Your new film Sickened is about to be released. What can you tell us
about the movie and your part in it?
After the surprise response to my first leading role in Into
the Woods I was asked to return for a new movie. We were supposed
to shoot a sequel to Into
the Woods. But after the script was completed the producers
decided that they wanted to do a fresh new movie but with the feel of Into
the Woods.
I was again the victim but this time the part was juicer and more of a
mystery. 20 years ago I was abducted and kept captive after escaping... I
lived in fear. The kidnapper never was caught. After a 20 years silence
built on forgetting, little things start happening and triggering my
characters memory. Phone calls of a familiar voice and sightings of a
forgotten man begin appearing. The way the movie was filmed and the
location gave me nightmares during production.
Plus I would say 80% of the movie had me acting in the lead and was
demanding! I always liked doing the cameos where it was a 1 or 2 day shoot
and that was it. This was almost a month, then I had to go back for
re-shoots and it was getting to be early November and I was running around
in my bathing suit in 40 degree weather. I became my character tough and
not backing down or cowering to anything.
What were your inspirations, what did you draw on to bring your part
in Sickenedto life?
I did research on kidnap
victims now and then. I researched all different cases and came across
some interesting cases about victims. It is such a sad thing that these
people just shut it out and try to deal with it themselves. Or a lot of
the times they do get medical help but are so drugged up. With the drugs
it causes bad side effects and that sometimes leads to suicide.
I studied the way they withdrew and also went on with life. But in the
end it all comes crashing down and either they hurt themselves or possibly
the person causing the hurt?
How did you actually prepare for
your role in Sickened?
I had to physically get ready. I got into a workout regimen a month
before shooting. I went running and did a lot of yoga. Because in the
movie I was doing a lot of physically stuff. Running on the beach and in
the woods for hours and hours takes it toll on you.
When filming was ready to begin it was late summer and the weather was
gorgeous. But things quickly deteriorated as the summer winded down and we
were still shooting. But it was aan experience that I enjoyed.
As I understand, your role was quite challenging. How did you handle
your part mentally, and did you ever have the feeling you were being
pushed too far?
Phil Herman [Phil Herman
interview - click here] likes pushing me to the limit. There was
the scene were I am being tormented, tied to a chair and it was grueling
and uncomfortable. There was a lot of scenes that were shot with green
screen so I was acting with nobody. Those scenes were pivotal nightmare
scenes that were really scary. I was emotionally drained and crying
sometimes after a shoot cause of the torment and what I was going through
mentally in those scenes. For someone to escape such traumatic thing and
thinking - wow it is over and I am safe. Being that it was 20 years and
the kidnapper lied dormant the character thinks everything is okay. Until
it starts happening again.
What I did was say to myself, "Imagine this is really happening now
and what would I do." Then there was a lot of outdoor nudity in
a public forest that was nerve-wrecking but was rewarding afterwards it
helped the storyline and was all necessary for the part! I just kept
getting nervous that I would be running around nude and I bump into a
bunch of bird watchers and give one of them a heart attack! What a
headline that would be!
What are your limits as an actress, what are
things you wouldn't do on film?
I draw the line into
anything over the top. No actual sex or explicit nudity. Natural stuff is
okay. I am not shy about the human body.
... in bed with Phil Herman ...
You have become pretty much a
regular in director Phil Herman's films over the years[Phil
Herman interview - click here], yet he seems to
have a predeliction for casting you in victim-roles. How would you
describe your personal relationship to Herman, how would you describe him
as a director?
Love/hate relationship! When I haven't heard from him in a while and
the phone rings and it is him I know he has the new script he wants my
opinion about. But then again I am like OK what the hell has he have me
doing this time. But I usually like his scripts and fall in love with the
stories. I love to see them unfold from paper to film and then the
finished product.
Phil is such a laid back calm guy that he never blows his top. He
always looks at his talent as the talent and kisses their asses and is
overly nice. He appreciates that they participate in the production and not
what they're working for. Exposure.
I love working with him. He really pushes my buttons on how far I will
go but in the end he is always rite. I love my performance, the way I look
and how he plays it out in the scenes. He really goes for the jugular and
sees what he can get me to do, and with his sweet talk and BS usually gets
it.
Your last film with Phil Herman (and also your
first lead) was Into the
Woods. How does Sickened and your role in it differ from
the earlier film, and how do you think you have evolved as an actress?
In Into
the Woods I was so scared. I was like what happens if I suck. What
happens if people only like me in small doses and not carry the whole
movie. I threw up when we finished and said what have I done. That movie
was pretty heavy to do. The rape scene which was done last cause of my
objections was really making me ill. I told Phil he was pushing the
envelope with me and was asking too much. That such a scene was against my
agreement with him. But after looking over the scene and being present
with Mr. Kahler during editing I was assured it would be tastefully done
and not too much visuals. I did not want it to be exploitive but shocking
and scary. I wanted it dim and show skin but nothing too graphic. After it
was edited I was really left breathless. Between the music and the editing
and color correction it was really a dramatic piece that really left
people shocked and disgusted. I really was crying during the shoot and it
took almost 3 hours to get all the angles he was looking for. Nothing
between us was left secret and we really got to know each other. There was
nothing to hide between us and we grew closer after that shoot. I also saw
that he was not being exploitive but needed that movie to add shock value
and realism to the scene.
It worked cause reviewers were really effected by that and it is a
standout in the movie. It showed low budget movies can shock the audience
and make you feel for characters and not just slice and dice them like
usual b-movies do.
With
Phil Herman, you have recently also shot a segment for the movie Sleepwalker
Strangler. A few words about that film and your part in it?
I loved it because I got to open the movie and my segment plays out for
almost 20 minutes. I never had such a big role for them and was honored
shooting it. I am being stalked in my home without my knowledge and
eventually attacked and strangled.
It was fun and shot all in one day in one setting. That is what I liked
the best and the payday was great for a one day shoot!
Having
talked quite so much about all the parts Phil Herman has given you - which
is a part you would love to be playing (no matter how improbable), and
would you ever want to break the scream queen mold and cross over into
genres other than horror?
I would love to play like a female mercenary. Where I would go out
hunting men and killing them for all their wrongdoings. Like a female for
hire. I want guns and cool sexy outfits. I want to wreck cars and blow up
things.
How's that!
Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)
I have another from WAVE
that I
shot recently called Pumpkin Eyes: Blind Justice. It is
supposed to be out in May. Other than that promotion for Sickened
and then vacation. Nothing has come my way from Phil but you never know
what that demented young man will think of next.
Your website, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, whatever
else?
People make fun of me for this but will say it again:
I am a very private person and do not self promote. I work for Falcon
Video and if you need any info feel free to contact them for
whatever requests or updates on me.
Anything else you'd like to talk about I have just
forgotten to mention?
Chris Kahler
I want to thank Chris Kahler. People always thank the actors,
actresses, writers and directors. Yes they do play a major part but
without the magic of a good editor your movie is nothing. It is a amazing
when I see raw footage and when it is all put together - the difference.
He takes his time and looks over every scene, every frame and makes sure
everything works. If not you're going back out there and getting what he
needs.
He always amazes me on how good he makes me and how he picks the best
shots to enhance my character. When we start filming I always ask who is
editing. When I find out it is Chris I am relieved and know whatever
happens he will make it work. Chris and Phil make a good team and hope to
be working with them again soon.
Robots and rats,
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love and death and everything in between, Tales to Chill Your Bones to is all of that.
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all thought up by the twisted mind of screenwriter and film reviewer Michael Haberfelner.
Tales to Chill Your Bones to
the new anthology by Michael Haberfelner
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