Touched by the beauty of the culture and the varying stories of the children with disabilities, Raina’s philosophy and theories about a music therapy change.
Through her experience, she understands that balance of mind, body, and soul is vital in realizing life’s true value. That disability is a perception, and “ability” is what we believe. She would have never learned that if she had not gone to India and had this particular experience. Raina heads back to the States after the students have a successful music concert, having grown as a person, with a new concept about music and love. Ironically, I got to take the journey as Raina in real-time. I was a fish out of the water, experiencing India and all of its marvels for the first time. Whatever she was going through, I was as well. We had over 80 people with disabilities in the film, most of which are marvelous musical talents. Raina’s worries and joys, as a fish out of water, were also my own.
Filming in India was a delight, and I highly recommend it. I had no idea what to expect, even though I had vetted 20 people who had traveled/filmed there. No one seemed to give me practical knowledge besides “don’t drink the water.” I was treated like royalty by everyone I encountered in India, and I absolutely adored it.
I am very well aware that my time there was not typical. I went there as a “Hollywood” person and was truly treated as such. Also, my reps insisted that I was protected at all costs, so I joke that I was in “Actor Jail.” I didn’t really get to be a tourist, but mainly because we had a heavy shooting schedule. I shot in India, traveling back and forth over two years.
This film was my first visit to India, and we filmed on location in Assam and Kolkata. All of my interactions with the cast and crew were lovely. In America, we deal with so many unions in the entertainment industry. I felt like in India, everyone worked until the job was done. If anyone had any gripes or issues, that was definitely hidden from me.
I can’t say that it is any better or worse than filming in America; it is just very different. What remains the same is everyone’s love of the craft. We were supposed to have our premiere for the film in Mumbai, but the pandemic eradicated those plans. I look forward to going back there and linking up with the large cast and crew who have all kept in touch with me and since become like family.
Tell us what film you would like to make if you get a chance to make? Furthermore, please enlist your evergreen and favourite movies you love to watch anytime and why?
Tamela D’amico: I would love to make a film that showcases all the arms of my talents, a period musical. There are too many films to list. Some favorite movies that come to mind, right at this moment, in no particular order…
- It’s a Wonderful Life – I watch it every year with my family. Made by the great Sicilian filmmaker, Frank Capra, I have built the basis of my love of movies on his history and this film. I love stories that champion the “little man” who thinks he can be great, if he could just get out of his small town, only to realize that he is already great within it. Without understanding Capra, I would, might have, not become a filmmaker.
- Age of Adaline – If ever there was a movie that I wish I were a part of, it would be this. It captures all the elements I love about filmmaking and film themes. I could watch it a million times.
- Funny Girl – this film, the history of Fanny Brice and the talent of Barbra Streisand speaks for itself.
- Stand by Me – it’s a perfect film. Watch it.
- The Father – Director Florian Zeller’s poetic direction is like something out of a dream I had once. Can’t wait to see more of his films and would like to work with him.
- Doctor Strange – I love Scott Derrickson’s direction in this film and Michael Giacchino’s score. It conveys all the elements of a big picture universe with extraordinary planning of filmmaking that inspires me on a grand level.
