Page 71 - Demo

MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 7971MOSTMAGAZINE Q: YOU%u2019VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE CAMERA FOR MANY OF YOUR PROJECTS. WHAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?A: I really like learning all the different aspects of creating a film. I think it%u2019s good for all actors to have a little experience behind the camera in various jobs so they appreciate what the crew works so hard to accomplish. I have been honored to be a script supervisor, boom operator, producer, casting director, and executive producer. Q: AS AN ACTRESS WORKING IN BOTH MAINSTREAM AND FAITH-BASED PROJECTS, HOW DO YOU CHOOSE ROLES THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR VALUES?A: Well, I try to find out as much as I can about a film. I%u2019ve made a few mistakes along the way, but I am learning. There are certain films or roles that I might not work in, but I don%u2019t mind playing the %u201cbad guy type.%u201d There%u2019s always a struggle for good and evil in life. I feel that the right ones are always coming my way at the right time. I believe God directs my path. Q: %u201cMY 7 GRANDMAS%u201d WAS RECENTLY NOMINATED IN EIGHT CATEGORIES AT THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FILM FESTIVAL, INCLUDING BEST PICTURE AND BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS FOR YOUR ROLE. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SEE THIS FILM RECEIVE SUCH RECOGNITION?A: I%u2019m so excited for everyone that worked on this film, as well as Scott Peterson who wrote and produced it. He%u2019s a great writer. This is his fourth or fifth feature film. He has such a great sense of humor. I love his messages of love and God that he puts in his comedies. I am so excited to be nominated as best supporting actress at the International Christian Film Festival. I feel very honored.Q: THE FILM BALANCES FAITH-BASED THEMES AND COMEDY. HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH COMEDIAN JEFF ALLEN? DO YOU THINK HUMOR CAN HELP CONVEY DEEPER SPIRITUAL MESSAGES?A: I love the way that Scott Peterson introduces love and God and faith in his comedies. Jeff Allen was such a pleasure to work with. He has a road that he has traveled just like I have.Roads that have brought us closer to God. Yes, I love humor that conveys a deeper spiritual message. Not everyone knows how to write those types of films. I%u2019m very thankful to have worked on two films that Scott has written and produced.Q: YOU%u2019VE STARRED IN ACCLAIMED FAITHBASED FILMS LIKE %u201cUNTIL FOREVER,%u201d %u201cMILES BETWEEN US,%u201d AND %u201cIN THE NAME OF GOD,%u201d SOME OF WHICH HAVE WON AWARDS. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PROJECT THAT HAS HAD A PERSONAL IMPACT ON YOUR FAITH JOURNEY? A: I loved the character I played in the film %u201cIn the Name of God.%u201d Her name was Ruby, the hardware store owner, who struggled to make ends meet. It%u2019s kind of interesting that many times when I am breaking down a character I%u2019m playing, I can relate it to things happening in my own life. Sometimes a lot, sometimes bits and pieces, but it%u2019s interesting how my life journey can many times relate to the role that I%u2019m playing in a film. I really related to the character in %u201cMy 7 Grandmas%u201d as well. It might not have been in the script, but there was a backstory to Dixie that made very much sense to me as I played her as a character.Q: WHAT DO YOU HOPE AUDIENCES TAKE AWAY FROM %u201cMY 7 GRANDMAS%u201d? A: Many people have struggles in their lives. I think in between the humor, there%u2019s some really good messages of loving each other, helping each other, being there for other people. Plus, the journey of understanding who God is and having faith.Q: WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS? A: I have two that I cannot talk about yet, but I also have a faith-based film that is a Christmas film, called %u201cWheels of Hope.%u201d There is a film called %u201cCruel Summer Weekend%u201d that I was in and helped produce, in which I play a reporter. And I had a fun little role in a film called %u201cKitchen Fire%u201d that my friend Allan H. Johnson is filming about a small town. I also have a role coming up in a TV series called %u201cTeam Up%u201d that Tati Elsher wrote and is also directing and producing, which is a comedy series.