Arianne Zucker – Web Cam Girls

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects you have been working on?

A) I have two projects that are coming out. I had a movie out recently called Shattered with Molly Burnett. That is out on DVD, Amazon and iTunes now. That movie is kind of going along with the times right now. It story is about a very politically powerful family in the South and Ray Wise plays my husband. He is basically the powerful politician and it’s about how their dark secrets start to surface. I play Kate, who has married into the family. There is a little bit of mental health issues dealing with a small child. It’s very emotionally driven. It’s a really great script. Hopefully, people get to check that out. Then, December 30^th I have a movie coming out on Lifetime called Web Cam Girls. That one was is about “camming.” It’s sort of a new form of stripping. It’s based on the dark web and my niece gets involved with this camming. Of course, it turns wrong and she ends up missing. My daughter then goes on a hunt for her. I play the mom. That is a really great thriller! I have a lot going on, which is great.

Q) What was it that made you want to be a part of these films?

A) Here is the interesting thing about how some of these work, sometimes we audition for this role because we really like a scene. Sometimes you don’t get to see a whole script when you audition for it. Then, you get the script when you get the part. Sometimes it flips and you get an offer to do the job. So, with Shattered I got a phone call about the script. I read it and I like stories that are based on truth. Obviously, this is embellished. First, it’s a challenge because you’re playing someone who is a real life person or at least emulating someone who is like that. I think that as an actress it’s a big challenge. And you hope that you get it somewhat right and do that character some justice. I did Shattered last summer and I just thought it was a great opportunity. Of course, Molly was in it and I wanted to work with her as well.

For Web Cam Girls, it was a movie where I was told it was based on reality. So, to bring to light the fact that is an issue and it is something that I, as a mother (especially of a little girl), want to bring to light how much we have to protect our children from. And like so many other things, we have to keep our eyes on our kids when they are on their phones and the web because you just don’t know what they are going to do. This movie is sort of that situation. My niece thinks she’s doing a really great thing and really it turns into some darkness. That’s part of the reason I chose to do this film as well. And they really did a great job with the movie. It looks really, really good! I hope people get the chance to see it because it’s good! [laughs]

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them on the film or did you get to spend any time on set in order to bond?

A) A lot of times you don’t get to. It’s very much like soaps where you work twelve days and you jump right into it. We worked really, really fast as well. So, on soaps we’re doing about a hundred and twenty pages a day and on these movies we’re doing about twelve pages a day. But it’s still fast to film. They have two units. They have a first unit, which are first cameras and then they have a second one that picks up b-shots and things like that just for added footage and added life for the movie. So, it’s a really fascinating way that they have learned to really make beautiful movies in such a short amount of time.

Q) Was there anything you added to this role in Web Cam Girls that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) No, because you respect the writing unless it is a big conversation with the writer or the producers if there is something you want to add to it. But I’m not the kind of person who wants to change things so much. I may ask, “Hey, can I try this?” I don’t really try to adjust dialogue out of respect to what they write. Just as far as work wise or an emotional state, I’ll try something and if it works…Yeah! Fantastic! If not, then I’ll adjust how I work. That’s really a lot of the director’s job – to figure out if we’ve pieced the movie together in the way in which they envision it.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming?

A) I think probably it was just the day-to-day. You want to work with a really amazing crew and you hope that people set a really amazing tone so when you go to work you are just going to have an enjoyable experience no matter if something goes wrong or doesn’t go wrong. Again, you’re moving so fast so you really don’t have time to play. [laughs] We really have something to get made and everyone’s mind is in the same place. So, I think that the emotional tone was really lovely on this film. These guys know exactly what they’re doing. That is an amazing memory for me.

Q) What do you think it is about Web Cam Girls that will make it a fast fan favorite Lifetime movie?

A) It’s a personal opinion. You watch it and hope that you can touch people. I think that any actor, from an actor’s point of view, hopes that you can reach your audience. So, maybe if a young person is watching this than I hope they get how careful they need to be when they are searching and Youtubing and whatever else kids do on their phone. And however they are trying to get attention on social media, just be really aware. I hope that message gets out there. As a mother, I hope we pay attention to our kids more. We work a lot. I work a lot of hours and I always hope that my daughter makes really great choices. Things like that that are really emotionally involved for the fans…That’s what I hope happens and what will make this movie really great.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will be receiving to the movie?

A) [laughs] I’m sort of in the middle. I am on social media and I do hope that people love the movie, but I also like my private time. I’m a pretty private person. So, I will definitely look and see how it is going and hope the fan feedback is great. But I won’t jump right on it right away. I’ll probably enjoy the new year, let it ring in and then watch the movie. As I said, I’ll read it as we go and I hope the experience is awesome.

Q) Will you be live tweeting along with the film?

A) It depends! It’s December 30^th, which is my parents 50^th wedding anniversary. So, I don’t know! I don’t know where we’re going to be yet. [laughs] I usually put family first, which is a good part of this movie – that message as well. That’s a pretty big year for my parents so I’m not sure if I’ll be watching it on that day, but we’ll see.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) A lot of my fans have been following me for twenty plus years and I hope that I can constantly give them an experience that they enjoy and that I’m good at my job and that I can leave them feeling connected. So, thank you to my fans who have actually stayed with me through the thick and thin of things. I really appreciate it.