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Your new movie Screwdriver
- in a few words, what is it about, and what can you tell us about your
character in it?
Screwdriver is a psychological thriller brimming with these cult-like
undertones. It’s about what happens when a naive woman (Emily) comes
to stay with a seemingly normal couple (Melissa and Robert). My
character, Melissa, is smart, controlling, meticulous and occasionally a
little unhinged. She’ll do whatever it takes to create the
“perfect” family. What did you draw upon to bring your
character to life, and how much Milly Sanders can we find in Melissa?
I grew up in a huge, loving, southern family. And whenever I would get
into a fight with one of my siblings my mom would pull us aside and say,
“This is your sister! She loves you. She is on your team. Now hug!”
Maybe that was its own form of indoctrination, but there was always
fierce loyalty in my family. I definitely drew on that for Melissa. Of
course, Melissa takes the idea of the lengths you’ll go to for family
and runs right off the deep end, but my take on this is that it all
stems from love. A love that’s off-kilter and twisted, but love
nonetheless.
As for myself, I'm naturally a pretty supportive person. I’m the kind
of person who’s like, “You can do it! You’ve got this! You are
doing fantastic!” This aspect of my personality also seeped into my
portrayal of Melissa. I see Melissa’s interactions with Emily as a way
to help Emily reach her potential. It's a harsher, more brutal method,
but it still stems from a desire to support and uplift. So, in essence,
while Melissa's actions are far more extreme, they originate from values
that are important to me as a person and as an artist. To love, support,
and help others achieve their best.
How did you get involved with the project in the first place, what drew you to
it?
Getting involved with Screwdriver
was one of those moments where
everything just clicked into place. I first stumbled upon the role of
Melissa through Actors Access – a site that’s a goldmine for actors
looking to self-submit for roles. When I saw the casting call for
Melissa, it was like a little light went off. It can be daunting to
throw your hat in the ring with a sea of other talented folks (sooooo
many actors submit for these roles), but something about this one felt
different. The moment I got that audition, I was thrilled.
What really grabbed me about Screwdriver
was the script — which
I had the opportunity to read early in the audition process. It's not
every day you get the whole script. Usually, you're working off a tiny
slice of the story for auditions, but having the full context? That was
a game changer. It let me see Melissa's arc, understand her nuances and
see how she fit into the story.
And Melissa herself was just a gem of a character – intelligent,
layered, and with a delightful touch of the bizarre. She had these rich,
complex scenes that you just sink your teeth into as an actor. It was a
perfect storm – a fascinating script, a character with depth and
intrigue, and an opportunity to really showcase what I could bring to
the table. That's what made Screwdriver
a project I wanted to be a part
of. To what extent can you indentify with Screwdriver's
approach to the thriller genre?
First off, I’m a big fan of stories that build suspense in a slow,
smoldering burn. This film’s not about the in-your-face thrills and
chills, but a gradual build-up tension that gets under your skin until
you can't shake it off.
The story’s confined to Melissa and Robert’s house, so the whole
thing plays out almost like a play. It's intimate. Intense. And the
interactions are charged with this undercurrent of psychological
manipulation. It’s this emphasis on character-driven plot and the
eerie slow burn that resonated with me not just as an actor, but also as
a fan of the genre. Do talk about Screwdriver's
director Cairo Smith [Cairo Smith
interview - click here], and what was your collaboration like?
Oh yay! I love to talk about Cairo because it gives me a chance to shine
light on an absolutely fabulous director. In my experience, directors
excel in either technical expertise, or they shine as an “actor’s
director”, focusing on performance over the look of the film. Cairo
stands out because he was exceptional at both. He has the technical
brilliance to craft visually stunning films but he also gave us acting
guidance that made our performances so much stronger.
On set, a director is being pulled in so many directions. They have to
deal with challenge after challenge and are always being pressured to
move on to the next scene — time is money, ha! But Cairo never seemed
rushed. He would give us fabulous feedback and if we had a burning idea
to try something, he would always let us do another take.
When Cairo walks in he brings this calm, uplifting energy with him. He
is an incomparable mix of sensitive and exacting. Technical and
intuitive. A true gem of a director, and a collaborator extraordinaire!
What
can you tell us about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
The atmosphere on the set of Screwdriver
was a four star experience!
Everyone - cast, crew, director extraordinaire, and production team were
deeply invested and enthusiastic about making this project spectacular.
Their was always a crackle of energy — an infectious can-do attitude
on set every day.
Another thing that really set the tone for Screwdriver
was that early
on, we had a rehearsal process. That’s not something you typically get
in films. It was such a gift! When you show up on set and are supposed
to have 20 years of history with with your husband, your lover, or your
best friend — and you’ve only known them for 20 minutes — it can
be challenging. People often think, “Oh, you're actors, you can just
dive into that.” And absolutely, that's true; but it can still be
awkward especially for the more intimate scenes. But the rehearsal
process really allowed us to get comfortable with each other, work out
the kinks, and build a rapport before filming. It created this
comfortable, collaborative environment that just made everything flow
fabulously.
Oh and the makeup room was always a highlight! It was Charlie,
AnnaClare, me, and Michelle Shundo, our brilliant makeup artist and
producer, crammed into this tiny space, sitting in corners and on boxes,
just cracking jokes and bonding. Such fun!
And I can't say enough about our incredible producers. We had the good
fortune to have several of them on set. Miranda Einy, Christopher Smith,
Rand Vossler, Claire Williams and Michelle Shundo were with us
practically every day. Their expertise, positive energy, and enthusiasm
were simply infectious.
Any future projects you'd like to share?
I always have something brewing! Over on my YouTube channel Sinisisters.com, our latest horror comedy
short The Scariest GIF of all Time premiered on Halloween, and the feedback has been fantastic. I’m
also working on a spooky, low-budget period piece—a project I've been
eager to bring to life, that’s kind of a mix of Jane Austen and Tim
Burton (a genre I like to call sweet creep). Beyond that, my passion for
audiobooks, particularly in the horror genre, is leading me to explore
opportunities in that realm. And with the conclusion of the SAG strike,
I'm anticipating and excited about new prospects in film and television.
Actresses (and indeed actors) who inspire you?
Oh wow, where do I even start? There are so many incredible talents out
there, but I'll just name a few who are on my mind right now.
Eva Green, for starters, is someone I deeply admire. She embodies this
deliciously dark aura. I love her fearless approach to embracing
both sexy and ugly sides of a character.
Then there's Megan Follows. I've been a fan since I was a kid watching
Anne of Green Gables. That show had such an impact on me. Honestly,
she’s the actor I would be tongue-tied and starstruck by if I met her
on the street. I just think she’s so phenomenally talented.
Tatiana Maslany is another name that pops into my head. What she did in
Orphan Black was nothing short of incredible. The range she showed in
that series? Absolutely mind-blowing.
And I can't leave out Idris Elba. The man's presence on-screen is just
commanding. He brings this intense depth to every role he plays, and
watching him is always a masterclass in acting.
Your favourite movies?
I have so many! Here’s a few that are popping into my head right now:
1) The Wizard of Oz has to make this list because I watched this endlessly
as a kid. I loved how it went from black to white, and how Dorothy made
so many friends along her journey, and how she learned “There’s no
place like home.”
2) The Princess Bride — I mean this movie’s got everything. Adventure,
romance, humor and FABULOUS actors. It just gets me every time!
3) The Orphanage. Ahh! There’s just something about this film! It’s
this beautiful mix of sorrow and scares that just... haunts you in the
best way possible. It’s more than just a horror film, it's an
emotional journey.
4) Shakespeare in Love. I just adore this film. It's a love letter to
theater and the arts, weaving romance and history into a narrative
that's as poetic as it is entertaining. The writing, the direction, the
acting! The way Shakespeare’s works were woven into the fabric of the
movie. Just bravo! ... and of course, films you really deplore?
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Deplore is such a strong word. And to have a strong feeling about
something, I think there has to be a little love in there somewhere.
Like, maybe I would have loved this film if it had unfolded differently.
So with that in mind… I’m going to choose the movie Bones and
All.
I recognize that some folks might consider this film brilliant — and I
agree — there's a lot in it to admire. That scene under the coffee
table, for instance, was both sexy and terrifying – truly a standout
moment! But immediately after I saw the movie I felt sick, dizzy, and
nauseous. And the sensation lasted for three days. And while I admire
that the movie affected me so intensely, I hated the way it made me
feel. There was something so dark-hearted about it; I couldn’t stomach
the loneliness. When I think of it, it just makes me feel gross! Ha! So,
I’m putting Bones and
All in the deplore category. Thanks
for the interview!
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