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Your new movie Relationship
Killers - in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell
us about your character?
It’s
about newlyweds who decide to go to marriage counseling because they’re
struggling with communication. I play Bravien. She is a very
straight-forward type of person. She’s all about convenience and ease.
Her and Bedegraine (her wife) are complete opposites, and this shows in
their work and trickles into their relationship. You first meet Bravien
and she is reluctant to therapy, and just overall irritated with the day,
but we realize that she truly wants this marriage to work. Bede is her
world.
What did you draw upon to bring
your character to life, and how much Assia Lau'ren can we find in Bravien? I
drew on past relationships. Those feelings of frustration with your
partner mixed with the fear of breaking up. I’ve been heartbroken before
and that feeling is awful so I drew from a place of fear for Bravien to
really want to save her marriage. There’s actually a lot of Assia in
Bravien – which is why I’m glad Noah asked me to use an English
accent. I am very similar to Bravien in that my friends often describe me
as unbothered, relaxed, aggressive, blunt, compassionate, and loyal. So
stripping down Bravien was really like looking at myself. I think the
hardest thing I realized was that I judge myself a lot, and in order to
perform, an actor cannot judge their character, so there was a lot of
self-work I did while approaching Bravien. How
did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to
it? I
saw the casting call online, and I submitted a headshot. I eventually was
requested to send in a self-tape audition that I shot in my studio apt
with a neighbor. This was in the Spring of 2020 so the beginning of the
pandemic. I had just moved to LA in February so I didn’t really know my
neighbors or have any friends in the city... luckily the one neighbor I’d
met at the dog park was willing to help me read lines. I believe Noah said
there were over 300 submissions. I got a call about 2-3 weeks later to
meet Noah and a few producers. He offered me the role after our call. How did you end up as producer of Relationship
Killers as well as lead, and what were the challenges of bringing
the movie to the screen from a producer's point of view?
After
we shot the film I was just getting antsy, so about 4 weeks went by and I
reached out to Noah just to see how post-production was going. He
mentioned a few hurdles they were facing in getting funding and hiring
editors and colorist and prepping marketing materials – so I asked if I
could help. I didn’t intend on being brought on as a producer. I’m
very new in this industry and I am just trying to learn as much as I can,
and Noah was beyond gracious for allowing me on the team as a producer.
The biggest challenges were money, raising funds for films is not for weak
or impatient. We took about 9 months to finish post on an 11-minute film. What
can you tell us about your director Noah A. Waters III [Noah
A. Waters III interview - click here], and what was your
collaboration like?
Noah
is a fucking genius. He has an entire universe of characters and stories
and music and goals perfectly detailed in his mind. Everything from how a
character may be broken to what types of instruments he wants the composer
to use for each character’s theme. Like he’s really insane
– insanely talented, and insanely specific. Collaborating with Noah is
going to be a career-long endeavor. The man is seriously a one of a kind
and I am so grateful and excited to be working with him.
Do talk about the shoot as such, and
the on-set atmosphere? Being
on set was fun. We did a lot of prep and rehearsal over the months leading
up to shooting so once on set everything was fluid. We danced in between
takes, we listened to funky music, it was a real family environment. Any future projects you'd like to
share?
So
I’ll let Noah speak on future projects in his Lethal Ladies universe…
Separate
from that – the first feature I acted in (Mile 19) is due to release
this year! Also the director of that (Howard Clay jr) has asked me to
reprise my role in his sequel. No dates on shooting as of yet but more to
come J
What got you into acting in the first place, and
did you receive any formal training on the subject?
Growing
up I was a basketball player and a dancer. I did tap and jazz. In middle
school I started acting in school plays and really just enjoyed
performing. I’ve always been some sort of performer. I finally took a
leap of faith after college and after serving six years in the Army to try
this acting thing. It’s not the scariest thing I’ve ever done, so
I’m really just having fun and living a more present life. I took acting
classes at Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio for a few months. What
can you tell us about your filmwork prior to Relationship
Killers? I
am just getting started. Relationship
Killers is the first film I was ever cast in, and that was about 3-4 months after moving to LA and starting
this career. The first film I ever shot was a feature. So now I have a
feature, two shorts, and a series pilot under my belt. How would you describe yourself as an
actress, and some of your techniques to bring your characters to life? Describe
myself as an actor – that’s a hard one. Ummmm I am very honest and I
believe everything I am doing and saying and feeling. I’m risky and
never afraid to just go there. And I have a wild imagination where I can
make anything seem plausible. Bringing my characters to life starts with
backstory for me. If the writer or director hasn’t created anything I
create my own. I want to know where I’m from, what has happened to me to
shape me, what I fear and what I love. I want to know where I’m going or
what I want, and why. I like to play out different scenarios that could
fit the script then give the director options on set. Memorizing lines is
really the easy part. Once I believe I am this character and I believe all
the things I am feeling, the words are easy. I can make myself believe
almost anything. Actresses
(and indeed actors) who inspire you? Will
Smith, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Angela Bassett,
Angelina Jolie, Florence Pugh, Daniel Kaluuya, Steve Carrell… so many!!! Your favourite
movies? Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, American
Gangster, Love Jones, Crazy Stupid Love,
Superbad. ... and of course, films you really deplore? Catwoman,
Twilight Saga (all of them lol).
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Your/your
movie's website, social media, whatever else?
www.assialauren.com
Instagram: @assialauren Anything
else you're dying to mention and I have merely forgotten to ask?
I
think we covered all the bases. I appreciate you taking the time to send
me these questions.
The
interest in my work and my future is greatly appreciated. Thank you so
much Mike!
Thanks
for the interview!
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