I once took a theater class as an elective at a junior college. I’ve always appreciated great actors, so I decided to give it a try. For our final, we had to perform a monologue of our choosing. Mine was about a guy who’s having second thoughts about marrying his fiancee. Long story short, I messed up by forgetting my lines in the end; however, up to that point, I was “there.” And I could feel the energy from the audience that they were with me as well. I had captivated them. That feeling has stayed with me ever since.
indieactivity: Let’s talk about your project, Seize The Night; how did you prepare for such a role: the cast, the physicality, the terrain, the climate, the weather, and the demands of the project?
Pasha Gerard (PG): I grew up in the subculture world of Los Angeles. In preparation for Seize The Night, I wanted someone as real or as close as the characters because you can not fake that. My lead actress, Nina Bergman, was a perfect fit. We would cold rehearse for lines only but ultimately decided to just let our natural actions unfold as the story progressed. I feel over-rehearsing takes away the nuances.
Watch the trailer for Seize the Night (CARPE NOCTEM) by Gene Blalock
Explain a creative choice you took on the set of a recent production?
Pasha Gerard (PG): I had a director tell me to give a “shit-eating grin” as a response. I didn’t know what that meant; I played it “literally.” Haha.
Give an example of a good direction you received from the director during the production?
Pasha Gerard (PG): So he actually showed me what a “shit-eating grin” looks like, and that’s when I got that “a ha” moment.
How do you prefer to collaborate with cast members from scene to scene?
Pasha Gerard (PG): Listening, listening, listening. That is what separates good actors from really good actors. You have to play off them, their delivery, their feelings. If you can both do that for each other, then the scene works.
As the main cast of the film Seize the Night, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Were you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
Pasha Gerard (PG): Well, I wrote and produced the film as well, so I felt a huge weight of responsibility. Luckily I had a great team with Seraph Films. As for acting, hands down, the hardest scene to shoot was the climax of the film. No spoilers, but crying when crying is needed is very difficult. This story is about a relationship. It was challenging and worrisome to carry a full-length feature, but in the end, it’s something that I’m very proud of
What did you take away from that film production?
Pasha Gerard (PG): To make a good movie, you must be in the same company of filmmakers that are passionate about the project. And let the artist be artists.
What is next for you?
Pasha Gerard (PG): I’m in development for my next feature film. It’s an action thriller about a rogue CIA agent fighting sex traffickers in the Philippines. I’m calling it Godsend.
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