Award-winning actress and filmmaker Mariah Owen
Mariah Owen is an award-winning actress and filmmaker from Toronto, Canada. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a model at two and a half days old and, at 21, she founded her production company, GTE Productions. Mariah has been called “The Youngest EP in Hollywood” by numerous outlets. We caught up with her, ahead of her latest project entitled ”Daddy’s Playground.”
Hi, Mariah! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your new project “Daddy’s Playground.” What should the audience expect to see?
Hey there! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with me. We’re so excited to be premiering on NoBudge next week! Audiences should expect an aesthetically driven, female vigilante thriller about sugar babies who avenge their sugar mamas and daddies in an attempt to overthrow the patriarchy. It’s action-packed, cinematically beautiful and sheds light onto one of the world’s most taboo activities and cultures.
The subject matter is intriguing and highly topical. In your opinion, how does the production bring something new in addressing the subject?
Surprisingly enough, for a topic that is often a word used in conversation, we really haven’t spoken about Sugar culture, how popular it is and just how it works. I think this film is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of uncovering the underbelly, highs, and lows of this world. We are developing the feature film version of Daddy’s Playground and it dives deeper, shows an array of sugar relationships (as a spoiler: not all are sexual, some are completely platonic!) and follows the journey of our leads Teddy and Rose. I think the short film really addresses the unique differences between certain “arrangements” and complex gender dynamics when dealing with sexuality and pleasure. It’s risky, vulnerable and messy yet there’s some quality where you just can’t look away.
Without giving anything away, what are some scenes in the film that you think will blow people away and why?
We have a really unique, almost “music video” sequence which I have seen a hundred times and still love. It’s just so enticing and moves the story in a compelling way and unlike most films I’ve seen in the thriller genre.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
I think the biggest piece of production that resonated with me was the trust that both Ashley Morgan and Boni Mata (co-writers, co-producers, AND leads!) put in me to have this film come to fruition. We didn’t know each other at the beginning of production and now, I hope to work with them for years to come. It’s so awesome to get to work with such brilliant, strong and fierce women who are true team players.
You appear in ”Dance Together’’ starring Emilia McCarthy premiering on Amazon and Super Channel this Fall. What can audiences look forward to with this production?
I actually don’t appear in Dance Together, I am our executive producer and CMPA mentor. CMPA is the Canadian Media Producers Association and through one of the unique filmmaking agreements, I was able to mentor the feature and offer guidance where I could. I’m looking forward to families being able to watch this film as it is very different than the films I typically make, however, it’s a beautiful story! Audiences can look forward to an engaging journey of a new friendship through dance and sign language in Dance Together.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
I just want to make movies and tell stories for the rest of my life. I hope my story of self-discovery, starting a production company, being an actor, etc really helps to inspire other people and in particular, the next generation of creators that they can be all of the things and still find success. My upcoming projects are The Brunch Club which I wrote, will direct and star in and my feature film Grace that I wrote and will star in. In addition to developing Daddy’s Playground as a feature for 2020. I’m excited about what’s ahead!!
For further information on Mariah visit.
https://www.instagram.com/mariahowen/
or find her on Twitter
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