#cue the ‘I am Drew....and I am Danny...and we are not the same person’ song

[xmcu-fietro]

being a fan of Evan Peters is kinda weird because once the algorithm catches on it’ll be like “here’s a bunch of photos of Evan Peters and, inexplicably, photos from Ross Lynch concerts 🥰 hope you enjoy” and I’m like hmm, close! but they are actually not the same person

[mfmagazine]

Gina La Piana

Article by Lauren Weigle

Photo by Steve Kay Photography 

Gina La Piana is definitely a fierce force of nature.  Armed with a gorgeous singing voice, a sultry image, and an amazing acting ability, this woman knows how to work the entertainment circuit.  Making appearances on popular shows like Bones, Everybody Hates Chris, The Mentalist, and many others; her main passion is her craft as an actress.  Although she loves to sing and has success with it, acting is where her heart truly lies… This is why we’ve taken the time to sit down with her and delve a little deeper into what Gina is truly all about… who she is, where she wants to go with her career, and what she really wants in life.

So, acting and singing.  I want to hear about both.  How about we start with the singing?  Can you tell me a little bit about yourself as an artist?

I consider myself an edgy voice for women, as well as a storyteller.  My tendency is to write my music as a journal.  I’m most inspired when I’m in relationships, good or bad.  I’ve written most of my successful pieces from painful experiences.  There was one relationship that is most predominant, which I call the ‘Gray Period’.  That’s when I wrote my most popular material.  A lot of women can relate to and connect with my "agony' so to speak. (She laughs.) But, that's kind of a universal theme. I get thank you notes from people around the world saying they connected to the themes and messages in the music.  It makes me realize just how much “art imitates life” and how we truly want the same things. To be understood, loved, and cherished.  I’ve only done original work.  I’ve never been a cover song artist.  I don’t know how to be.  So, a show like American Idol could have never been a platform for me because it’s important to sing what’s in my heart and what sprung from my truth - the good, bad, and the ugly.

Okay, so you thrive on being original.  What would you say is your signature aesthetic when it comes to your own music?

I am a divine dichotomy of sorts, in that what I do in the US market tends to be more edgy, pop rock, geared towards films and television, while what I do overseas as "Gina Martina" is darker, sexy electronic dance music.  I’ve been called the Jenna Jameson of electronica! (She happily exclaims.) They are all roles for me really, getting to play different characters, and aspects of my personality set to beats.

Well, you’ve been a part of several movie soundtracks.  Would you like to talk about some of your contributions in that area?

I love the collaboration involved when working on a soundtrack.  I love working in a room full of people where we’re all working towards the same visual-auditory goals.  I am a very visual person, so it’s exciting to see a piece of film in front of me, visualizing the story and literally seeing and feeling the music that is poured into the film.  It’s moving art.  It always comes back to storytelling for me.  It’s by far some of my favorite work and I look forward to doing a lot more in the future! I am such a huge fan of guys like Danny Elfman, and Hans Zimmer. What a gift these guys have! To someday be able to work in the same room with them would be a life altering experience for me.

Oh, I’m sure!  With just singing or acting as well?  Do you prefer acting to singing or are the two pretty equal?

To be completely honest with myself, I’d love to do more acting.  Music pays the bills, but my dream is to do series television.  In an ideal world, I would meld both of these facets. And maybe run the whole shebang, Sandra Bullock style.

Aside from your life as a performer, what else do you enjoy?

Eating good food, reading a great book, making love, fun with friends, investing in stock, supporting in the Bella Sera Organization, and travel, travel, travel!!! I am also what you call a spa whore…I love to spa!

Do you have much spare time to let loose and indulge in these things… like your Spa fetish?

I have quite a bit of time to myself; it’s how I set my life up. I created and built my own music company so I can let other people do the heavy lifting and I can take the credit, which allows me the space and time to enjoy my life much more.

Let’s talk about your character on Days of Our Lives.  How did you first land your role on the soap series?

I went in like any other normal casting.  I was hired originally by the lovely Fran Bascom, working at separate times in two smaller characters, (a flight attendant named Daphne and a Nurse called Rosy), whom they found memorable. They eventually brought me in as a more substantial recurring character. Yes, I played three characters in total while on Days of Our Lives.

Wow.  So multiple personalities. (I joke.)  What else?

I have both good and bad things to say about working on a soap opera.  The good: it’s akin to boot camp for actors.  You have to learn so much dialogue so quickly. Every day you have pages and pages of text to memorize and you must be spot on!  They will not accept anything less.  It is like doing theatre on television if that makes sense.  You can make far bigger choices than you could normally in either regular TV or film outside of comedy.  The bad:  I have never worked a job where women were more downright catty and mean.

Wow, that’s horrible.  I guess even soap operas have those catty co-workers.

Yeah, I literally was written off my show because a few of the girls I was working with made me miserable.  I couldn’t continue to subject myself to that much negative energy. No amount of money on Earth is worth the stress to me, and I sincerely mean that.

Well, soap operas have been such classic constants throughout television history.  What are your thoughts on the recent cancellations of the long-running soaps All My Children and One Life to Live?

In my opinion, I think it’s time to move on, because we are living in a different time in history than the era they debuted in.  I mean no disrespect, but these shows have been around since way before I was a gleam in my Father's eye, and we have since progressed in our outlook of entertainment. Viewers are much more sophisticated and looking for more cohesive story lines.

I got ya.  Okay, I’m going to take my cue from you and move on as well. (I laugh.)  Since your days as Gabby Ortiz and even before then, you’ve made appearances on so many popular television shows.  Any memorable ones that stick out in your mind?

Hands down, my favorite experience was on Studio 60.  I got to combine my 3 strengths.  I scored the episode, sang 2 of my original songs on stage, and acted opposite Matthew Perry, and all the while working for the brilliant and gifted Aaron Sorkin. Not to mention, I was directed by the ingenious Tommy Schlamme.  That job just couldn’t have gotten any better!

Okay, tell me about your most recent project Audrey.  What’s the story?

Audrey is a very unique and very funny female-driven comedy.  Taking place in real-time, the story takes us through a little over an hour and a half of a young woman's day as she waits and waits and waits in a restaurant for Gene, her date, to arrive for their critical third date.  As the clock ticks away and Gene is nowhere to be found, 34-year-old Audrey is swept up into a journey through her life as her insecurities and inner demons comically wreak havoc on her. Forced to face her deepest fears by circumstance — both real and unreal —Audrey finds the strength and courage she never imagined she had.

I understand you produced the film?  What made you cross over from actress to producer?

I realized things were changing in the film industry.  More and more celebrities are taking on Television roles, which leaves less work for newer or up and coming actors. I felt I needed to create more vehicles for myself if I want to work in this business.  I like to be in control of my career and not just sit around waiting for the next audition to come.  I wanted to create more vehicles and opportunities to show my strengths.  Hence, I'm playing the quirky impassioned best friend to "Audrey".

What first drew you to the project?

A friend whom I deeply respect and admired brought the project to me. ��He was very excited about it, so I came on board.

Well, that’s simple enough.  Any other projects coming up that we should know about?

I’m producing and starring in a film that I wrote called Brit and Brazil.  It’s an independent drama-comedy feature that will give me the opportunity to play a grittier character who turns things around in her life.  I’m most inspired by these types of stories, the underdog, who eventually triumphs and succeeds.  I’m also producing two artists signed to Warner Bros., ages 13 and 15.  The albums couldn’t be more different - One is a rock-electronic record and the other is in the urban-hip hop genre. I like to keep it crazy, the nuttier the better in my opinion. Colorful is key!