An accomplished and talented actress with multiple big roles to her name, Fayna Sanchez has set out as a big name for herself with a strong portfolio of work to her name this early in her career. Now, in honor of the release of her latest film, "House of Ashes," I talk with her about her early interest in acting, working on the film, and upcoming projects.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
Fayna Sanchez: Thank you so much for having me! I’ve been into horror since I can remember; I’ve always been a fan. Films like Evil Dead, Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark, Nightmare on Elm Street, Beetlejuice, Death Becomes Her, Lost Boys, Alien, Jaws (gosh, I could go on and on) were always on rotation. But TV shows too. I was obsessed with everything dark and unnerving, like Unsolved Mysteries, X-Files, and Tales From The Crypt.
Me: When did you initially discover a passion for acting? What aspect of this industry appeals to you?
FS: I’ve always been a performer. I was a theatre kid and a singer in middle and high school, and committed to the craft in college. I love storytelling and eliciting reactions and emotions from audiences. I can’t do anything else!
Me: Is there any specific type of character you prefer playing? What do you look for in a character to be excited and interested in playing it?
FS: I like to play fully realized characters, full of flaws and complexity, because that’s what humans are. We are all both good and evil, ugly and beautiful, strong and weak. When I find a part that can be all of those things, I want to jump in headfirst.
Me: With plenty of short films early in your career, what tools and skills do you acquire working on those that transfer to feature-film projects?
FS: The ability to adapt and move quickly. Time is money, as they say, and typically, we don’t have much of it on a short film set. You have to come fully prepared and ready to move at lightning speed.
Me: That brings us to your latest film, “House of Ashes.” What can you tell us about the project and the character Mia? What type of characteristics about the character made you interested in playing her?
FS: I am fascinated by the complexities of grief and the power that the mind can play on your reality. I was also, of course, drawn to the issue of Mia being on house arrest for a miscarriage. I had heard stories of women going through this, and I was outraged. It was important to me to tell this story as grounded as I could.
Me: What do you do to stay in character while on set? When you're not filming, how do you pass the time between takes?
FS: I listen to music. I made a Mia playlist that kept me in her headspace. I read the script over and over and study what we’ve already shot and what is upcoming. I don’t really take time “off,” especially when it’s something as emotionally heavy as this role.
Me: What was the set like while shooting the film? How did the cast and crew react to the type of film being made?
FS: We had to move lightning fast, so we were all in work mode, but we tried to find moments of levity when we could.
Me: Do you recall any odd or funny on-set stories about yourself or any of the other cast/crew?
FS: Dropping the only ankle monitor we had in the bathtub after every single person on set told me to be careful with it was NOT funny at the time, but now I think back to it with laughter.
Me: What are you most looking forward to with its upcoming release?
FS: I’m really excited to have it out in the world. We worked very hard on this film, and any time a movie is finished and released is a miracle, so I’m looking forward to having it out there for people to watch.
Me: What do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?
FS: I write and paint. I find that working on things outside of acting helps me stay inspired, and writing and painting feel really satisfying to my artist brain.
Me: Lastly, what else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers? Thank you again for your time!
FS: I have a couple of other movies that were recently released! Natasha Kermani’s ‘Abraham’s Boys’ for AMC Shudder and ‘Tenants’, a new horror anthology, are now both available on VOD. And I am really excited for my next film, 'The Dark Domain: Mickey Vs Winnie,' directed by Glenn Douglas Packard, to come out early next year! Other than that, I am always writing, producing, and working on personal projects. Follow me on Instagram @fayna.bo.byna to keep up!
Comments
Post a Comment