All over the Internet, you can find interviews with famous actors, actresses and directors. What you mostly don't read about, however, are all those other people who work in movies and who are not famous. People who might deserve a step up into the spotlights as much as any movie star working today, and who keep working their butts off to make their dream come true. I thought it would be a good idea to interview some of these people and give them a chance to shine and let their names be known. First up: a talented actress by the name of Jaime Andrews.
Jaime is an actress who has been at it for quite some time. She has been in many independent movies, like It's a Haunted Happenin and What A Man Wouldn't Do For A Woman and is also building a name for herself on the stage. Jaime knows all about life not being easy for an actress who has yet to break through. "I've decided that most people who make it in this business have outside support. I work a part time job, but I always have to leave for auditions and shooting. It's an almost impossible situation...really exhausting."
Q: When did you realize that you wanted to become an actress? Was that something that you wanted to do since you were a kid?
A: It's so weird, it wasn't ever even a decision for me, it was just always what I did. I was the lead in the kindergarten play and asked for an agent for Christmas when I was eight. Now I finally have one...20 years later!
Q: Growing up, did you act in school plays and things like that? Did your family and friends understand your passion for acting and did they encourage it? Or did they tell you to look for a different job?
A: I did school plays and local community and children's theatre growing up and it really got
me through a tough adolescence. I know my grandmother called me Sarah Bernhardt when I was little because I was, uh...a little dramatic. My sister was always a great supporter, but the rest of my family never took me seriously until I started getting decent jobs. Now if they still don't take me seriously, at least they humor me.
Q: Were there other actresses and actors that you looked up to, and who you wanted to be like? And who are your examples nowadays (if you have any)?
A: I had a pretty big Wynona Ryder thing in the 90s... I mean, who didnt? But now i really like Rachel Griffiths and Catherine Keener. Ellen Burstyn blew my mind in Requiem for a Dream, too. I'm frequently more impressed by the fellas... The usual: Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, etc.
Q: How were you able to land your first part in a movie? Which movie was it and what was it like to make this first movie?
A: It's funny, I booked this movie called "Movie #2" and put it on my resume, but then backed
out because the title was indicative of the content (I'd rather do nothing at all than
something I don't believe in.) In the interim, I booked "Let's Meet Johnny" which was pretty
high-profile for a first job. It was a 16mm short with Sean Gullette from Pi and I was
nervous as hell. It came off okay, but the director was irked when I mentioned (after the
fact) that it had been my first film.
Q: It must in some way be difficult that so many people want to act, because there are only so many plays and movies and commercials that they can do their acting in. From what I have seen of your acting, you are talented and have a really good screen presence, but how do you make that known to the people doing the casting? How do you make a name for yourself?
A: I think it takes a long time (or at least it has for me...) to assert yourself in this business. After all this time, only recently have I gained the confidence to go into a major casting office and not be daunted. You have to believe you can do it, and then others will too.
Q: It seems to me, and I have also heard that in some of the other interviews, that making an independent movie is quite an insecure thing to do, because you never know if the finished product will actually ever be released. Is it difficult to work when you know this might happen, and has it happened to you?
A: You never think it won't be finished while you're doing it, so you're always giving it your all. I have had a couple of movies never completed. It's frustrating because you're often doing it for nothing (or close to it) and it would be great to get even a rough tape of footage to show for your efforts, but generally you never hear from the director ever again. They hide in the shame of their failed effort!
Q: You have made a name for yourself in independent movies and theater plays, but do you have the ambition to one day break through to the big budget Hollywood flicks?
A: Eh, I'd prefer to revel in my obscurity! No, not really. I wouldn't mind running from a
couple of explosions at all. I actually think that if I'm fortunate enough to 'make it', it will be on television, though.
Q: How do you balance making movies with acting in the theatre? Has it ever happened that you had to shoot a movie during the day, and then go straight to the theater in the evening?
A: Yeah! When I was shooting It's a Haunted Happenin'! I was also doing a show I co-wrote
with this great theatre company. It was a really happy time in my life - I loved doing both.
Q: Which is more satisfying for you: playing in a movie or in a theater play?
A: That's tough. it's nice to get a finished product with film, and to work off of your instincts and get out of there. With theatre you have to work much harder to keep it consistently "real," and while that is stressful, it is an ultimately more satisfying journey. Plus live audience blah blah blah.
Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the play you are in right now?
A: It's really intense. David Rabe is the guy who wrote "hurlyburly" and "Goose & Tomtom" is
even more verbose and heady. I equated it once to a bad acid trip... Uh, what I'd IMAGINE
one would be, ahem. It's very metaphysical, and almost absurdist. It's about power and
sexual politics and the cyclical nature of things... And I'm in my underwear. HA! It's a great theatre and fantastic cast, I'm really excited.
Q: When I was still in school, I also sometimes acted in school plays, but I found it almost impossible to learn my lines. You have been in so many different things, which means that all the time you have to learn new lines. Do you have a special method for this?
A: I have a terrible memory, except for lines! I do have a method where I type out my lines on the left and the cues on the right. Then I print it and fold it over so I can only see the cues, but reference mine if necessary. Seems to work!
Q: Speaking of learning lines: it looks like you have also been doing a lot of improv, which is a whole other ballgame. Does the fact that you work without a script, being able to come up with what you feel like, feel refreshing, or is it in a way also scary?
A: It's totally scary! Sometimes I hate it because it's always possible that nothing will come out of your face when you open your mouth. But if you can get out of your head and just
let 'er rip, it's really liberating and fun.
Q: Last question: Do you have any advice for any of the readers who would also love to act?
A: Just do it. If you really want it, you've got to put everything into it, no excuses. Get good headshots, do local theatre, take classes, heck, make little movies with your friends to get used to being in front of the camera. Make sure it's what you really want, because it's a tough life (for most).
For more on Jaime, visit http://www.jaimeandrews.com/
I met Jaime on a commercial shoot in 2008. Upon meeting her it was pretty obvious that sadly... her daddy did not love her enough.
She'll just keep clamoring for attention like the rest of the failed actresses out in LA LA Land.
tough break!
Posted by: G. Landon | September 23, 2008 at 05:44 AM
I met Jaime on a commercial shoot in 2008. Upon meeting her it was pretty obvious that sadly... her daddy did not love her enough.
She'll just keep clamoring for attention like the rest of the failed actresses out in LA LA Land.
tough break!
Posted by: G. Landon | September 23, 2008 at 05:45 AM
Landon,
1) It's unlikely this is true, since this doesn't describe the woman being interviewed.
2) It's much more likely you're what your comment points to: a sad, little man projecting his need for attention so he does it anonymously on the Internet.
Posted by: Ken | February 27, 2009 at 05:57 PM