I went to a high school called, South Texas High School for Health Professions (Med High), geared for students wanting to pursue careers in the medical field and in eleventh grade, they required us to take an elective: either art or theater. Because I couldn’t even draw stick figures, I decided to sign up for theater and fell in love. In college, I started performing in musical theater, plays and even did a traveling children’s troupe.
indieactivity: Did you study what you do?
Jessica Boss (JB): I changed my major in college from Pre-Med to Radio, TV and Film at the University of Texas, Austin and I didn’t use my film school education for the longest time, until last year when my partners and I produced our first feature film. All of a sudden, I remembered tools that I learned back then and was able to apply them to our production.
What is your filmmaking process?
Jessica Boss (JB): I use all types of tools when I act from imagination to Meisner. I do my homework based on the 12 steps by Ivana Chubbuck, who I’ve been taking ongoing acting classes with. Recently, I did a coaching session with Howard Fine, who is fantastic, and I’ve been implementing his eight step program into my homework for my upcoming feature film, IJEOMA’S TALE.
Watch the trailer for Anonymous 616 starring Jessica Boss
Tell us about the work you have produced?
Jessica Boss (JB): Last year, my partners Mike Boss (writer/director), and Peter Fuhrman (cinematographer), and I (actress) opened a production company called Nail Driver Productions, and we produced our first feature film titled ANONYMOUS 616, a thriller/horror about an anonymous computer that tells a man that he knows everything about him including his secrets and innermost desires. Our film is now available to rent and buy on Amazon and Google Play.
I believe that acting is more than just a look or saying certain lines correctly; it is an art form that requires a lot of hard work and digging to understand your character and to know why you need to say the lines the writer wrote. It’s a fascinating art form that has taken me over ten years of studying and I still learn new things about it.
Honestly, producing our first feature film was a big challenge and very stressful, but it was also a great learning opportunity where I learned the importance of delegating and preparing as much as possible. Because it was our first film and we self-financed it, we all had to wear many hats on top of our main hats. Producing took up so much attention, that it didn’t leave much time to focus on my performance, and that was hard. However, for the next projects, I’ve started doing my homework way in advanced so that when I have to turn my attention to producing, I’m not left trying to squeeze in rehearsal time.
Do you take courses to improve you craft?
Jessica Boss (JB): Absolutely! I take ongoing scene study classes and private coaching sessions for specific film projects. Although I’m not currently in class, I have been self studying by doing acting homework, rehearsing with peers and private coaching with acting coach Howard Fine on my upcoming feature film titled, IJEOMA’S TALE, about a struggling Nigerian hair stylist, who is promised work in America only to be manipulated, sold and forced into the world of sex trafficking.
How do you combine acting and producing?
Jessica Boss (JB): ANONYMOUS 616 was the first project that I acted in and produced and we have a slate of projects where I will do the same for IJEOMA’S TALE (writer: Jessica Boss), DIE AND LIVE AGAIN (writer: Mike Boss) and MR. SCRATCH (writer: Mike Boss). These are all projects that will be produced through our production company, Nail Driver Productions. For the first film, I didn’t realize how much work producing takes up, so it took a lot of my attention and focus because if we didn’t get that stuff together, we wouldn’t be able to film.
I had to squeeze in time to rehearse and for the next projects, that will be the thing that I change. Acting is very important and it requires a lot of attention and focus too. For the next projects, I have already started putting on my homework and coaching on them because the audience doesn’t see the prep work for the producing, they see the acting, and that’s the part you don’t want to screw up.
How did you get into the film business?
Jessica Boss (JB): I moved to Los Angeles and started auditioning and working on anything I could get into. I’ve mainly worked on independent projects and commercials, but I am working toward making our projects become more mainstream for a wider audience. The key is surrounding yourself with other great people who are serious and have integrity. That’s one of the best ways to get work, by being friends with great people. I’ve been blessed to work with many friends on their productions and vice versa. Although, there are a couple of people that I’ve had to cut ties with due to their lack of integrity, but it’s all good lessons learned.
How do you create character?
Jessica Boss (JB): I start with reading the script several times to get as many clues and information that the writer already provided. After that, I start to fill in the blanks with questions about who my character is, where my character is from, what they want and what drives them. I find out what makes them who they are based on their many years of being alive.
Then I go scene by scene and figure out what my character wants and why they want it. I usually try to figure out as much information about my character first before even trying to memorize or learn the lines. For me, that comes last. The interesting thing is though, the more I know who my character is, the easier it is to know my lines because I give inner objects to what I’m going after in each scene, so memorizing happens innately.
Explain your acting process?
Jessica Boss (JB): I always start with reading the script several times because you learn a lot about what the writer intended for the character. Then I work scene by scene, answering questions from a series of techniques about my character, figuring out what she wants from the other character in the scene, where I am, what my life is like presently and what is standing in my way of getting what I want. After I do my homework portion, I like to “walk n’ talk” it around the neighborhood, just to put it into my body. Then, I rehearse with peers and for my self-produced projects, I seek out an acting coach to help tie loose ends.
What tip or ideas can you give young actors?
JB: Work hard, be prepared and stand out from the crowd. I truly believe that we all have purpose in this world that is uniquely for us. When we follow the exact plans of a successful actor, we will come up short most of the time, only because it’s not our unique path. There are consistent things that people can learn from others in order to become successful, but it’s important to be open to what we are being led toward.
I’m realizing the importance of staying in my own lane, not just doing whatever my friends are doing, and being led by God took me on a journey where I ended up acting in and producing my own feature film with a slate of 20 ready to go feature screenplays in our production company. Producing your own projects is another advice I would give. We all have voices and once we find out what our unique voice is, it’s vital to hone that and start creating. You put yourself in a better position to achieve your goals, rather than waiting for someone else to give you that break.
Jessica Boss’ Demo Reel Drama
The caveat is, produce your own projects and find others to partner with who love doing crew positions. For example, if you’re an actor and you have an idea for a great script, I would recommend seeking out a talented, unknown screenwriter to help you write and develop it, rather than trying to write it yourself, unless you have a knack for writing. It keeps you from wasting time producing a project that turns out horrible with amateur mistakes like not having a sound person or a good lighting person. Sometimes it’s those things that break a project.
What is it like working in the film business?
JB: It is very uncertain and slow, but once you are in the momentum of shooting your film, it is so fast moving. I think it becomes very rewarding once the product is finished and you’re happy with it. It takes longer than one anticipates or it can move very quickly, that’s what makes it unpredictable, but an exciting adventure. I enjoy it, even with the many downs that I’ve encountered.
What do you want to change about the film business?
JB: The changes that have been occurring with Netflix is greatly allowing independent features to become mainstream, so that is a huge plus. The more challenging side is finding the money. I don’t know if there’s something specific I would change because the film business is not always consistent. For example, a filmmaker approaches each film differently. No two filmmaking processes will ever be the same.
What do you want to be remembered for?
JB: I would like to be remembered for being part of helping to eradicate sex trafficking and telling powerful socially conscious stories.
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