Your new movie Pernicious
- in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your
character in it?
Pernicious
is about 3 girls who travel to Thailand and discover a
golden statue in their housing. They unleash an angry spirit looking for
revenge. A wonderful adventure turned into a nightmare.
My character Alex
is the youngest of the group. She is carefree, a bit naive, and very
curious. Which gets her into trouble. What did you draw upon to bring your
character to life, and how much of Ciara Hanna can we find in Alex? Alex
and I are a lot alike. We like to explore and always look on the bright
side. I am the oldest in my family, so to bring out the younger sibling
feel was a bit of a challenge for me. I'm a natural leader in my family,
so to be the younger more "airy" one is what I had difficulty
with. Just thinking positive carefree thoughts really helped me get into
"Alex mode". She was always trying to one up her sister and be
accepted. How
did you get involved with the project in the first place?
Found
a casting online and the director reached out to me. I read the script and
LOVED it. So interesting. And I always wanted to do a horror film. My
character is technically 2 characters in one. So the challenge of
that intrigued me. To
what extent could you identify with the film's horror theme, and is horror
a genre at all dear to you, and why (not)? I grew up loving
horror films. So to be a part of one was exciting! This film is a bit of a
suspense/gory kind of horror. You are always looking to see what's going
to happen, who did what, how's my stomach going to handle that ... that
kind of
film. What can you
tell us about your director James Cullen Bressack [James
Cullen Bressack interview - click here], and what was your
collaboration like? James is a very dedicated and involved
director. He is the definition of an "actors' director". I have
never worked with someone so involved and passionate before him. He really
helped me grow as an actress and helped through the process of the film.
Our personalities meshed very well from the beginning. I worked with him
on a film afterward as well called
Blood
Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys for Animal
Planet. And I will continue working with him. I love the way he works.
As Pernicious
was filmed in Thailand - what were the challenges here? And how does it
compare to filming in the USA? Thailand is a whole
different world. Huge culture shock for me. Barely anyone spoke English.
80% of our crew didn't speak English. It took a lot of adjusting with the
weather, food, and environment. We had a flood first week of filming and
had to walk on planks of wood to set. And we were constantly covered in
mosquito bites, haha. I loved it but it was like camping. What can you tell us about
the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere? Everyone was
very respectful and sweet. Very caring people in Thailand. All of us
girls got along right away, so it was like working with your best friends
everyday.
After Pernicious,
you rejoined with director James Cullen Bressack
[James
Cullen Bressack interview - click here] to shoot
Blood
Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys - so you just have to talk
about that movie for a bit, and about your character in it!
Blood
Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys was ... hilarious. I loved every minute of that shoot.
Amazing actors I got to work with and the lamprey were great as well. The
lamprey were very high maintenance, always asking for coffee and bathroom
breaks. Oh wait that was me. ;)
On a serious note! The movie was a blast! I had so much fun filming it.
I'm very thankful of James for bringing me in on the job!
Any future
projects you'd like to share? Can't share just yet!!! Soon
though.
You have entered the show
business at a very young age - so what can you tell us about your early
days as a performer? When I was younger I was mainly
focused on modeling and commercials. It was a lot of driving with the mom,
but overall gave me a great work ethic at a young age! Most people might know you as the
Yellow Megaforce Ranger of the series Power Rangers Megaforce - so
you just have to talk about your involvement in that series for a bit! BEST
EXPERIENCE. I made the best of friends/family. Once a ranger always
a ranger. It changed my life. And we shot in New Zealand, which is like if
Jurassic Park and Hawaii had a baby - it would be New Zealand. A lot of
stunt work in Power Rangers Megaforce which I used in Pernicious
as well. You've
also played a recurring character on the series The Bold and the Beautiful
- so how does acting in a daily soap compare to making a movie? Soaps
are their own world. They film a new episode a day. Very fast pace,
and you get no more than 2 takes a scene. Which in a movie you can do one
scene all day, a million different ways and angles.
Any
other film or TV work of yours you'd like to talk about? I've
done a lot of guest stars on shows such as New Girl, Anger
Management, iCarly, Sam and Cat, Revenge... I feel so privileged to be
able to work which such talented successful people.
Over the years, you've also done your fair share of modelling - so
what can you tell us about that aspect of your career?
Modeling isn't "my thing". I enjoy it on occasion but acting
or "moving film" is my love. I love being able to express my
self through movement and emotion vs in one single shot. I give kudos to
models because it is way more difficult than it looks.
How would you describe
yourself as an actress, and some of your techniques to bring your
characters to life? I always take a part of the character
and find it in myself and bring it to life. We all have different
characteristics and emotions, and if my character is more angry and bitter,
I will bring that side out of me more. If I'm supposed to be more air
headed and bubbly, I'll bring out my high school self hahah Actresses (and indeed actors) who
inspire you?
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Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
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I love Rachel McAdams. She's amazing. Also newer actresses, I love Britt Robertson and Chloe Moretz.
Your favourite movies? The Little Mermaid.
Hands down. ...
and of course, films you really deplore? I don't deplore
anything except for olives and ham. Your website,
Facebook, whatever else?
Twitter: ciarahanna20
Instagram: ciarahanna20
Anything else you are dying to
mention and I have merely forgotten to ask? I love puppies. Thanks for
the interview!
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