It’s not surprising that Tanna Frederick — who co-founded the Iowa Independent Film Festival and spearheaded the Iowa filmmaking initiative Project Cornlight — was born and raised in the Hawkeye State. Growing up in Mason City (home of The Music Man’s Meredith Wilson), she performed with the Steben’s Children’s Theatre and starred in high school musicals before continuing her education at the University of Iowa, where she double majored in theatre arts and political science.
After giving the valedictory address at her college graduation, she packed up and moved to Los Angeles, where she continued to work in theatre and small films before meeting indie filmmaker Henry Jaglom. Told by another actor that Jaglom sometimes gave roles to actors who were fans of his work, Frederick wrote him an effusive letter praising his latest film, of which she’d seen approximately twenty minutes. Jaglom responded with an invitation to come to his office and soon a collaborative friendship bloomed. (And yes, she’s now seen all of the film she claimed to adore and he loves the story of their meeting more than anyone)
First Frederick and Jaglom worked together on two plays — a gender reversal of his 1985 film Always… But Not Forever and a production of Richard Nash’s Echoes. Then in 2006, Frederick starred opposite Justin Kirk in Jaglom’s film Hollywood Dreams, for which she won multiple film festival awards for Best Actress. Their other collaborations include the upcoming films The “M” Word with Michael Imperioli and Corey Feldman and Ovation with James Denton as well as Irene in Time (2009), Queen of the Lot (2010) and Just 45 Minutes from Broadway (2012), which began as a long-running play at the Edgemar Theatre in Santa Monica.
Frederick has become a mainstay of the Los Angeles theatre community, starring in successful productions of A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia, Nash’s The Rainmaker — which was a Los Angeles Times Critic’s Pick — and Claire Chafee’s Why Why Have a Body, which also marked Frederick’s directing debut.
Later this year, Frederick’s first film as a producer — Garner, Iowa — will be released. Made through Project Cornlight, the arts initiative she founded to expand the film and performing arts industries in her home state, Frederick stars opposite Tom Bowers and fellow Iowan Joel West in a story about family and redemption. The film was directed by Ron Vignone and written by Richard Schinnow, who co-founded the Iowa Independent Film Festival with Frederick in 2007. While Frederick remains loyal to her fellow Hawkeyes — she recently received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from her alma mater and spoke at UI’s spring commencement — she is also passionate about her adopted home state of California. A longtime marathon runner with a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, her move West transformed Frederick into an avid surfer. In 2007, she founded the non-profit Project Save Our Surf, which is dedicated to ocean conservation, the improved availability of freshwater to those in need and exposing a wide range of people to the joys of the ocean through surfing. Since 2012, PSOS’s annual Consurfvation Camp has readed 1000 underserved children and teens in Southern California and Mexico, educating them on environmental issues and giving them hands-on instruction in yoga and surfing. Tanna Frederick’s website is located at www.tannafrederick.com.
Tanna Frederick recently wrapped production on Henry Jaglom’s romantic mystery “Ovation” starring opposite James Denton. The story is set in the backstage world of theatre where the cast struggles to keep their play afloat while they search for a murder suspect amongst themselves. She is currently starring in Jaglom’s romantic comedy “The M Word” (with Corey Feldman, Michael Imperioli and Frances Fisher. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times said of her performance, “Ms. Frederick’s gift for juggling farce, fantasy and raw emotion remains impressive.”
Later this year she’ll star as a single mother who returns to Iowa (Frederick’s hometown) to deal with her past in “Garner, Iowa”. She’s also just ended almost a year long performance in “The Rainmaker” at the Edgemar Theatre in Santa Monica. The Los Angeles Times gave it Critics’ Choice and said, “The standout of this terrific cast is Tanna Frederick’s acerbically yearning Lizzie…It’s a transformation not to be missed.”
Frederick’s performance in her first feature with Jaglom, “Hollywood Dreams,” earned her Best Actress at WorldFest Houston, Montana International Film Festival, Fargo Film Festival and the Wild Rose Film Festival. The film took Best Picture honors at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival and to Best Comedy at WorldFest Houston. She was named Method Fest’s “Performer to Watch” and has also received the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival’s “Maverick” Award.
She is an inspiring actress, surfer, marathoner and philanthropist.
Tanna has consistently followed Hal Higdon’s advanced 2 schedule and can be found running near her home in Santa Monica, Venice and the Palisades. During a marathon in Chicago, she felt overwhelmed when she crossed the finish line. The sense of joy that came from strangers cheering made her feel very accomplished. She thought “Wow, this is more than anyone will ever cheer me at the Oscars.”
She recently ran in the L. A. Marathon, her time was 4:12. Her goal time is sub 4 hours. Recently she also ran the Sunset Strip Half Marathon and her time was 1:46:58 / 8:01 avg pace. She is running for her non-profit Project Save our Surf which promotes clean oceans and water.
Filmography of Tanna Frederick
- 2003 Inescapable
- 2003 Frist Impressions
- 2006 Charles at the Threshold
- 2006 Hollywood Dreams
- 2007 Rising Shores
- 2009 Irene in Time
- 2010 Queen of the Lot
- 2011 Virtually Yours
- 2012 Just 45 Minutes from Broadway
- 2014 December. 17th
- 2014 The ‘M’ Word
- 2014 A Lasting Impression
- 2015 Ovation
Play-ography of Tanna Fredrick
- 2003 A Safe Place
- 2007 Always — But Not Forever
- 2009/2010 Just 45 Minutes from Broadway
- 2011 Sylvia
- 2012/2013 The Rainmaker
- 2014/2015 Train to Zakopane
Marathons
Frederick has participated in several marathons including the ASICS, LA Marathon in 2015.
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All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your started acting and doing local & children’s theater in fourth grade, performed with the Steben’s Children’s Theater and starred in high school musicals before continuing your education at the University of Iowa, where you double majored in theatre arts and political science.You reached the pinnacle of success when you starred opposite Justin Kirk in Jaglom’s film “Hollywood Dreams” for which you won multiple film festival awards for Best Actress. Tell us about your journey that took you to where you are now in the world of acting?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: My journey is still continuing. I have continued working with Henry Jaglom. Recently, I have had the pleasure of working with legendary director, Randal Kleiser.
We are in pre-production for this project that I am very fond of called Offside. It is written and directed by Frank D’Andrea. We start shooting in August and the finished project will definitely be something to look out for.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have selected a profession of being an actress in films that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: Practice makes perfect. I am always learning new ways to perfect my craft.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your are a leading film and theatre link actress, film producer, co-founded the Iowa Independent Film Festival, spearheaded the Iowa film making initiative Project Cornlight, founder of the non-profit Project Save Our Surf, marathon runner and a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. How you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: It’s a necessity for me to create balance in my life. Being born in Iowa,taking care of our environment was just the lay of the land so to speak.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have attended the college at the University of Iowa, where you double majored in theater and political science/international relations. How this education helped you in taking the role to creating successful films and being a theatre & film actress?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: It taught me to multi-task and how to deal with different types of people. This is one of the main reasons I am still able to work, exercise, run a charitable organization all being one person.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: Just have fun.
And set goals for yourself and surprise your mind with what your body can do. Recently, I completed 2.5 marathons in 7 weeks. First off, I never thought I could do this. Wait-I take that back. I just signed up for them and then didn’t think about them. That’s what I have to do. Seeing up, set my goals, , hit them day by day, problem solve if something gets in the way, and then the day comes and I just do it.
Secondly, I set some PRs I didn’t expect. In the half marathon, I finished 11th out of 1500 women and in the the marathoning Ojai, my fifth marathon, I dropped 20 minutes from my LA marathon time 7 weeks earlier. I figure if I surprise myself in my body accomplishments, I can surprise myself in my life accomplishments as well. The two feed me to dream bigger, go farther, and push further.
Running has been my main focus recently. I just completed the Mountains 2 Beach Marathon in Ojai on Sunday, the Sunset Strip half marathon, and the LA marathon before that. When I am not focusing on marathon training, I love to surf. Surfing is a wonderful release. Being able to connect the board with a wave is such a satisfying experience that one finds hard to describe.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: No. There are so many fad diets out here in Los Angeles which spread to the rest of the world and for a while I tried a few but I mainly just listen to my body depending on the exercise I’m doing. When I’m training for marathons I crave scones and toast. I’ll eat tons of scones. I mean, buy stock in Peet’s Coffee because that’s my ‘mess hall’ for six months out of the year. Their scones rock my quads.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding women actresses who all are your fans, what should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in field of acting?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: Love what you do and do what you love. Learn as much as you can. Challenge yourself beyond your expectations. There’s no ladder in acting, or in an acting career, just a trampoline of ups and downs . So you can enjoy the ride, and if the kitchen’s too hot, get out. But if you can handle the bounce, and you thrive on the bounce, then there you go.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about the experience of working in the film Garner, Iowa that was made through Project Cornlight, the arts initiative you founded to expand the film and performing arts industries in your home state, You star opposite Tom Bowers and fellow Iowan Joel West in a story about family and redemption, this film was directed by Ron Vignone and written by Richard Schinnow?
The whole experience of shooting Garner, IA in Iowa was a dream. The beautiful fields and landscapes of Iowa become a character itself in the film. Many of the locations we shot at belonged to members of my family, so it really was an act of love.
Being directed under the talented Ron Vignone was a special time as well. The story was so special. Telling the story of a woman’s journey to reconnect with her family and her personal struggle to prove herself a competent mother against the stigma of her bipolar mental illness was one of the toughest acting roles I have had to date but it was so much easier having all of the talented cast members and crew members surrounding me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Tell us about this endeavor of yours?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: I got kicked out of ballet class in first grade. I couldn’t follow the steps according to the teachers words to my mother and ‘marched to the beat of a different drummer’. Therefore, when I discovered my capability at kicking things in college in an elective course and began competing I had found my sport of choice and started competing in Hawkeye Tae Kwon Do and doing well. I have continued my training since then.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your inspiration and motivation that led you to your success in the world of acting and production in films?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: So many people…I think it takes a village to surround and inspire an artist. My main start and love and seriousness and voyage into the the richness of the the history of film and fascination and love of my passion of acting and the transition from theatre to film has come from Henry Jaglom.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You won critical raves for “Hollywood Dreams”, You also earned Best Actress at World Fest Houston, Montana International Film Festival, Fargo Film Festival and the Wild Rose Film Festival. The film took Best Picture honors at the San Luis Obispo Film Festival and Best Comedy at World Fest Houston. You were also named Method Fest’s “Performer to Watch” and has also received the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival’s “Maverick” Award. What responsibility these award bestow upon you in your future efforts and activities in the field of acting and film production?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: It pushes me forward. I always am seeking ways to be better. I am thrilled to be going to the National Black Theater Festival to perform, Dutchman directed by Levy Lee and costarring Siaka Massaquoi. It is an important piece of theater and I am so honored to take it across the country.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You founded the non-profit Project Save Our Surf, which is dedicated to ocean conservation, the improved availability of freshwater to those in need and exposing a wide range of people to the joys of the ocean through surfing. Since 2012, PSOS’s annual Consurfvation Camp has readied 1000 under served children and teens in Southern California and Mexico, educating them on environmental issues and giving them hands-on instruction in yoga and surfing. This association has been dear to your heart, tell us how you have been able to achieve and quench your thirst of giving back to the society through this endeavor of your?
Ms. Tanna Frederick: I don’t think I’ll ever have quenched my thirst of giving back completely. We have achieved so much and there is always more to do. Currently, we are trying to raise funds to travel again to Ben Tre’, Vietnam to install water filters with SOS Villages. The people of Ben Tre’ source their water from a river where they do everything in the river, from cooking to using the bathroom. $50 buys one water filter that will give fresh water to 100 children. For more information and to help out go to: http://projectsaveoursurf.org/.
To know about Tanna Fredrick, Check her out at: http://www.tannafrederick.com/
To Know the latest about Tanna Fredrick, Check her out on her social network at:
- https://twitter.com/tannaf
- https://www.facebook.com/tanna.frederick.3
- https://instagram.com/tannafrederick/
Women Fitness Team thanks Tanna Frederick for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness