We continue our interviews with the cast and crew of Ladybug with actor Zachary Roozen.
NYX: Was there one person or movie you saw which inspired you to become an actor?
ZR: As artists, I think we are an amalgamation of all sorts of inspirations. A unique Frankenstein, composed of all of the people and places we experience, good and bad, that mold us into choosing this crazy career. I was never in theatre or film as a child, although I loved consuming it in the form of pulp novels, classic television shows, and Don Knotts films. It wasn't until my senior year on a winter vacation to Chicago that I first realized this profession wasn't just something I enjoyed watching but something that I felt compelled to do. It was the black box stage at the Goodman Theatre where I watched an up-and-coming actor, Tom Hardy, take the stage in The Long Red Road. There was something about his presence that I found so mesmerizing and I just fell into the idea that good theatre and film is worth devoting my life to.
Later, I discovered the work of Sam Shepard whom I believe to be the soul of the American West and the greatest writer of our generation. With his grounded, salt-of-the-earth masculinity and sharp poignant diction, I can't point to a more pertinent and important inspiration in my life. Shortly before his death, I got to work on his play A Lie of the Mind, which was one of the great honors of my life.
NYX: Are you a fan of horror movies?
ZR: Oh yes, very much so. Ha! I grew up on the classics like The Vanishing, Lady In White, and Alien. I tend to be drawn more to the psychological aspects of horror, but I am always down for a good slasher too. Ha! Recently I went to see the film Talk to Me, and I loved it! On a separate note, I have been finding foreign cinema more and more intriguing, especially in the horror space. I believe they can be more edgy and experimental than American cinema, and they allow the viewer to find their own conclusions rather than telling audiences what to think and feel.
NYX: Did you audition for the role of Sawyer?
ZR: This is a great story as to why you read to make fans and not necessarily just to book a role! I read for a part in a picture that the producers had seen many years prior but that I ultimately didn't end up booking. Full circle, when the role of Sawyer was pitched to me it was the same team that was already familiar with my tape from years prior and willing to trust me with the role. If you wait around the barbershop long enough, people will start remembering your name and what it is you do! You might get a haircut out of it too.
NYX: How do you prepare to play such a character?
ZR: I am thankful to have good training and experience under my belt to tap into whenever I take on a new project. For me, I start by reading the script a couple of times over for sheer enjoyment. I try not to place any preconceived notions or assumptions on my character and I read it as if I am just an audience member in the process. Always silent... I find it important so as not to fall into any biases or tropes at the beginning of the process. From there, I begin digging deeper into the nitty-gritty of the structure to determine how my character fits into the story and track how they change throughout the process. I look at this work as starting in the macro and then slowly pulling back the layers until you are looking at very specific intentions and objectives. There will always be a million and one unanswered questions and the more you know the more you ask. Most importantly when you get to the stage or set, It is all about throwing the homework away and being malleable enough to be present and flexible with your co-stars and collaborators. Most of my training comes from the BFA program at the University of Southern California, the work of Michael Chekov, and the Los Angeles Acting Project.
NYX: You and Anthony Del Negro have a great on-screen chemistry, did you rehearse much?
ZR: Well, first of all, Anthony is a naturally gifted actor and an absolute joy to work with. He has such a grounded presence and he has an uncanny ability to work off of the other actors around him. He is generous and available, so it makes showing up to work each day all the more enjoyable. That isn't always the case, but it sure makes the process a lot easier when you enjoy the partner you are working with. In the world of stage, you get weeks and sometimes months to rehearse each scene but film is a different beast. You do the homework independently and then come together for a 'one night only' kind of atmosphere. You often get one to two blocking rehearsals and a couple of takes on the rolls. That may sound daunting in comparison to Hollywood, who often take a day per page, but it's also what makes independent film so thrilling. When you work with another actor who is diligent and prepared it allows a lot of room for spontaneity. Throughout a production, you also have countless amazing creatives in every department helping guide the performance and keep you in check along the way. Film is a teamwork medium - you are never alone.
NYX: Which was the hardest scene to play?
ZR: Well...without spoiling anything...Sawyer is an interesting cat. Ha! Several scenes were both technically challenging to shoot and simultaneously shocking emotionally. I think I will have succeeded in playing the character if you can never quite pin him down. He is a bright dreamer with a dark underlayer that I hope leaves viewers with the mysterious sense there is a lot more to know that isn't being said. In the end, I am hoping we leave the audience with something to talk about that isn't necessarily black and white.
NYX: How tough was it shooting on location?
ZR: I loved it! I have been lucky enough to film in quite a few states, but I had yet to shoot in Kentucky. I think it is a wildly beautiful state that provided the film with such a raw aesthetic. I remember the first day arriving in the car service and stepping onto the cabin steps. It felt like it was out of another time! The set decorations were all practical and time-specific, which gave it this amazing rural Kentucky flavor. If you look around in the film you will see the amazing attention to detail that the art team brought to the project. There were so many creepy dolls, knives, and things just hanging in that cabin I was scared just being in there. Ha! I honestly think there is something a little haunted within that cabin, but good energy, an inviting energy that everything was meant to be taking place right where it was.
NYX: What’s it like working with legends such as Charlene Tilton and Nancy Stephens?
ZR: Charlene is such a hoot! Although I didn't get any scenes with her this time around I thoroughly enjoyed her presence! After a rather arduous day of filming, we all went to grab a bite and drink at the local pub, and oh the stories she had to tell. Not to mention she can outshoot me in a game of pool any day! Nancy was equally amazing, with no ego and all smiles. Like most of us, I grew up watching the Halloween franchise, but it's always refreshing when you work with people who still deeply care about their art and craft. We have gotten to stay in contact since shooting and I hope to be working with them both again in the near future!
NYX: Do you get nervous when your work is shown to the public for the first time?
ZR: Oh lord, don't even mention it. It never gets any easier for me. I can't remember which of the greats used to tell people in interviews that he never watched his work on screen and that he had never seen one of his movies. I remember finding that shockingly funny and very relatable. I have that kind of mentality, most notably because I constantly see what I would want to do differently and certainly have imposter syndrome. I can't even watch my own self-tapes. Ha! Hopefully, that will get easier someday.
NYX: Do you believe in the paranormal?
ZR: Yes, to a degree, but maybe not in the traditional sense. I believe that the world and everything in it (including us) is connected by something much bigger. I choose to see it as a positive, connective tissue, rather than as a negative paranormal energy. If anything, I think the happenings around us that we can not see, are little guide rails to help keep us on track or keep us out of where we shouldn't be. I find that the scariest things in life are usually not hiding in the shadows at all, but in the people whose intentions and actions are grounded in the real world. I hope that I am right, or a ghost might get me tonight. Ha!
NYX: So, what are you working on at the moment?
ZR: As always, I am trying to keep the momentum going! I started the year off filming a great role in an action thriller called Bring the Law, starring Mickey Rourke, that should be out later this year, along with another supporting role in a fun survival slasher called Stalked! I am actively promoting the release of my upcoming film, Happy Endings Funeral Parlor, starring Corbin Bernsen and a lot of other amazing actors, which is playing at several international film festivals. I am also headed out for a unique project in Canada that I can't yet share much about, but that should be interesting, to say the least. Ha!
I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this film with the stellar cast and crew we had. I am also so appreciative of you taking the time to interview me! It means the world and I am so excited to see where this film goes.
NYX: Zachary Roozen, thank you very much.
