Film Name: Do Not Disturb
Director: John Ainslie
Writer: John Ainslie
Starring: Kimberly Laferrière, Rogan Christopher, Janet Porter, Christian McKenna
From John Ainslie, the screenwriter of JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, comes an all-consuming narcotic nightmare. Chloe and Jack travel to Miami for their honeymoon. Amidst the flashy neon and sunny beaches, they decide a peyote experience will strengthen their marriage. Unbeknownst to them, they’ve been given a rare and powerful strand of the drug that awakens a desire to eat human flesh…
In a new exclusive interview on Blazing Minds, I got a chance to ask actress Kimberly Laferriere a few questions about the film ‘Do Not Disturb‘ which will be making its (International Premiere) at Arrow FrightFest on Friday 26th August at 10:50hrs.
Q. You play Chloe in the horror Do Not Disturb has been selected to play at the Arrow FrightFest Film Festival. Can you tell us what we can expect from the film?
A. A roller coaster ride! This is not your typical horror. I’d tell the audience to go in with an open mind. Let the film’s style, narrative, tension, and parody slowly build up and affect you.
Q. What attracted you to the film and the character of Chloe?
A. I loved the subtext and humour in the film. To emancipate herself Chloe has to literally bite into life or eat her way out of her toxic relationship. Chloe’s journey and transformation gave me a lot of chew on…
Q. What sort of preparation did you do for the role?
A. Rogan and I talked a lot about our characters’ back stories. John and I also created a playlist that reflected Chloe’s progression in the film. I read articles about ethnobotany and listened to an amazing pod cast called Plants of the Gods by Dr. Mark Plotkin. I wanted to learn about the positive and negative effects of using medicinal plants to open one’s mind and how dangerous it can be to go on that journey without the guidance of Shaman. That raised a lot of questions for me. Like what if Peyote unleashed all of Chloe’s built-up resentment and animalistic impulses and she’s simply not equipped to manage it all?
Q. Are there any elements of the character which you feel reflect some of your own personality?
A. Like Chloe a lot of people have been conditioned from a young age to make themselves small in order to please, to be loved. I can relate to that. It took me a long time to embrace myself, take some space and learn that I can express my feelings or my needs without ripping someone’s head off.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character from how it was written the original script?
A. No, Chloe was very well written from the start. I just had to bring her to life.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
A. Shooting on jetskis in Biscayne Bay Miami was magical. I saw dolphins on that day. I also really proud the drug and underwater sequences, I think they serve the film well.
Q. Did you experience any issues during filming?
A. Shooting during Covid wasn’t easy for anyone, I think.
Q. What makes Do Not Disturb stand out as something different in the horror genre?
A. It’s not typical in that the gore only happens halfway through the film. The audience won’t jump or feel scared but instead will feel very uncomfortable. It’s a ride that stays with you way after the credits rolled because the horror is mostly psychological, it comes from the tension between the characters, the toxicity of their relationship and how far that takes them.
Q. What do you hope people take away after watching the film?
A. Be kind and don’t mess with plants of the gods without the guidance of a Shaman. I guess DND can be a cautionary tale but ultimately, I just hope people enjoy it. It’s entertainment after all.
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
A. Yes, some very exciting things are coming up that I can’t wait to share with everyone just yet… If people are interested, they can find me on instagram @klaferriere, I’ll be posting regularly.
Q. If someone was looking to get into acting, what advice would you give them?
A. Don’t do it for the glamour or the fame. Do it because you love it and enjoy the process. It’s a journey. Be careful of preconceived ideas and your own limiting beliefs. Don’t be afraid to have other interests because to be a good actor you must be a good student of life. Sounds cheesy but it’s true.
You can find out more about the film Do Not Disturb on the website www.jainslie.com/do-not-disturb and Instagram @do_not_disturb_movie
Do Not Disturb will be playing at the Arrow FrightFest Film Festival on Sunday 28th August at 10:45hrs
You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/
Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!
