How has 2020 challenged you as an actress and producer?
A: Life is constantly moving and changing. Learning to embrace change, accepting it and growing through it is the challenge, facing fear directly and recognizing it as an illusion that we place on ourselves as a first step to conquering it. I have been challenged to focus on projects that need completion and dealing with new ideas and how to film them, once the pandemic is managed.
I am working on myself through more training and education by raising the stakes for my skill set, like: drilling new accents, learning technical skills such as self-taping and editing, taking zoom workshops, reaching out to like-minded filmmakers and other industry colleagues to collaborate with, and participating in film festivals to see what other artists are creating and winning awards for through my placements in the same festivals. Thus far, 7 Best Actresses wins in different festivals for 3 different projects.
It’s Never too late to have dreams come true if you believe, live and love.
You won Best Actress in “Confidant.” What is it like working with Director Debra Markowitz?
A: Debra is a multi-award-winning writer/director/producer that continually creates wonderful new content. I'm so honored that she chose me to play one of the 2 main characters in CONFIDANT. The film is a drama about a mother who confronts her son, a down-on-his-luck stunt man with a broken marriage, to help him move forward with his life. The role of my son is played beautifully by Eddie McGee, a fantastic actor who makes any partner in performance shine. Debra runs a wonderful collaborative set where everyone is touched by the magic of filmmaking and making her stories come to life.
Your film, “Lola Does Manhattan” received its 1st festival acceptances. How important is this to you?
A: Lola Does Manhattan is a comedic TV series that I've created, produced, and star in. I have been breathing life into this for a few years now. It is a funny, fresh look at how we consistently ignore our higher self-intuition, the tiny voice inside of us that is all-knowing. Lola is a wonderfully flawed character in her 50's that learns to live and love herself through an alter ego that comes to her in human form through the Zen like Heidi. Heidi is also the part of herself she has ignored most of her life. Together they embark on adventures in NYC that are poignant and hilarious and change Lola's life forever.
Lola is a love letter for the millions of people that feel stuck in their lives because they ignore their intuition. The one that is in all of us is meant to give us an understanding of our purpose in this world and how we can find it to regain strength, understanding and empathy to ourselves and others
So far these are the first two festivals we recently submitted Lola Does Manhattan to and we are getting wonderful feedback;
Ø Top Shorts: Best Actress, Best TV Pilot - Semifinalist
Ø Venice Shorts Film Awards: Best US & International Actress, Best US and Intl Pilot - Semi finalist
Tell us about “The Sisters Kardos.”
A: The Sisters Kardos is about four mostly teenage sisters, who share the same father and some different mothers, living together in quarantine and trying to rebuild their family. Production states: "It's 'Little Women' set in the modern-day during COVID-19." It’s a family saga that moves back and forth in time.
The screenplay is superb as is the casting. My role is that of Sophie, the mother who raises these girls. Gabe Rodriguez is the writer and director with Fallen Heros films. So, at the moment it is done and is in post-production and I expect it to sweep the film festival circuit with its power.
What excites you about 2021?
A: I’m Looking for projects to collaborate on in order to promote understanding between cultures and unifying the world through tears and laughter, playing all types of characters from prostitutes to society women. They all have a place in our world and need to be equally respected. While my look tends to be upscale, I love to play downtrodden characters with mental, emotional, and physical ailments as well.
COVID has taught us many lessons and one of my favorites are themes that show triumph over adversity.