With director Bryan Coyne’s feature Utero having wrapped after thirteen days of principal photography in Los Angeles, we caught up with star and producer Jessica Cameron to get the skinny on the flick, and to bring you some exclusive photos.
Cameron, who recently starred in and directed the feature Truth or Dare, said of what attracted her to the project (which stars her as an agoraphobic unwed mother who finds her psyche unraveling as she becomes convinced that her unborn child is more monster than human), “I have been friends with Bryan for a while now, and we have talked many times about collaborating on a project. When Utero came up I just had to do it. I simply fell in love with the character Lauren that he created and wanted to explore her universe.
“I learned a lot while working on Truth or Dare, perhaps most importantly that I love to produce as well as act. Something about finding the best people for the team, organizing schedules and details, finalizing marketing and press strategies really calm me. Perhaps it’s because I have been part of more than a few films that I feel could have handled all the above (somewhat) better. In any event, I want to produce more of the films that I act in, since I seem to have a talent for it, and I love doing it! That being said, producing with my partner-in-crime Jonathan Scott Higgins is the best since we work so well together and are both very efficient and focused. We are able to get a lot of work done in less time than most people would think, and we are able to work together to make the best choices, even though we don't always agree with each other.”
With director Coyne having produced the Paul Hough-directed psychological thriller The Human Race, we asked Cameron if Utero leaned towards that realm, or if it delves more into the visceral, Cronenberg-esque 'body horror' as the teaser poster and tag-line (‘Baby Changes Everything’) implies.
“It’s a brilliant mix of both worlds,” she answered.
“I was initially drawn into the complex psychological aspects of the script, but as soon as we started shooting I was blown away with the practical effects. Without giving anything away, one scene actually made me vomit a little. It was just too real, and I started gagging. But that's the sign of some great effects, so I didn't mind.”
With Cameron acting opposite Feast series filmmaker John Gulager and his wife Diane Goldner in Utero, we asked her of the experience.
”I adore John and Diane, both as filmmakers and as people,” stated Cameron.
“They are a wonderful, positive force within the indie horror community, and it was a pleasure to have them on set. Diane is a trained actor and it shows. Her attention to detail is impressive, and she really brought her character to life. It’s always a joy to work opposite someone that is bringing one hundred and ten percent; you just have so much to work with. She really added extra layers of depth and kindness to her character that beautifully enhanced the story. John is so much fun. He has such a presence on set, and a really great energy. I was surprised when he handed me his character's business card! He actually made a card for his character's extermination company, which for me was really special since he went to such effort for the role.”
As for John’s character in Utero, Cameron revealed, “He comes to help my character with a little spider problem.”
Of Cameron’s character, “The film is really her story,” she offered. “I was in pretty much in every scene, so [there was] lots of dialogue and action to remember! I adore [the character of] Lauren. She is vastly different from me, which is always fun to play with as an actor. She is more shy and quiet than I am, and she is a homebody who becomes agoraphobic during her pregnancy, and once she realizes that she is pregnant she happily puts the rest of her world on hold to focus on this baby.
“I honestly don't know if I could ever focus on anyone to the extent that she does, but her baby is the love of her life. It’s her everything and she knows it. She is so endearing and self aware while struggling to maintain her sanity in less than ideal circumstances.”
“Although I have never been an agoraphobic, there was a time in my life when circumstances kept me confined. So I really related to her and her struggles, even though I myself am vastly different in real life. I am so much more career-focused than Lauren, so this was one of the greatest struggles [in portraying her] since for me it required a vastly different mindset. I don't think much about motherhood, though I suspect I will have a child one day. But for me it’s not a huge life goal, as it is for my character in Utero, and as it was for her from a young age. It took a lot of character work for me to be able to really understand her.”
As for the reception to her feature directorial debut Truth of Dare and its distribution plans, Cameron concluded, “The fan support is mind blowing and means so very much to me. Connecting with the fans as I started to do with Truth or Dare has really inspired me to be more active, not only in my career but in choosing which stories to bring to life. The fans deserve the best, and I just want to work my ass off to make sure that they get it!
“Regarding distro, we are currently is talks with a few companies, but have yet to sign anything. We want to do more festivals throughout the summer, since they have all been so kind to us thus far; twenty-three awards and counting, and we are hoping to sign a deal shortly after that run.”
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