BÉATRICE ROSEN INTERVIEW: MISS (END OF THE) WORLD "2012"

In “2012”, director Roland Emmerich literally blows the world away in a spectacular way never before seen on screen and shows us the worst that can happen to our beloved planet: Earthquakes, tsunamis a-go-go, eruptions in your face, mega-explosions, highways and buildings destroyed... very impressive technical success, no doubt. But the interest in “2012” would be a bit limited if it was only about world destruction because what usually makes the audience care about a movie is its people. In “2012”, gorgeous French American actress Béatrice Rosen plays Russian beauty Tamara, one of the main characters trying desperately to escape the impending Apocalypse.It’s her first major role in a Hollywood blockbuster after appearing a year ago in Christopher Nolan’s second Batman movie, “The Dark Knight”. In this exclusive interview for ActionQueens.com, Béatrice tells us about those two major experiences and her blossoming international acting career.

Frédéric Ambroisine: What are your origins?

Béatrice Rosen: My mother is French and my father has Hungarian origins but was raised in the US. I was raised entirely in Paris. [Béatrice was born in New York]

FA: Did you study acting or other studies related to cinema?

BR: I went to a regular high school. I started theater courses when I was ten years old. I did a lot of theater. On Wednesdays and Saturdays we acted in small theatres to train ourselves, to rehearse. Then we acted in the Théatre de Boulogne. I went to a regular high school, and I earned a diploma in science, the French “Bac” [Baccalauréat]. After that I studied acting full time at the Cours Florent.

FA: Did you already know what you wanted to do after high school?

BR: I didn’t know exactly, but I had registered in college in Paris. I had to make a choice, and since I graduated a year early I decided to try acting because I had always wanted to do it. I told myself I would try the full time acting course, Cours Florent, for one year to see if I liked it. I ended up loving it, and then I started to work immediately in the film industry shooting movies. So in the end I never went back to science.

FA: Did Cours Florent help you find your first film job, or did you get it by yourself?

BR: It’s not really the Cours Florent that helped me find a job. But it gave me a good foundation. They offer master classes; actors like Vincent Lindon taught some classes. Actress Isabelle Nanty did as well. There were great teachers there. Cours Florent gives you the foundation to do your job. But you mostly really learn on set when you’re shooting. Also, theatre and cinema are two completely different techniques.

FA: You got your start in TV series and French movies.

BR: Exactly. I did a bit of everything: short movies, a lot of commercials, photoshoots and medium-length films. I was selected in the contest “Jeunes Talents” [Young Talent] organized by l’Adami [Civil Society to administer the rights of artists and performing musicians] at the Cannes International Film Festival, the same year as Audrey Tautou I think. I did a lot of things: TV series, TV movies...

In the short "Blindfolded" (2006) & with Sean Bean in the TV movie "Sharpe's Peril" (2008)

FA: Did you start with small roles?

BR: Absolutely. It was very progressive. I learned my craft by working. There are two types of careers. The Sophie Marceau type: at her first audition, she immediately got a lead role in a big movie, and her career started that way. And there is another type of career, which is built step by step. That was my case. Some parts here and there. There is one thing that I’m really grateful for: I was never typecast; I was never labeled. I did comedies, thrillers, and action movies. The kind of roles I have had so far are completely different from each other.

Béatrice Rosen: Man-hunting in the French short "Clown" (1999) &
kidnapped in the dark comedy "Bienvenue chez les Rozes" (2003)

FA: Is there one role that got you noticed and put you in the limelight?

BR: It was a bit of a mix. It was not just one role. Of course, when I was in the 2004 American movie “Chasing Liberty”, it opened a lot of doors for me in the US. After that, many agencies contacted me. That movie played a major part in my career, for sure.

Béatrice Rosen and Mandy Moore in "Chasing Liberty" (2004)
Photo: Jaap Buitendijk - © 2003 Daughter Productions LLC

FA: How did you succeed in making the transition from French movies to US movies? From auditioning for French movies to starring in Hollywood productions?

BR: I spoke English and I had an agent in London. From time to time I would go there for one day, via Eurostar, to audition for projects that my agent found for me. I got my part in “Chasing Liberty” in London. They needed a European girl. Originally the character was for a German girl but since they liked me they changed the German character into a French character. They changed the name and profile of the character. The shooting was done in Prague. I was delighted to work on an American movie, but I didn’t really get the American film experience because it was shot in Europe. When the film was released, the production company with whom I had a contract for a second movie flew me to Los Angeles for the premiere. That’s where I signed with an American agency, and we had general meetings with film studios.

FA: Have all of your jobs been obtained through agents?

BR: Yes. I had the lucky opportunity to get an agent very quickly. I was still in high school when I got one. I had the luxury to go to the Cours Florent already having an agent. I could apply what I was learning in class at auditions.

Béatrice Rosen modeling for Tim Fahlbusch

FA: You alternate between TV series and movies. How do you organize your schedule to act in both TV and movies?

BR: It depends. It’s really an atypical job. For example, I shot two TV series simutaneously. I did three episodes of “Charmed” while shooting “Cuts” at the same time. Luckily, both series were shot at Paramount Studios. It was funny because I had an assistant who was always waiting for me. In the morning I was in “Charmed” at studio 15, and the assistant would be waiting for me in a little golf cart to bring me to studio 23 were I was shooting “Cuts” in the afternoon. I had to switch costumes and learn my lines for “Cuts”. I did that for some time. It was fun. When I’m not shooting I go to meetings and auditions, and sometimes I have two jobs at the same time. I had to refuse another series named “Veronica Mars” because of a scheduling problem. I couldn’t take the job because everything fell on the same days.

Béatrice Rosen as Maya in "Charmed" (Season 8, Episode 3 - 2005)

FA: Have you been able to make a living by acting since the very beginning?

BR: That’s why I didn’t go back to school. Since the very beginning I started to make a living. I spent two years at the Cours Florent but I was working so much that I often couldn’t attend class. So it was useless to continue paying for a third year. When you are in a movie it is difficult to have other commitments.

Béatrice Rosen plays a real kick-ass model in "Charmed" (2005)

FA: Are “Charmed” and “Cut” your first American TV series appearances?

BR: The first TV series that I shot in the US was cursed because everybody had health problems during the production. It was delayed so much that they finally cancelled it. In this first series, “Commando Nanny”, I had one of the lead roles. But ultimately fate didn’t allow this show to make it. They lost so much money that they ended up giving up. Everyone had accidents. The lead actor broke his foot two days before production started. Then the actor who played my father discovered that he had a serious health problem. It was just a disaster.

"Commando Nanny" (2004 - Mark Burnett Productions)

FA: Can you describe the characters you play in “Charmed” and “Cut”?

BR: Here’s something funny about “Charmed”: I shot the pilot produced by Aaron Spelling [1923-2006], a mythical producer who created series like “Beverly Hills 90210”, “Melrose Place” and so on. I shot the pilot for his company but it never got picked up. They gave me three episodes on “Charmed” because the pilot shoot went very well and we had a very good relationship. In “Charmed” I played a model that speaks several languages and is accused of murder. A trio of witches [Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs] help me out of trouble because they figure out that I’m innocent. In “Cuts” I played an American girl. It was a sitcom. We shot it in front of a live audience.

Béatrice Rosen: armed and tripled in "Charmed" (2005)

FA: Since then you have had several roles in the US, including “The Dark Knight”. What is the difference between working for big studios and for indie productions?

BR: I had already worked on all kind of movies. “Chasing Liberty” was not an indie film, it was a studio film, but it has nothing to do with “The Dark Knight”. Before “The Dark Knight” I had never worked at such a high level. Anyway, I think it’s very rare to work in a movie of that caliber. All the people on this movie were Oscar nominees or Golden Globe nominees. It was quite amazing and obviously very impressive. I admired Christopher Nolan before working with him. He’s really an amazing person. And there’s an obvious difference in budget between “The Dark Knight” and an indie film...

FA: What was the working relationship between you and a big production director? Since he has a lot of things to handle, do you think that you were able to spend enough time with him, or did you have to prepare by yourself?

BR: I was about to mention that! “The Dark Knight” was an atypical film because in general, big comic action movies like that are not necessarily very artistic, but “The Dark Knight” was fantastic. Christopher Nolan really took the time to come and talk with me about the character. He’s such a perfectionist. Roland Emmerich is the same, and that’s why those guys work at the highest level. The studios trust them and give them a big budget to handle because those directors are not really affected by pressure. Roland Emmerich carries a 200-250 million dollar budget on his shoulders, and every morning he arrives full of energy, smiling, and is nice to everyone. He’s in good mood, he’s relaxed. I had the impression that it was the same for Christopher Nolan. He really creates a peaceful atmosphere even if there is a lot of pressure and large stakes. They both are really exceptional people and incredible perfectionists.

Christian Bale and Béatrice Rosen in "The Dark Knight" (2008)

FA: You play a Russian in “The Dark Knight”. How did you land this role?

BR: I studied Russian as a second language in high school, and I’ve always been attracted to the Russian language. People often ask me if I’m Eastern European. I don’t know, people think that I look Russian, and I think maybe that’s because of my Hungarian background. So my agency sent me to the audition and I said to myself, “I’ll go because hey, it’s Batman, it’s Christopher Nolan, and it’s going to be an exceptional movie.” I could feel that already. But honestly, I didn’t think I would get the part. I just said to myself, “I’ll do my best.” So I started working on my Russian accent, and then that was it! They had a worldwide audition, so I could hardly believe it when I heard the good news!

Béatrice Rosen as Russian ballerina Natasha in "The Dark Knight" (2008)

FA: How long did you spend working on your accent before going to the audition?

BR: I had very little time. I think I had only two days before the audition. I had to recall my Russian classes from school. I called an actor friend who speaks Russian, and we trained together. He gives Russian lessons on the side to make money. So for 20 dollars I worked with him and rehearsed for an hour.

FA: That 20 dollars was a good investment!

BR: Oh yeah, for sure! (laughs) Those were the most productive 20 dollars I ever spent.

Christopher Nolan directing the restaurant scene with Béatrice Rosen and Aaron Eckhart

FA: How many days did you spend shooting the Batman movie?

BR: I spent one week in London for the restaurant scene with Christian Bale. It went very well. I did my week in London and went back to Los Angeles. I was delighted. It was an awesome, fantastic experience. And then a few months later, in September, against all odds, they called me and flew me to Chicago for another week to add me into the boat scene, which was unexpected.

Aaron Eckhart, Béatrice Rosen, Christian Bale & Maggie Gyllenhaal

FA: Did you receive more scripts in your mail box after “The Dark Knight”?

BR: Yeah, but again, everything moved gradually. Obviously it clearly helps to appear in “The Dark Knight”; a movie like that opens doors and people want to meet you. I remember when I was auditioning for “2012”, famous actors and actresses were coming to audition for other parts. There are so many actors that producers and directors have the luxury to make famous actors audition. So “The Dark Knight” opened doors and allowed me to meet a lot of people, but it’s not like I was on the front page of every magazine overnight.

FA: Did your agent get you the part in “2012”?

BR: Yes, and I played a Russian as well, so this time I was confident. My agent got me an appointment to meet with the producer and director. I went back several times; it was like a rollercoaster. Then one day, I was in Wales on the set of another movie, “The Big I Am” and my agent called and said, “ ‘2012’ is not gonna work. It won’t be you”. I said, “Too bad, that’s a pity.” But in fact, two weeks later, my agent called me back to tell me that they were making me an offer.

FA: What scene did you do for your “2012” audition?

BR: They made me do three different scenes

FA: Are all your scenes in front of a blue screen?

BR: Hmm…a lot of them. The audition was like a regular audition, you know. There’s nothing in the room so you have to pretend. There was dialogue but also a lot of action, so you have to use your imagination a lot.

FA: Where and for how long did you work on “2012”?

BR: “2012” shot in Vancouver for four and a half months.

FA: What is “2012” about?

BR: It’s about the Apocalypse, based on a Mayan prediction. December 2012 will be the end of the world... that’s it. I really can’t tell you any more because I signed a confidentiality contract. We’ll wait to see the movie. But in fact, I saw it last Saturday [July 25th, 2009], and the movie is really awesome.

Béatrice Rosen as Tamara in "2012"
©2009 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FA: What can you reveal?

BR: Nothing. (laughs)

FA: Can you reveal anything about your character?

BR: My character is called Tamara. She’s Russian, and that’s all I can say (laughs).

Concerning confidentiality, when we were shooting “The Dark Knight” in the UK, it was very secretive as well. When we were passing through customs, or when we were making a phone call, we didn’t have the right to mention even the title of the movie. We had to use an alias for the title.

FA: Tell me about your collaboration with Roland Emmerich. Usually the technical aspect has a very important place in his movies. Does he have the time to take care of his cast?

BR: His personality is different from Christopher Nolan, but... For example, Christopher Nolan arrived on the set everyday in a suit. He’s very polite, very kind. Nolan always hires the same crew members so everybody knows each other. He works in silence and peace. It’s quiet, pleasant, nobody shouts, and it’s very efficient. He can move forward very very quickly... Roland Emmerich is the same. His sister was also a producer on the movie. Roland arrives on set each day with a smile. He works 18-20 hours a day. Because it’s very technical, he redoes each shot until it is perfect. So we did a lot of takes. He’s a real perfectionist. He comes on set, explains everything to the actors and is very present.

Roland Emmerich on the set of "2012"
©2009 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FA: Who are the actors you were involved with on the “2012” set?

BR: Most of my scenes were with Amanda Peet, John Cusack and Thomas McCarthy, who is also a director. He recently did a movie called “The Visitor” which won a lot of film festival awards. I had also several scenes with Lisa Lu [lead actress of the Hong Kong blockbuster “The 14 Amazons”], a wonderful lady, very professional. It was such a great cast; everyone enjoyed working on Roland's set. Lisa was a trooper because some of the scenes were pretty physical. The atmosphere on the set was light and fun, even though we were shooting a film about the end of the world.

Chang Tseng, Lisa Lu, Morgan Lily and Béatrice Rosen are having some problems
©2009 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FA: During the 4 ½ months of shooting “2012”, how long did you actually shoot?

BR: I don’t know exactly. It was a lot more than “The Dark Knight”.

FA: Do you ease up the pressure when you were not shooting?

BR: Yes, I would go back to LA for a few days, then return to Vancouver.

FA: Before shooting “2012”, had you already seen any Roland Emmerich movies?

BR: Most of them, I think.

FA: When you find out you will be working under a specific director do you try to see his work?

BR: Yes. The great thing about working in the US is that they give you quite a lot of information about the project when you go to an audition. So you can do research if you want. Obviously, it’s better to arrive prepared. It helps to know the director’s previous films. Through his work you can understand his taste, his creativity, what kind of actors he hires. So yes, I do some homework...

Béatrice Rosen in "2012": the calm before the storm
©2009 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FA: Have you done any work since “2012”?

BR: In March I shot an independent movie in England because I want to alternate working with big productions. I had to play the role of an American. I wanted to diversify my roles and not just play Russian or French roles. But this movie had some financing problems. It happens to a lot independent movies. The release date has been delayed. I had two projects like that which have been delayed, and I’m waiting for the new schedule. I’ll shoot, but I have to wait. After big movies like “2012” I really have to be careful with my choice of projects. I have to be judicious, you know.

FA: Can you refuse certain projects from your agency? Do you have to do all the auditions they ask you to do?

BR: I must choose strategic projects. I won’t play another Russian character just to be in a film. It has to be coherent, and my projects have to be diversified. I have to have a logic, a strategy, a career plan. But, well, I love to work. It has to make sense, you know.

FA: You will soon be on the screen in “The Big I Am” and “Woodland Cross”.

BR: “Woodland Cross” is one of the two movies in pre-production right now. It’s an English movie. Last year I did two English movies. I started to work in France, then in the US, and then England. I’m negotiating another one right now. We’ll see…

FA: Any plan to shoot some more French movies?

BR: I would love to… In fact, ideally, in a perfect world, I’d like to work six months in France and six months in the US. That would be awesome. It would be ideal to work a bit everywhere: in the UK, the US, in France.

“2012” POST-SCREENING QUESTIONS (3 months later)

Frédéric Ambroisine: Where did you shoot the scenes that take place under heavy snow in China?

Béatrice Rosen: We shot in big studios with a blue screen. Part of the set was built in the studio, so we had snow and a feel of the glacier.

FA: Your best friend in "2012" is a little dog. How easy or difficult is it to work with an animal in a movie?

BR: We had a trainer on set, and she got him ready for his scenes. When you work with animals you need a lot of patience because they don't always want to comply.

FA: How was the "dog stunt scene" shot? Even though it looks very dangerous onscreen, was it safe?

BR: I can't reveal all the secrets; it would take away the magic. :-)

FA: Not a lot is explained about your character Tamara’s background. She has a relationship with some of the characters but the audience has to imagine her past. Did the director tell you more about the background of Tamara, or did you ask him?

BR: Of course when you sign on to play a character you always want to know her backstory. We talked about it with Roland, and I also made my own choices. Tamara evolves a lot during the movie as she is confronted with many very emotional situations. She's the girlfriend of a Russian billionaire [Zlatko Buric]. She's very spoiled, but as the movie progresses we get a better sense of who she really is, and all her superficial traits are replaced by very human qualities.

FA: Some of the most physical scenes you did in the movie were underwater. How did you prepare to shoot these scenes? Were they dangerous or oppressive?

BR: Those scenes were pretty scary to shoot, but Sony didn't take any unnecessary risks. We had medics on set ready to react to any threatening event. We spent many, many hours in the water but the crew made it as comfortable as possible for the actors.

Béatrice Rosen and Morgan Lily getting wet in "2012" (2009)
©2009 Sony Pictures Digital Inc. All Rights Reserved.

FA: What was your favorite scene as a viewer (even if you weren’t in it)?

BR: I love the first scene where the special effects really start; the car scene with J. Cusack and his family in LA. It sets the tone.

FA : After appearing in a blockbuster as action-packed as “2012”, does your experience give you any desire to play other more physical roles in the future, like action roles?

BR: I would love to be in another action movie and spend months training beforehand...maybe in martial arts. I have a lot of energy and I think it would be a lot of fun for me.

Check out the official Béatrice Rosen website at http://beatricerosen.net/

Pre-screening interview conducted in French by Frédéric Ambroisine on July 27th, 2009. Translated by Frédéric Ambroisine.
Post-screening interview conducted in English by Frédéric Ambroisine on October 29th, 2009.
Edited by Sylvia Rorem for ActionQueens.com in October 2009.
Mega thanks to Béatrice Rosen for her kindness and time!
Thanks also to Stéphane Ribola (Miam), Tim Fahlbusch, Axel Foy & Anne Lara (Sony Pictures).


“2012” will be released worldwide in more than 70 countries between November 11th and 13th, 2009. Check out Sony Pictures website for dates.
Also, take a look at “2012” trailers & video clips on Yahoo Movies & Sony Pictures YouTube channel.

NEYTIRI: WARRIOR PRINCESS (JAMES CAMERON’S “AVATAR”)

Neytiri, the female lead of James Cameron’s new and most anticipated sci-fi 3D/live action movie “Avatar”, is not human, but she sure has heart. Neytiri is a Na’vi, an extraterrestial humanoid race with blue skin, four fingers, a long tail, and stands approximately 3 meters high. Neytiri lives on a planet named Pandora. The Na’vi are usually peaceful and live in perfect harmony with other life on their planet but they can become quite agressive when it comes to protect their land, especially from humans.

On August 21st, 2009, 15 minutes of the 3-hour “Avatar” was screened free in selected theaters worldwide (102 screens in the U.S. and 342 international screens in 58 countries). During “Avatar Day”, the audience discovered excerpts from seven scenes. One scene features beautiful, athletic and courageous Neytiri skilfully killing mad forest beasts in order to save Jake Sully, a human in a Na’vi’s body sent to Pandora for an Army mission. Jake, a former Marine paralyzed in combat, is given a chance through the Avatar program to walk again and discover an incredible new world.

On September 7th, 2009, 10 more minutes of footage were shown during a special press screening in Paris. Most of the additional footage was extended versions of “Avatar Day” scenes with more dialogue and explanation about the story and characters. Between scenes, producer Jon Landau, who came to Paris for this special press event, divulged more details about the story and character background (for example, Jake had a twin brother who died, and because he has the same DNA, he can replace him in the Avatar program).


In “Avatar”, Neytiri and Jake are respectively played by Zoe Saldana, who recently starred in the “Star Trek” remake by J.J. Abrams, and Sam Worthington, who played a half human-half robot character in “Terminator: Salvation”.


At the end of the press meeting, ActionQueens.com had the opportunity to ask Jon Landau about the choice of actors, Zoe and Sam, for “Avatar”. This is what he answered:

“Finding somebody to play Jake was not an easy task. What was important for us was to find someone who could have a wide range and create the vulnerability of Jake at the beginning of the movie, and the leadership at the end of the movie when he leads people into battle and he rallies them with his speech. Sam Worthington possessed the acting ability to do those things.


And for Zoe to play Neytiri, we wanted somebody who embodied the whole character. It was not just about a voice, it was not just about a look, it was about the whole embodiment, of embracing that character, in the movement, and becoming this regal, noble, beautiful heroine of our film. And Zoe, to train for the part, she worked with somebody from Circe du Soleil on movements, she took archery lessons on how to use a bow, she took riding lessons on how to use a horse, so we indoctrinated her in all the things she needed to do in the movie...”


After Sarah Connors in the first explosive “Terminator” movies and Ellen Ripley in warriored “Aliens”, we can bet that James Cameron will once again create, in Neytiri, an iconic female heroine that will be imprinted on moviegoers’ minds forever.


“Avatar” will be released worldwide on December 16-18th, 2009. Check out the impressive new “Avatar” new trailer which just hit the Net a few hours ago.

NATHALIE HAUWELLE INTERVIEW ("CALIBRE 9"): THE GIRL "IN" THE GUN

Everybody loves “Girls with Guns” movies, but “Calibre 9”, an indie action feature marking the debut of young French director Jean-Christian Tassy, may start a brand new trend: “Girls in Guns”! This low-budget, wacky flick stars Nathalie Hauwelle as a murdered prostitute whose spirit possesses her own murder weapon, and Laurent Collombert as the naive urban planner she manipulates to take bloody revenge. Check out the following trailer for a taste of what “Calibre 9” is all about!


In this exclusive Action Queens interview, actress, contemporary dancer, singer and performer Nathalie Hauwelle talks about her passionate theatre acting career (which includes a brand new version of Peter Weiss's “Marat/Sade”), the electro band LMZ (1), and her collaboration with the film company Dark Factory (2), responsible for intense alternative movies like the martial arts action horror flick “John 32” (3) and of course “Calibre 9”, now in post-production and hopefully ready for the next Marché du Film Market at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.


Frédéric Ambroisine: You’re a contemporary theater writer/director and actress. What did you start doing first?

Nathalie Hauwelle: I started relatively late as an actress, around 22 years old. It’s funny because I never imagined doing this job when I was a kid. I wanted to be librarian or florist, and I studied surreal literature. Dancing was a hobby. Then, bang! The magic of life! I took a theater class, and the director offered me a part in his production. This was Mladen Materić from Yugoslavia, who has a theater company called Tatoo Theatre. He became my theater master. I have spent seven years of my life with Tatoo Theatre doing wordless theater, subtext theater and silent theater. I learned everything from him: the presence, the sacredness of the plateau, the requirement of work. He gave me the fire. I thank him.

FA: What are the main differences between acting for theater and acting for cinema?

NH: It’s just not the same job at all. It’s like comparing distance running to a speed race. The theater is more related to ritual. We invite a crew, we rehearse for a very long time, we search for a month, and the show builds up like an improbable, wonderful alchemy. We prepare, we heat up, and then we make-up. A few hours before the show we have to remove ourselves from life and enter a dark, unknown world. We’re about to jump into a vacuum, and suddenly (it’s always a surprise!): It’s show time! People are here to see us perform; stomach ache, nervousness, and then the lights, and you have to go on. It always seems impossible, and it is! The theater is an unlimited space.


In cinema there is often time to do research. In general, the director knows quite well what he wants, and that’s why he chooses you. Your face plays a major role in his decision making. Cinema places actors into specific categories. There is less time but more money. Everything is expensive, and suddenly it’s your turn to act and you have to do it again and again, just tailoring it and tailoring it. It’s difficult and exciting at the same time because you have to give everything, but with a sense of discontinuity. I like the challenge of this kind of work, but interesting roles are rare. In “Calibre 9” I was able to develop personal traits, imbalances which touched me as a character. The role is a junkie prostitute, damaged by life.

Nathalie Hauwelle in JC Tassy's "Calibre 9" (2010)

FA: Do you have different approaches to working on a play and working on a movie?

NH: In theater, you have to search a lot on stage. Your part is written for the play, but you still have to invent everything! All the subtext, all the things which create a character. Where does he or she come from? What does he or she think? What is he or she dreaming of? I come from the moving theater, so my approach to a character is primarily physical. How does he or she move? How does he or she dance? What does he or she do in the silence? I use the same technique for the cinema: Where do I come from? Where am I going? Who am I? Those are the three questions I always ask myself before going on stage or on a movie set.

Nathalie Hauwelle on the set of "Calibre 9" (June 2007) - Photo: JF Daviaud

FA: When did you get involved in “Calibre 9”?

NH: I knew the director Jean-Christian [JC] Tassy, ever since Eric Cherriere’s “John 32”, another film from Dark Factory in which I also played a prostitute. “John 32” is a history of prostitution as it relates to power, like a little Mafia town. Prostitution, pimps. It was written by Eric, who also wrote “Calibre 9”, so it’s a bit in the same vein. But it was done some years before, so it’s less complex and more confusing. I would say that it is a kind of an embryo of “Calibre 9”. I think that JC wanted to work with me since “John 32”... I don’t know, you’ll have to ask him!

FA: In “John 32” you’re not really playing a prostitute but a former porn actress who becomes a kickboxer.

NH: Yes, after stopping her porn activities she does kickboxing. I trained with Sabrina [Bendjema], who is a real [Tae Kwon Do] fighter. She was a European champion, I think. She’s my partner on screen and plays my opponent. She’s a real champion, but in “John 32” I beat the shit out of her of course, since I became so strong after three sessions (laughs).

FA: Did you have any sport training background before working on “John 32”?

NH: I have always been quite physical, but I never did martial arts before. I did flamenco and contemporary dancing. Dancing is really my thing, but it’s really close to martial arts in its requirements and endurance. Ultimately, the goals and final results are not the same, but I found myself into it. And Sabrina was really cool. She helped me a lot and encouraged me. It’s not in my nature to beat people up (laughs), but I think she succeeded in channelling my rage into kickboxing training. I think it’s really well shot: it doesn’t show that I’m fighting like a pussy.

Nathalie Hauwelle vs. Sabrina Bendjema in "John 32" (2006)

FA: So you had only three training sessions, and then shot the scenes?

NH: Yeah, three or so. It was a long time ago, so it’s a bit blurry for me. But I trained seriously; first with Eric [director] and then with Sabrina. She gave me simple things to do. And because I’m an angry person, my rage hid my lack of technical skill.

Sabrina Bendjema vs. Nathalie Hauwelle in "John 32" (2006)

FA: Where does your rage come from?

NH: Oh, well. I don’t know. This is the way I am.

FA: You were born with it?

NH: Yeah. Yeah. I’m quite angry.

FA: About what?

NH: Nothing in general. I don’t know. But in life you have to fight against everything all the time, so I think you have to have some rage in you to succeed in doing what you want to do. I want to do what I want to do, so I’m fighting for that.

Nathalie knocks Sabrina out

FA: Everything on the kickboxing set went along smoothly? No accidents?

NH: It was super to have Sabrina as opponent because we trained together, but if you watching the action scenes closely, she’s always superior to me. She’s a very intelligent girl and she knows how to diminish herself to make me look more powerful (laughs). In real life, I would not have been able to stand up one second against her.

The Rage of Nathalie

I was using full contact, hitting without restrictions, and she remained tranquil because she knew what she was doing. She just countered my attacks. It is funny to see this champion let herself lose just because I am supposed to win. In “John 32” I also have a gunfight scene alongside Maurice Poli. We saw each other only once on the set. He’s a great man. He has an incredible face.

Nathalie Hauwelle and Maurice Poli on the set + Nathalie starting
the big shootout of "John 32" (2006)

FA: When did you shoot “Calibre 9”?

NH: Wow, a long time ago. Two years ago, I think. [June 2007](4)

FA: What was your reaction when you found out that for most of the movie you would have to embody... a gun?

NH: I found the proposal original, offbeat and uncommon. I like adventures. I always step into the unknown.

JC Tassy direcs Nathalie Hauwelle on the set of "Calibre 9"
Photo: Maurice Salmon (June 2007)

FA: Where did you shoot your character’s pre-death scenes?

NH: We worked in a hotel (now closed) in Toulouse called the Hotel de Bourse, with real illegal immigrants and Bulgarian an amazing mix! Jean-Christian knows me very well. He had seen several of my plays. He knows that I love to improvise, and that there’s a certain madness in me, so he gave me a lot of freedom with a couple scenes. And he tightly controlled me in other scenes. It was a good cocktail for me.

Deadly make-up for Nathalie Hauwelle on the set of "Calibre 9"
Photo: Maurice Salmon (June 2007)

FA: Can you give me some examples of improvisations that you proposed to the director?

NH: We shot the scene in this insalubrious hotel which was about to be destroyed. There were cockroaches everywhere! The whore [Nathalie’s character] lives there. Her pimp comes to visit her, and will, in fact, kill her. I did quite a long improv scene: she gets high, then has hallucinations and starts to do nonsense: dancing, singing, putting on makeup. She’s all alone so she indulges herself doing all this nonsense, you know, crazy girl stuff.

Nathalie Hauwelle flying high in "Calibre 9" (2010)

FA: Did you do research for your role in “Calibre 9”?

NH: You haven’t seen the movie yet, so how do you know if I did a good job or if my acting sucks?

FA: (Laughs) Because the trailer looks great, and you look quite credible as a prostitute who gets high and shoots a gun. Did you play the character in an extravagant way?

NH: Not at all, I played her quite dark and deep. It was a hell of an experience because the location where we shot was already dark. It was cockroach infested. And that was a super way to get into the character of a chick who renounced herself. Because being a whore and a junkie is a consequence. We don’t wake up one morning and say “I’ll be a junkie whore.” It’s because you renounced your own life, and a lot of other things, and suddenly you don’t have any other way to eat except by selling your body. This is such a horrible thing that you have to get high. And this situation makes her look even lousier in her own eyes. She’s really burnt out, you know. She’s not like Godard’s prostitutes, who are sexual and very attractive. She’s more of a super desperate chick, like I played her. So, if you want, I won’t say I played a junkie prostitute; I will say that this girl became like that because of the terrible things that happened in her life.

Nathalie Hauwelle "has" the gun

FA: Tell me about her spiritual evolution after her death, after she becomes a weapon.

NH: After this resurrection, it’s like she starts a new life. She wants to take revenge against life in general, against men, against everything she has suffered. She becomes a kind of ultra-bloody, infernal killer. But not without morality. She wants to cleanse the town of all those bastards. She’s a kind of vengeful weapon.

Nathalie Hauwelle "is" the gun

FA: “John 32” and “Calibre 9” are genre movies, but is this your type of movie, as a viewer?

NH: Not at all. Actually, I am a dirty art-house film snob. For example, I’m obsessed with silent films and I also love 60’s movies. Genre movies are not really my world, but I’m quite an adventurer. I felt very enthusiastic working on Eric’s and JC’s projects. They invited me to join them on their adventures, and they succeeded in charming me and bringing me along… I’m a very bad example of an Action Queen! (laughs).

The Whore and the Euros

FA: How did you prepare for your action scenes in “Calibre 9”?

NH: JC knew very well what he wanted. He already had the edited scenes in his head so he was very clear, very professional. He told me “Do this here, do that there,” so I let myself be guided. My action scenes are exclusive to the dialogue between the prostitute and her pimp, in scenes where he beats her. I had the chance to get to know my acting partner [Jean-Jacques Lelté]. and to get along with him very well. So, no arguments on the set. Legit and professional.

Harsh times - Jean-Jacques Lelté and Nathalie Hauwelle in "Calibre 9" (2010)

FA: You’re also a theater director. Did this make your work and your professional relationship with Tassy easier?

NH: I’m not really a director. I see myself rather as somebody who’s into everything, without label, avid, restless, looking for the improbable! Cinema one day, theater the next, or the circus. I hate being bored!

FA: How was the “virtual” part of shooting “Calibre 9”? Were you on the set for the scenes in which you are not physically on screen? Or did you do all the gun voice-overs during post-production?

NH: I was not on the set for those scenes. That was nice! I had never worked on post-production voice-over before, and we recorded in a studio at one of Jean-Christian’s friends’ place. It gave me ideas for future; if I ever record tales, or if I sing…and then, poems! Ah, life is beautiful!

FA: Did you see any footage other than the trailer?

NH: No. I did the voice-over pretty blindly, based on the teaser trailer and the script. I just did [a rough] voice-over to help JC with the editing. Later I will do a real, definitive voice-over.

FA: When did you find out you would have to do that?

NH: I figure I would have to when I did the first voice-over almost a year after the shooting. It was in a studio, one year later, with no footage to watch. I knew it would not be very good and that we would have to do a new sound take after the editing.

FA: Do you know when you will do it?

NH: I don’t know. JC is still working on the editing.

2009 Tentative poster for "Calibre 9"

FA: Let’s talk about your many other activities. You sing in an electro band named LMZ, right?

NH: I don’t really sing in LMZ. I recite poems, excerpts from “Pierrot le Fou” and from a poet named Laura. And I dance and perform during the concerts. Originally LMZ was a duo with Philo Fournier from the 80’s band Les Ablettes, and Franck Flies. After he left Les Ablettes, Philo started to make electro music. We met each other at a show where I was making costumes...

Philo Fournier and Franck Flies: The creators of LMZ

FA: And now LMZ is a trio...

NH: Hmm. We were a trio. Now we are only a duo, without a drummer. But we can have two or three people. It depends. Philo is a guy who likes strange adventures. There were two dancers in his live shows and two pianists including him, and a lot of people on stage. He had created a kind of live performance event around the previous album. When we met, he wanted things a little off-beat, so we started talking about what we would be able to do together. And then we started to work together.

Philo Fournier and Nathalie Hauwelle (LMZ press photo for "La Machine Zoo")

FA: When you joined the band in 2005, was it to work on the third LMZ album or just for the live performances?

NH: To work on the album. He was composing the album with Frank when I came. We were rehearsing in a tiny cellar. I created characters for their songs.

LMZ: "La Machine Zoo" front cover (2008)

FA: What kind of characters?

NH: Crazy kinds of characters: a kind of squeaky mouse that eats apples, a woman who is devoured by her children, some ogresses and other little odd characters (laughs).

LMZ mosaic video (from the song "Un monde Parfait")

FA: Do these characters recite poems and perform on stage?

NH: Exactly.

FA: Where do these characters come from?

NH: This was not improvisation. We searched quite a lot while they were working on the songs. …After that it became a kind of zoo machine. There are different kinds of monster-plants (laughs)...ogres, half angel-half demons... they derived from the research we did together. LMZ means “The Zarma Manifest”, and it became a zoo machine, you know, a big mixture of species...I don’t know, it’s something a little weird, and that's what Philo wanted. It has become a three-headed monster or something like that.

LMZ mosaic video (from the song "Un monde Parfait")

FA: I saw some excerpts of LMZ concerts. If you just listen to the album, will there be something missing?

NH: The album was recorded in a studio, so it's definitely more sanitized. It is something different. I guess when you see a live band, you expect something different than the studio. It is true that the album is smoother. The concert that we did in Fumel was quite extraordinary. When my characters started to speak, it became a kind of trance. Even if we rehearse in a certain way, it becomes something else during a live performance. Like in Seville, the end of the show completely changed (laughs). That is what is so great about it: you never know what will happen to you. You are always the first to be surprised by your own production.

LMZ mosaic video (from the song "Un monde Parfait")

FA: Where have you toured with LMZ?

NH: We did Toulouse, Fumel, and the Seville Festival. We toured a little bit, but things happened and Philou started a trip around the world. So now, regarding the band, everything is on stand-by. Philo is still away. He's in Brazil right now. He’s a crazy guy! He’s a great traveller. I think travel was missing him. But I think LMZ will get back on track because we have both been tickled by our adventure.

LMZ mosaic video (from the song "Un monde Parfait")

FA: Why and when did you create your theater company, Groenland Paradise [Greenland Paradise]?

NH: I didn’t want to just work for other people. I created Groenland Paradise two years ago. I was always making installations and doing small performances alongside my job as a performer and actress. So Thierry De Chaunac and I set up a company that blends installations and theater, and installations and performances. We did our first show, which is a work based on a text by Lagarce [Le Bain - 1993]. During the show I do live installations in a micro-space and then a larger version, which creates other mental spaces.

Nathalie Hauwelle + Thierry de Chaunac = Groenland Paradise

FA: How did you learn the art of installation performance?

NH: Savagely, I can say (laughs). I don’t know, I like to try a little bit of everything. I do a lot of things and I always want to show it somewhere. So “J'aimais un homme a tête de squelette, a tête demesurée” [I loved a man with a skeleton head, a disproportionately large head], which is the name of the show, is like a hybrid between installation and theater. It is interesting to question things differently, and especially to go places I don’t know. I wanted to do it because I didn’t know how to do it. I like to put myself in danger; that's why we’re preparing a new performance for March [2009]. It is crazy because I feel like I’ll never succeed in finishing it. We have several people working on the project, which is from a biography of King Louis II de Bavière. It’s also about a construction in real-time. Because we have several people it is damn disturbing, but it is what drives us to move forward. Without that, I would stop.

“J'aimais un homme a tête de squelette, a tête demesurée”

FA: Do you prefer to stage your own creations?

NH: Yes, I want to share. The new work we are doing and thinking about is: Do we want to share? Because theater is about sharing. The public is on one side and the actors are on the other side. But who are the professionals? We’re questioning ourselves about all that. But for now, our company is not commercial at all; we’re not earning any money. We’re really doing it for the research, you know.

“J'aimais un homme a tête de squelette, a tête demesurée”

FA: How long have you had the desire to create?

NH: Since always. I have been an actress, but when I do acting for too long it pisses me off because I need to do my own thing. I enjoy working with others, it brings me a lot, and I very much like working with people, but it is not enough. I need to recharge in more intimate ways.

“J'aimais un homme a tête de squelette, a tête demesurée”

FA: You have a very loaded schedule right now. You’re working on five projects. Can you tell me about them?

NH: We just created "Marat/Sade" [directed by Eric Sanjou], which will tour this year. I also have a show for children, “La princesse au petit poids” [The Princess and the Pea] (5), in which I dance.

FA: What role do you play in “Marat/Sade”?

NH: Charlotte Corday.

Nathalie Hauwelle as Charlotte Corday in "Marat/Sade" directed by Eric Sanjou
(Photos: ©2009 Djeyo / Le Clou dans la Planche)

FA: While preparing for this role were you inspired by what has been done before, by watching old plays or movies? Or did you approach this play in a fresh way?

NH: This is the first time that I have worked with Eric Sanjou, and I wanted to start working on this play like a virgin, you know? It's always a great adventure to work with another person whose work you admire. So I wanted to be very receptive to what he proposed, and really get into his research. So I did not watch a lot of movies. I went to see exhibitions and thought about the play. In “Marat/Sade”, a lunatic plays Charlotte, so there are different levels of interpretation. I thought about it, but I did not do too much work in advance because I told myself that I know how he [Sanjou] works; I don’t want to arrive already prepared and show off.

Nat Hauwelle with Frédéric Klein as Marat and Christian de Miègeville as Sade
(Photos: ©2009 Djeyo / Le Clou dans la Planche)

FA: Did you do further research after meeting Sanjou?

NH: When you see how the other person works, you can help him or her by getting into their research, but for this work I didn’t want to arrive with plenty of "Charlotte is like this, Charlotte is like that." I said to myself, “He’s a super complex director, so let yourself be guided.” And it was true; I was right for once (laughs).

Nathalie Hauwelle and Frédéric Klein in "Marat/Sade"
(Photo: ©2009 Djeyo / Le Clou dans la Planche)

FA: What do you think of Peter Brook’s “Marat/Sade” [1967 movie adaptation of the play]?

NH: I found it very boring. I have a bizarre relationship with Brook’s work. I like him a lot. He’s a part of theater history. When you go to see “Le Costume”, it’s super, but only for the 70’s. He was such an important guy that everybody copied him, but now we have gone further. It’s super to see Peter Brook’s work. He’s a super intelligent guy, and he shares a lot. But he’s a bit like the archeology of theater. It’s interesting, but I find it super “old school”. When I saw “Marat/Sade” I got super bored.

FA: So what is your version of “Marat/Sade”?

NH: Crazier, because there are several levels. We are actors playing insane people who play actors, so it’s an abyss in which we are playing on all these levels. We act insane, and we act like we’re acting insane. It’s very interesting for us as actors because we’re always acting on different levels.

FA: That is the same situation as the movie version.

NH: Yes, but I think they did too much insanity. I don’t trust intelligence. I am very wary. I love instinctive actors and…. I love actors less and less, actually.

FA: Really?

NH: Yes (laughs) because I find that actors are tricky. You know, Peter Brook wrote super things in his memoirs but he said that “Marat/Sade” was not good. I think it’s great that a director can say, “I messed up; it happens.” He said they tried to be smart. They used acting study techniques, spent 15 days in a psychiatric hospital and then played lunatics. But they admitted they were wrong. It’s seducing to play lunatics. It’s seducing, but false. We’re not crazy. We act crazy. So for me, the movie didn’t work.

Peter Brook's "Marat/Sade" (1967) starring Patrick Magee (Sade),
Glenda Jackson (Corday) and Ian Richardson (Marat)

FA: How do you play your character? Do you use your instinct, or did you do any research?

NH: I don’t know how to say this: I try not to act. It’s horrible, I’m telling you. My goal is this: to not act, to be the least technical. I don’t want to be technical. Maybe that’s why I always change roles and mediums. I don’t trust know-how. I’m very wary. Or, at least you have to be very strong. I like imperfect things.

Nathalie Hauwelle as Charlotte Corday in "Marat/Sade" directed by Eric Sanjou
(Photo: ©2009 Djeyo / Le Clou dans la Planche)

FA: Can you choose the theater plays in which you want to act, or the people you want to work with? In films, you may not always have the choice…

NH: I'm lucky enough now to be able to choose my projects, so I choose people whose inner search excites me. I don’t want to do things that do not bring me something more. What is hard in cinema is that before being a star, you have to do a lot of roles as nurses and prostitutes. I think that what is good about theater is that you can really do everything. Even if you’re not well-known, you have the opportunity to play very interesting roles and work with people who have very complex worlds. On another hand, it's not easy to have a starring role in a movie with a guy that you're passionate about. I think that's why theater gives me more joy today. That’s certain.

FA: It sounds like you can have more fun doing what you want in theater.

NH: No, it's not like that. I work harder at theater, so it has become more my way of functioning. I do not know if this will last, but I hope I have the opportunity to work with people I admire. So that's great. And these people give me roles that interest me, so it's a nice exchange. Whereas in cinema, it is very rare to get a big role. You are often stereotyped because of your face. I find it more difficult to be adventurous in cinema. That’s my opinion, anyway.

FA: When the role of prostitute in “Calibre 9”was offered to you, you could easily have refused.

NH: Yes, I could have, but JC knows me well now (laughs). He saw a lot of things that I did and he knew that I need to improvise, to be able flip out, to do things that I want to do on the spur of the moment. And he was a wise director because at times he was very controlling, and when he saw I was reaching my limits he would tell me to improvise. So we found a nice balance. I proposed a lot of ideas he may not keep, but it was important for me to show him so he could take what he wanted. This was hard sometimes. There was a good understanding between us, and he was super smart for doing it that way.

FA: Is there a commonality between the different characters you have played? I have the impression that you often play off-beat characters. Is this on purpose? Have you ever played a “normal” character?

NH: Yes, I played a housewife. But it was quite strange to me. I went through that stage; I learned to act by playing those kinds of roles. But now I want to do different things, weirder, crazier. But it’s difficult to play a common character and make it interesting. It’s a much more difficult thing to do than to play crazy characters.

FA: Do you think people want to work with you because of your “crazy characters”?

NH: I don’t know. I like to work. Right now, I’m doing some very serious things. I think that people hire me because I like to work. And I’m not reluctant. I like adventures, places that I don’t know. I don’t think everybody likes to do that.

FA: Tell me about your other projects.

NH: I work with a circus called Palais Nibo.

Left: Nathalie Hauwelle dancing at the Palais Nibo
Right: Philippe Decouflé's "Cœurs croisés" (Photo: ©2007 Suzanne Brun)

FA: What do you do in it?

NH: I dance, and I eat…an apple (laughs). I am also working in a play called “Coeurs Croisés” [“Crossed Hearts”], a burlesque play by Philippe Decouflé. There is also work being prepared with Groenland Paradise for the March performance. That’s quite a lot of work. We have a big tour with “Coeurs Croisés” and “La Princesse au Petit Pois”. And in between…

FA:…you’re working on your personal project with Groenland.

NH: Yes, I still work when I’m not touring. Right now, I’m working on my own adventures. I’m relaxing.

FA: Relaxing while you work?

NH: Yeah! (laughs) Holidays are boring.

FA: Do you plan to take any real holidays?

NH: In 2015 (laughs). No, maybe before that, but I have a lot of things that I want to do. And because I still have some energy, I’m taking this opportunity to do all my projects. I mean, I’m trying (laughs).

FA: Any other movies planned for the future?

NH: I'm not going to look for it but if you come to me, why not? But I don’t go to casting and all that. I have no energy to put into it. Doing that takes too much of my energy. I did it a little bit, and I thought it was not for me. Going to castings, and playing only very small parts, I felt that I would become totally depressed. Now I have found a nice balance of the projects I want to explore. I like that, it suits me better. Paths are ultimately so personal. If for example Jean-Luc Godard wants to work with me, or Terence Malick, of course, I’ll say I’ll be there (laughs), but there is so far no news regarding this. I have no scoop to reveal about that.

FA: Tell me about your work with Jean-François Daviaud (6). It’s almost impossible to find a photo of you except the ones taken by him.

NH: Jean-François is a friend of mine. He’s one of my Dark Factory buddies. He’s not only a photographer, but also a director of photography. He also organized the photography festival ManifestO. I’ve known him for a very long time, at least ten years.

Left: 'Hija de pelicula' (Nat wears a dress made with a Super 16 mm film (Creation 2002,2004)
Right: 3 of the 8 allegorical boards of 'Goldfish' (Installation Performance ManifestO - 2007)

FA: How did he get you to participate in his photo projects?

NH: Well, he always needs models. So he called when he wanted me to do something, that’s all. We’re buddies. We help each other. I work on his projects, he helps me with mine. It’s a free exchange.

Left: One of the 6 actual size photos of 'Frigo radeau de la méduse'
Right: Floating art work of the same series on the river Garonne (Sept. 2004)

FA: Do you pose for other photographers or do casting photos?

NH: I’m not interested in that. I did a commercial once, and I hated it. I don’t really like to be photographed, but I do it for Jean-François because he’s a friend. I don’t like my image circulating. I don’t like that! I’m not on FaceBook. My job is to be an actress, but I don’t want photos of me everywhere. It’s just not my thing.

FA: Would you prefer to focus on your acting and leave your marketing to others?

NH: I don’t want to create a cult of my own image. I just want to be a good actress, and to be hired on that basis. That’s it. The rest, the blah blah blah, I’m not into it. I do photos for JF or for my friend Kathy Sebbah, or I shoot a movie with my friends. But I’m not looking for a job from it. I have other preoccupations.

FA: So you don’t have agent, you take care of everything yourself?

NH: Yes, and it’s too much work! (laughs). Last year, there was a lot of tension for me. I was doing a show in the morning and another one at night. I had to stay focused. And this year will be hardcore as well. But now I’m doing a lot theater work in a circus and for big companies. They handle all the tours, and so on.

Nathalie Hauwelle in "La Princesse au Petit Poids" - Written and illustrated by
Anne Herbauts, directed by Nathalie Bensard and produced by Compagnie La Rousse

FA: You seem to be in an ideal situation.

NH: You think so?

FA: You’re working with several companies. They handle everything and you can just concentrate on your acting.

NH: That’s right. That’s great! It’s true. I have to remind myself of that. I do complain, but ultimately, it’s super. I’m lucky.

Interview conducted in French in August 2009 by Frédéric Ambroisine. Translated by Frédéric Ambroisine and edited by Sylvia Rorem for ActionQueens.com in October 2009.


Many thanks to Jean-Christian Tassy, Nathalie Hauwelle, Jean-François Daviaud, Eric Cherrière, Axel Guyot, Maurice Salmon (photos "Calibre 9"), Pidz, Polo Garat, Odessa photographies, Palais Nibo, Groenland Paradise, Compagnie La Rousse, LMZ, Djeyo / Le Clou dans la Planche, K Production, Les Films d’Avalon, & Dark Factory.

(1) Check out the LMZ official website and MySpace page and the following videos featuring Nathalie Hauwelle: Un Monde Parfait + Live in Fumel
(2) Dark Factory was created in 2004 by Eric Cherrière. It is composed of Cherrière and four other directors from Toulouse: Catherine Aïra, Julien Fournet, Kevin Favillier and JC Tassy. Dark Factory’s mission is to produce indie genre movies in southwest France. Contact: ladarkfactory@gmail.com
(3) “John 32” first cut (27 minutes) is available as an extra on the French DVD version of “Beyond Re-animator” (released in 2006). A new, more energetic 23 minute cut has just been edited by JC Tassy.
(4) JC Tassy shot “Calibre 9” in June and August 2007 and in June 2008 (Total days of shooting: 45). Nathalie Hauwelle shot her scenes in one week during June 2007.
(5) This play is adapted from Anne Herbauts, not from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
(6) Check out JF Daviaud works with Nathalie Hauwelle here: 'Frigo radeau...', 'Goldfish', 'Hija de pelicula', 'Daunless film suit', 'Jardin Japonais' & 'Blood Doll' (on the set of "Calibre 9")

CANDACE KITA INTERVIEW PART 2: HOTTIE HELPER

It’s awesome to watch a heroine kick a bad guy’s ass in the movies! But in real life, it doesn’t really happen very much. According to L.A.-based actress/model and women’s safety advocate Candace Kita, the smartest thing for a woman to do with a potential “predator” (1) is to remove herself from the situation as peacefully as possible. In this second and last part of her interview, Candace Kita talks about her weekly radio show “Hottie Help with Candace Kita”, on air since October 2008, her upcoming book The Hottie Handbook: A Girl's Guide to Safety, the Candace-inspired action comic "Kyu Shin", and other projects.

Frédéric Ambroisine: As a sexy model, how do you find the difference between an image that is attractive and one that is exploited?

Candace Kita: There is a fine line between the two. It is not easy. It takes an understanding between the photographer and the model to fully understand the look they are trying to achieve.

FA: You created your own radio show “Hottie Help”. Is this first project over which you have creative control?

CK: Yes, this might be the first project where I've had control over what is being put out there. At first, the show had a sexier image. We've actually toned it down a bit during the course of the past year.

FA: Briefly, what is the concept of your radio show?

CK: Each week we bring on a celebrity female guest to discuss issues pertaining to women's safety. Past episodes have dealt with home safety, work safety, travel safety, campus safety, dorm room safety, car safety, surfing the internet, and dating.

Lisa Gleave discussing women's safety on "Hottie Help with Candace Kita" (Oct. 19th, 2008)

FA: Can you give your international readers a brief example of what the show is like?

CK: We have various guests from all walks of life; from safety experts, relationship experts and authors to Playboy Playmates. We even had 1960's icon Kitten Natividad discussing car safety for women! It is funny, unexpected and we like to combine guests with topics they are not familiar with. You never know what to expect!

FA: How did you meet you co-host sidekick Doug Stewart? Was he involved in the radio show project since the beginning?

CK: Doug was involved since the beginning; I approached him as a first pick because he has a terrific radio voice and personality. He was the perfect choice and has had a voice-over career that has included work for The Tonight Show, Disney and Cartoon Network.

FA: What kind of female image do you think is important to present on the show?

CK: I think it is important to show an empowered woman, but also one who is well-informed. I study safety tips for each show before we go live on the air. People have no idea how many hours of behind-the-scenes work goes into each hour of the show.

Nicole Pulliam was the first guest on "Hottie Help with Candace Kita" (Oct. 5th, 2008)

FA: Your radio show started in October 2008, but at that time your upcoming "The Hottie Handbook: A Girl's Guide to Safety" was already completed. When did you have the book idea and when did you have the radio show idea?

CK: I had the book idea a little over two years ago. The radio show idea came to me after August 2008. I was a guest at Comic-Con in San Diego last August [2009] , and was being interviewed by a science fiction radio show. It gave me the idea to do a show about women's safety.

FA: How long did it take to write your book? And when is it being released?

CK: It only took about six months to complete the book. However, it has taken two years to get it completely finished. It has been edited several times and has been put together by a company and re-edited. Images had to be chosen, fonts had to be decided on, etc. There is so much to putting together a book that I was unaware about. It will be released on iPhone at the end of this year as an iPhone application. Then it will be released in paperback and will be available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ and http://www.amazon.com/.

Candace says: "Be Sexy. Be Smart. Be Safe"

FA: When did you start collecting information and tips related to women’s safety?

CK: I started collecting tips on women's safety over four years ago. All of the real-life situations described in the book come from women from all walks of life: not only models and actresses but also teachers, stay-at-home moms, and everyday women.

FA: When did you first begin to consider yourself a safety advocate? Did something in particular happen to you or somebody you know that made you become a Hottie Helper?

CK: I have considered myself a safety advocate for five years. I detail in my book a situation I had involving a stalker that prompted me to have an interest in women's safety.

Who's hotter?

FA: Concerning the title “Hottie Help”: How did you find it? Did you have any other title before this one?

CK: I liked the alliteration of the words "hottie" and "help". The term "Hottie" applies to any woman who is interested in learning how to deal with inappropriate behavior. I actually did have another title, but need to keep it under wraps because it is going to become the title of my next book.

FA: Another book! Congratulations! Can you give us a little hint about its subject?

CK: Of course, it is another safety primer for women of all ages. I have to keep the hint small because my agent is shopping the idea around right now.

FA: You had the idea for your radio show in August 2008, and the first episode aired on October 2008. How did you manage to set it up so fast?

CK: I was lucky; I knew someone at LA Talk Radio who got me in touch with the right people. I wanted to delay the start of the show because I didn't feel like I was ready. They did a "test run" of one show initially to see how it would go, and it went well. So we've been airing the show ever since.

FA: How do you select your “Hottie Help” guests?

CK: The guests come to me through various sources: word of mouth, their managers, and as friends of previous guests who have been on the show and have enjoyed coming on.

FA: Do you feel like you, your guests or listeners are learning and growing from your show?

CK: I think so. The reason I say this is, we've had several women call in from time to time, repeat callers, with situations they are dealing with. They keep us up-to-date on what is going on in their lives. So I feel like they are learning and telling us what is happening with them. It is exciting for us and it is very rewarding to hear someone who has a situation and it finally gets resolved.

Doug Stewart, Candace Kita & Brian Wallos on "Hottie Help" (Dec. 14th, 2008)

FA: Usually your "Hottie Help" guests are young female models or actresses. But there were two exceptions. One of your guests was a man, and the other one was icon Kitten Natividad. Why did you choose these guests?

CK: The man is Brian Wallos, the CEO of Bench Warmer International. Bench Warmer is a series of collectible trading cards with beautiful women on them. To give you an idea of what they look like, they are similar to baseball trading cards. Brian was an ideal guest because he deals with beautiful women all of the time. Also, as the CEO of Bench Warmer, he has had safety issues he's had to deal with for himself and for the models. He came on and discussed safety in public venues. It was an interesting show, but my co-host and he got sidetracked onto the subject of rare collectible baseball cards and I had to steer them back towards our topic at hand!

Candace Kita is of course, a Bench Warmer model (2008 Bench Warmer Limited Base Card #12)

Kitten seemed like an interesting choice as well. She has had a long career and has had a lot of male attention. So she was able to discuss women's safety and has a wonderful sense of humour. Her episode received more fan emails than any other. We even received one from Paraguay for her. We didn't even know where Paraguay was!

FA: How do you prepare for your show?

CK: Each week we prepare by doing online research about the topic plus the guest. We have a basic format we adhere to each week and the show is broken down by the minute. We take a few hours each week to learn the safety tips, plus basic information about the guest and their career. We also have a syllabus next to us at all times to refer to, if need be.

FA: Did you have experience with live radio before?

CK: I only had experience with live radio as a guest, never as a host. It is interesting to think that we are on live each week, but once we get into the studio we think only of the work we have ahead of us. The hour always seems to fly by.

FA: “Hottie Help” is supposed to be a weekly show, but sometimes it’s not regular. Why not?

CK: It is supposed to be weekly. However, we miss some weeks and a repeat will air. This is because I am out of town quite a bit for work. And if my co-host is not in town I can't do the show either.

FA: How many “Hottie Help” episodes are you supposed to do? Do you have unlimited topics to talk about?

CK: That is a good question. My original goal was 24 shows. Then we passed it and still felt we had valid topics to discuss. So I have no idea how long the show will run. I think if there is still listener interest. I'll still do it. I know some women who call in each week and we get great listener emails. so we might as well keep going.

Hottie Helpers Candace Kita & Alana Curry, getting ready for a charity event

FA: What feedback have you had from people in the entertainment industry about “Hottie Help”?

CK: We've gotten some really great feedback especially in conjunction with my charity, Hotties With a Heart. This organization is made up of past guests from the show. We donate time each month to various charity organizations throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Recently we were written up in Variety when we visited the Bob Hope USO at LAX [airport] and welcomed over 400 troops that were being deployed overseas that day.

The Hotties with a Heart signed for over 400+ Marines at the Bob Hope USO at LAX

FA: It seems like people follow you from the radio show to your charity. Do you think you inspire loyalty?

CK: I think it is a compliment. The guests who do the charity work with us do this free of charge. They donate not only their time but also the headshots, posters, Bench Warmer Cards and magazines that they sign at these events. I really appreciate their dedication and it is also always great to see everyone at an event. It gives us time to catch up on each other's lives.

FA: When did you start your charity? After the “Hottie Help” show began?

CK: I started Hotties With a Heart and “Hottie Help” at about the same time. The show came slightly before the charity organization. Basically, I was able to find people who were interested in participating from the guests who came on the show. The organizations have basically fallen into my lap. I guess it is easy to find an organization that wants free help from hot gals.

Candace participating in a reading program for elementary school children in Compton, CA.

FA: You spend a lot of time and energy helping all different kinds of people in need. Do you think you are different than other actresses?

CK: No, I don't think I'm any different because so many actresses and models I've met are more than happy to do charity. It has been surprisingly easy; I just call everyone up, find out their schedules and pick a date that works for everyone. It has been easier than we initially thought.

FA: Are you the only founder of the charity?

CK: Yes, I am the founder but I've had a lot of help from my radio co-host, Doug Stewart. I would not have been able to put together many of the events without him.

FA: Who can be a member of Hotties With a Heart?

CK: We've had so many members I can't tally them all, but I'd say 98% are models and actresses. We've had great help from males as well from time to time so yes, anyone can be a hottie! All of the women who have participated have done so for no pay. They have taken time out of the busy work week and given their weekends to work free all day. They are all great people and I'm quite proud to have worked beside them.

FA: Do you raise money for your charity? If yes, for what purpose?

CK: No. We are a charity organization, not a foundation. In order to legally collect money you have to be a foundation. We do all of the work for no pay and do not collect money on behalf of other organizations either.

FA : What charity work are you most proud of, so far?

CK: I think the event where we received the most response from everyone is the USO. We were so happy that the troops were so thankful to see us there. We have never been so warmly welcomed and the energy there was unbelievable. The Marines were so kind and polite. I have such respect for the Marines after that experience. We have been invited back in November and we can't wait to go back.

A Marine shooting at the Hotties (Bob Hope USO at LAX)

FA : When did you start to go to Comic Con and why?

CK: I was invited to Comic-Con in 2002 and went because I received an invitation to sign autographs. I was on the Fox Kids TV show "Masked Rider" [Read about it in the first part of the interview, Candace Kita: Hollywood Hottie] and was invited because it has a cult following of sorts.

FA: Since Comic-Con attracts a lot of people in the entertainment industry, do you set up professional meetings there in advance, or do you just have random meetings?

CK: I've had random meetings there. It is usually extremely busy, and with 150,000 people it is hard to plan to "meet" anyone anywhere. I did randomly meet the director and executive producer of the new "Masked Rider" series this year and it was great seeing the comparisons between our show and the new version.

FA: What do you like best about Comic-Con?

CK: Seeing some of the same people I see year after year. It is like a homecoming of sorts. So many people come from all over the country, and the only time we actually get to see each other is once a year at Comic-Con. We spend hours catching up on each other's lives. Some people I correspond with almost daily by email, but it is always good to see them in person.

"Kyu-Shin" comic - Written by Mitch Hyman - Art by Ivonne Falcon and Alberto Cortes.

FA: How did you meet the people from Scare Tactix Graphix?

CK: I met the people from Scare Tactix Graphix in New Jersey last year. They approached me to do a comic with them, "Kyu Shin" (2) and it sounded interesting. Also, the artist portfolio I was shown was amazing.

FA: Is the Kyu Shin character based solely on your physical appearance?

CK: Yes, the character is based on my physical likeness; I am not a vampire superhero in real life. Sorry! Kyu-shin is a protector of women and children and this is what initially drew from Glenn Tippett from Scare Tactix Graphix, the company that created this comic book, to me. They thought the idea of me and women's safety was great. I loved the concept and also thought it was a good match.

FA: What kind of deal did you make with Scare Tactix Graphix? What do you have to do for "Kyu Shin"?

CK: I promote the comic throughout the year and also help to sell the comic at appearances. We just worked on a deal to do the second installment of "Kyu Shin", so another comic is in the works. We also worked on a "Kyu Shin" poster that is now available, and another one is in the works.

FA: Will you play the character if there’s a future movie adaptation?

CK: Ironically I spoke to the "Kyu Shin" people on the phone a few weeks ago about movie rights. I am all for it, but it is difficult to sell a script in Hollywood. It would be great if it happens but really, who knows?

"Kyu Shin" (Scare Tactix Grafix - 2009)

FA: When did you start practicing karate and why?

CK: I started learning martial arts when I was in high school. I was just interested in it as a sport. and thought it might be a fun activity to pursue. I studied through high school and some in college. I have booked several acting jobs because of my martial arts training so I've always been thankful for it.

FA: Are you still practicing?

CK: I stopped because college was a full time job. And then after I became an actor, and was focused primarily on that as my career. Now, I try to exercise one hour a day. I enjoy yoga and of course, being in Southern California, I love going to the beach!

FA: Do you think it is better for a woman to try to use martial arts against real life “predators”?

CK: I tell women to always try to avoid getting into a physical altercation, and only use it as a last resort. For example, if someone is behaving inappropriately towards you, it is much better to calmly attempt to talk your way out of a situation and leave rather than get into a fight.

FA: That makes a lot of sense. Any other free advice for your hottie readers?

CK: Sure. Always listen to your sixth sense. You have it for a reason. If someone seems weird, they are. If someone seems to want something from you, they do. It's really that simple. Don't try to overthink it or rationalize that feeling away. Listen to your gut instinct. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable for any reason, leave the situation immediately and ask questions later.

FA : Most of your “Hottie Help” tips are about how to avoid a physical confrontation, but when you were on “The Jay Leno Show” recently, you showed how to kick some “predator” butt. How did you get on the show to do this?

CK: I was contacted by the “The Jay Leno Show” through my radio co-host, who has worked for them several times over the years. They were interested in the book. and asked me to come on and demonstrate quick and simple safety tips. It is true, most of my safety tips on the radio pertain to avoiding inappropriate behavior. I believe avoiding confrontation is the best policy. The safety tips I demonstrated on “The Jay Leno Show” were only for use as a last alternative. If you are somehow trapped, unable to escape and have no personal weapon, then you might have to get physical. It is interesting; there was a comment by a viewer who said I should not have shown safety tips. To which I respond : "What should a woman do if there is no way out? Lie there and take it? At that point she has to try something." There was overwhelming response from other commenters agreeing. I'm not saying to use self-defense right away. To me, that is obvious. And that is what we discuss on the radio each week.

FA: Do you think a woman should own a gun to protect herself?

CK: It is your choice. I am from the South and guns are much more common there. But it is entirely up to you.

FA: How do you feel about the characters played by Asian actresses in Hollywood for the last 20 years?

CK: Hopefully, all ethnic actors are being less stereotyped now, not just Asian Americans. And I also think there is more opportunity for us now than ever before.

FA: Do you think it’s more difficult for Asians to find interesting parts in Hollywood, compared to Caucasians?

CK: I don't know. I only know from my point of reference, and I've had so much opportunity I can't really complain. I haven't booked every part I've gone out for, obviously, but the opportunity has been there.

FA: Do you admire any particular Asian American actress?

CK: Not really, I wish I could say there was one. I do like Anna Mae Wong from the 1930's and 40's. There were so few Asian actresses when I was growing up. In fact, when I saw an Asian person on TV as a child, I'd say, "Look! There's an Asian person on TV!"

FA : Are there any action movie heroines you admire?

CK: I think Michelle Yeoh is amazing. She just seems to get better and better with age. Sexy, smart, killer body and such a talented martial artist.

Candace Kita - September 2009 (Photo: Mike Rollerson)

FA: Have you faced racism in the Entertainment business?

CK: No, but I faced racism growing up as a child in the South.

FA: How did you deal with racism in the South? Did you move to LA because of it?

CK: I didn't move to LA because of racism. I moved to LA because I got bitten by the acting bug. In the South, I basically ignored it. Their racism is more a reflection of them; not a reflection of me.

FA: Do you think Asian women in the US have more opportunity to model than to act?

CK: That is a great question, Fred, and I think you've stumped me! I don't know; I can just say I really hope both venues are being opened to people of every color, on the whole. It's really about time.

Candace Kita on the set of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" with
Tila Tequila, Jamie Chung, Lena Yada and Jina Song on the Sony Lot in L.A.

FA : How optimistic are you about the future of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry?

CK: Very. I see so many Asian Americans on TV and in film now. I remember a time when Connie Chung was about the only Asian person you saw on TV. Now, Asian Americans play such varied roles, and it is much more commonplace to see us playing someone like your next door neighbor.

FA: Tell me about your cosmetics line for Asian women.

CK: I am currently working on a skin care line for Asian women. A college friend of mine is an alchemist and creates cosmetics for a living. I approached him about creating a skincare line for Asian women, since we have special skincare needs. We are in the beginning stages, but it is coming along swimmingly and I couldn't be more pleased with what we have so far.

FA : Will you have a website? How will your readers will be able to purchase your products?

CK: I'm working right now with my webmaster and creating a website specifically for skincare. Readers can purchase both the cosmetics and skincare products there. The skincare line will be available first, and the cosmetic line second.

FA: Tell me about your upcoming calendar.

CK: My calendar is being released through iPhone as an iPhone application. It will be available in October. I'm excited because iPhone approached me earlier this year. I also have two more applications that will be available this fall: “Hottie Help” the radio show, and my book, The Hottie Handbook: A Girl's Guide to Safety.

FA : You recently started a blog on the community artists website Alive Not Dead, and you’re very active on it. Why did you decide to blog?

CK: My radio co-host and I decided I would blog as an experiment of sorts. I've always been concerned about blogging, for safety and privacy issues. Our show is about women's safety and I decided to blog to see what type of response I'd get and how I'd feel about the experience on the whole. So far it has been great, and I've really enjoyed it. But I never talk about things that are too personal. I blog mostly about work-related topics.

Candace Kita's first blog on Alive not Dead

FA: What are the differences between your Alive Not Dead blog, Facebook page, MySpace page and Twitter?

CK: A great question and thank you for giving me the forum to explain it all. The blog is written by me, usually everyday unless I'm busy on a set or something. The Facebook page is a fan page. It is not run by me. It is run by a webmaster. You can't contact me there and I guess people think they can. The MySpace page and the Twitter is also run by someone else. My website is run by my webmaster and no mail is read by me; it is read by my publicist. Media inquiries can be sent to the website, Facebook and MySpace. Confusing, huh?

FA: You recently chose to publically defend the reputation of Felicia Tang, who was brutally murdered, on your Alive Not Dead blog.

CK: I spoke out publicly because I am a women's safety advocate. She is being dragged through the mud so the media can sensationalize the story for public appeal. They didn't say, "Felicia Tang, real estate broker..." Instead, they chose to say, "Felicia Tang, Porn Star..." Hypothetically, even if she was a porn star, what would it matter? She did not deserve to be murdered. This is an issue of domestic violence, and the attention is being drawn away from that. Her case is getting an outsized amount of attention because sexiness and notoriety sell murder in the press. But it is also this popular perception that sends the message that she somehow deserved it.

FA: Many artists are supporting director Roman Polanski during this fresh controversy. How do you feel about the situation ?

CK: I think he should be tried for the crime. I like his movies, but his artistic creativity and what he has contributed to the film community have nothing to do with what he is accused of, criminally.

FA: Mike Rollerson has taken some great photos of you. How did you meet him?

CK: I met Mike at Comic-Con; he took pictures of me and was kind enough to send them to me. I was really impressed by them and wanted to keep in touch. He is a great guy and we really enjoy collaborating together.

Candace Kita - September 2009 (by Mike Rollerson)

FA: You posed with an amazing sword in a Rollerson photo series. How in the world did you find it?

CK: Mike is a collector; that is the actual sword used in the film "Ultraviolet". It is the one Milla Jovovich used, and it is as impressive in real life as it is on film.

FA : Your skateboard photos are also quite impressive. Do you actually skateboard?

CK: I skateboard, but not well. I'm trying, and really enjoy it. That day was so much fun; Mike and I shot for half a day and I didn't fall off the skateboard once!

Candace Kita - September 2009 (by Mike Rollerson)

FA: Are you familiar with skateboard culture?

CK:Somewhat. I've seen "Dogtown and Z-Boys" and of course, if you live in SoCal like I do, it is really a part of everyday life here.

FA : Do you work regularly with other photographers as well?

CK: I work with a lot of other photographers. I shot a cover for Rukus Magazine that just came out yesterday. Mike and I are friends and like to bounce ideas off of each other. There is a lot of brainstorming with us, and I've always liked what we come up with. There are always great surprises.

FA : Any other upcoming projects ?

CK: I recently shot a campaign for Stila Cosmetics and will also be shooting Peter Greene's new film, "Something in the Night", which is a horror feature film (3).

FA : Candace, thank you so much for taking the time to do this very long interview.

CK: Thanks so much for reading this interview; I hope you enjoyed it. If you want to read more, visit my blog at: www.alivenotdead.com/candacekita or www.twitter.com/candacekitapr.

Interview conducted by Frédéric Ambroisine in August/October 2009 and edited by Sylvia Rorem in October 2009 for ActionQueens.com. Thanks to Mike Rollerson & Candace Kita.

(1) “Predator” is a term often used on “Hottie Help” to describe a male attacker.
(2) More about "Kyu Shin" story here and here.
(3) Candace is also shooting now "Christmas in Beverly Hills", where she's playing a lifeguard. Check out the behind-the-scene pictures on her blog here, here and here.

Candace Kita Official Website

Candace's Blog (AliveNotDead)

Follow Candace on Twitter

Candace Kita on Facebook

Friend Candace on My Space

Candace’s videos on Youtube

Mike Rollerson photos on Flickr

Hottie Help Poscast (LA Talk Radio)

Hottie Help on MySpace

Hottie Help on FaceBook

Hotties with a ♥ on FaceBook

Click on the picture below to read the first part of Candace’s interview, Candace Kita - Hollywood Hottie: