EMILIE DHIR TALKS BURNING KENTUCKY
"The premiere was incredibly emotional"
Daniel John
In a way, or not just in a way, but quite literally, you grew up while filming this?
We began filming in 2014 when I was fifteen years old, and we wrapped in 2017 when I was eighteen years old. I grew up a lot on my own in those three years. However, having an experience as unique as being in a movie during those transformative years really helped me build my confidence and come out of my shell, the breaks between filming ended up being a very beneficial time. We filmed all of my flashback scenes in 2014. And the other scenes, which take place several years after the flashbacks, were filmed in 2017 after I had grown up a bit.
Was being an actress and star in a movie something that you knew you wanted already at fourteen?
Yes, I mostly did stage acting in middle school and high school but I always knew film acting was what I was really interested in.
Did you have to audition for it?
Yes, I went to an open casting call in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky.
Did you “Daniel Day-Lewis” the hair, keeping it blonde throughout the years of filming?
Yes, I'm a natural brunette! My hair was dyed by a local stylist, Deata Gregory. She did an incredible job at maintaining the blonde throughout three years of filming. My monthly hair–appointments with her were a fun way of feeling like I was still working on the project even when we weren’t filming.
What was it like to finally get to see the film after three years, how was the night of the premiere?
The premiere at Mammoth Film Festival was incredibly emotional and surreal in the best way. It was so beautiful to see the film come together after so many years of hard work. We also had a premiere in Lexington in Kentucky last summer. That night was especially emotional for Bethany and me because we were showing the film in our hometown. Everyone I knew from my childhood was there. We sold out an eight hundred seat theater at our historic Kentucky–Theater. The film had already been shown to audiences all over the country, but it was really special to see so many Kentuckians love and appreciate 'Burning Kentucky'.
What does it mean for you, being from there, to have this film happen?
I think a lot of people don’t realize how much Kentucky has to offer. The landscape is beautiful and the storytelling culture is so rich and vibrant. But as artists from Kentucky, it's in our responsibility to tell the story of our home.
Are you good at keeping secrets, or did everyone in Kentucky know the ending?
Yes! I made sure not to spoil the movie for anyone. Even my mom, who had read the script, was surprised to see the climax unfold.
It is really a tragic story. A story about a young girl dealing with an for the most of us just unimagined loss, what was it like approaching all of that. Did you feel comfortable?
It was uncharted territory, which can always be scary, at first. I had to find parallels between Aria’s life and mine which weren’t always obvious. However, I also think the beauty of acting is diving into characters that are nothing like me, and seeing what I can learn from them and their hardships.
Did any scene stand out to you for any one particular reason?
The climatic scene with John-Pyper Ferguson was by far my favourite to film, it was our only scene together but I learned so much from working with him. It was also one of the last days of filming, so the whole cast and crew were very comfortable with one another and there was lots of great energy and chemistry.
What was it like being directed by Bethany Brooke Anderson?
She was incredible! Bethany and I basically consider each other family now. I think I was really lucky to work with an actress turned director for my first film. She was great at helping me get into and stay in character. She was also so nurturing to me and wanted everyone on set to feel comfortable.
Also the writer of the film, did you get to talk with Bethany about what first inspired her to write it?
From what I know, Bethany wrote 'Burning Kentucky' because she was feeling homesick after moving to Los Angeles, the story is her love letter to Kentucky and a way to show the rest of the world how beautiful and complex our state is.
Unfortunately, while it’s every bit as empowering, inspiring, and hopeful, and very much a film for our time, having a female director, writer, producer, and lead still tends to put a label on it. That should just be entirely normal, but we’re not quite there yet. What are your thoughts and hopes for women telling stories on film?
Women have been silenced in many ways and on many platforms for all of history but women have a lot to say and we should listen to them. I am proud to be a part of a successful project that was executed by strong, brilliant, and powerful women. I can only hope that this project inspires more creative women to share their stories and their ideas through film in the hopes that like you said, this becomes a norm without labels. And not just in the movie industry.
Did Bethany ever inspire you to write and direct yourself as well?
Eventually, yes, I would love to write and direct. I don’t really have any ideas yet, but I know Bethany will be a great mentor to have once I do start writing and directing.
You might not get three years to live with every character, but do you see yourself continuing to act?
Yes, I do want to continue acting. I plan to move out to LA once I graduate from university. Hopefully it won’t be that long my next part!
