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Your new movie Long Time Listener - in a few
words, what's it about?
A popular, true-crime podcast host becomes the headline when she’s stalked
by a long time listener who knows her darkest secrets.
From what I know,
Long Time Listener is your debut feature as a director - so what drew you
to that specific project?
I’d been preparing to direct for several years. My short film,
13, did
well on the festival circuit, which resulted in new doors starting to
open. When
Long Time Listener came my way, a few things stood out
immediately. First, both the production company,
Green Apple
Entertainment, and the streamer, AMC’s ALLBLK, are committed to serving
black female audiences. They made the bold decision to have only black
women direct this slate of four films. Second, the script avoided the
tired tropes that so often show up in films with predominantly black
casts. And finally, the female lead was layered, complicated and genuinely
interesting. For all of those reasons, it felt like an opportunity I would
have been crazy to pass up. What can you tell us
about Long Time Listeners writers John Doolan and Joe Narode,
and what was your collaboration like?
I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting John Doolan, but on behalf of the
whole filming team, I’m very grateful for the compelling script he gave
us. My collaboration with producer Joe Narode was a very close one. He is,
hands down, one of the hardest-working and most patient producers I’ve
ever worked with. There is no way I could have pulled off this film
without him. What makes Joe such a great collaborator is that he’s a truly
creative producer—he understands story as deeply as he understands
logistics and detail. As a first-time feature director, having someone
like that beside me was an incredible gift.
Do talk about
Long Time Listener's approach to the thriller genre!
Long Time Listener takes a more audience-friendly approach to the thriller
genre than many films do. By that, I mean it creates real suspense without
relying heavily on blood or gore. I wanted even the most squeamish
moviegoer to feel like they could enjoy being spooked without worrying
they’d be grossed out. At its core, the film is about a podcast host,
Genesis (played beautifully by Meagan Holder), being stalked by a
listener. The movie leans into that tension and suspense while also
dropping subtle clues about the stalker’s identity throughout.
What can you tell us about your overall directorial approach to
your story at hand? I made a conscious creative choice to lean into a more Hitchcockian style
of storytelling—one built on suspense, atmosphere and those little visual
details that make the audience lean in and say, “Wait … what was that?”
I’m a huge horror fan and I absolutely think there’s a place for blood and
gore when that’s the right language for the story. But with Long Time
Listener, I wanted the tension to come from the hunt, the build and the
unease. I also made the film a kind of puzzle for the audience. If you’re
paying close attention, there are clues that may help you piece together
the killer’s identity on a first watch—though I think the ending will
still surprise most people. On a second viewing, it becomes especially fun
to see all the ways the clues were there all along: In the dialogue, the
visuals and the details. I’ll give your readers one tiny hint: The
whiteboard is worth watching. *Wink*
You also appear in front of the
camera in Long Time Listener - so what can you tell us about your
character, what did you draw upon to bring her to life, and how much
Danielle Nicolet can we find in Elle? And where you supposed to play the
character from the get-go or did that just happen over time?
The offer to direct the film and play Elle were part of the same
conversation and I was thrilled by both. Elle is a girl’s girl. She’s had
her own tough experiences in life and, because of that, she feels
especially protective of Genesis, who tends to be more guarded and stoic.
I connect with that deeply. I pride myself on being a good friend and, in
real life, I’m very close with Meagan Holder, who plays Genesis. So that
natural bond made our dynamic easy and especially fun to explore on screen.
Do talk about the rest of
Long Time Listeners cast, and
why exactly these people?
The moment I was given the opportunity to direct, I knew exactly who I
wanted to call for the leads. Meagan Holder is an incredible actress. I
had already seen firsthand what she could do when we worked together on
Born Again Virgin. I knew she would be fantastic as Genesis—tough,
complex, beautiful and emotionally layered. As her counterpart and love
interest, Lyriq Bent was the perfect choice. He’s wildly talented and he
has that rare ability to be magnetic, grounded and just suspicious enough
to keep an audience leaning in. Anyone who’s seen his work, from Acrimony
to She’s Gotta Have It, knows exactly how compelling he is onscreen. And
Cleo Berry rounds out the cast with his infectious energy, wit and the
light touch that really benefits a thriller like this. The three of them
together made for a dream cast. What can you tell us
about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
It was an incredibly tight schedule, scorching Louisiana heat, a limited
budget … and a total blast! Everyone, cast and crew alike, approached the
circumstances as a challenge that we were going to rise to together. There
was a real sense of teamwork and shared purpose on set and everyone was
fully committed to making the best film possible. I’m proud of the movie,
but I’m just as proud of the hard work, creativity and spirit that
everyone brought to it.
The $64-question of course, where can
Long Time Listener
be seen?
It premieres on AMC ALLBLK on April 2, and beginning April 3, it will also
be available to rent or purchase on major digital platforms.
Anything you can tell us about audience
and critical reception of
Long Time Listener?
So far, the response has been incredibly encouraging. People have really
connected with the story, the performances and the visual style, which has
me floating a little bit. I’m deeply grateful.
Based on the experience with
Long Time Listener, do you
have the desire to ever direct another movie? And/or other future projects
you'd like to share?
Absolutely. Directing this feature was both the hardest and the most
rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I’m eager to do it again. It’s rare to
find partners like GreenApple and AMC ALLBLK who are genuinely committed
to making quality films for the audience they serve. I’m proud to have
been part of that. In the meantime, a film I starred in called The Life of
Me will be released this summer. I also have a couple of projects in
development, so 2026 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year.
What made you want to get
iunto acting in the first place, and did you receive any formal training
on the subject?
I’ve wanted to be an actor since I was a little girl. My family moved to
Los Angeles when I was 15 and I was very fortunate to begin working not
long after. And yes, I’ve studied acting for many years. My foundational
training was at Joanne Baron/D.W. Brown Studio in Los Angeles, and that
work has shaped everything I do.
I would of course be amiss if I
didn't ask you about your extensive run on The Flash TV series -
so how did that come about, and what can you tell us about your
experiences on the show?
That’s such a big question because The Flash
was such a major part of my
life and career. Funnily enough, it all began with a disastrous audition
for Arrow for a role that had actually been written for me. I bombed it so
badly they gave the part to someone else. But about a year later, when
The
Flash spun off, the producers brought me in to play Cecile Horton. My
nearly eight years on The Flash were deeply meaningful to me, both
personally and professionally. Some of my closest friendships, my fondest
memories and most exciting adventures came out of that experience. It’s
something I’ll always carry with me.
Any other past films or TV
shows of yours you'd like to talk about?
Well, let’s see … I recently ran into someone who told me he had
discovered a film I did called Deidra and Laney Rob a Train on
Netflix and
loved it—and that his teenage daughters loved it too. Hearing that
reminded me what a gem that film really is. So yes, I’m very happy to
encourage people to give it a watch or a rewatch. It’s a really delightful
movie with a lot of heart.
Having done both movies and TV shows extensively, how do these sets actually
compare, and do you favour one over the other?
Hmmm, TV series are more like living with a family whereas doing a film is
more like going away to summer camp. Both are wonderful experiences, but
are different for sure. Films shoot for a short period of time and often
include making fast, intense friendships that are super fun, based on this
shared adventure. You know it will end soon, so you make the most of it.
TV series are longer term. There’ s more of a sense of family. No one is
going anywhere, so you bond in a deeper way. That also means family
dynamics come into play and your castmates become like siblings that you
play, fight, cry and share everything with. I can’t say I have a
preference. Each are meaningful in their own way. I’ve been lucky to have
so much of both experiences in my career!
How would you describe yourself as an actress, and how as a director?
In many ways, I’d describe myself similarly in both roles:
Detail-oriented, collaborative and always focused on serving the story. As
an actor, I try to stay honest and fully present with the other people in
the scene, because just like in life, attention and listening are what
make someone compelling. Directing is no different. The focus has to stay
outside of yourself and on giving the film and the people making it the
care, attention and respect they deserve.
Actresses, filmmakers, whoever else who inspire you?
I’m inspired by filmmakers who make bold and fearless choices like Ava
DuVernay, Viola Davis, Regina King, Gina Prince-Bythwood and Dee Rees.
They all create film and television that’s original, powerful and deeply
intentional. Your favourite movies?
The list is far too long, but I will say I’m a classic film buff. I’ve
always loved the character-driven work of Billy Wilder and the thrillers
of Alfred Hitchcock. Both were inspirations for the visual style of
Long Time Listener.
... and of
course, films you really deplore?
I don’t deplore any films. I think there’s a place and an audience for
just about everything but I prefer movies that just tell great stories.
Your website,
social media, whatever else? Give me a follow on
Instagram - @daninicolet
Thanks for the interview!
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