Carolyn Se Rine was born in Salem, Oregon. Her love for the arts began at an early age. Influenced by her father, Tommy Se Rine a big band musician, she began singing at age four.

At age 10, Carolyn and her family moved to Chicago. At age 16, she made a short film in high school. Her love drama won first place in the schools’ film competition. At that point, the film “bug” bit her.

Setting her interest in film aside for a while, she concentrated on music. She learned the strength of the voice as an instrument, as well as learning to play the guitar.

Soon, she began studying acting with a series of several method oriented acting teachers. She studied many forms of method acting. Lee Strasberg, Uta Hagen, Eric Morris, and also studied with other prominent teachers.

After being frustrated from acting schools, Carolyn found herself in the world of independent films. She grabbed every job as a PA, set dresser, makeup artist, actor, anything she could get. She even did stand-in and extra work, because of her desire to be in the middle of everything. After beginning to grasp the technical side of film she worked along side with many good directors and some who were clueless. She learned from them all.

She always felt something was missing, though, until she came to study under the noted acting teacher Eric Morris, who taught many great actors including Jack Nicholson and Melanie Griffith. Eric Morris made a lasting impression on Carolyn. Being an actor himself, he was able to speak the language she was searching for.

She progressed into a better world of independent films and loved the intimate families that are created on each project. But, as anyone who has worked in this field knows, she experienced a sense of loneliness when that project was over and the “family” disbanded.

Carolyn decided she would build her own “film family.” She began teaching acting in 1992. She found that her working knowledge was able not only to teach the craft of acting, but also to teach students along the way the technical side of film and film acting.  In 1993, she was hired as an actress for several independent films.

After those experiences, Carolyn began to concentrate more on building her acting school the Minimalist School of Acting. She also began writing and working on her own film project. She now teaches both children and an adult acting class. All of her students are well versed in the craft as well as technical.

Carolyn is always honest and realistic with her students, and prepares them for the many disappointments they must face in their career. She does not run an acting school for students who are just “dabbling”, but for those aspiring actors who are serious about a career.

After her less than pleasant experiences with the Hollywood studio filmmaking, Carolyn decided to return to independent films. The mid-1990’s were a booming time for independent filmmaking. She appeared in several foreign films. She also appeared in the film “Always Something Better” which was featured in many film festivals including Cannes, and had the lead role in the supernatural thriller “Dweller in the Dark”.

Carolyn is an International Gold Promax Award winner for one of the best produced commercials in the year 2001. "The Times Crew" USA Network.

As an actor her career took a major step into producing films. She cast several feature films. Many of her students have found success as working actors. Directors and producers frequently visit her workshop classroom and literally pull them right from the stage. She has trained several directors how to work with method actors, as the common ground of the language of film is found between them. These opportunities and the popularity of her film school has opened many doors for her future.
 

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Carolyn SeRine has moved into directing films. Being an acting teacher of film and having direct access to many talented actors and technical people over the years has advanced her career in this taxing business.

Carolyn's technical film knowledge combined with being an actor’s director has been a valuable asset in the progression of becoming a knowledgeable director.

In Carolyn's last film, 'About Matthew,' all the actors were from her school. This was a plus for her knowing them so very well. She knew their strengths and their weaknesses. This accessibility helped her with the development of her script.

She enjoys working with writers, especially new ones. Directors and writers both today hire her to develop their scripts. They can discuss topics anywhere from the technical, to the budget. From acting to editing, it all starts with a good script. Knowledge of the craft of acting is a plus for any director ,and Carolyn has trained many.

Your technical knowledge is a must to be good in this business. Carolyn's advice especially to people who are working now in the technical realm is to work with the best possible people.

Carolyn's Words of Wisdom
If you have to step down , set your ego aside and take a lower position to gain better knowledge, then do it. Watch. Listen. Learn.

No film school will make this statement, but it’s all so very true. If you want to be good in this business this is what it takes. Your only as good by whom you learn from.

updated 10/10/05