Rochelle Davis part 1 / Barnes and Noble / Langhorne, PA
Important Note: Photos provided by Rochelle Davis. Used with full permission. Rochelle Davis retains all rights and copyrights.
I met Ms. Davis at Lehigh Valley Fanfest in 2014. She played Sarah in the movie, the Crow. After having several conversations on Facebook, I realized Ms. Davis is very down to earth, real and does not have an egotistical / typical celebrity attitude.
I have to point out this was another first for the magazine. The first time I have traveled outside of the Lehigh Valley to do an interview.
I want to thank both Ms. Davis and her boyfriend for taking time and doing this interview. I wish both much success and happiness.
I have to point out this was another first for the magazine. The first time I have traveled outside of the Lehigh Valley to do an interview.
I want to thank both Ms. Davis and her boyfriend for taking time and doing this interview. I wish both much success and happiness.
Interview
As I informed you, the interview will not go into the past. If anyone wants to know about that, look up Rochelle Davis online.
Actors have different views on this next question. What is more important to you: Having more input into the character? The entire character is pretty much written out?
Rochelle: I am very much into having input into a character. I am not against being told what to do (Laughing). For instance, if I was playing the role of someone who actually existed. I am, obviously, not going to play around with that idea and how to change their personality. It would be more accurate to go by what that person was like in real life.
If someone makes up a character, and says: "We have some basics about them, now go and run with it." That is exciting to me. My brain goes all different places with it. Examples: She is strong minded, that takes me to this place. She is kind of shy, so it takes me in another direction. It gives me a lot of room to play.
Sounds like your imagination has limitless creativity.
Rochelle: Yes, I am a Gemini. Gemini's will take a situation and think 5 steps ahead of where we are at. Hypothetical example: There is a problem with someone at Starbucks as we are ordering. Before the conversation has gotten to the point where there is a problem; we have already mentally taken it to 5 different places it could go. Where we would take from that point, if it reaches there. Our minds are like chess players. We go 5 moves ahead. We are mentally prepared for what may happen. Sometimes it works out good. Sometimes it doesn't (laughs). Because we can assume too much and go too many places. In the realm of acting, it's great!
I have taken a scene and played it in 3, 4, 5 different ways based on how my brain can take it. I can do that without changing any of the lines (in the script). I think that is fun. It could also give the director an idea. Example: If I play the role more soft or aggressive, this is what it may look like. The director may say: "How about an in between. Where you start off more soft then get aggressive?" I can do that, it's easy for me.
I have always found when I have the ability to change things, it works better for me.
Being a typical movie fan, I know nothing about the "behind the scenes" of movies. The behind the scenes interaction between actress / director is essential to it being a success?
Rochelle: Right, it's like that with any production. In my experience working with people behind the cameras, you can kind of call it a dance. Each person has their contribution to it. Everybody is giving their ideas. Every one is part of making up one good idea.
Does it get frustrating at times?
Rochelle: Yes, it can be frustrating. I simply adore Ernie Hudson with all my heart. He is one of my closest friends, especially in the convention world. When I did The Crow, he was very big on helping me.
I don't know if he knew how much experience I had prior to The Crow. Even though it wasn't anything professional, I had done tons of school and camp productions. Pretty much, anything my fingers could get into when I was little. I was constantly working as an actress regardless of whether I was getting paid or not. Ernie was trying to show me the ropes of acting.
At the same time, I kind of had it. I remember one time where he asked one of the PA's to bring me to his dressing room to rehearse a scene. So we could get an idea of how we were going to flow together. He said: "I just wanted to go over some of the lines and see how we were going to flow together." I don't remember exactly, but something like he was going to instruct me on how to do my lines. I stopped him and said: "Ernie, you play the cop and I will play the little girl." I was like, I appreciate the guidance. I know where I am going with this. He did not get offended or angry with me. I was not offending him or saying: "I don't need your help" or anything like that. It was a knee jerk reaction. It was a strange little moment between us. He brushed it right off.
(Back to the question). It's just like playful banter. You just learn how to make things flow back and forth. The scene did turn out great. Sometimes the situations / moments can be awkward. Sometimes there is a disagreement on what you want to do. You just have to compromise from there and move on.
Time to leave off and get your curiosity going! You really didn't think this was the end of the interview?
Actors have different views on this next question. What is more important to you: Having more input into the character? The entire character is pretty much written out?
Rochelle: I am very much into having input into a character. I am not against being told what to do (Laughing). For instance, if I was playing the role of someone who actually existed. I am, obviously, not going to play around with that idea and how to change their personality. It would be more accurate to go by what that person was like in real life.
If someone makes up a character, and says: "We have some basics about them, now go and run with it." That is exciting to me. My brain goes all different places with it. Examples: She is strong minded, that takes me to this place. She is kind of shy, so it takes me in another direction. It gives me a lot of room to play.
Sounds like your imagination has limitless creativity.
Rochelle: Yes, I am a Gemini. Gemini's will take a situation and think 5 steps ahead of where we are at. Hypothetical example: There is a problem with someone at Starbucks as we are ordering. Before the conversation has gotten to the point where there is a problem; we have already mentally taken it to 5 different places it could go. Where we would take from that point, if it reaches there. Our minds are like chess players. We go 5 moves ahead. We are mentally prepared for what may happen. Sometimes it works out good. Sometimes it doesn't (laughs). Because we can assume too much and go too many places. In the realm of acting, it's great!
I have taken a scene and played it in 3, 4, 5 different ways based on how my brain can take it. I can do that without changing any of the lines (in the script). I think that is fun. It could also give the director an idea. Example: If I play the role more soft or aggressive, this is what it may look like. The director may say: "How about an in between. Where you start off more soft then get aggressive?" I can do that, it's easy for me.
I have always found when I have the ability to change things, it works better for me.
Being a typical movie fan, I know nothing about the "behind the scenes" of movies. The behind the scenes interaction between actress / director is essential to it being a success?
Rochelle: Right, it's like that with any production. In my experience working with people behind the cameras, you can kind of call it a dance. Each person has their contribution to it. Everybody is giving their ideas. Every one is part of making up one good idea.
Does it get frustrating at times?
Rochelle: Yes, it can be frustrating. I simply adore Ernie Hudson with all my heart. He is one of my closest friends, especially in the convention world. When I did The Crow, he was very big on helping me.
I don't know if he knew how much experience I had prior to The Crow. Even though it wasn't anything professional, I had done tons of school and camp productions. Pretty much, anything my fingers could get into when I was little. I was constantly working as an actress regardless of whether I was getting paid or not. Ernie was trying to show me the ropes of acting.
At the same time, I kind of had it. I remember one time where he asked one of the PA's to bring me to his dressing room to rehearse a scene. So we could get an idea of how we were going to flow together. He said: "I just wanted to go over some of the lines and see how we were going to flow together." I don't remember exactly, but something like he was going to instruct me on how to do my lines. I stopped him and said: "Ernie, you play the cop and I will play the little girl." I was like, I appreciate the guidance. I know where I am going with this. He did not get offended or angry with me. I was not offending him or saying: "I don't need your help" or anything like that. It was a knee jerk reaction. It was a strange little moment between us. He brushed it right off.
(Back to the question). It's just like playful banter. You just learn how to make things flow back and forth. The scene did turn out great. Sometimes the situations / moments can be awkward. Sometimes there is a disagreement on what you want to do. You just have to compromise from there and move on.
Time to leave off and get your curiosity going! You really didn't think this was the end of the interview?
