Haley Ramm – Chasing Life

Q) “Chasing Life” premiered last week. What kind of feedback did you hear from fans?

A) I got some really good feedback, even before the show aired. We got some really good feedback from a lot of cancer patients and it is really neat to actually hear their responses and how excited they were to see the show. I know that a lot of people were commenting on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram wanting to see it and they were so happy when they finally got to see it. A lot of the cancer patients are saying that it is very realistic and that the story is similar to how they found out. Also, even people who don’t have cancer love it because there is so much other parts to the story. You’ll learn a lot more about different characters and their past as the show goes on.

Q) April’s relationship with Brenna is very strained. Will we get to learn about how their relationship became strained?

A) We’re so different and there is a lot of family drama that happens. A lot of families have drama, but I feel like this is slightly more dramatic. You’ll find out more about our “maybe sister,” more about Brenna’s relationship with April and more about who Brenna is. We touch a lot on that in later episodes. It kind of explains why her attitude is so sour.

Q) Did the sisterly chemistry between you and Italia Ricci come naturally or did you spend some time bonding to develop it?

A) It really didn’t take that much time to develop. She doesn’t have a sister and I don’t have a sister. I think that when you don’t have a sister you are really excited to play a sister to someone. We met in Boston. We were all flown out a couple weeks before we filmed the pilot and have us meet everyone. The whole cast got a lot of time to hang out with each other and then go into filming the pilot already having that chemistry.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that makes it such a good fit for ABC Family?

A) I think it is such a good fit because the family storyline is so strong and all of the family members are so different and have their own thing going on and their own stories. Also, it’s a subject that everyone can relate to. Everyone knows someone who has had cancer or they have had it. It’s a very relatable subject, for sure. And the thing I like the most about it is when you are kind of giving a sucky circumstance, they like to make the best of it. That’s what I try to do when something sucky comes along. Can I find the funny in this? Can I find the good in this? That’s what they do so it is not depressing all the time. They definitely find the funny.

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) I kind of like to do that with all the characters I play. I like to create my own backstory even if it is not what actually happens; just going into it with the cast situations in mind, even if it never happens. I kind of do that naturally. But nothing too specific!

Q) Who has been your favorite director to work with on the show and what kind of guidance or advice did they give you?

A) Steve Miner, who directed our pilot, has been along for the whole ride. He has done I think five episodes with us. He’s really fun to work with. He’s so relaxed, fun and funny. It just comes so naturally to him and so quick, which every actor likes. It gets to the point where if you do a take twenty times it is not going to help it in the end. It’s just doing the same thing over and over and the scene starts to get rundown. I definitely like Steve Miner a lot and Melanie Mayron has been really great and really fun. She’s really good with comedy so she really amps up the comedy in every episode, which is really fun. I actually worked with her when I was ten years old. I did my first movie with her. I’m not sure if she actually remembered me, but she said she did. I had the tiniest part, but it was such a big deal to me. I was so excited about it. It was really fun to get to work with her again. I think she has been back for three episodes now. It’s been fun to have the directors keep coming back, getting to know them more and seeing how they work.

Q) “Chasing Life” airs after “Pretty Little Liars.” Why do you think the two shows make such a good pairing?

A) I’ve actually never seen “Pretty Little Liars.” So, I don’t know if I find similarities in the show, but it is definitely a great lead in. I think they helped us a lot because everyone loves. It was exciting and it’s a great popular show. It was exciting to get to be paired with them and it helped us come in with a bang!

Q) Is there anything else you would like to share with fans?

A) We just filmed our twenty-first episode and then we’ll be done for awhile. I know everything that happens to every character, but even when I am talking to friends I try not to spill anything. There are so many episodes coming up and it’s so exciting. We get to know so much about every character and it has been so much fun getting to play Brenna, learning her backstory and seeing what they have written for me. They have really dug deep with this character and it has been a blast. I don’t know if she finally figures herself out. She’s sixteen years old. So, she is on her own journey and still figuring herself out even after the twenty episodes. There is a lot of relationship drama and a lot of love triangles. I think that has been my favorite part, even if it is not in my storyline. There are a couple love triangles happening and everyone loves good relationship drama.