Fresh off its numerous award wins at 19 film festivals worldwide, Naked Ambition has been officially released on the Vimeo streaming platform. Directed by Mai Iskander, and written, executive produced, and starring British actor and casting director Candice Edwards-Marchrones (CEM Casting), the 15-minute film is a raw, authentic, and down-to-earth depiction of an ambitious woman trying to break into the acting world and out of New York’s infamous strip club scene. With a growing demand for Naked Ambition‘s release, Edwards-Marchrones has chosen to stream the film online at no charge.
Candice, your our new film, Naked Ambition embodies feminist values of immanent worth and self-determination. Tell us about the film.
It’s based on my real-life journey from Stripping in NYC/ UK as a survival job whilst pursuing my dreams to become an actress and being able to leave the club.
With fictionalized parts but very close to some situations that I’ve actually been in. They say art imitates life, and in this case it does. Although the Character Zarah aims to be a broadway actress and play Lady Macbeth, Macbeth was a metaphor for me finally having a reason to leave that life and fast money, and enter the film/tv industry.
What struggles did you face while working as an acting student and stripper in NYC?
I struggled when we have show rehearsals during the weekends, as those were the nights I worked and made the most money. So I would often turn up to a rehearsal exhausted and at the end I would be hanging on by a shoe string. I also put my body through allot of stress, emotionally and physically, which I still struggle with the repercussions of even now.
Your film has won many awards. How does this feel?
It feels great to have my work recognized, especially as this story is so close to my heart. I put allot of blood sweat and tears into this story, and the film, and it makes it all worth while, to see it get recognized in that way. I’m very proud, as allot of people doubted me, and I proved allot of them wrong.
What is the greatest lesson that you have learned?
The greatest lesson I have learned is that sometimes you have to sacrifice to make you’re dreams come true. Stripping was my sacrifice, as it afforded me to live in the best city in the world (NY), and also paid for my tuition at acting school, and lessons, and was great financial security for me, coming from a working class family back in the UK. I’ve also learned that not everyone has the same struggles, and sometimes some people have to work harder than others to achieve their goals, but that’s just life, and the sooner you accept that, the better.
Why have you chosen to stream the film online at no charge?
Because unfortunately this film made the film festival circuit during COVID, so I felt that no-one really got to see it, so I knew coming out of the pandemic that people have struggled financially, including me, so I thought, why not let people watch it for free? That way more people will probably see it, and enjoy it. With hopes that people can empathize and relate to Zarah over the sacrifice and need to do something better with her life.
You are also a casting director in NYC. Tell us about your company, CEM Casting.
So after casting a few industrial projects for the Mckinsey + Company consulting firm, I was encouraged to set up my own company, to create more casting opportunities for myself. Being a woman of color, I wanted to focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. After the Black Lives Matter movement, the industry was put in the spotlight for lacking in opportunities for minorities, and made lots of promises to improve their practices, so I wanted to do what I can to make these changes in the industry, by focusing on these issues.
Any additional thoughts?
Check my film out, you won’t regret it! Then go tell your friends to watch it. 😉 Thanks in advance.
Please share your social media.
You can catch the whole film on Vimeo(15 mins)
You can follow the film page on IG + fb- @NAKEDAMBITIONFILM
And my casting page @cemcasting.