Marisa Guterman [Interview]

July 27, 2018 by Leave a comment


We have an incredible interview for you fine folks today! I’ve honestly always wondered about the actress Marisa Guterman. I may not have known her by name, but I’ve always thought about her. Marisa had an absolutely amazing appearance in one of the finest comedies of this millennium, which of course is The 40 Year Old Virgin. If you can’t quite put your finger on her appearance, think about braces. Yeah, that’s it. You know it now.

And as we tend to do, we discovered that Marisa has done so much more wonderful work beyond the thing we knew about. Which is amazing! And I want to tell you all about that stuff! Marisa is a brilliant singer in her own right, she has a banging ass company, and a strange love for the city of Cleveland that I respect. And we are so excited that she wanted to share some words with us here today.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, please enjoy some amazing words from the brilliant Marisa Guterman!

When did you decide that you wanted to join the world of acting? I know you started in the business at a very young age, but I am curious as to when you decided that this was a way that you wanted to earn a living?

When I was almost seven, my mom picked me up from school and I told her that I wanted an agent. She was like, “How do you know what that is?” It happened very organically — acting is almost inherent to who I am. I’ve always been a performer, and acting was my first way to channel that creativity. I was a toddler in a Macy’s fashion show and I cried when I had to leave the stage. I still cry today if you try to pull me off a stage.


I understand you are also an accomplished musician in your own right? How did this passion evolve? What drew you to the world of music?
 
I started singing at a very young age. I was small, but had a booming, soulful sound, even at age 6. I fell in love with Jazz. Dinah Washington, Thelonius Monk, Ella [Fitzgerald], Nat King Cole — these artists informed my sound. I incorporated those elements into my own music when I transitioned to songwriting. Songwriting became the perfect outlet for me, a blend of creativity, emotion and journaling. I also grew up very immersed in the world of 60s/70s because of my parents. I played with a band for a while, which I recommend everyone try. I still make music with my guitarist from that band, Mike Cionni. I also worked at Sony Music, so I got a taste for the business side of the industry.
 
 
You had a hilarious scene with the great Steve Carell during a flashback in the classic comedy 40 Year Old Virgin. It seemed like it might have been a bit awkward, but still pretty hilarious. So what was it like to work with Carell on a scene like this? Was it a fun experience overall?
 
The most awkward part of the whole experience was being sandwiched in between my two grandmothers while watching it in the theatre. It was a wonderful experience. Steve Carrell, Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow were all in the room for my callback. And when I finished the scene, Seth said, “That’s the trailer for the movie.” Shooting was a blast, and you had the feeling on set that this was going to be something very special. And it is.
 
 
If you were offered the chance to portray any influential character in American history, who would it be? 

This is easy. Ruth Bader Ginsberg. There is no woman or person (outside of Harriet Tubman or Hillary Clinton) who has her strength, tenacity, spirit and hope. What an arc. What a woman. Such grace, even when it wasn’t reciprocated. (Or Cher.)

Maris Guterman & Keith Gerchak of Double G Films.

 
 
What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to share with our readers?
 

I’m currently a writer/producer and have my own production company, Double G Films, with my writing/producing partner, Keith Gerchak. Our tag line is “serious comedy.” It’s important for us to write stories about real people and use comedy as a language to say something deeper and more meaningful about the time we live in. We have several different projects in various stages of development. One is set in Cleveland, which has become a second home. I have fallen in love with the people…and the food.

Editor’s Note: Check out these great articles with the Cleveland Jewish News & Clevescene.com for more details on Marisa’s upcoming project Lost & Found In Cleveland. Learn more at www.doublegfilms.com as well!

 
 
What was the last thing that made you smile?
 
The Gloria Allred documentary but, in all fairness, it also made me cry. And the yellow pants I’m currently wearing. 

Filed under Interviews

About rontrembathiii
write. write. write.

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