Your new movie Taboo:
Family Secrets - in a few words, what's it about?
A family is fractured by Lukas, the patriarch (Costas Mandylor) and his
ongoing infidelities. When the son Tyler (Staffan Edenholm) comes home
for a visit, a taboo passion between him and his stepmother Amanda
(Deborah Twiss) blossoms, changing the family dynamics forever. The
allegiances and expectations shift radically as the truth is revealed. What
were your sources of inspiration when writing Taboo:
Family Secrets, and (without wanting to get too personal) is
any of the movie based on personal experiences?
This was not based on personal experience in regard to the forbidden
romance. It was strictly a scenario I came up with in
collaboration with Rich Wolff of Breaking
Glass. He asked me to
write a good indie about an affair between a woman and her stepson.
However, in my real life I do find that younger men tend to be attracted
to me more than older guys. I find that fascinating. To what
extent could you identify with Taboo:
Family Secrets' lead character Amanda - or her stepdaughter Jillie
actually? I have been in a relationship in the past where I was sort of held
"hostage". The physical intimacy was cut off by the guy
and I was told he wasn't going to allow the relationship to break up.
It was strange and frustrating. I had thoughts that were dark as a
teen, as Jillie does, but kept them to myself. I was a "good
kid" and never acted out. But I'm very aware of the thoughts
behind acting out, so it's an easy character trait to write about. For sure!
What can you tell us about the challenges of
getting Taboo:
Family Secrets off the ground from a producer's point of view? The same problems seem to be the issue
always in the indie film world. And I'm sure it's not just me who
feels this... money. No matter what, it's really intense making low
budget indies. Very hard work. Thankfully I love it.
A few words about Taboo:
Family Secrets' approach to the thriller genre?
I love the concept of exploring the forbidden in the realm of relationships. That's the "thriller" element here.
What is considered socially acceptable? What is really forbidden
or unethical? And the secrets people try to hide from each other
really can lead to very dark behaviors. It's all so interesting to
explore this through the medium of film.
Do talk about your overall directorial approach to your story at hand!
Yes. I always want everyone to feel comfortable and aligned
inside. I try to have a very calm, pleasant set that allows actors
to really thrive. Being an actress myself, I know what makes my
art flow better, so I always try to ensure I've created for others the
environment that I prefer. You
also play the lead in Taboo:
Family Secrets - so what can you tell us about your character,
what did you draw upon to bring her to life, and did you write her with
yourself in mind from the get-go?
I absolutely wrote the role of AMANDA so I could play her. I find
her story so interesting. And it is not uncommon for people to have dark
secrets, as Amanda does, that keep them from living life freely.
Human beings are so intriguing to me. I love to explore the psyche
and the dissection of what makes people do the things they do. What can you tell us
about the rest of Taboo:
Family Secrets' cast, and why exactly these people?
Honestly, we write what we know, ideally, correct? I know a lot
about "fucked up white people". It's interesting to me
to find out the truth behind the people who look like the "perfect
family" on the outside but actually have layers of crap going on
within the walls of their home that no one would suspect. I
currently live in a suburb of NY and it all looks so nice and upscale on
the outside, but the truths so many work hard to hide will never stop
raising tons of questions in my mind that I want to explore hrough the art
of film.
Do
talk about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere!
It was a great set. My actors were amazing, the crew was fabulous... we shot with two
RED Komodo Dragon cameras. It helped ensure speed. I like to keep our days at 10 hours maximum so
everyone can feel well rested and respected. My friend Charlie
owns Angelo's PIzza in Bloomfield NJ, and he provided us dinner every
night. It was so good. I think it's important to feed people
really well. It was a good shoot. I would definitely repeat
the setup we had. Anything
you can tell us about audience and critical reception of Taboo:
Family Secrets? People are getting the deeper things behind the sexy setup. That is
really important to me. I always want my projects to have a depth
and the characters to be complex, like life. I'm very happy about
the response. Any future projects you'd like to share?
Yes. I'm currently shooting Crave. It's a very sexy little piece
about a woman who lost her husband and begins an affair with a good
friend she's always had a crush on. The two dive hard and deep and
nearly don't make it together. It's probably the sexiest film I've
ever made but also the deepest. The two main characters have so
much baggage and horror in their pasts and find solace in their
connection with each other. It's a very NYC love story. We
shot all around NYC and Coney Island. I love this film. It's a bit
of an homage to 9 1/2 Weeks and Last Tango In Paris.
You've risen to fame as an actress, but for
the past ten or so years, you've also started working behind the camera as
writer, director, producer and whatnot - so why is that, and which side of
the camera do you actually prefer?
I love telling stories. I especially love telling really sexy,
adventurous, intense stores about grown-ups, people over thirty.
It is so fulfilling. And it's especially fun, as a female
director/writer, to portray sexy moments as really artistic pieces.
I always want the sex scenes to look like a painting. I think the
human body is gorgeous, both men and women, and really want to express
my love of the human form on screen. I want to capture it in a way
that maybe others aren't doing. And being a woman, it's easier for
people to feel comfortable on set with the whole experience. I
love working on other people's projects as just an actress. That
feels like a vacation after making my own films. But I truly adore
both, everything, all of it. This is what I wanted to do since I
was three years old, so I'm just happy in general. What can you tell us
about your directorial work prior to Taboo:
Family Secrets, and about your evolution as a director over the
years? I think I'm becoming more confident as a director with each film.
And it's becoming more fun with each project as well. How would you describe yourself as a director,
and filmmakers who inspire you?
I am an actor's director, for sure. I am inspired by John
Cassavetes, Abel Ferrara, Tarantino, Scorcese, Céline Sciamma... the
ones who came from the indie world. Your/your movie's
website, social media, whatever else?
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I'm on Instagram, @deboerahtwiss, same on Facebook, my website is
www.DeborahTwissActress.com, but it needs updating badly. Also all
Breaking Glass Pics sites. Anything else
you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? Yes! My first film
A Gun For Jennifer is available on
Blu-ray with Vinegar Syndrome, and it's got a really fun "making
of/behind the scenes/where are they now" extra. Thanks
for the interview!
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