Amanda Tepe – On the Pulse

Q.  What are the current projects that you are working on?

A.  I have done a movie called Pulse that is coming out next year, which is a thriller with Kristen Bell and Ian Somerhalder from “Lost.”  It’s a remake of a Japanese film called Kairo, Wes Craven is producing it, it’s a computer kind of a thriller.  You kind of have to see it but it’s going to be really scary.

Q.  What can you tell us about the character that you play in Pulse?

A.  I play a computer systems grad student, one of those intimidating people who are really good on computers, that knows everything.  I sort of have spiky hair and I look like an insomniac and they’re trying to get more information and I have it.

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this project?

A.  Well, it’s a great project, Harvey and Bob Weinstein split off from Disney and it’s one of their first independent projects.  The original is pretty scary, anything that has Wes Craven attached is something that I want to be involved in because I’m a big fan of his.  I flew to Romania and shot it at the beginning of this month.

Q.  What was your experience like filming in Romania?

A.  It was incredible there, the beautiful city of Bucharest is where we were filming.  It’s an extremely poor country, so a lot of people are shooting over in those eastern European countries but it was still really beautiful.

Q.  How was working with Wes Craven and the cast?

A.  Well, Wes Craven is actually the executive producer, the director’s name is Jim Sonzero and he is a really cool guy.  He’s an incredibly fun director and Kristen and Ian were great too, it’s a great cast.

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from filming Pulse?

A.  Trying to perform jet lagged I would have to say.  I was pretty tired, I flew in the day before I shot so that’s probably what was most memorable.  I was just trying to stay awake and enjoy being an actor. 

Q.  You have a great ability to transform yourself into a role.  How have you learned to do that?

A.  I think that’s why I became an actor to have the opportunity to take part in that process, the transformation process.  I am really interested in playing complex and sort of off-beat women.  Any kind of role like that I jump at!

Q.  Acting, singing and dialects are among your many talents.  Is there something that you haven’t tried yet that you’d like to try your hand at?

A.  I am a terrible dancer, but I would love to learn to dance.  I am going to try and take some salsa dancing lessons I think with my boyfriend, that’s my next challenge.

Q.  Is there a summer movie that you’re really interested in seeing?

A.  Well, I’m a big horror movie buff, I have been meaning to see House of Wax because I just did a movie with Paris Hilton.  I’d love to see her, her scream queen abilities.  I don’t think that’s a summer movie really but that’s how behind I am on my movies.  I love Jennifer Connelly and I would love to see Dark Water, anything scary is usually what I go and see at the theater.  I love the experience of sitting in a dark room seeing a scary movie.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  I actually teach kids acting all over, all different ages and I’m almost finished my masters degree in educational theater from NYU.  I’m thinking about getting a P.H.D. but I’m not sure yet, I’m pretty tired from getting the masters right now!  It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it.  I do love to spend time traveling, it’s my favorite thing to do, whenever I have time off I try to travel.

Q.  What would you like to say to fans and supporters of your career?

A.  I would like to say that anyone that is a fan or supporter I truly appreciate your support, it means more to me than you’ll ever know.