I had the opportunity to interview Ava Cantrell the lead actor of the new film Abigail. Hope you enjoy reading.

Daniel Mazaheri: How did you get involved with or discover Abigail?

Ava Cantrell: I got the part several years ago, and it had several different production companies attached throughout its development. Luckily after Covid lockdown was over it finally went into production with me still attached.

Daniel: Can you share what the audition process was like?

Ava: The writer and director already knew my work, and when I got a few scenes for the audition, I worked with my manager, Sharon Lane, to lock in and make the character of Abigail my own. It was the most exciting booking I’ve ever gotten!

Daniel: Did the script or story undergo any changes during production?

Ava: It did. The writer and director needed to age Abigail and Lucas up since I had aged over the years while it was waiting to be filmed. The dialog was the biggest change to match a more mature character.

Daniel: Was it hard to get into the character of Abigail considering her complex nature?

Ava: It was hard, but very fun and rewarding to discover what makes Abigail tick. She is a person who is able to pretend to have empathy and kindness, but those real emotions are not within her makeup. She is able to adapt her mannerisms and personality to get what she wants or needs. She can go from a bubbly teen girl to a frightening monster at the drop of a hat.

Daniel: What was your experience like working with Tren, as I could tell you both had great chemistry together?

Ava: Tren and I had immediate chemistry. He is hugely talented and an excellent scene partner. We have something in common when it comes to acting that I love; we each can totally commit when performing but as soon as the director says cut, we can flip back to our real selves. He is super funny and always energetic.

Daniel: Did you and Tren know each other before this film and can you share what it was like, the first day you met?

Ava: We didn’t know each other before booking the roles. The movie was filmed while Covid was still infecting people around the world, so we spent many weeks rehearsing over Zoom. The first time we met was during our wardrobe fittings and we had a great time trying on a ton of 70s styles for the film’s time period.

Daniel: Were there opportunities for improvisation while filming “Abigail”?

Ava: There were very few opportunities for improvisation. The script was written very well and then adjusted tightly to accommodate the budget and shooting schedule. My experience has always been that improvisation works best with comedies, less so with drama and horror/thrillers.

Daniel: Do you have a favorite memory from your time on set?

Ava: I loved doing the action scenes. Working with the stunt coordinator, Tren and guys who played the bullies (Trace and Conner) during the fighting scenes was so much fun! I’d love to do more action in my next projects.

Daniel: Did you ever find yourself getting too absorbed in Abigail and having to pull back and tone it down?

Ava: Acting with Hermoine Lynch, who played my mom, was next level. She is so fantastic and becomes completely absorbed in her roles. The dynamics of Abigail and her mom Eve are so combustible that it was like wiring and unwiring an atomic bomb. It felt like going to battle in our scenes, each of us competing to dominate, with the threat of violence underneath each line of dialog. I’ve never had such powerful moments acting as those that Hermoine, and I shared. She’s fantastic and I got to go on a quick trip with her in the middle of filming. We became close and I have so much respect for her talent.

Daniel: What was the hardest or most challenging scene to film?

Ava: The scene in the woods when Abigail has a gift for Lucas waiting. I don’t want to spoil that part, so I won’t say more about what happens. The challenging part was how many changes Abigial moves through during those scenes. That was a night shoot starting to film at 5 or 6 in the evening and ending when the sun came up. We were shooting in April and the location was freezing at night, especially in the woods. Tren, Trace and I were dressed for summer so we would run for the heaters and coats every time the director said cut. That part of the movie is so fantastic though, it is where we see the true Abigail.

Daniel: As an actress, how do you approach the balance between staying true to the script and bringing your own interpretation and ideas to the character?

Ava: When you are hired to play a role, they have seen your interpretation which makes it easy. You need to feel confident in your choices as well as be able to follow redirects.

Daniel: What did you and the rest of the cast do between filming scenes?

Ava: For the night scenes, we just tried to warm up. Tren and I were in so many scenes that there wasn’t a lot of rest between. We would both hydrate and just make sure we were ready for the next scene. I loved catching up with Gene Farber who played my dad in another film.

Daniel: Did you get to perform your own stunts or fight scenes?

Ava: Yes, I did! I worked with an incredible amour Francis. I am familiar with fighting as I am trained in Mauy Thai. I really love performing my own stunts.

Daniel: Were there any instances where you accidentally hit or kicked an actor during filming?

Ava: No, it is very choreographed to stay safe.

Daniel: The scene where Abigail ties a bully to a tree, can you share more about what it was like filming this scene with the rest of the cast and was there discussion or rehearsal beforehand?

Ava: It’s a great scene and a lot of prep work went into that, but we (the actors) weren’t sure how that was going to climax, and it was very cool to see what the director and stunt coordinator came up with to end that scene. So, the rehearsal for us was on that day of filming.

Daniel: Can you share any deleted scenes that were cut from the film?

Ava: There was originally a scene where I decide to poison Lucas’s mom Donna with some fresh lemonade with a couple scoops of rat poisoning. (You need to add a lot of sugar to that mix, lol) I make the lemonade and bring it to Donna and my mom catches it just in time, spoiling my plan.

Daniel: What was your favorite outfit from the film?

Ava: I loved the 70’s dress that Abigail got dressed up in to show Lucas his surprise. I loved the iconic romper that I wore in the beginning scene. There is a slight homage to another popular horror movie, and if you pay attention, you can see what that is right away. My Mom was the costume designer. She has 30 years in the industry. She wasn’t on set but pulled most of the pieces from vintage stores.

Daniel: One thing I think I noticed is that Abigail, her dad and Lucas are all wearing converse, was this intentional?

Ava: Yes, it was. The writer had that from day one in script. I love how it ties all the characters together.

Daniel: Can you recall a particularly funny or memorable behind-the-scenes moment or blooper from filming “Abigail”?

Ava: Why yes, I can! LOL. In the 911 scene I forgot to pick up the phone, and just went to it and started dialing asthose who used rotary phones these days. That made the blooper cut!

Daniel: Can you discuss more about the relationship and Journey Abigail and Lucas go through?

Ava: I always felt that there was a part of Abigail that if Lucas took a path different from what she wanted then his life would be in jeopardy. I think she tests him along the way and that without her father by her side she needed a new partner in crime. Their relationship is a corruption journey. She leads him down her path and she watches to see if he follows.

Daniel: If it wasn’t for Abigail’s dad do you think she could have turned out differently?

Ava: Abigail is definitely her father’s daughter. Without her dad, Eddie’s influence, she would have probably made a fine friend for Lucas. But that wasn’t this story. Lol.

Daniel: This film is darker than most of your previous roles, do you enjoy doing darker films and tv?

Ava: Yes, I’ve really found a love for horror and thrillers since I worked on “Lights Out”. I was such a chicken before that and now I don’t want to miss the rush you get from watching that genre of film and television.

Daniel: Would you be interested in doing a sequel or prequel to this film that’s even darker?

Ava: I’d love to do a sequel that would have Abigail, Lucas, and Dad (Eddie) on the run and finding new victims. Hopefully more action and mayhem.

Daniel: Are you still in touch with the rest of the cast and crew on this film?

Ava: Absolutely, it was wonderful to see everyone at the premiere. Karimah and I chatted on the phone over Sag strike and talked about working together again. We share the same agency, AEFH. Tren and I will always stay in touch. Some of the crew have reached out about working together on other projects. Indie is very collaborative. The people you have a natural connection with are the ones you keep moving forward with.

Daniel: What advice do you have for people looking to get into acting professionally?

Ava: I would say this is a really tough industry with lots of highs and lows. My manager Sharon says treat it like a hobby that you would drop anything for. My agents Nicole and Milton supported me when I needed a break. So many people glamourize the job, but it is really a lot of work and to be successful in the long term there is no shortcut. You must do the work.

Daniel: Do you have any tips for remembering lines and handling nerves when performing? It took me a while to get this down.

Ava: I started as a young girl in the industry. With memorizing lines, I would say follow your learning style. There are many ways to learn; from reading with others, to listening to lines on a headset, to visually rereading. Follow your learning style that works for you in school or on jobs. As far as nerves on set, I think the longer you do it, the more comfortable you get. I started on short films and nonunion commercials and worked my up. All the while gaining comfort.

Daniel: Can you share what upcoming projects you have or are working on?

Ava: I have been asked to star in a Zombie Apocalypse movie that is in the development phase. I have read the script, and it is amazing. Now the director and exec producer will search for funding. We all knew following through the whole process of Abigail was necessary, and I have been immersed in supporting Abigail through publicity. On an indie, you really must keep working all the way through to the promotion phase!

Thank you Ava, and congratulations on the film and good luck with your future projects!