Up-and-coming indie actress Summer Bishil

Summer Bishil is a relative newcomer to the independent film world but the minute she appeared in Alan Ball's Towelhead she began wowing critics and audiences everywhere, so much so that nobody even realized she had previously been doing bit roles for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. No wonder she never stuck around DisNick; her talents and intelligence are far better suited to the projects she is tackling now. Here is what she has to say for herself.

What is your life philosophy? I have no idea yet; I’ll spare you some trite answer like “I take every day as it comes” or “live life to the fullest”. I feel like a fish that's suddenly sprouted legs. I'm twenty so I'm still figuring things out. I know I'm learning that life doesn’t owe you anything and that that isn't the tragedy. The tragedy is not being able to see beyond on that, and I know I don't want to be that person. I try to allow my life to change shapes without too much resistance or objection; I don't want to make transformation painful if that makes any sense. I feel like there are things in life that are painful but transformation shouldn't be the source of the pain.

When did you decide you were interested in acting? I was really young when I decided I wanted to act. When I started acting I was 15 and I didn’t really know what it would entail. Some of it I loved and other things I loathed, like being in front of people. I was always shy so certain things were more difficult than others. I've always had a love hate relationship with acting and I think it's because I might possibly have needed it in my life at some points and that's scary for me. Acting was an impulse, a spasm I couldn't really control, but I understand its place and value in my life more now. Now I feel like I want it, I don't need it, but I could be lying to myself. It probably has more power over me than I'd like to think. But I'd rather have this companion living in me than be vacant.

In what manner did you pursue your studies? I wound up at John Robert Powers and took some classes and then I went to other acting classes around LA, workshops, stuff like that. I'm not a studied actor by any means though.

It’s interesting to see that you went from small roles on Disney and Nickelodeon to being the lead of an Alan Ball film. How were you chosen for Towelhead? I went on tape for Alan and I was called back to read for him and then I tested with Peter [Macdissi].

In Towelhead you played a thirteen-year-old, although you were eighteen at the time, and Jasira was put in situations that many thirteen-year-olds weren’t. How did you immerse yourself in the character? I immediately attached to Jasira—it was instinctual and natural. My experience was limited and I didn't know what would work in terns of developing a character so I did everything I could. I was like an octopus: I would pour over my memories of when I was her age. I read the novel over and over. I studied the script; I dreamed about it. It became all consuming, and then I remember having a dream as Jasira and suddenly she was living inside of me and I was like "Okay, I guess that's a character." It was a true gift in my life to have had that opportunity to just be indulgent and go on a journey with that character. It doesn't get any better than that.

You’re also in Crossing Over, more of an ensemble piece, in which you play Taslima Jahangir, a Muslim teenager who sympathizes with terrorists. How did you get involved with the project? I became involved with Crossing Over the same way as Towelhead. I went on tape for Wayne [Kramer] and then had a meeting with him, at which point I suppose I was chosen.

How did you develop and get into your role?
I did a lot of reading for the role of Taslima. I read the English translation of the Qur'an. I read several books on Islam and its impact on the world and how the western world views Muslims. Taslima was really just an American girl that didn't have citizenship. She was Muslim, yes, but I don't know that her infatuation with Islam was anything more than a phase for her.

Are there any projects you would truly love to do—any types of original projects or any adaptations? I loved A Thousand Splendid Suns. It would be such a dream to audition for the film adaptation. It is an amazing book.

What films do you particularly like? I absolutely love Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare before Christmas, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and I just saw Coraline and loved it.

Are there any specific actors that you admire? I admire Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, and Jessica Lange.

Are you a big reader? What are some of your favorite books? I am big on reading. It's a great love of mine. Plus it's the most accessible nourishment for my craft when I'm not working. I don't have a favorite book yet. I love Tropic of Cancer; I am obsessed with Henry Miller. His writing affects you physically. My stomach literally moves at the mercy of his words. I love We The Living by Ayn Rand. I'm reading East of Eden and cannot put it down.

What advice would you have for those who are interested in pursuing acting? I am in absolutely no place to give advice. I'm still figuring out what shape acting has in my life. I think that what works for someone else does not have to work for me and that's okay. There's a place for me and I'm at peace with that. I never forget this is an industry either. Television and film have the potential to make a great deal of money and there's nothing wrong with wanting to make money. That impulse isn't unique to Hollywood. It's not personal, it's business, and it being a business doesn't take the heart out of making a movie or the people making them.

Keep an eye out for her newest film, Public Relations.