Still from "Jurassic Games"
Katie Burgess stars in “Jurassic Games.” We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with her about the film, her role, and her character. Check it out below.
Hi, Katie! We’re excited to speak with you! Thank you for granting the interview. Tell us about your role and character in “Jurrasic Games.” You have a starring role!
Thanks so much for reaching out! My character in the film, Joy, is a trip. She scary, sassy, strong, and violent. Having the opportunity to play her was amazing, and Ryan Bellgardt (our writer and director) did a great job creating her. It was so much fun bringing her from the script to the screen because she’s a real challenge to play. While a lot of characters force an actor to change emotions, Joy required me to eliminate them.
How are you able to juggle college and your career?
I just finished my freshman year at Pepperdine University in California and I actually didn’t focus a lot on my acting during that time. My main goal was to make it through my freshman year in a new place that is far from most of my family and friends. I did a couple interviews and auditions while I was out there, but most of my focus went toward my studies. I think it’s all about balance when it comes to education and one’s career.
What advice can you give to those in school but would like to break into acting?
Work hard and do not give up. You will hear a million no’s before you hear a yes. When you feel down about yourself, work to improve your skill and make yourself more marketable. There is always something you can be doing. I would also say it’s important to not compromise your education for something that is not immediately guaranteed. I’ve seen a lot of my friends miss out on a good education because they were working, but there is no reason you cannot do both, you just have to take your time. School will always be there but take your education seriously so that you can hold your own when it comes to business.
Tell us about the funniest blooper filming “Jurassic Games.”
I think the funniest thing to me was when I almost shoved Adam Hampton into a moving dune-buggy. We were filming in the desert and Adam and I had to run next to each other while the cameramen sat in the back of a dune-buggy riding beside us. I had to shove Adam while we ran and I didn’t realize how close we were to the buggy and he almost stumbled into the wheel. I felt bad for a second until he said he was fine and we both laughed about it.
Tell us about your approach to acting. How do you prepare for a role?
So after I read the script I’ll usually pull upon my real experiences in order to understand the character. I try to relate a lot of the material and emotions to something that I’ve actually been through. Other than that, I rely a lot on my imagination. I’ve seen a lot of movies so I can use other performances to lead me in the right direction, but once I think I’ve really got a feel for the character and their motives/feelings, I can ask myself questions such as “how would the character react in this situation” or “what are the character’s goals for this scene? What do they really want?”
To date, what has been your most challenging production?
The Jurassic Games, by far. The most challenging part was the physical stuff. I was not nearly as in shape as I should have been and the long shoot days absolutely drained me. The challenges really helped me get in character, however. If we were in the heat for hours on end and had to shoot the exact same thing repeatedly, I became exhausted. Therefore, if I couldn’t get a move down correctly or didn’t deliver my lines just right I became very frustrated with myself and the exhaust pushed me into a place of intense passion and emotion that I could tailor to Joy’s personality. I learned a lot on set, and I truly think I became a better actor because of it.
Is there a role you would love to really sink your teeth in and play?
I don’t think there is a specific role I can think of that I’d like to play, but I’d love to try something with a very dramatic and heart-wrenching storyline. I guess something like Chloe Grace Moretz’s role in If I Stay. I’d also like to try something with a developing love interest as I’ve never done a project like that before.
If there was one thing in the world you could change, what would it be and why?
If I had a platform, it would definitely be mental health awareness. There is such a stigma attached to mental health issues when, in reality, about 1 in 5 adults have experienced one and 1 in 25 Americans live with a serious mental illness(such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression). I’ve done a lot of research and with gun control as such a major topic of conversation, I think mental health needs to be more seriously addressed.
Are there any projects you would like to add that we haven’t mentioned?
I’m actually filming another project currently. I’m really excited about the film as it’s a spy action thriller and I have been given the opportunity to play the lead. The film is called Jade Black and it’s from writer and director Terry Spears(with whom I worked on the set of The Jurassic Games). I believe the release date is still up in the air, but they are shooting for the end of the summer.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
I would love to try modeling, actually. I never thought it was something I’d be interested in until recently, but I’ve been doing research on the business and I think it would be a lot of fun to get involved. I also think it would be amazing to do some journalism work. I’ve always loved writing. From the time I was old enough to put a decent sentence together, I was coming up with poems and stories. Lately, I’ve been keeping a diary and writing about the things I experience on the daily as a teenager. I’ll read the stories to my mom and she gets an absolute kick out of them. She is convinced they would make a “great coming-of-age sitcom” haha.
Good luck with the article and thank you for the interview!
Katie Burgess
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKt9CLpd_E”]
About Author
