Life and Work with Mari Kasuya

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Kasuya.

Mari, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Konichiwa! My name is pronounced like the second half of calamari. I love to act, I love to dance, I love to write, I love to travel, and I love digital media amongst other things…

Truthfully, it feels rather premature to share my story, because I am in the midst of discovering God’s unfolding plan for my life. All I can trust is that He will take my aspirations and do with them something better than I could think up on my own.

Dance is embedded in my DNA. My mom was a ballerina herself, and she opened a studio in my hometown, Yokohama, Japan (which is still thriving to this day!), where I began performing at an early age. Unlike my mom, however, hip-hop has always been my forte. After moving to America, I continued to train at Rhythm Dance Center in Marietta as part of their EDGE company.

Acting always interested me (which my childhood diaries confirm), but it wasn’t until 2011 that I had my first experience on set in Warner Brother’s Joyful Noise. Even in a fleeting principal role, I learned that soul-expression was possible in something other than dance.

Needless to say, I was hooked and eager to take acting (and singing) lessons, which I did for the remainder of high school. Fast forward a bit, I went on to earn a degree in Digital & Broadcast Journalism at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). During college, I fell in love with journalism and instead wanted to become a news anchor and host a show, Mornings with Mari. I actually even let go of dancing and acting almost entirely for those four years.

However, when senior year and graduation were nearing, my heart was tugging at me to get back into the arts. I knew I would always wonder what could’ve come from going for my “wild dreams” instead of choosing a safer, more traditional career.

Now I am back in metro Atlanta at what seems to be a perfect time. The Georgia film & TV industry is undeniably on the rise. My incredible coach, Barbara Beneville, is equipping and empowering me for when opportunities arise. This past year, I worked on several independent and industrial films, voice over projects, and dance shorts. Stay tuned. 🙂

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh goodness no! Life is full of challenges, which makes it too easy to become discouraged. Here I am a little over a year out of college… had you asked me a year ago, I would have guessed that I had made bigger strides by now. Wow, did I have an unrealistic scope on the pace of things!

Patience, perseverance, and a whole lot of prayer are three things I’m learning to grow in each day. These 3-Ps are especially necessary for actors and dancers because hearing “no” from auditions can outnumber the yeses. No just means not this time, and it was the right yes for somebody else!

Embrace the no’s! Why? Because your very own “yes” is coming in due time… sometimes, when least expected.

We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a brand, organization, or service provider? What sets you a part from others?
After traveling to 25+ countries, I have gained a global perspective that I am eternally grateful for, as I am aware that it is a unique privilege. Along with my journey, I learned that one of the secrets to life is building bridges within cross-cultural relationships. When you really get to know someone, it doesn’t take long to realize that we are all the same at our core.

We share similar life experiences by just being human, and as actors, we get the privilege of showcasing these authentic emotions that are universally understood. Filmmaking is a powerful platform, and when used with caution, can bridge international barriers. This is one of the reasons why it is important to have diverse casts. American movies are consumed on a global stage, not just inside our borders.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Obstacles fall where courage rises. It is up to us who are convicted to be bold and change the landscape of how women (and Asians!) in the entertainment industry were previously defined. Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres and Constance Wu are among the women in Hollywood who I respect for role modeling female leadership in this business.

*If you made it this far, thank you for sticking around and reading some of my stories!

Contact Info:

• Email: mari.k.kasuya@gmail.com
• Instagram: @marikasuya
• Facebook: @mari.k.kasuya
• Other: Mari Kasuya (YouTube)

Image Credit:
Barbara Beneville, Hisham Toqan, James Martin, Kilian Fischer

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