Joseph Neil is the host of Christian Music Spotlight and recently sat down with Jenn Gotzon who stars in Doonby, available now on video-on-demand. The movie also stars John Schneider of Dukes of Hazzard and Smallville fame. Jospeh graciously shares his conversation with Jenn below with us!
Jenn, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us on our show and talk about the new movie Doonby. John Schneider was quoted as saying, "It's like It's Wonderful Life without the wonderful." Can you share a little bit about the movie Doonby and its premise?
Absolutely. It has a story compared to It's a Wonderful Life with the psychological thrill aspect of Twilight Zone, and then it has a twist ending that comes out of nowhere, like The Sixth Sense.
The movie is this psychological mystery thriller with a twist of romance. It takes place in a small town in Texas, and out of nowhere this mysterious man named Sam Doonby appears. My character, Laura Reaper, falls madly in love with him. My girl, she walks on the wild side. She's a bit of a party girl. She's a bit of a lush. Sam Doonby sees her deepest core, and that's the fact that she doesn't really know what her purpose is in life.
He ends up walking alongside her to try to help build life and significance into her. Unfortunately, due to some jealousy and binge drinking, all chaos happens and we get to see what life looks like with Sam Doonby and without Sam Doonby.
What I love the most about this movie is that it really brings up conversations about the significance of life. It talks a little bit about addiction. It talks about self esteem. It really helps us understand the choices that we make and the consequences of that.
The backdrop is a blues jazz bar. It's very entertaining. There's amazing music throughout the entire film. It's got one of those really cool provocative messages that I think can save people's lives.
How did you become a part of the film? Were there just wide range auditions? Did they have you in mind for the movie?
I was direct offered through Facebook.
Wow. Talk about technology! That's crazy.
I didn't believe it either when they sent an offer. I'm like, "What is this? This has got to be some junk movie." Then it was sent again. "We'd like to discuss this with your agent. Would you please read the script?" I read it and I fell over going, "This is a huge answered prayer because this is the type of role that I have been dreaming of and just desiring to play since I was a little girl."
What was it like working with John Schneider and some of the other actors in this movie?
I learned so much from each and every one of them. I was just like a sponge. I was absorbing every little piece of wisdom I could from John Schneider and Jennifer O'Neill and Ernie Hudson.
What drives you creatively to take on your different roles such as Frost/Nixon and Doonby? What drives you to take on those particular roles?
I really look for characters that have a complexity to them, that people can relate to and identify with, that that's their real life that they experience. So many of my friends party for their lifestyle. They go to work, but then at night they party the night away, and they wake up the next morning. They just don't feel like they have direction, and they get lost in that day to day cycle.
I dove into that type of character and learning why she turns to alcohol as her vice, why does she walk on the wild side. My passion is that it really can relate to people's lives and maybe family members, or a little girl can look at their mom or dad and say, "Mom and dad, that's how you are when you drink. You're abusive," and maybe that can bring healing, ultimate healing.
That's really at the end of the day what movies are for.
You filmed this movie in Smithville, Texas. What's favorite spot that you've traveled to, either recreationally or for a movie?
That's a good question. I filmed in so many places. I'd have to actually say it would be a cross between Alone Yet Not Alone when we filmed on location at Fort Loudon and we were shooting a French and Indian war movie. That comes to theaters in February 2014. We were at Fort Loudon in Tennessee where the actual war was, and that was insane to have that nostalgia.
We filmed on the president's helicopter in Frost/Nixon. It was really on President Nixon's helicopter. I'll never forget Patty McCormick who played Pat Nixon, my mom. I played Tricia Nixon. We looked at each other, we're like, "Oh my gosh. We are really on the president's helicopter."
Then the next would be the community and the fellowship that we developed shooting Doonby in Smithville. That entire world down there, because I stayed down there for about five to six weeks. I developed such kinship with everyone. Like the bed and breakfast that we stayed at, they actually named the rooms after us: Jenn's retreat and Doonby's loft.
We still are friends today. I still call the owner of the bed and breakfast momma Doonby and call her on Mother's Day and wish her happy Mother's Day. I think those would be the three places of nostalgia and good kinship.
It said on here you kind of got started with Actors, Models and Talent for Christ, which is a major up and coming talent discovery for Christian believers. What type of advice would you give to those actors and actresses who are looking to make an impact in roles such as this?
For me, what I do is I pray. I go before the Lord and I ask God for guidance and direction. In the Bible it says seek Him and the kingdom first and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added unto you. That has been testimony along my journey.
If you know that you know that God is calling you to be an artist, then what I really encourage you to do is to seek excellence in the craft. Study and become the best you possibly can be, to be the best craftsman that you can be.
If you want to be a surgeon, you need to go to school to know how to operate on someone's brain. When you're an actor starting to really depict and portray the depths of the human soul, you need to know how to do that in an honest way.
Once you've got that together, then there's many opportunities where you can serve in front and behind the camera. Learn everything about the filmmaking process you can. Every film loves volunteers. So volunteer as a production assistant. Volunteer in the post production. Learn how editing works. All of this will help your journey as an actor.
Then the next thing logistically is you need to get a really solid headshot, sign up for ActorsAccess.com or CastingNetworks.com. Those are the two most legit casting websites. Then start submitting your resume and headshot and star the audition process, but when you show up on set, your number one goal is to be a servant and love those around you unconditionally.
Do not show up with the diva attitude. Realize that we are all spokes in a wheel, and we all have to really work to that common goal, which is making a movie.
When people go to watch the movie Doonby, what's the one message beyond the movie, beyond the entertainment?
It's that every nobody is somebody, the significance of each person's life. To know that you may feel lost inside and you don't know which direction to turn, but God is always there for you and He will always guide you. That would be the biggest thing that I really hope people can walk away with, is really understanding and longing for a deeper purpose in life.
Where can we go to find out a little bit more about the movie and what projects you've got coming up?
The website for Doonby is Doonby.com. We've got a Facebook page and a Twitter. My Facebook is Jenn Gotzon, my Twitter is Jenn Gotzon. Those would be the places you could connect.
On my Facebook page I have a newsletter that people can sign up for. You can click on there or send me an email in the inbox on my Facebook and I'll send you a free screener to one of the movies that I'm in. There's nine of them coming out. It's a fun season.
Thank you for sharing your time and your heart with this movie. Thanks for coming on our show here today.
Thank you for having me on your show and bless you. I hope you guys all enjoy Doonby. It's a fun one.
