Sine Fine Films: Interview with Brittany Ann Whalen

Each month we’ll interview a member of the Sine Fine Films Company, asking the same or similar questions, and learn more about the actors and crew.

This month I’m interviewing Brittany Ann Whalen who’s been with the company since the spring of 2001.

Q: How did you get involved in SFF? (And what possessed you to keep coming back for more torture?)

A: First I joined a TV station – SPC-TV – and through the station met Eleanore, and was given an opportunity to play a main character, but I was a little hesitant about the time commitment at that point, so I was offered a smaller role but a recurring role, which unfortunately never got completed. But I did get to be a ghost in an episode of the Curse…trying to think of the name…the Lost Colony.

I got to play Eleanor Dare and that day was a lot of fun, to watch all the other actors to do their roles and just to see the whole experience of it. What really made me want to come back was that Eleanore wrote another series that put me as a main character and I went back to play that and just enjoyed it so much ever since, that I would jump at an opportunity to do any show.

Q: What was your favorite part to play?

A: Probably because it was my first main part and it was written with me in mind, I would have to say Persephone Silverstone. The character was a lot of fun to play, although she seemed to be…two dimensional, but there were definitely layers to her that I got to uncover throughout the series, so it was a learning experience with that character as well.

Q: What was your favorite filming day?

A: I guess you have to say filming days – it was over a few days – I’m gonna have to go with the Parthenon. It’s the one that will always stand out to me for the Gift Bearer. We traveled to Tennessee to film at a recreation of the Parthenon for two half-house episodes of the Gift Bearer.

I just really enjoyed the bonding experience of being in the car ride, the camaraderie with everyone as we were filming, and it was just a fun episode to play through – it was the first time the girls find their mom and their mom meets them – there’s a lot of different elements for that film shoot.

Q: What was your least favorite filming day?

A: I don’t know if I ever left the set thinking that I had a terrible day, but I guess maybe…there was on episode of Gift Bearer, I remember, I didn’t have many lines in, I hadn’t gotten myself together ahead of time, my hair wasn’t straight so I had to put it up in a bun to hide it. It was when we were going back in time to switch Atlanta for Marguerite before the switch of Marguerite with Atlanta or something like that. And that day I guess, that’s the only real thing I can remember…that sticks out in my mind cause I think I wasn’t feeling well – I’m probably gonna have to go with that day.

I don’t remember too many details…the one part that I remember from that day, that’s still hilarious in my mind is Joe when he was on the phone and he was yelling about long distance and time distance or whatever, so I remember the lines that Joe made up were hilarious. That was the best memory of that day, but the day in general was kinda like an “eh” day to me.

Q: What’s your dream role?

A: Oh, that’s easy – a villain! I’ve never really played a true villain before. I mean, I’ve played the sassy vamp kind of like antagonistic becomes protagonist and whatever, but never really a true villain. Definitely would like to do a villain. I kind of am thinking a villain who’s out for their own good, doesn’t care about anyone else, doesn’t turn good at any point…is kind of like the devious kind of character. Something more than Drake, cause Drake actually has a heart. Oh you know, something like Maleficent – if you could make me turn into a Dragon, because a dragon is my favorite mythical creature, I would love that.

Q: What’s your favorite production to watch?

A: The one series that I watch more than anything is the Gift Bearer, but as far as something a little shorter I do like watching the Cursed Destiny of Pandora’s Gift Box cause that was such a goofy thing and kind of incorporates every single primary show, so it’s fun to watch to everything come together in a goofy production.

Q: What’s your favorite costume, accessory, or prop?

A: Okay prop I would probably go with Berry, because Berry is Berry. I know he was only alive in the show but he still felt like he was his own person, even behind the scenes so he was more than just a prop, so I have to give him props.

Costume wise…I did enjoy the “crazy butterfly” dress from Gift Bearer, the green and yellow one. I loved the sleeves on that because it was very girly and I liked it – it was all princessy, like queen-type thing, you know?

Q: Who’s your favorite actor co-star/actor you’ve worked with? Who would you like to work with in the future?

A: I’d probably say first and foremost Morgan, because we’ve done a lot of things together, I think we work really well off of each other, and we get along both on and off the set. Other people that come to mind…Jen is hilarious to work with, she’s always bringing a lot of fun to the set and comedy, which lightens everything in between takes.

Russell was always one who I was almost in awe of with the way that he was able to portray the character’s emotions, so I definitely think I got to learn a lot from him. Everyone I’ve worked with I’d work with again in a heartbeat because everyone is fantastic, I just think I’ve worked…with those three more than others.

I don’t I ever was in anything with Tanino, but I was on the set when we were filming the Devil & Kitta Gray (but not as an actor) and I think that he would be someone who would be fun to work with.

Q: Sum up each production you’ve been in using only one word or short sentence. (see below for a specific list)