(re)Search my Trash

<body> <div align="left"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="800" cellpadding="0" height="100%"> <tr> <td width="100" rowspan="3" background="../stylepix/square.gif" valign="top">  </td> <td width="4" rowspan="3"></td> <td width="592" height="1%" valign="top"> <p align="center"> <a href="../research/resultactorlinks.shtml?Assia Lau'ren">Films starring <b>Assia Lau'ren</b> on (re)Search my Trash</a><p align="center">  </td> <td width="4" rowspan="3"></td> <td width="100" rowspan="3" background="../stylepix/squareright.gif" valign="top">  </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="592" valign="top" height="99%">  <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="205" align="right"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="../stills/relationshipkillers-1.jpg" width="200" height="328"></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>Your new movie <i><a href="../movies/relationshipkillers(2022).shtml">Relationship Killers</a></i> - in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your character?</b> <p>  <p>It’s about newlyweds who decide to go to marriage counseling because they’re struggling with communication. I play Bravien. She is a very straight-forward type of person. She’s all about convenience and ease. Her and Bedegraine (her wife) are complete opposites, and this shows in their work and trickles into their relationship. You first meet Bravien and she is reluctant to therapy, and just overall irritated with the day, but we realize that she truly wants this marriage to work. Bede is her world.</p> <p> <p><b>What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Assia Lau'ren can we find in Bravien?</b><p> <p>I drew on past relationships. Those feelings of frustration with your partner mixed with the fear of breaking up. I’ve been heartbroken before and that feeling is awful so I drew from a place of fear for Bravien to really want to save her marriage. There’s actually a lot of Assia in Bravien – which is why I’m glad Noah asked me to use an English accent. I am very similar to Bravien in that my friends often describe me as<i> unbothered, relaxed, aggressive, blunt, compassionate, and loyal</i>. So stripping down Bravien was really like looking at myself. I think the hardest thing I realized was that I judge myself a lot, and in order to perform, an actor cannot judge their character, so there was a lot of self-work I did while approaching Bravien.<p> <p><b>How did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to it?</b><p> <p>I saw the casting call online, and I submitted a headshot. I eventually was requested to send in a self-tape audition that I shot in my studio apt with a neighbor. This was in the Spring of 2020 so the beginning of the pandemic. I had just moved to LA in February so I didn’t really know my neighbors or have any friends in the city... luckily the one neighbor I’d met at the dog park was willing to help me read lines. I believe Noah said there were over 300 submissions. I got a call about 2-3 weeks later to meet Noah and a few producers. He offered me the role after our call.<p> <p><b>How did you end up as producer of </b><b><i><a href="../movies/relationshipkillers(2022).shtml">Relationship Killers</a></i> as well as lead, and what were the challenges of bringing the movie to the screen from a producer's point of view?</b><p> </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="255" align="left"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img border="0" src="../stills/relationshipkillers-poster.jpg" width="250" height="347"></td> </tr> </table> <p>After we shot the film I was just getting antsy, so about 4 weeks went by and I reached out to Noah just to see how post-production was going. He mentioned a few hurdles they were facing in getting funding and hiring editors and colorist and prepping marketing materials – so I asked if I could help. I didn’t intend on being brought on as a producer. I’m very new in this industry and I am just trying to learn as much as I can, and Noah was beyond gracious for allowing me on the team as a producer. The biggest challenges were money, raising funds for films is not for weak or impatient. We took about 9 months to finish post on an 11-minute film.<p> <p><b>What can you tell us about your director Noah A. Waters III <i>[<a href="noahawatersIII(3-22).shtml">Noah A. Waters III interview - click here</a>]</i>, and what was your collaboration like?</b><p>  <p>Noah is a fucking genius. He has an entire universe of characters and stories and music and goals perfectly detailed in his mind. Everything from how a character may be broken to what types of instruments he wants the composer to use for each character’s theme. Like he’s really insane – insanely talented, and insanely specific. Collaborating with Noah is going to be a career-long endeavor. The man is seriously a one of a kind and I am so grateful and excited to be working with him.</p> <p> <p><b>Do talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?</b><p> <p>Being on set was fun. We did a lot of prep and rehearsal over the months leading up to shooting so once on set everything was fluid. We danced in between takes, we listened to funky music, it was a real family environment.<p> <p><b>Any future projects you'd like to share?</b><p>  <p>So I’ll let Noah speak on future projects in his <b><i><a href="../research/resultserieslinks.shtml?Lethal Ladies"> Lethal Ladies</a></i></b> universe…</p> <p>Separate from that – the first feature I acted in (<b>Mile 19</b>) is due to release this year! Also the director of that (Howard Clay jr) has asked me to reprise my role in his sequel. No dates on shooting as of yet but more to come <font face="Wingdings">J</font></p> <p> <p><b>What got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?</b><p> </p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="205" align="right"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="right"><img border="0" src="../stills/assialauren-1.jpg" width="200" height="324"></td> </tr> </table> <p>Growing up I was a basketball player and a dancer. I did tap and jazz. In middle school I started acting in school plays and really just enjoyed performing. I’ve always been some sort of performer. I finally took a leap of faith after college and after serving six years in the Army to try this acting thing. It’s not the scariest thing I’ve ever done, so I’m really just having fun and living a more present life. I took acting classes at <i> Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio</i> for a few months.<p> <p><b>What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to <a href="../movies/relationshipkillers(2022).shtml"><i>Relationship Killers</i></a>? </b><p> <p>I am just getting started. <b><a href="../movies/relationshipkillers(2022).shtml">Relationship Killers</a> </b> is the first film I was ever cast in, and that was about 3-4 months after moving to LA and starting this career. The first film I ever shot was a feature. So now I have a feature, two shorts, and a series pilot under my belt.<p> <p><b>How would you describe yourself as an actress, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?</b><p> <p>Describe myself as an actor – that’s a hard one. Ummmm I am very honest and I believe everything I am doing and saying and feeling. I’m risky and never afraid to just go there. And I have a wild imagination where I can make anything seem plausible. Bringing my characters to life starts with backstory for me. If the writer or director hasn’t created anything I create my own. I want to know where I’m from, what has happened to me to shape me, what I fear and what I love. I want to know where I’m going or what I want, and why. I like to play out different scenarios that could fit the script then give the director options on set. Memorizing lines is really the easy part. Once I believe I am this character and I believe all the things I am feeling, the words are easy. I can make myself believe almost anything.<p> <p><b>Actresses (and indeed actors) who inspire you?</b><p> <p>Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Angela Bassett, Angelina Jolie, Florence Pugh, Daniel Kaluuya, Steve Carrell… so many!!!<p> <p><b>Your favourite movies?</b><p> <p><b>Forrest Gump</b>, <b> Pulp Fiction</b>, <b> American Gangster</b>, <b> Love Jones</b>, <b> Crazy Stupid Love</b>, <b> Superbad</b>.<p> <p><b>... and of course, films you really deplore?</b><p> <p><b>Catwoman</b>, <b><i><a href="../research/resultserieslinks.shtml?Twilight"> Twilight Saga</a></i></b> (all of them lol).<p>   <p><b>Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?</b><p>  <p><a href="http://www.assialauren.com" target="_blank"><b> www.assialauren.com</b></a> <p>Instagram: <i>@assialauren</i><p> <p><b>Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?</b><p>  <p>I think we covered all the bases. I appreciate you taking the time to send me these questions.</p> <p>The interest in my work and my future is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much Mike!</p> <p> <p><b>Thanks for the interview!</b> <p>   </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="592" valign="top" height="1%">  <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> currentyear = "2010"; </SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language="JavaScript" src="../scripts/endcreditsart.js"></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> dosworsdonn(); </SCRIPT> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </body>