This is Khori Faison.
She's 11 and an actress.
In the earlier years of our lives as children we have big dreams. The logical step for most parents is to let their children be children first before they grow up. Becoming an actress, a demanding and often stressful profession, at such a young age is often a daunting task.
If you are from Chicago however, a life of ambition is par for the course that is living.
Even thou Miss Faison herself is a child actor, her resume of recent is very much like that of an adult actor.
On her official website, I caught a glimpse of a trailer for My First Tooth. Immediately upon the title I thought it was a film for kids by someone growing their first tooth. The trailer below however suggests something far more dramatic:
The plot of the film from a press release I gathered says that it's a story about a single mother (Daisica L. Smith) and her daughter (Faison) heading home from a visit to a dentist's office. This trailer seems to suggest that terrible things will happen as they head home. I wish I could see this myself considering how drawn in I was to the trailer.
Not just sticking to the sliver screen, Khori also highlights on her website a play called Hephaestus.
From the looks of this video clip, it's a bit of a circus play on a theater level. It's showing at the Looking Glass Theater here in Chicago. It's too bad I don't have the financial means to attend this play to see Miss Faison in action considering these interesting choices in her resume.
It's no matter. For those of you who read this blog, this series is dedicated to interviewing and promoting Chicago-based people in entertainment. Via her hardworking mother Susan in a nice little email exchange, I interview Khori herself to get a bit of insight on her and especially how she fits in "Hephaestus".
1. I saw the trailer for My First Tooth. It's a pretty scary set-up. With you being so young, how did it feel to act in something that dramatic?
Well, it was actually very different from what I had done so far. Yes, it was very dramatic but in real life I wasn't around for the filming of the violence. I was basically looking at the director, Reaves Washburn's hat! He told me what to imagine, sort of, in my mind. I didn't see what I was reacting to until I saw the final movie and then I was like whoa! I'm really proud of how it turned out. Its gone on to win a couple of film festivals even such as Smogdance.
2, What was it like having the film accepted into the Playhouse West Film Festival (in Hollywood) and then having the festival request your presence there?
I've always dreamed that one of the films I have done would make it to the festivals and to have it shown at Playhouse West was an honor for me because they only show the very best and for this film to be one of them was so great. My director requested me to be there because it was such an important festival. It was really fun because the rest of the main cast like Daisica L. Smith and Jeff Radue were there too.
3. Speaking of My First Tooth, I caught a clip of Hephaestus in which you performed in recently at the Looking Glass Theatre. You seem to have gotten alot of praise for your performances in the play. Could you tell us what your character is in the play and how it connects to the other-worldly events?
Yeah it was a Lookingglass Theatre production at the Goodman Theatre which is way cool because they are two of the best in Chicago! My character is the narrator who is trying to get away from her parents who are arguing. The stage is her bedroom and she starts reading the story of "Hephaestus" and everything comes to life before her eyes. The circus performers are the gods and they can do such amazing things! Everyone should see this play. They have a seven person pyramid at the end that is so scary but so awesome for me to see every night. It is so much fun watching the crowd because everyone, even the adults, look like kids with their mouths open. It's great.
4. Do you go to school in addition to your acting?, or do you simply have home school?
Yes I do, I go to regular public school and I have made alot of friends that support me.
5. I watched a clip of you on YouTube performing a Whitney Houston song (Greatest Love Of All) and I have to note that the passion you gave to the song was interesting. Did you listen to the song alot?
No, I did not listen to it alot. The passion came from my heart. I just felt something when I sang it. I was seven and just knew I really liked singing it.
6. Are you close friends with any other actors in this city?
Yes I am! I am very close friends with Tatiana Ranallo who I met doing "Hephaestus." She is the alternate narrator, we share the role. She is the most sweetest girl and we really are good friends. We recently saw "Shrek" on our day off together and we had so much fun!
7. What do you see yourself doing in the next few years when it comes to acting?
I can honestly say I can see myself experiencing many different things. I see myself doing alot of film and even some more theater. I would like to do mostly drama projects but also a little comedy as well.
You can get some updates on Khori Faison through Facebook and on Twitter. If you wish to hire her for your production, you can contact her through the Gray Talent Group here in Chicago. Be sure to also check out her YouTube page.
Keep checking this series for more Chicago Actors You Should Know.
Filed under: Chicago Actors You Should Know
Tags: acting, actress, khori faison, theater
