We got a chance to talk to rising actor Alexandra Corin Johnston about her starring role in new indie horror film Shark Girl.
The Plot:
When a beautiful young influencer survives a mysterious shark attack, she becomes a monstrous apex predator, hunting and feeding in sunny Venice Beach, California.
What inspired you to be an actor? Can you tell us your background and how you developed a passion for acting?
I’m sure a lot of actors have their story of how the theater “saved them”, and I’ve got mine too. Theater and movies were always a source of inspiration for me, and at times a lifeline too. I would watch favorite movies on repeat as a kid, I knew every line and every sound cue, and I’d call out, “Mom get down here, I’m performing!” I started theater when I was really young, I would watch the clock all day at school waiting for the bell to ring, then it was time to go to rehearsal at my hometown theater for whatever play I was doing that season. I think I have always just loved the rush of it all, how if you’ve done all the work, it feels like flying. In art there is order and chaos, and I think riding that line has always held my curiosity.
Congratulations on your new film, Shark Girl! Why did you want to be involved in this project
Thank you! I adored the script. It was so unexpected and layered. I saw Heidi as this extremely complicated woman and found her journey heartbreaking as well as page turning. I was hooked.
Can you walk us through the process of auditioning for the role? What were the challenges and breakthroughs you’ve encountered along the way, and how did you overcome it?
Justin Shilton and Rob Zazzali (the creators) wrote Heidi with me in-mind, but it wasn’t until that first draft of the script came through that I saw all the potential in the part. I knew I wanted to take this role and breathe life into her.
Can you tell us more about your character, Heidi? What do you love about this character? How did you bring the character to life? Were there particular circumstances or personal experiences that shaped the character?
I love Heidi. She is such a sympathetic villain to me. And where she starts in the film is so far from where she ends up… At the beginning of the film she’s given all her power away: she is in this horrible relationship, has no control over her career, and very few real-life friends – I imagined she woke up everyday and thought, “How did I get here?” And then the impossible happens, and she starts taking back control, but at this terrible cost (her humanity).
It just all seemed so juicy to me. I spent a lot of time pacing out her transformation from impressionable girl to full-blown predator, but the most important thing to me was that she was a real person whose actions could be understood. I knew I needed to play the circumstances totally real to make her relatable to the audience.
What did you like about the story? How do you think this story will change and make an impact in today’s society?
There’s definitely layers to this film. There’s good commentary on the dangers and pitfalls of social media, for example our false personas: online Heidi has a happy joyful perfect life while real life Heidi is lonely, poor, and in a bad relationship. It’s also about power and greed – how seductive power can be even at the cost of your own soul. I also loved the relationship between the two best friends, Heidi and Sienna; they love each other like sisters but this experience of Heidi becoming a threat to herself and others really tests their friendship in ways that I think lots of women can relate to.
What was the dynamic like between you, your castmates, and film crew? How did they make you feel? Were there particular moments on set that were memorable?
It doesn’t get better than this cast and crew, we all made life-long friendships and working relationships that mean a lot to me. We were such a small team of actors and creatives that there was no room for egos. Everyone wore many hats. We were working long hours and shooting on a tight schedule, so we all got in a great rhythm together and became very close. It was all trust and all fun. By the end of day two, we all knew that if one of our directors (Justin Shilton) got a little teary when he said “That’s a cut.”, we had just nailed the scene. That was very special.
What kind of films do you like watching? Which films and filmmakers have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why?
I like watching films that make me feel something: I love to feel terrified, I love to cry, I love to laugh… if it’s not a big feeling, I don’t want it! Lately I have been looking at Emerald Fennell a lot – I adored Promising Young Woman as well as Saltburn. Her films have so much symbolism, deeply flawed characters (who get to give incredible speeches) and masterfully blend genres. Not to mention they are shot beautifully. To me, she has set the bar for thought provoking, thrilling stories.
How do you stay inspired and motivated during long and demanding projects? How do you keep up with industry trends and continue to learn and grow as an actor?
I love studying other actors and actresses. What did they do with that role? How did they approach that speech? What would I have done differently? I recently did this with Margot Robbie, like I went all the way back to Pan Am and just watched her whole canon. It was incredible. She is so talented, and it was fascinating to watch her dial up her intensity with each new role she took on. By the time you get to Babylon… wow… red hot!
What are your thoughts on the current state of the film industry, and where do you see it heading in the next decade? What kind of stories do you think will emerge and capture the attention of producers and executives?
More romantic comedies, more magical realism, more blockbuster horror films. Films that are fun and provide a little hope.
What were the monumental life lessons, mistakes, and things you’ve learned in your career so far that you would like to share to young aspiring or emerging actors, storytellers, and creatives in general?
I heard somewhere, the cavalry is not coming, and it really struck me. It was like being slapped across the face and being told, “Guess what?! Even if you nailed the audition, you still might not get that part you’re perfect for.” Or you could get a great part but your scene might end up on the edit room floor. Or you could get a great agent, but then they might quit or drop you and then you need to go find someone new… the point is, all you have is you, so what do you want to do? What do you want to make? Because you’re the one who’s gonna make it happen, and not anybody else. Put yourself in the driver’s seat of your life.
What kind of roles do you want to take on in the future?
I would love to keep working in the thriller/horror space, and I am dying to have my turn as a final girl! But to answer your question more broadly, I’m looking for complex characters – Heidi was my first villain, and I would love to play more of them – complex roles with pathos and a sense of mystery or danger.
What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind as a filmmaker?
Truly, making Shark Girl with so many people I love so dearly has been the most rewarding. And to see other people watching it, and talking about it, and loving it…. It’s really just been a total delight accompanied by an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
What advice would you give about maintaining a work-life balance in the field of entertainment?
Having a work-life balance is a great aspiration, and really hard to do! My experience as an actress has been that I spend a lot of my free time working on acting – perhaps in a class, or watching movies, or going to see live theater. But you still have to have something else totally outside of filmmaking, like a workout class that you love, or a hobby like watercolor painting, or piano lessons.
What’s your advice to actors who want to break into the entertainment industry?
Make your own content! Collaborate with your friends! Get on stage somewhere. And remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. That’s been a hard one for me to accept, but it really is true.
Do you have other upcoming projects you want to share with us?
Yes! I have a role in Justin Shilton and Rob Zazzali’s next feature, Sleep Stalker, a found-footage horror film, and I also just wrapped on a film shot in Kentucky, it’s new thriller directed by David Benullo that I am really excited about. Thanks for the fun questions, and follow me on instagram for more updates @alicorin.
You can catch Alexandra Corin Johnston in Shark Girl streaming now.
