Hello everyone! So, what about the recently completed (and currently Film Festival touring) short film, “Dime Crimes #34“. Well, let’s see. Scored the director, Ed Hellman. We covered the unsure/suspicious fiancé via actor John Michael Wagner. Then, we covered the James Dean-inspired bad boy via actor Jimmy Dalton. But there’s one very key component left out of this–the character Doll, who’s obsession with “Dime Crimes” comic books ends up leading her right into a real life encounter with a “character” from those stories, with very–interesting–results! Therefore, OneFilmFan.com is extremely proud to be given the opportunity to round out the film’s acting trifecta through the following interview with the wonderful, beautiful individual who brought Doll to life, Ashlee Mundy! How about we get into this, oh, right about–NOW!
One Film Fan: About the early days, how were you first drawn to the acting profession? When did it become evident that acting was going to be your career choice?
Ashlee Mundy: I had always been an outgoing kid; always looking for the laugh, discovering story, dreaming up imaginary plots and making them a secret reality. My parents are both writers, so story and imagination were always commonplace. There wasn’t a huge focus on the arts where I grew up, so I began singing, because choir was accessible, and knew I liked being in front of people performing. My dad was also a lifetime athlete and coach, and all my siblings were sort of naturally athletic. Since I didn’t have a lot of artistic outlets, I played ALOT of sports. Looking back, it just made sense how athletics translated to art, namely the art of acting.
I had to constantly perform well, under pressure, in the company of an audience. Having been in that situation thousands of times, when it came to being under the pressure of an audience as an artist, it was sort of a zen place rather than an anxious one. It felt right. I was in as many plays as possible in high school, but it just wasn’t enough, and I knew I needed to go to school for theatre. And I did! I got cast in my first collegiate lead role the moment I transferred to Ohio State University as a sophomore, and it justified every feeling I had about knowing I needed to be an actor. And that was it. That read like an uppity memoir, but “whateves”.
O.F.F.: How did you further learn the art (ie: mentors, influences, and schooling)?
A.M.: Well, as previously stated, I went to school at Ohio State and graduated with a B.A. in Theatre. I had many people I looked up to, saw as mentors and that really shaped who I was as an actor. But I had one particular mentor there that gave me the courage I needed and the courage I had to blossom artistically. Her name is Jeanine Thompson. She cast me in my first role and continued to be there for me in whatever capacity I needed, as a young woman and an artist.
She taught me not only as an actor, but as a mover; I learned LaBan, Viewpoints (LOTS of it), Mime and Suzuki from her. I got to participate in a residency with the SITI company of NYC, and that was life changing. They’re such a talented as well as physically and emotionally strong group of actors. Seeing them in action, in rehearsal, and in performance triggered my first real need to move to NYC after graduation.
O.F.F.: When preparing for a role, do you always have the same routines/methods to get into a character or does that vary depending ON the role? Additionally, how much research do you tend to do FOR a character?
A.M.: It completely depends. With “Dime Crimes”, it was attacking the mentality of Doll first, almost memorizing it, and then embodying her physicality. I was actually cast as characters a lot- as an old Cuban woman, a man, a raspy, boyish Yooper. I love character work, and for me it’s about physically understanding the character and then the acting of it follows almost naturally. For more dramatic, psychologically emotional roles, it’s really about silence for me. I need to disconnect from everything; listen to my body, my breathing, be alone with my thoughts.
O.F.F.: Do you prefer more physically driven characters or emotionally driven characters and why? Has there been a certain character (or characters) to date you’ve enjoyed playing in particular and why?
A.M.: Honestly, I like both equally. But they need to live in the extreme. I got to play Alice in “Closer” once, and that role blew my mind. Every moment was so fun because it was so constantly connected and engaged, so incredibly aware. On the opposite end, I played Big Betty in Jeff Daniel’s “Escanaba in Love”, which was my first regional theatre performance. She was larger than life, tom-boyish, brutish, wild, yet vulnerable. It was so fun discovering her ticks, her comedy on stage. As Doll in “Dime Crimes”, I was able to really discover the subtleties of a soft, emotionally broken character. With Betty, and Doll too, it’s fun to fly under the radar, because they’re so physically unlike me that people don’t realize it’s me, so I get to kind of be a chameleon. That, I love.
O.F.F.: What have the experiences been like in TV/Film-based roles vs. stage roles? Similar? Completely different?
A.M.: They’re just completely different mediums. I love being on stage because I love performing live. I’m addicted to live moments with other actors on a stage. But, I love working on film because it becomes more about the subtleties of acting, and to have the ability to make it “perfect,” or some version of that. They’re both challenging and trying to master both is what I really think makes good actors undeniably magical actors.
O.F.F.: So, onto your recently completed project, “Dime Crimes #34”, currently out on the festival circuit. What drew you to this film?
A.M.: The script, initially. It was the first time in a long time that I got sides for an audition and I was thrilled, because the story was so exciting and the character was so intriguing. When I got the the audition, director Ed Hellman took me to another room between readings, and didn’t give me notes, but asked me questions that I really had to contemplate as the character. I was immediately drawn to his style of directing. He wanted to have a conversation about character and story, not be the dictator of it. I was thrilled when I got a callback.
O.F.F.: Tell us a little about the character, Doll, you play in it.
A.M.: Doll changed dramatically from day one of rehearsal (the audition, even) to the finality of who she became in the film. She’s kind of a nerdy, likable, self-deprecating young woman. She, at some point, convinced herself she wasn’t good enough to be respected or loved as an actress or girlfriend, and decided to seek out that attention in comic books and pulp fiction magazines. Her reality was tortured, so she turned to fiction and fell into it.
O.F.F.: What was it like getting into the head of Doll and her unique quirkiness and obsessions with Dime Crime comics?
A.M.: It was an interesting progression. Ed really focused on her emotional state for the first half of our rehearsal process. He helped me find the ways to remove her strength and exploit her weaknesses. Once I found that place, I was able to embody her physically because I understood the character. Ed would constantly pull Jimmy, John and I apart from each other and have one-on-ones about what was going on in the scene we were rehearsing. He helped us discover secrets that we kept as characters from our other actors, which as an actor, I love. I didn’t want John or Jimmy to know what I was thinking all the time, and that attention to privacy made Doll who she became.
O.F.F.: Having seen the film and reviewed it, I must say I was quite impressed with the film’s finale! Without spoilers, how satisfying was it to have things wrap up the way they did?
A.M.: I couldn’t be happier. There’s always anxiety when you watch yourself performing, and I definitely came to the premiere with a full dosage of it. But as soon as I saw the film that this amazing cast and crew of people had made, I was just so proud to be a part of it. I was getting lost in it, forgetting it was us. That was pretty incredible.
O.F.F.: How was it working alongside actors Jimmy Dalton and John Michael Wagner? Any humorous anecdotes to share from the set?
A.M.: They were THE best. During our scenes, John was so tense, so intense, to the point that I could do nothing but cower, which was perfect as Doll. He’d shoot me a look and I’d just stiffen up. His coldness was palpable. And he never broke character. Don’t get me wrong, he’s incredibly fun as a person! But as my on-screen boyfriend he was exactly what I needed him to be. Oh, and let’s not forget how amazing his writing is. THANK YOU for this script, John.
And Jimmy–Oh, Jimmy. You can’t stop paying attention to Jimmy. He’s unpredictable. He constantly charismatic. Basically, he’s perfectly Bug. Again, he was exactly what I needed as Doll because I couldn’t stop watching him, so being enamored was simple. We actually had a callback together and when I realized I was cast with him, I was thrilled. His talent made my job easy. And for the record, I did not dunk his head in the toilet. I only thought about it.
O.F.F.: Additionally, how was the experience working with director Ed Hellman? I mean, I’ve done that interview and he’s really not that great. (LOL) Seriously, though.
A.M.: I totally get what you mean about him not being that great. KIDDING:) We love Ed! It’s impossible not to. His talent and his vision are nothing less than covetable. He understands actors. He worked with us all differently. His personalized dedication to each character in “Dime Crimes” made that film what it was. His career is something to pay close attention to, because he’s so uniquely talented. Plus, I’ve met his parents, so I see how he got so awesome. I might like his parents more than him. Just kidding! I love all Hellmans equally.
O.F.F.: What other projects are on the horizon or would you LIKE to be involved in?
A.M.: Anything Ed Hellman? Ha, but seriously. I’m kind of constantly working on a million different projects. I can’t sit still. Another short film I was in, “Yikes”, directed by Michael Fodera got in to Cannes as well as a couple other festivals, so also look for that! And as soon as I figure out SquareSpace, I’ll have a website so you can totally keep tabs on me, or something like that.
O.F.F.: Indie film is still a genre that doesn’t seem to get the notoriety it really deserves, from no budget to a couple million. As an actress, how important and/or fulfilling is it to the industry to do indie films and promote them?
A.M.: Incredibly important. I mean, independent work is the pulsating heart of art. It can be anything because it’s so innately fearless. It’s people’s wildest dreams coming to life. We have to keep making and supporting independent films! I mean, “Jurassic World” was fun enough and expensive enough, but does it really compare to the heart of “Dime Crimes #34”?!? *drops mic
O.F.F.: I see you’re also a Producer and playwright. Tell is a bit about those aspects of you career path.
A.M.: Yeah! I’m constantly writing. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on an anthology of short plays to be self published. That should be done by the end of the year, if not earlier. So, please, buy it when it is! 🙂 I was lucky enough to have four plays produced last year in San Diego, Chicago, and here in New York. I love being on that side of the stage, too. I think I’m more nervous to watch my plays than I’ve ever been to be in one. It’s exhilarating and addicting seeing how someone is going to interpret your words. There’s a website/blog called NYCplaywrights.blogspot.com. I encourage all of my fellow writers to check it out and submit your work accordingly. The woman who runs it is doing an amazing thing for up and coming writers, giving them an outlet for writing submissions.
O.F.F.: The good old fashioned, time-tested final question! What is YOUR favorite film of all time? Why?
A.M.: Oh, boy. I feel like this changes all the time! So, I’ll give you three, ok? “For Your Consideration”, because I love all things Christopher Guest, and that, to me, is his darkest film which makes me adore it even more. I love dark comedy. I’m gonna have to throw “Boyhood” in here too. That movie continues to blow my mind. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw it. (*cough, should’ve won an Oscar). And, don’t laugh, but “Mortal Kombat”. I love “Mortal Kombat”. You said favorite movie(s), not best movies! It reminds me of being a kid and watching it with my dad. Happy, happy memories.
There it is, folks! The admission we were all wanting to hear straight from the horse’s mouth–Jimmy Dalton’s head was NOT dunked in a toilet by the fair, well-mannered, happy-go-lucky Ashlee Mundy on the set of “Dime Crimes #34”! But, it was apparently considered at least! Another excellent and eloquent insight into the vast dynamics of the indie film world here, and we, as always, extend a very heartfelt “Thank you!!” again to Ms. Mundy for taking the time out of a busy “I just moved!!” schedule to do this interview! Definitely, like the others, expect to hear a LOT more from this talented actress sooner than later! So be watching the stage and screen for more from Ashlee! In the meantime, why not keep tabs on her and the film via the following ways:
“Follow” Ashlee’s Twitter account: here
“Like” the film’s Production Company Facebook Page: here
The film’s website: here
It has been a pleasure and an honor to be able to have the interview with the entire cast from “Dime Crimes #34”, finalizing everything with this fantastic adventure with Ashlee! Keep watching for the film to be at a Film Festival near you, check it out, support indie cinema, and make sure to BUY Ashlee’s anthology of plays when it is released! Also be watching for her own website as well! Until next time everyone, take care, and thank you for reading! Spread the word!
