Fallon Smythe – Lost In The West

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What can you tell us about the premise for your film Lost In the West and about your character? 

A) The film Lost In The West which was directed by Carlos Gonzalez and produced by Galdo Media is a three part movie premiering on Nickelodeon Memorial Day Weekend. Lost In The West follows two brothers, Chip and Dave, who accidentally create a time machine and are transported to the Wild West where they are constantly faced with new challenges and adventures. I play two characters, Luna and Lisa. Luna runs the family ranch and a convenience store, but her biggest challenge is teaching Chip and Dave how to survive in the Wild West. Lisa is a total history buff and is also Luna’s great great great granddaughter.

Q) What drew you to wanting to be a part of this project? 

A) One of the things that really drew me to this project was the strong sense of female empowerment it carries. You really get to see how strong and empowering females can be especially in such a male dominated time.
Q) Did your role evolve or change at all from the audition process to who we actually see on film? How? 

A) Yes! I was really able to settle into the characters that I play while I was on set. Everything feels very different when you’re auditioning. You don’t have the proper environment, you’re not always reading with actors, you’re not in costume and all those things really help get a better handle on the character.
Q) Your character gets go to back in time to the west, if you had a time machine where and when would you like to visit? 

A) I’ve always wanted to travel the world, but if I had to pick only one place it would be England in the 1500’s. I would love to go to a castle and see the kings and queens and maybe even be one.

Q) The movie was shot in Spain, what was your favorite thing to do there when not filming?

A) I loved being a tourist and sight seeing all of the places I researched before arriving in Spain. I also loved how the Europeans walk wherever they want to go. So, I’d put my comfy shoes on and would walk from shop to restaurant to tea house. It was really incredible.

Q) What was the most challenging aspect of filming? 

A) The most challenging aspect of filming in Spain was the drastic weather change. The weather was very hot and by the time we left it was absolutely freezing, so dealing with the shifting climate was very difficult. Oh, and the sandstorms. The winds were heavy in the desert and we would have to turn our backs to the wind so we didn’t get sand in our eyes. It was funny because the whole cast and crew would turn away from the wind simultaneously and then turn back to the cameras like there was never a pause in filming.

Q) When the movie is released, will you be live tweeting and/or sharing any behind the scenes photos? 

A) Oh yes! I will share some fun behind the scenes photos with my co-stars. Since it’s a three day event, there will be much to tweet about.

Q) Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback that social media provides? 

A) Instant feedback is one of the most amazing things about social media. It really gives an opportunity to be connected to our audience and be interactive.

Q) Are there any specific moments or scenes that you filmed that you are excited yourself to see how they play out with the final edit of the movie? 

A) Well, I’m excited to see how I was during the rodeo. It is a surprise, but I may look a little different during that scene. There are so many unexpected moments between me and my co-stars. The script was funny, exciting and incredibly adventurous. It felt like we actually lived all the adventures while filming in Spain. The cast was amazing!

Q) What did you take away from your experiences being a part of this film? 

A) I took away so many experiences and more importantly, new friendships with my co-stars. We were immersed in a different culture surrounded by wonderful people and history. I was also able to walk away from this project feeling a bit more like my characters in the sense that I am strong and powerful and felt like I could accomplish anything.