The Great Charade (2019)
Director: Dan Strange, Rodeo Strange
Writer: Dan Strange, Rodeo Strange
Stars: Francesca Louise White, Candice Palladino, Ricardo Freitas, Philip Boobyer, Marcus Davis-Orrom
A psychological thriller in which the world’s two most famous actors are kidnapped. They awake, bound and bruised, with no inkling of where they are. Unable to move they are at the mercy of those who adore them the most; their fans.
To help celebrate women in horror month, I got an opportunity to ask actress Candice Palladino a few questions about what we can expect from the upcoming psychological thriller ‘The Great Charade’ and what women in horror month means to her.
Q. How important is it to recognise the female filmmakers during women in horror month and what does it mean to you
So important; thank you for having this month! Every human no matter their colour, upbringing, etc. has a voice and story to tell. And, for so long, as Reece Witherspoon put so beautifully in 2015, female characters have been asking, “What do we do now?” By recognising and celebrating women in all aspects of the industry we’re able to shout, “We’re here”, change the narrative, and take control over our voices. And, honestly, I think our industry is just the beginning because it’s true… Life really does imitate art. The more healthy and strong images we have of women in the world of art and entertainment…? The more ‘normal’ it becomes…? It will send a ripple throughout society. I’m so excited and grateful to ride that wave.
Q. How did you get into film making originally?
From a very early age I developed an insane love of music which eventually turned into a love of musical theatre and the stage. When coming back from a short break in my career I realized I needed to ‘go big or go home’ and not be scared of the camera. So, I began focusing on my overall passion for performing, rather than just my love for the stage. I started throwing shit at the fan and noticed film and VO work was (surprisingly) sticking.
It was difficult at first because I needed to invest a proper amount of time and energy into re-learning my craft. I hadn’t realized the stage and screen were such different animals! But the hard work paid off because I eventually felt very comfortable in this new medium.
Q. You play Dixie Lee in the upcoming thriller The Great Charade which is being released later this year. What can we expect from the film?
If it’s anything like I felt whilst filming, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions with unexpected twists sprinkled with fun and disbelief.
Q. What attracted you to the role of Dixie when you first read the script?
It’s funny because originally, I didn’t want to play Dixie. I mean, after reading the script I saw how much of a challenge she would be and was scared that I wasn’t going to be able to do her justice. Of course, Dan, Rodeo, and I laugh about it now, because the same thing I was scared about ended up being the thing that excited me the most. Here was this beautiful mess of a human that was heart-breaking and hilarious who I was able to breathe life into… As an actor, it doesn’t really get better than that!
Q. What sort of preparation did you do for the role?
After discussing with Rodeo and Dan, I did a lot of research about what sort of conditions and/or dependencies we thought she might have. I also combed through the script for clues that would influence her personality. After that I worked tirelessly on memorizing her dialogue and used her words to influence everything. Once I got a good handle on that, I then would just ‘be’ her for hours alone in my flat improvising and going about my day. What were her movements? How would she empty the dishwasher or make dinner? You name it, I did it.
One of the hardest things I’ve had to learn re: screen acting was the trust you needed to have within yourself that if you just ‘were’ than your feelings and thoughts would translate effortlessly to your audience. All those hours helped tremendously on set because I felt I didn’t need to think about her anymore… I was her.
Q. Did you make any changes to the character to how it was written in the original script?
I did choose her accent (American southern) after a conversation with Rodeo and Dan. Once that was okayed, I went through the script and swapped out words and phrases I thought she’d use instead of what was written. Other than that, I can’t be too sure. Dan and Rodeo are wonderful in many ways, but my favorite quality is their ability to allow their actors to play. So, if anything, it was us more finding who these characters were and allowing for adaptations to happen.
Q. Did you experience any issues during the filming of The Great Charade?
Ha, there are always issues. The biggest one being trying to be nocturnal. Due to noise issues we filmed at night and it was so weird waking up at two in the afternoon and going to sleep at around seven in the morning. The other was about a week before filming Dan and Rodeo told me they wanted to try something with my monologue. Up until the moment Rodeo said, “Action” I had no idea what I was going to do with it because I just wasn’t sure what was ‘right’. Luckily, my preparation for Dixie took over, I trusted that ‘she’ was enough, and just opened my mouth and began to speak. Dan and Rodeo were happy with what I did, so I can only hope it translates on screen and the audience are able to enjoy it, as well.
Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?
THE LAUGHING! At times we were dealing with some pretty dark material and when the tiredness set in at three in the morning, we (I) needed a release. I am so grateful that everyone on set had the silly factor going for them because laughter really was (and still is) the best medicine!
Q. Do you have any other projects which you are currently working on?
I should be shooting a fantastical short with the wonderful Ben Murray (he was inspired by the show ‘American Gods’) in a few weeks. I’m also in the beginning stages of writing a piece that actually came from our behind the scenes shenanigans of The Great Charade! On the theatrical side, I have an alter-ego named Daisy May who is a death row section prison entertainer. She’s currently teaching herself the ukulele so she can more easily spread her zest for life to people through that trusty ole’ Internet.
Q. Are there any other women working in horror who you feel don’t get the recognition they deserve and whose work we should look out for?
Yes, there are totally some kick ass women who deserve to shine! Last year I worked on a short by William Kee called Dirt. Beau Rambaut of Beaumont Productions was a ROCKSTAR producer (she’s a fab model and actress, too) and starred Charlotte Hunter who I was in awe of! In New York I worked with the fab writer, Molly Rydzel, who mixed horror and comedy together perfectly. And, since this article is about The Great Charade it’d be wrong to not give major props to writer/director/producer extraordinaire, Rodeo Strange, and fellow star, Francesca Louise-White. These are just a handful of women in horror who have touched me in some way. I’m so grateful to them and can’t want to get touched by some more… metaphorically, of course, ha!
Q. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to get into acting themselves
At the end of the day, it’s fucking hard work, both physically and emotionally. A teacher during my BFA said (and I’ve heard others say it, as well): if there is anything else in the world besides performing you think you could be happy doing, do it. I hold her words dear to my heart. It’s imperative to constantly check in with yourself, especially after each ‘no’ to make sure this is something you have to have in your life. If you, and only you decide it is a must, then put your absolute all into your career. I think it is better to whole-heartedly try and possibly fail then to be, say, 70 years old and wondering, “What if…”
You can find out more about Candice Palladino on her website and the social media sites Twitter and Instagram
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!
