Lainey Woo is an actor based in New York city, she recent work, discussed in this interview, is a romantic drama titled “Last Party” by director Julian Santos. Lainey Woo is also known for The Truth Box (2019) and more. We talk to Lainey Woo about her character ‘Jun‘ and her collaboration with Julian on his feature debut, Last Party….
indieactivity : How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition? If you did, would still have got the part?
Lainey Woo : I submitted through Backstage originally. Then I went through three call-backs and chemistry tests before I was told I was cast. I was pretty sure I was cast after the first call-back though because I had great chemistry with the actor who ended up playing my love interest, and the director Julian and I really clicked artistically.
indieactivity : As one of the main cast on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Lainey Woo : Jun is actually really similar to me, which was kind of fun because I really got to relax into the role. A lot about her relationship with Ed is also very similar to the relationship I share with my current partner, so I was lucky to be able to draw from real world experiences.
Related Story: ‘Last Party’, Romantic Drama by 23 y/o Filipino-American Filmmaker to be Screened in NY Festivals
indieactivity : What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Lainey Woo : After reading the script, I think I anticipated doing the South African dialect in one scene where my character mocks her South African boyfriend would be the most difficult thing. I am really terrible at dialects but, like I said, I only needed to do it briefly. Luckily I am angry and drunk in that scene anyway, so it’s kind of okay that it was really bad. As for what drove me to do the project, I had been applying to everything I could at that time, as I had just moved to New York. I really lucked out with this particular project.
indieactivity : You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Lainey Woo : I have always really loved acting. Getting to explore, learn, and empathize with other people can be very cathartic. What really keeps me going in acting or what drives me to continue is the need for representation in media. As a half Korean woman, I grew up having little to no role models in film and television. I remember wishing I was white and blonde and blue eyed so that I could look like the main characters in my favorite movies. I hate that I had so much disdain for who I was and the culture that I came from simply because I had no role models.
indieactivity : Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Lainey Woo : Julian was super fun to work with because he spent a lot of time with the actors before and during the filming process sharing his vision and really collaborating with us. The direction that probably stands out the most was our infamous drunken rehearsal. Because the movie is during a house party, we all rehearsed (slightly) under the influence. It was an eye opening experience because you forget how heightened everything feels when you are drunk until you are actually drinking and having a fight with your fake-boyfriend.
indieactivity : How did you create your character from ground up?
Lainey Woo : Jun and I are very similar, so, from the start, I had a pretty solid idea of how she would act. Julian really just honed her and made her more of a real person.
indieactivity : As main cast on the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Where you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes where difficult to shoot?
Lainey Woo : I don’t feel like being the main character really changes the responsibility I feel towards the project. I try to treat the roles I am in equally. The most difficult scene for me was definitely the fight scene. One because I had to do that South African dialect that I knew I would be bad at, and also because there had been a mix-up with my prescriptions and I had been off of my antidepressants for about a week. I remember having a lot of difficulty getting out of my head and into the scene with my partner. In the end I was never satisfied with my performance, but isn’t that always the way?
indieactivity : Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
Lainey Woo : What I did for this film, and what I do for any job I had is something I learned in school called the “magic if.” It’s not some great acting pill or easy answer for acting, but it is a good place to start. You ask yourself “what would I do / how would I feel IF it were me in this situation” luckily for me, Jun and I are birds of a feather. I supposed I made her more edgy than I am. I don’t really flip people off. But, at the same time, I think Jun cares more about what people think than I do. She is afraid to let people see her cry.
indieactivity : What did you take away from the film production?
Lainey Woo : I met so many great people on this production and I know I was able to make some lifelong friends. I feel truly lucky to have been a part of this project.
indieactivity : What do you like most about the director, and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
Lainey Woo : Julian, Max, and Ben are masters of creating a cast that really meshed well together. There wasn’t a single person on that set that I wouldn’t gladly spend one-on-one time with.
indieactivity : What is next for you?
Lainey Woo : My next goal is to apply for agencies. I would love to be able to work on some larger projects and really start representing for the half Asian community.
indieactivity : What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Lainey Woo : The advice my teachers in school gave me was this: be a gem. I know that I was cast largely because the director and I hit it off and I have been lucky enough to have been cast in other projects of his since then. Make friends. Be kind and friendly to everyone on set. Anticipate the needs of others (that’s another piece of acting school advice.) Enjoy yourself.
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