Jenna Kenney, gifted Aussie Actress talks her new film ‘Magdala Rose’

Jenna Kenney in Magdala Rose (2019)

indieactivity: How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition?
Jenna: I knew about the project through Paul Day the writer and also on Facebook. In a way I kind of did Audition. I took weekly classes at Angel Studios for years and the Director of Magdala Rose owns the studio, so he watched me develop as an Actor over the years. There were other Actors who auditioned for my character but in the end the Director chose me for the part, which I’m really grateful for.

indieactivity: What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Jenna: I was already on the project before I had the opportunity to read the whole script. After I did read it, I think the thing that was most challenging was the accent and mannerisms. We had to make sure no shortened words like ‘they’re’ slipped out because speech in the 13th century is a lot different to how it is now.

indieactivity: You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Jenna: What keeps me working is getting to meet and work with so many incredible people. Seeing people put their heart and soul into a project and helping each other out. Indie’s don’t always have the big budgets so sometimes everyone needs to jump in and help where they can.

indieactivity: Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Jenna: This might sound funny, but I received directions on how to peel parsnips! There was a specific way to do it and even after being told I was still awful at it and the parsnips didn’t look so good either.

Jenna Kenney as Esclarmonde De Pereille in Magdala Rose

indieactivity: How did you create your character from ground up?
Jenna: Esclarmonde was a real person so I didn’t exactly start from scratch. I started with finding as much information about her as I could (there wasn’t a lot) and from there I read the script as much as I could and found her relationships and what she thought about others.

indieactivity: As support 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?
Jenna: It definitely fired me up! The most difficult scene to film was one of the throne room scenes. There were six of us with lines and it’s probably a 5 minute scene and it was difficult to listen for your next line but not make it look like you’re waiting.

indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
Jenna: In that same throne room scene, Rowena Wallace and I added in a moment where we just look at each other and I’m pleading with her not to say something I know she’s going to. I can’t say too much, I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

indieactivity: What did you take away from the film production?
Jenna: I took away a LOT of knowledge, I learnt more about what life was like in the 13th Century. Right down to the clothing they wore, how they cooked and prepared food, armour that was worn and how they aided their sick and injured. Also the amazing opportunity of working with Rowena Wallace and Joss McWilliam who have worked on so many amazing projects throughout their careers, it really was an incredible experience for me.

Joss McWilliam in Magdala Rose (2019)

indieactivity: What do you like most about the director, and his collaboration with his team?
Jenna: What I like most about the director Paul Day is that he is very easy going. He knew what he wanted from each scene and what he wanted the scene to look like. He was also open to discussion with the actors to see what was working and what wasn’t.

indieactivity: What is next for you?
Jenna: What’s next for me? More Auditions and of course keeping up with training. I have a role in another Indie Feature Film later in the year which I’m excited about and I’ve also just found out I have a recurring role in a Web Series so I’m really excited about that too!

indieactivity: What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Jenna: I think my advice would be to embrace what you can learn on each project. Even if you think there’s not much to learn, you will always be surprised because you’ll learn something from every set you are on – big or small 😊

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