The universal rule is that you can appreciate someone else best by experiencing things from their perspective. As an actress, Nicole Fahel takes that as far as she possibly can. In her search to become better at her craft and more knowledgeable, she has also worked as a producer in order to gain a full comprehension of what the production team undertakes in order to make the on-camera performances possible.

If this all sounds very scattered and tangential, it may be but it’s part of the creative mindset that makes Nicole and other actors so adept at creating stories that capture and entertain us. From dark and twisted tales of murder to the aspirations of those struggling to seek a better life, it’s a daily experience for Fahel. It’s far from common and very much a part of the realm that is exceptional. Her recognition and awards in both of these roles serves to vet her as an artist with a lot to say and a plethora of ways to do so.

Sam is a film about a man with multiple personality disorder. The style and plot of Sam might be described as a cocktail of Memento (Five time Oscar Nominee Christopher Nolan’s twice Oscar nominated film starring Guy Pearce) and Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic Psycho (nominated for four Oscars). A psychological “who done it” murder mystery, the production won Best Thriller at the Festigious International Film Awards. Fahel appears as Alison, Sam’s girlfriend who is murdered. The action vacillates between the present and flashbacks of their relationship, leading up to the moment she is killed. Nicole’s performance offers the same endearing and frightening qualities presented by Janet Leigh’s Oscar-Nominated performance for Best Actress as Marion Crane in Psycho. Alison is happy, committed, and unaware until tragedy befalls her.

Spoiler Alert…Alison is murdered (in a seemingly fitting homage to Marion Crane) as she prepares for a bath…by Sam …or rather by one of Sam’s personalities. This particular personality is a woman and is seething with jealousy over Sam’s love for Alison. While this part of her role was something she enjoyed immensely, Nicole describes, “These types of experiences are actually fun for an actor. There is a technical aspect to it and you’re focused on losing yourself in the moment. You always discuss the scene with your partner and the director to ensure that everyone is very comfortable but it’s a different situation for the people who know you in your personal life. It was a bit hard for my family. They didn’t really like seeing me get murdered. There was a lot of blood and it’s obviously not how you picture your loved ones. We talked about it before the saw the film but it was still upsetting for them. They’re okay now though.”

Immigrant Brothers is a film which tells of a different type of difficulty. Fahel worked behind the camera as a producer for this story of three men who have made the difficult journey to America and are living on the streets. They bond together as a family unit to protect and help each other in the absence of any biological family members in the US. The adversity they share is their connective tissue rather than blood. This very topical subject matter received acclaim taking Best Short at the Top Indie Film Awards 2018 and Best Producer for Nicole at the Gold Movie Awards Goddess Nike (2017). At the Atlantic City Cinefest, Fahel took part in a Q&A with Producer/Writer/Actor Marlon Samuda of Immigrant Brothers, watching the film with the audience and fielding queries about it. As an award-winning actress herself, Nicole confirms that her experience behind the scenes expands her understanding of what actors need and how all parts of the production enable this.

She remarks, “I feel that when you know what actors go through and what they need to do to achieve certain emotions (every actor has different needs and techniques) or when you just take that into consideration, you’re able to help them so much more. If they need some more time to prepare for a darker scene or if they need some extra silence; if you’re there to help them out with whatever is needed…it will make their performance and experience on the set a lot better. Every part of every production is a part of the storytelling process and family. I have such a deep respect for all of them.”