An Interview with Allison Sonson, Star of My Submission

by Mike Haberfelner

May 2026

Films starring Allison Sonson on (re)Search my Trash

Your new movie My Submission - in a few words, what's it about, and what can you tell us about your character in it?

A few words. Okay. Dark but funny. And then depressing and then funny again. It’s about Marissa auditioning for a filmmaker and messing up each self tape in the process. As things unfold, Marissa stumbles upon an opportunity to change her life by creating her own art film throughout the night while doing it. Marissa also comes into her own. In a way, it’s a coming of age story happening all in one night. She is a young actress exhausted by the process of submitting herself for auditions. She is raw, blunt, unfiltered, sensual, smart, also hates her life, but manages to exist in life and therefore that’s the way she is.

What did you draw upon to bring your character to life, and how much Allison Sonson can we find in Marissa?

One of my favorite books is My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh, and funnily enough I was re-reading it when director Cody Clarke [Cody Clarke interview - click here] sent me the script. The main character of that book is just a flawed unfiltered female character working through issues in her life. I’ve always been drawn to characters like them. So I tried to bring justice to those flawed females as they exist in real life and be as honest as I could in Marissa. I’d say there is a sprinkle of Allison in her. I am definitely not as blunt as Marissa. But my quirkiness is definitely there. Also that inner female rage definitely came out in Marissa.

In all honesty, what was the weirdest thing you have ever done when submitting for a role?

I can’t think of the weirdest thing I’ve done to be honest. I am quite different from Marissa where I try my best not to mess up an audition before sending it (fingers crossed that doesn’t happen to me).

How did you get involved with My Submission in the first place, what drew you to it?

I was auditioning a lot during the fall of last year where I received an email from Cody late at night. I, of course, did my due diligence and looked up the director and his work. I saw Ramekin and was intrigued by Cody’s independent films. So Cody sent me the script for My Submission. I read it and halfway through I knew I had to be Marissa. It was in my gut. I knew it would be a challenging endeavor and character to take on but I knew I had to do it. So, after a bit of debate, I emailed him back at 5am and said “Let’s make a movie.”

From what I've read, you've filmed most of your scenes of  My Submission completely on your own - so what was that like, and how close did you stick to the script as a result of this, or did you improvise a lot?

Yes, all scenes except one were filmed by me. I did the sound and set up the camera for each shot that Cody initially came up with. It was a lot because I had to focus on the camera and sound and then immediately get into character. But, luckily I did enough homework on each scene and I had no one else on set to rely on but me. As for the script, I was pretty much word perfect. The script was already well written like improv which again drew me to make the movie. The only times I’d improv would be little things - my facial expressions, the way I’d use my props. I just studied the script in depth and would envision what I could do. However there was a scene near the end which I will not give away, but what happened was coming from how I was feeling and I let the cameras roll. Luckily, something beautiful happened.

What can you tell us about My Submission's director Cody Clarke, and what was your collaboration like?

I loved that making the movie was so simple. When I first met Cody at a coffee shop, I just knew we would get along. I could tell that we both came from the same world (the indie world aka the best world). I don’t know if that makes sense. But regardless, he was a great director. He understood the script so well and gave me incredible recommendations like Je Tu II Elle by Chantal Akerman and including his own film Rachael Hunger. I love working with any director that gives me homework while working on a script. He taught me how simple acting is too. Je Tu II Elle and Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles were great inspirations for me. Silence and simplicity are very underrated and rarely shown in films nowadays. I’m so glad Cody taught me and showed me true art. It was just so fun and easy to work with him as we both understood Marissa so well. 

Any future projects you'd like to share?

I just finished an off-Broadway play, The Importance of Being Gay (a play by Oscar Wilde), last month. I’m back to submitting again as us actors do. But I also try to keep myself busy and am almost done writing my one woman show. I actually started writing it during My Submission. I got very inspired filming and rehearsing the entire script by myself. So I started writing one night and a one woman show came out of it. The main character is that same female trope I’m drawn to: a flawed but relatable female with suppressed female rage. There’s more to it too but I can't speak too much on it now. I’m hoping to get it into production sometime at the end of summer/fall.

What got you into acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training on the subject?

I knew I was going to act ever since I was like 5 years old. I can’t tell you specifically the moment I knew I would act but I just knew it was my calling. I used to read books all the time and I loved putting myself in another world and getting lost in it. I think that’s the same way with acting. I wanted to bring it to life. I started with ballet on stage first then transitioned to musical theatre doing plays. The love of acting has stayed with me my whole life. I started professionally acting over four years ago and trained in many acting studios in New York. I just graduated from Maggie Flanigan Studio’s two-year conservatory program and am officially a Meisner-trained actor.

Do talk about your filmwork prior to My Submission!

I also finished up a short film that’s going through the festival circuit recently called Long Live. I play a troubled daughter who is dealing with her father who is an addict. I’m excited for that film to come out. I’d also say my first major short film, Eunoia, was a great experience for me too. The cinematographer was incredible and understood the vision the director wanted to bring to life. It was great collaborating with the both of them. It was a coming of age story of a young girl trying to figure out her life while visiting her best friend in New York who is not there for her. The story had similar themes to shows like Euphoria and the movie Lady Bird.

How would you describe yourself as an actress, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life?

I am proud to say I’ve grown so much from my training and auditioning, because I am now a transformational actress with a full range. I can do heightened quick witted physical comedy and then be enraged and on the floor broken in tears the next second. I love transforming myself into characters that are different from me too, because I love to challenge and stretch myself. Marissa was a little bit out there for me so I indeed stretched myself. The techniques I use are pretty much how I was trained. I start with being off the script and going out into the world. I do a lot of thinking about how they would live/how they grew up/how they would interact with the world. I listen to music I think they would listen to. Marissa listened to Britney Spears. She also smoked a cigarette or two at night. Crafting the character is my favorite part of the process before working on the script. And then after working on the script, I know how to bring them to life because I know who they are and I become them. (This is my secret process, I’m scared to reveal it but also hope it helps other aspiring actors.)

Actresses (and indeed actors) who inspire you?

Oh wow. Not going to lie, my list is ever changing. Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell are great actors I look up to because they are incredible dramatic actors even though they’re known for comedy. Daniel Day Lewis because he is just the most transformational actor I’ve ever seen. Toni Collette. I’ve never seen an actress portray female rage like her in Hereditary. Cate Blanchett is also an amazing transformational actress. There are just so many. I’d say whenever an actor/actress’s performance draws me in or does something like you wouldn’t see that was written in the script. That’s the type of actor I love to watch.

Your favourite movies?

Also changes all the time. Most recently, Sean Baker’s Anora, really changed me. I have not seen a movie that hit me as much as that one that I saw in theaters. The movie Uptown Girls was probably my favorite movie as a kid. I’ve never seen any actress like Brittany Murphy just act the way she did. No one could do it like her. I was definitely inspired by her to be authentically myself. A little Marissa was rubbed off by her too I think. The Royal Tenenbaums too. I just love a coming of age trope. Also, I want to take this opportunity to mention Urchin! Such an amazing directorial debut and I urge everyone to watch it.

... and of course, films you really deplore?

Unfortunately, I can’t do body horror. I can’t. I’ve tried. I can’t.

Your website, social media, whatever else?

Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned)

The links below will take you just there!!!

Find Allison Sonson at the amazons ...   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.de Looking for imports? Find Allison Sonson here ...   eThaiCD.com Your shop for all things Thai

Anything else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?

Yes. A dream role of mine that i want to play next is a psychologically complex character - someone like a serial killer. It would challenge me to explore the psychology behind extreme human behavior and understand how someone becomes that way. Maybe I watched Taxi Driver too many times but that's definitely a goal of mine.

Thanks for the interview!

Thank you!

© by Mike Haberfelner

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