I like to say that my first ‘exit stage right’ was right out of the womb! I’ve been a performer my whole life. I started dancing when I was 3 and even went to an “arts day” school before preschool. I sang in the church and school choirs from as early as I can remember, and I went to The North Carolina Governors School for Choral Music in 2009. My very first show was a church musical about David and Goliath. I remember running completely off stage the wrong way and doubling back, making everyone laugh! I have a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy and performed all throughout college as well. The ‘Belle’ in my stage name is from my grandfather, Papa, who would refer to me as ‘Belle’ when referencing any performance. He, of course, was ‘Beast.’ Samantha Belle is now forever a tribute to everyone that has ever supported me, especially Papa, my biggest fan.
indieactivity: What acting technique do you use?
Samantha Belle (SB): I don’t follow a set technique when I act as I’m not a formally trained actor. I didn’t take any acting lessons outside of improv and rehearsing for shows until after college! Since then, I have taken commercial, voice-over, monologue, scene study, and audition classes (to name a few) and I am also part of a performing improv troupe! I use improv constantly while I’m acting though and I also channel / bring up memories and feelings to experience something darker. I resort to humor often, especially if I’m nervous, which makes more intense scenes something I really have to dig deep to produce without cracking a smile.
How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition? If you did, would still have got the part?
Samantha Belle (SB): Funny enough, I read the breakdown for the audition and thought, ‘holy cow! This is me! Her name is even ‘Samantha’, I HAVE to audition!’ It wasn’t until I was actually in the audition room itself that I was told that this role was written with me in mind from the very beginning! I worked with the director/writer on another project before 2020 which is where we first connected. So in the end, I did audition against 30ish other me’s and luckily, I gave the performance they were looking for and stepped into the role of ‘Samantha’ with gratitude and excitement.
Let’s take this project you did; how did you prepare for such a role: the cast, the physicality the terrain, the climate, the weather, and the demands of the project?
Samantha Belle (SB): I had not previously worked with anyone in this cast before, and it was great to meet a new group of actors! It was funny because I didn’t actually meet Stew Jetson (my lovely movie boyfriend) until we were there, on set, getting ready to shoot a scene where we kiss! That could have gone a multitude of ways, but lucky for me, Stew is amazing and we were able to work together easily. I really begin to digest and embody my lines the day of when I receive my sides on set. I look over the script beforehand of course, and I take note of any big emotional scenes, physical or stunt scenes, monologues, etc. but I do most of the run-throughs once I have my other actors with me so I can feel how they are taking their side. For this project, since we shot in August in Pheonix, we had to be very mindful of how long we were outside when shooting a take. We rarely got more than two shots before retreating back into AC to make sure we didn’t sweat through our wardrobe.
As one of the cast on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Samantha Belle (SB): I think it was great to have not worked with any of the other cast before, because it allowed me to really step into their performance right then. I had no preconceived notions or expectations and it allowed things to flow and happen naturally. Being personally open and comfortable with change helped as I could react with other actors in real-time and stay in the scene until we heard ‘cut’ without anxiety or nervousness. Stew was fantastic and a lot of our ‘staying in the scene past what was written’ made it into the final cut!
How do you create the character from a script into a person?
Samantha Belle (SB): I created the character from the script into a person by bringing myself into it. The real Samantha meets the character. The real Samantha is a little loud and expressive…ok, a lot loud and expressive, so I definitely received direction to bring in my gestures for tighter moments where character Samantha was utilizing subtlety. I communicate with my fellow actors and crew about expectations, boundaries, and at times personal history, to create the best environment for creation and trust, especially for the more intense scenes. It’s so important to feel comfortable with the uncomfortable because, at that moment, it is real.
What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Samantha Belle (SB): I love rom coms, comedy, fun, and magic, so the film seemed like a really good time once I received the whole script! Truthfully though, I worked with the production team on different projects in the past and honestly came on board before really knowing what the content of the film was going to be because I trusted that Mitesh, Tammy, and the others wouldn’t lead me astray. I was right! The most challenging part of the story for me was the intense scenes you can see at the end of the trailer. I knew that my nervous humor would be something I needed to get a handle on because I was taking a big part in leading those scenes where smiling was not a character choice.
Explain one creative choice you took on the set of this production?
SB: A big creative choice I made was in regards to the embodiment of the character ‘Samantha’ herself. There were times where she could be played as someone the audience really didn’t root for. As I shifted her choices through inflection and intention, the production team started to see her take a different form and they said that this was why I was ‘Samantha.’ They were counting on me to bring my interpretation and style to the character, and were pleased with what we created together. She hopefully turned out to be a character that might have her moments but is lovable overall. We’ll see!
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
SB: I love the bond that is created and nurtured on set. I love the people – cast and crew – and I love storytelling and being able to meet the writer and have them say they are pleased with what they are seeing. I enjoy being able to play all day!
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
SB: The funniest example of the direction I received from the director would have to be during the photoshoot for the poster art! We were battling the light with only a skeleton crew, Stew, and me! The way Stew and I were contorted in the car to get the perfect shot was almost out of a movie itself. Forward an inch, too far! Back another inch, to the left, your other left! It was a good time and luckily they knew what they were doing because it turned out great!
How did you collaborate with your cast members from scene to scene?
SB: In every scene, I do there is collaboration. When I’m alone in the scene, it will be with the cast off-screen or even with the crew! I am a big communicator and I process out loud in my day-to-day life either way. So going over-blocking, confirming any physicality with other actors to ensure they are prepared and have stated consent for any potential directions the scene may go, and reviewing intentions, etc. solidifies it for me as well. We determine the direction of the scene together by what our characters may be thinking and feeling. One of the best parts of being on set is collaboration!
As the main cast in the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Where are you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes were difficult to shoot?
SB: I definitely did have moments of insecurity being a leader in this film, feeling like I was shouldering a lot of responsibility. I do energy work with the subconscious, so between those techniques and the collaboration between my fellow cast and crew, the moments of uncertainty were fleeting. I was back in the game and reminding myself that I was cast for a reason in no time. All I could do was my very best and I was ready for that. The hardest part for me was that Mitesh, the director, wouldn’t necessarily comment if he liked something, and preferred to give direction only when needed. So after a particularly emotional scene, I remember looking to him as he takes a big sigh and says something like, ‘ugh. I guess that’ll work.’ My stomach dropped and I thought, ‘I don’t know how I can top that!’ It turns out, he wasn’t talking about me at all as he liked what I did and was referring to something else on set! This is another reason why open communication is so important and something I teach heavily. If I hadn’t opened up to him about what I perceived his comment to mean and been shown his true intention, I could have carried that moment and pressure into the next take and created all sorts of problems for myself.
What did you take away from the film production?
SB: I took away how fun it is to do magic, comedy, and love and how thrilling it is to do drama. I proved to myself that I could go there and pull myself back out with the support of others, which was an important turning point for my career. I tended to do more comedy as the experiences I was channeling for the drama intimidated me and I wasn’t sure if I could remain in control of my emotions (or regain control) once the scene ended. Experiencing that I could indeed leave it all on set and go home and be ok, was a truly transformational time for me and played into projects I’ve taken since.
What do you like most about the director and his/her collaboration with his/her team?
SB: I love Mitesh and the whole team! I love that when he has feedback, he will tell me what he wants. He doesn’t beat around the bush or comes across as wishy-washy. It’s nice to have a clear intention to work off when something needs to be shifted. I like how driven he is and how he really does do this because he loves it. It’s contagious.
What is next for you?
SB: I have a thriller coming out around Halloween (remember how I said that learning to channel and recover impacted future projects?) I am also a professional Christmas Caroler, so I’m about to be very merry and bright! Coming up next year is a potential action film!
What advice do you give actors regarding what you learned on the project?
SB: Lean into it. Lean into the words that are written and the special sauce that you bring to the table. You were cast for a reason and that reason is because of your YOU-ness. The cast and crew are all there to make something beautiful together. No, it isn’t a stupid question and yes, you did a good job. Breathe and remember why you’re there, why you auditioned, and why you do this crazy, thrilling thing we call acting. Also, get in class.
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