ATHENA PARK TALKS THE SWEARING JAR

Interviewed by Culture Coast Talks editor Daniel John. Interview transcripts might have been edited for length and clarity.

Adapted from Kate Hewlett's own play, this is one of those stories one can not help but love just due to the sheer human relatability?

'The Swearing Jar' is definitely relatable, love is universal and we all want to love someone and be loved.

Had you seen the play before getting cast as Robin in the feature film adaption of it?

I did not know about the play before I landed the role. When the play first came out I was a young child. When I learned that there was a play about it I realized the hard work, dedication and the time it takes to make a film.

What was the first day on set like?

The first day on set was great. It was a very fast paced day, upon arrival I needed to find my trailer, and then almost immediately I went to get my hair and makeup done. Met everyone and from there on to the set to start the scenes. This was during the pandemic and all measures were taken to ensure all protocols were met. We wore face masks and had to disinfect regularly and when the director called action the masks came off. Although we all wore protective gear and it was shot at this time we all managed to have a great experience. Everyone was on their A game!

'The Swearing Jar' is also a musical, kinda. Had you sang before this?

Yes, I did sing in a play before and I did sing in a TV-show called 'Holly Hobbie'. There are similarities in singing in TV and film and I loved singing in this. It was at this time that I decided I wanted to pursue music and start recording my own songs. I now have two songs on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. My third song will be coming out on Friday, October 7th and my fourth song in early November.

Oh, so you are writing your own songs then?

Well, exactly. Writing my own songs is very personal and it is about me and the world I am in at the moment a song is written.

Not like when you are playing someone else?

When I am playing a character I have to find where that person is emotionally and identify what they want out of the situation they are living in at the time of the scene.

How would you describe Robin. Who is she?

Robin is a sweet high school girl who wants to branch off and do what she wants but is limited because she wants to please her parents. With the help of her high school teacher she is able to do this. She is a good student and is at a time in her life where she is growing into herself and is finding what she likes.

When you get the script, where do you start?

When I get the script, I read it, just simply read it from the beginning to the end. I then let it sink in for a day. Then I reread it a lot, after this I start memorizing. Usually by this time the script has notes all over it about my ideas of where the person is, what they are thinking, what happened to them and what they want. As I continue to memorize I often have these eureka moments and then from there I have a final version of who I am playing.

Some has called you a fast-rising actress, I would rather say you've been a long-raised one. As you started acting as early as in fourth grade?

Ah! Definitely not fast rising, I have put in a lot of work in training and working in all areas of acting for over a decade. Yes I was eight years old when I was in my first play, nine in my second play. I was really into it, and I still am. I will be in a play this year called 'He Said Yes, He Said No'. I go back and forth between theater, film and television.

Do you think starting out in theatre as early as you did made you comfortable with the vulnerable, yet often neccesary, process of acting?

When starting out, as young as I did, it helped that there was a "no fear"-feeling, because I didn't overthink it, from there it became an easy process because when you do something it becomes more comfortable the more you do it.

What's it really with acting that you like so much?

Mmm, it all started with a curiosity. What is that? What are they doing? Can I try it? Once I had tried it I wanted to do it again. Being on stage and expressing feelings is addictive and I really love to make people feel things, especially laughter!