Chuti Tiu – Nashville

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) “Nashville” just hit its peak with the big drama where I played Tara Ashton representing Maddie Conrad emancipating from her parents. That was huge because everyone loves Connie Britton and Chip Esten! They are such loveable characters. I’m also a writer and a producer and my previous film that I wrote, starred in and produced is called Pretty Rosebud. I have a few scripts in the “oven,” but one in particular that is really moving forward. Hopefully, we’ll have one on its feet within the year. In the meantime, as an actress, I have a film coming out in June. It is untitled as of yet, but my husband (Oscar Torre) and I will be playing two people having an adulterous affair.

Q) Were you a fan before starring on the show?

A) I definitely was because it was such a hit show. What I love about the show though is there are so many strong female characters. Let’s face it, it’s really driven by women. There are strong male characters, but it is Raina James and Juliette. With her trying to get back with her husband…I think they are awesome life lessons that you can learn, especially as women, that just happen to be in the context of Nashville.

Q) How was your role as Tara Ashton originally described to you?

A) It was open to ethnicity and also gender! After the audition process, when I got offered the role, I was super duper excited because I had no idea how many people they had seen for the role. Also, it wasn’t originally Tara Ashton. It was Tim Ashton! When I first got on set, they hadn’t changed the name yet! They said sorry, but when you have a lot of cooks in the kitchen they were busy throwing around different names. They finally ended up on Tara, which I thought was perfect as a good strong name. She was described as someone who was very compassionate, but tough as nails. So, they were definitely looking for that balance of two singingly different characteristics.

Q) What was it like working with the cast?

A) It can be really challenging sometimes coming upon a set. It’s like a whole universe has already been established you feel like a visitor. You feel like ET coming to Earth. What was really amazing was that these actors were so giving and very, very welcoming. Then, it really starts at the top down where you have this series creator Callie Khouri, who is such a strong, talented, intelligent woman. She makes no apologies and she definitely commands the set while providing a very creative atmosphere. And it just trickles down to the other writers and producers to the actors. So, it is just a matter of minutes before people are telling personal stories and sharing jokes. I was really thankful for that because not all sets are welcoming. I have to say, working in particular with Lennon Stella and especially Charles Esten – he is such a giving actor. When I had him on the stand and was just nailing him, he obviously was crumbling under the pressure. Often times on a set when the camera is on an actor (especially if they are the lead or one of the leads) and then it changes to a different actor, the lead will just phone it in. Sometimes they even have a stand-in do it. I was so impressed with him. Chip always gave me 200%! Even when the camera wasn’t on him, he got just as upset as if it were happening for the first time. I commended him afterwards. He said, “It was inspiring to work with you,” and I said, “No, it was inspiring to work with you!” That’s the kind of collaborator you want to work and act with. So, it was a great experience.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming “Nashville?”

A) I would say that was one of the most memorable. When I am crushing him on the stand, so to speak, it was very intense. And as you can imagine, there are three to four cameras going at once. That means a well choreographed dance of people doing lights, sound, wardrobe, makeup, etc. Doing dozens and dozens of takes over and over again, it can be a tense set. I have to say that it was so wonderful working with Chip and having him always give me his all. I will never forget that because I have definitely been in situations…I have worked on other projects [that shall remain nameless] where I have had to act with and respond to a piece of tape on the wall because that actor or actress wanted to get a makeup touchup or had an interview to do. And I understand that it happens sometimes, but I was super thankful for something like this Chip was there for me just as much as I wanted to be there for him. Then, something that was pretty damn memorable, the episode where I am talking with Maddie and Cash at Cash’s home…We were on location and this home on camera is absolutely gorgeous! The color, art and the creativity the owners had were amazing. In reality, it was all of those things, but it was also freezing! It couldn’t have been warmer than fifty degrees in the house. Literally, everyone had Winter coats on and when we were shooting we suddenly had to take off our down coats and our teeth are chattering. Also, let me just preface this by saying I love cats. I even have had many cats in my lifetime. But apparently the people who live in this home (who vacated for the shoot) also loved cats because let’s just say you could smell it…[laughs] So, it was literally to the point where there were industrial strength deodorizers that kind of smell medicinal they are so strong. They would have two to three in a room because it was that bad. So, on the shoot you had a choice to stand outside and freeze your buns off or come inside and it was not warmer than fifty degrees and have noxious cat fumes. It was really funny! I have to say that was challenging.

Q) You also frequently do daytime series work as well. What is the difference between working on a daytime show and a nighttime show?

A) Daytime moves so quickly since they are on, literally, every day. So, you don’t have a chance for multiple takes. Usually, you just block it, shoot/tape and maybe there is another run through that they will tape if they didn’t get what they wanted the first time. But it goes so quickly. On the converse side of nighttime, there were many courtroom scenes like for “Nashville.” You are doing a lot trickier camera angles and usually what is pretty interesting with daytime television is that it is on a stage. So, the lights and everything are already preset. It’s such a well-oiled machine that you just go in, block and shoot. With nighttime, there is so much more choreography and planning needed. You are often waiting for them to reset the cameras, lights, filters, etc. That is why it takes so much longer. But as an actor there is more time to work on your craft, the scene, your homework and the environment – all of it.

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you enjoyed the fan feedback you have received to your characters?

A) I love it! I really love it. It’s the equivalent of before social media when you would do something (especially to or film) you’d have to hear from them in person or maybe a phone call or email. You are so much more accessible to the public now that people can say “I love you on ‘Days of our Lives’” or “Loved you on ‘Nashville.’” That’s like applause. I don’t only want to work for applause. For example, when you do live theater you can tell if someone got the message and if they were entertained. You hear the applause so you know they were entertained and afterwards someone may come up to you and talk to you about the play or character. That’s awesome because you get feedback so you know you’ve been effective and inspiring as a storyteller. In the past, it would be a little crazy that with TV you hoped people saw it. Now, there is such an awesome platform that it is almost interactive in nature and not just one sided. So, I love it. I love when people hit me up on social media. It’s awesome!

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you! Literally, it’s a big thank you because I love this journey. I really love being an actor and storytelling. One of my big inspirations or causes is I like to show people that we are all the same underneath the exterior. We all have pains, sorrows, happiness and success. We all go through the ups and downs of life and I express that through the many stories I tell. When I hear back from people and I hear they are moved, it is a big thank you! Keep on following me in the future and hit me up on social media. I love to talk to fans. I love to hear what they have to say with their input on my characters and especially with what I wrote like Pretty Rosebud; what they agreed with or didn’t. Because life is about supporting people and challenging one another.