by Dov Kornits
Can you tell us about your interest in acting, when it started, and the journey and passion for it that brought you here?
My first taste of acting goes back to early primary school. The local high school in Bellingen was filming a short film about a group of young girls, who decide they want to own a horse but are soon taught they need money for that, so they each try to earn some. We made 9 Pieces of Money and the film ended with us deciding to steal the horse instead. I remember going to an awards night at the high school – I think it won “People’s Choice”, we were pretty cute back then.
Then over the next few years, I was in theatre productions, before joining my current agency in high school. I booked my first paid gig in 2012, opposite Michael Caton and Jacqueline McKenzie, for the Cockatoo Island Film Festival. It was a very gruelling shoot, as it was the middle of winter on Cockatoo Island and I was in a fairy dress the whole time!
But I loved every second of the experience, and instantly craved more. When I booked the lead in Kate Halpin’s film Hopscotch, I got a real chance at some gritty acting. I loved working with a female director, particularly as Kate has such a strong vision for every little detail.
Over the past 4 years I’ve been lucky enough to film leads in a number of shorts, features, series and commercials.
Each one has reaffirmed my love for this industry.
Have you studied acting, and if so, where and when?
I was thrown in the deep end with film acting as I was quite young, so have mostly learnt on the job. However, I have had a number of private acting and accent coaches, along with piano, guitar, drumming and singing lessons. I’ve found this a really great way to acquire skills, as I am able to achieve such a personal connection with my coaches.
Can you tell us about your relationship to acting with your mum, former actress Kate Ferguson – she is particularly supportive of your endeavours, when some mums would try to steer their child away from such a fickle industry?
My mum Kate is the most intrinsic part of my support network. She was a successful actress when she was younger – just yesterday I got a fan message on Instagram about how much they loved her in The Pirate Movie – so that has been extremely helpful, as I am able to run every little thing by her. She chooses my self-tapes, reads scripts for me, we read lines together and most importantly, when I lived in Bellingen, she drove me the 6 hours each way to Sydney for auditions, callbacks and filming, often on a moment’s notice.
I think it’s extremely important to have supportive parents in any industry and why would you not want to support your child’s dreams? I’m very lucky.
Can you tell us about the US management team that you recently signed with, and how that happened? Are you planning on heading to the US to follow up on that?
I signed with Andrew Howard from Shelter Entertainment Group in Los Angeles earlier this year. It was pilot season, which I was advised was a bad time to try and get meetings, but I decided I wanted a US rep, so I jumped on a plane 5 days later and just went. I was there for 3 weeks just hoping to meet people. It wasn’t until the last week that I got meetings. I remember as I was entering his building, it was raining in L.A and I slipped down the stairs and ripped my skirt. So, I went into the meeting trying to hide that. He offered me representation at the end of a one-hour meeting. I’d love to be in the US soon.
How do you deal with the rejection that is an inherent part of the job?
This industry is 90% rejection if you’re lucky. Having said that, I think rejection is the wrong word. You haven’t been rejected. It just means somebody else is more suited to the role. I keep in mind that it’s often one of my friends, so I’m excited for them, or it’s a celebrity and they were never going to look at my tape anyway, as a “name” is often necessary for funding approval. I try to drop an audition from my mind the second I do it and then if something comes of it, I get excited. I also have the attitude that if I don’t book it, it wasn’t meant to be and it means I’ll be available for something else. The only time it gets hard is when you get really close to booking a role and you’ve told friends or family and then they don’t understand why you didn’t book it.
Can you tell us about Just Ruby, the story and the character that you play?
Just Ruby is an Australian Feature written by Damien Leith [above] and his wife Eileen Stapleton. It is set in Rural NSW against the backdrop of the current devastating drought. Irish Singer Danny (Damien Leith) arrives in town and meets sisters Ruby (Danielle Rodney) and Betty. I play Betty Stone, a troubled young woman who is using alcohol to deal with a terrible tragedy. It’s the first time I’ve played an alcoholic, which was kind of daunting going into it, but it was fun to explore the layers of the character the writers gave me. It’s a drama, with romantic overtones.
What role do you play in Moonrock for Monday? How was that experience?
I play Maddie, a bit of a gypsy who travels with her alcoholic father. We meet the 2 lead characters in the Outback. I was a part of the shoot in Camden and Coober Pedy. I really enjoyed working with Ashlyn Louden-Gamble, George Pullar and Julian Pulvermacher. They are all so talented, as is the amazing writer/director Kurt Martin. Coober Pedy is a strange and fascinating place; it was extremely hot and dusty! I can’t wait to see it on the big screen, as I think it will be visually spectacular and will tug on the heart strings.
Can you tell us about the horror film you have just shot in the ACT?
I just finished filming the proof of concept for Violet Daze, a horror film written by Marisa Martin and Clare Langsford financed by Screen Canberra. I play Violet, a young girl who can’t bear to be separated from her best friend Daisy and will go to literally any lengths to prevent that happening. Half the shoot had me and the crew gagging, so I think it’s going to be terrifying in all the best ways.
Can you tell us about Made for This [above], the story and the character that you play? Is that being made independently and what are the ambitions for it in terms of finding an audience?
Made For This is a 5 part comedy series about 3 best friends trying to tackle the entertainment industry. I play Lee Rhodes, a sports agent and best friend of wannabe actors Cole (Steven Carnuccio) and Chase (Dominic Di Mento). The plot follows their exploits as my character tries to help them via parties and introductions. It has been made independently by Highlight Pictures. I believe that it is currently being shopped around. We had a premiere for it recently, when I got to see it for the first time. I think it’s really funny and enjoyable to watch. I hope audiences get to see it soon. Season 2 is in development which is exciting.
And a project you are doing with Alex Proyas?
I did two projects with Alex Proyas this year. First, a haunting photographic series and then a solo short film called Phobos, which is Greek for fear. We are aiming to shoot together again in the New Year.
Do you have a preference – film, theatre, TV, web? And is there a different approach to each of these in terms of your side of the storytelling?
I love watching theatre, but I prefer screen acting myself. I love that it is there forever, and that the director is able to guide you to their vision, which the audience then gets to engulf themselves in. Often, you shoot the story out of sequence, so it’s imperative that you know your character’s story and background really well, in order to perform properly in context. I’m a bit of a continuity extremist – I think it’s really important. I also love the research and evolution of the characters.
What are your ultimate dreams in terms of acting?
I think we’re at a really crucial crossroads in our community and as storytellers, we have the ability to tell stories that promote social change and awareness and thus effect change. I love stories that are able to do this, whilst still being entertaining. The messages are often subliminal, making them more accessible and easier to digest for the viewer. I look forward to being a part of more of these stories, but ultimately I just enjoy acting and being given the chance to act in any genre of film.
