I have been an actress for the past 15 years or maybe since I was born, loving to play and expand myself through every possible character and expression. My first theatre production was Danton’s Death, a German play by Georg Buchner about the French revolution in which all the male revolutionary intellectuals were performed by females. I had t he delight to learn a lot by performing Danton. I continued for almost ten years working on theatre, cinema and TV back in Chile.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): I was trained in Meisner and Method acting, finishing my master degree in The Actors Studio Drama School. For this project I put all my focus in relaxation and connecting with my partner, to be as open, awake and playful as possible and give him a colorful pallet to work with.
How did you get connected to the project? If you auditioned, would still have got the part?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): I got the part from almost the beginning because the whole project was a collaboration with friends. Matt had this idea and invite me from the start to collaborate in his writing and ideas development.
The Official Trailer for Adam and the Trailer
Let’s take this project you did; how did you prepare for such a role: the cast, the physicality the terrain, the climate, weather and the demands of the project?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Because, I was invited to the project from such a seed, the writing of the character had a lot of me. In that sense I didn’t have to build a whole character from zero. Instead I understood which were the parts of myself that were more inspiring for Mathew and his writing of the character, and those, make them grow. Take any repression and ‘must be’ out of the way and allow expression and a childish part of myself to grow and be very present. Also my roots. Include my Latin heart in every breath of the process.
As one of the cast on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): My choices worked for me even though I always end up with a feeling of having wanting to explore more and go deeper.
How do you create the character from a script into a person?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Since I had a lot of space to create, one of the tools I used to bring the character alive was building her home, her closet, her make ups, her hair. That inspire some of my acting choices. Singing and dancing before my scenes also helped me exploring and discovering her body language.
What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): My biggest challenge was the fact that there was no backstory written for Eva. I needed to build her life and find a way to give her some depth beyond her ‘image for the eyes of Adam’. What drove me in to the project was the way of working. Collaboration, friendship and a lot of love for our craft.
Explain one creative choice you took on set of this production?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Costume. Was deeply important for the development of Eva.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Love. Fun. Commitment. Challenge. inner exploration. Play. Collaboration. Voice.
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Freedom. Allow yourself as much freedom as possible. Whatever you need to get there.
How did you collaborate with your cast members from scene to scene?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): We shared every moment, almost living together during the whole production. We improvised together, run lines, talk about the project and life, warm up ourselves and built a relationship beyond the scenes.
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?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Of course. Lots of responsibility, insecurity and self doubt. Not knowing if what I was doing would work or not. Nevertheless we were there to support each other, share the material, review the scenes after shooting them and deeply learning from each other. The first love scene out in the park was the hardest. It was too cold to be outside and try to be relax and connected. we were running out of time and freezing.
What did you take away from the film production?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Humbleness and team work.
What do you like most about the director, and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): His absolute generosity during the whole process. We hold an amazing creative space for all of our voices.
What is next for you?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Today I am in my first months of motherhood experience, applying in the process all my acting techniques. Play with her, constantly breath, keep open and connected. And most of all BE PRESENT. Hope to work soon again with Mathew and my friends, go back to theatre and film productions. Meantime I am gathering my energy and deep desire
What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Elisa Alemparte (EA): Do whatever it takes to work with love.
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ACTOR INTERVIEWS
