JULY 1, 2019
Meet Heather Fusari of Badb Films in Dunwoody Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Fusari.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Heather. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. I was born and raised in Clearwater, Florida. I studied abroad at Rose Bruford College in London, England- choosing this Performing Arts school as it was the same place where Gary Oldman studied acting. When I got back to the States, I moved to NYC to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse, honing in on the Meisner Technique, but it was also my first introduction to Modern Dance and Stage Combat. After I finished at the NPH, I began performing on stage in Off-Off and Off-Broadway plays such as Barefoot in the Park, The Key Exchange, among others. After three years of life in the theatre, I moved to LA where I shifted my focus on to the Film medium. It was LA where I was fortunate enough to connect with some incredible filmmakers, and learn the ins-and-outs of filmmaking both in front of the camera with my acting coach, Mr. Tim Phillips (whom I continue to study with to this day), and behind the camera. It was LA where I starred in my first action film and fell in love with the Stunt realm, which I really started pursuing three years later and have since performed stunts on shows like ‘The Walking Dead,’ ‘The Gifted,’ and ‘NCIS: NO.’ I moved to Atlanta at the beginning of 2017 and I’ve had the great fortune of starring in two-period piece films (a dream of mine) ‘Her Calling,’ and ‘Blood Country,’ both on Amazon. Her Calling was not only my first film as a Writer, Producer, and Lead Actress, but it was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress across the country in each of the festivals it was accepted.
In 2018, I performed the Lead role in John Patrick Shanley’s ‘the dreamer examines his pillow;’ another dream of mine come true, as Shanley is one of my favorite playwrights of all-time. I finished the run of that show and headed into filming with on ‘Live’ with the incredibly talented Ben McKenzie; then filmed ‘Treatment,’ a short film premiering at Film Festivals around the world, coming later this year; then into my next starring role of Olivia in Within Reach, another film I wrote, produced, starred in, but additionally, Co-Directed, a new and exciting area I’ve branched into- hitting the film festival circuit early next year. Currently, I am working with my production company Badb Films on three feature films; one including the adaptation of a book concerning a tragic train accident took place in 1900. Has it been a smooth road? My journey has been anything but smooth, and though the moments within my struggling chapters can be unbelievably difficult, I am truly thankful for each obstacle I’ve crossed paths with because it has taught me tremendous lessons. I’ve faced what feels like limitless rejections, films I’ve been cast for that are exciting and leveraging only to have them fall through due to one factor or another, I’ve slept in my car because I refused to get a ‘day job’ because it felt as though my soul was becoming numb and complacent, I’ve felt the taste of success only to fail on the following film I had done, I’ve had less than a dollar in my bank account and not known where my next dollar was coming from, I face sexism on a regular basis with men talking and behaving in inappropriate and unprofessional ways that are seen as ‘acceptable,’ been harassed, and stalked… BullS**t we shouldn’t have to deal with especially in a professional setting. However, in all the difficult moments and the feelings of defeat, I’ve become stronger, more focused, and grounded; knowing what I want and what I do Not want in my life. Whether that includes roles, films, opportunities, or people. Learning the lesson of which people I want to surround myself with or have to remove from my path has been, in my opinion, the hardest lesson of all because I am the kind of person who loves to connect and to see the potential in someone, and I do see it, and I want the best for everyone. Unfortunately, I’ve been burned and dragged down along my journey by toxic and negative people who refuse to learn, to grow and to evolve, so it saddens me, but I cut those people out of my life. I strongly believe that we are an average of the five people we surround ourselves with, therefore, why not surround yourself with greater people? Drop the fear or the ego and challenge YOURSELF to be better than YOU were yesterday… That is how you can become greater than any obstacle in your way. And believe me, I Still have to remind myself of this every day. So, as you know, we’re impressed with Badb Films – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others. My Production Company, Badb Films (it’s actually pronounced Bah-v, derived from the Irish Goddess), currently has one film in post-production, three features in Pre and five scripts in-development. We are known for bringing awareness to subject matters through our storytelling in the way of drawing personal connections between our audiences and the characters you see on the screen. As a company, we are most proud of the caliber of work we do. Whether the film is a short, no/low-budget, or a higher scaled budget, we take pride in creating films where the audience can get lost in the world they’re viewing and open their eyes to something or someone they never knew existed. Also, as an Actress who has been frustrated with the amount of crap out there- the scripts that have no depth, no complexities, and/or too much exposition- I love being able to take the reigns, explore characters and worlds we hardly see on the screen and tell stories from another perspective. Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least? I love the opportunities here in Atlanta. As an Actress and Filmmaker, I have had tremendous opportunities to audition and work on projects I was never even seen for while I was out in LA, I am surrounded by remarkably talented and brilliant creatives who love what they do and DO IT!
Atlanta has made it possible to live a more abundant life in regards to the work and opportunities, but also the nature around me- the parks, rivers, lakes, anything outdoors that fuels my soul. The thing I like least about Atlanta… the horrible drivers. Contact Info: Website: www.badbfilms.com Email: badbfilm@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hfusari/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badbfilm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hfusari
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