Jason-Shane Scott – Framed By My Fiancé

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I have this movie on Lifetime that is airing on Friday, November 17^th. Then, I have one in the can that I wrote with my girlfriend, Lindsay Hartley, called Deadly Exchange that is for Lifetime. It will air soon. Then, we have another one that we just wrote called Reunion that will air early in the year. Now, I’m working on a romantic comedy called Honeymoon in Paradise, that will premiere in the new year. I also have several writing projects with Lindsey that are in development. So, that keeps moving us along every day.

Q) Please tell us the premise for your film Framed By My Fiancé and your character.

A) It’s a happy couple who is on his way up to be the youngest judge in the state. She is a nurse and doing great. They are happy and he proposes. That night they get into a car accident, which is his fault because he was messing with his phone. This could cause him to lose the huge opportunity he has coming in the next week. So, he kind of frames her that she was driving. As far as him, he thinks it is the best thing for both of them since his career is great. She can always cover since he will only get one shot at this. He basically puts himself over their relationship and it sort of untangles. Then, we find out he is more than selfish – he’s also kind of evil and murderous. We go from framing his fiancé to actually having to kill people in order to still get what he wants. It takes a pretty sharp turn from happy couple to not so happy.

Q) Did you and costar Katrina Bowden get to spend much time together to develop chemistry?

A) We pretty much had to just jump right in. I think that pretty much is how it goes these days. Lifetime movies are shot pretty quickly compared to other things. It’s kind of one of those odd parts of being an actor – you have to show up one morning and that person is your fiancé and the love of your life. You guys just have to hopefully make it believable. Once we were working on the film, you have to feel the other actors out and they have to feel you out – how they kind of like to work, how much they want to talk about things or how much they just want to show up and do things. You just have to trust it. Everyone has their own process. I’ve always been kind of cool with either way, whether we go with the big background together or not or work on things together or not. I’m always going to do my work. You can just kind of combine the two.

Q) What did you find challenging about the role?

A) Probably just hoping to make him feel like not just a horrible person. Trying to come across that he still loves her, but in his mind this was his only chance and that he was doing it for them. I think in all these movies in general, the good ones, the bad guy is actually trying to do it for what they feel is right and it’s not just to go around framing these people and killing. So, I guess it’s the challenge of trying to have that come across was pretty challenging. That and (as always) with a lot of movies these days is the pace because of the amount of material you are shooting in one day. It’s pretty crazy. So, that’s always kind of challenging as well. But, I had it kind of easy on this on some days so it kind of makes up for it. The last thing you want to do is play a bad guy and come across as crazy and have no one care about you or feel for you. Hopefully, I was able to make people care for him and feel sorry for him a little bit. [laughs]

Q) Was there any advice the director gave you that you really paid special attention to while filming?

A) I worked with the director, Fred [Olen Ray], a few times before. It is true what they say that if you work with someone enough you have a quick way of speaking with each other. You can say a few words like, “Give me this. Try that. Do this look right there.” I think just from talking to him…He’s a very thoughtful guy and he understands what we’re making as well. With a thriller, you want it to be believable yet scary – heart palpable but believable. He definitely tried to always make sure that when it came to Daniel he could have been a good guy in another situation.

Q) What do you think it is about the film that will make it a fast Lifetime movie favorite?

A) Well, they are a lot of fun, but hopefully we do develop the characters. With this one, it’s very action packed – much more than most. We have scenes on a subway, on the docks and on a boat. It’s very action packed, a lot of running down the streets. A lot of times they don’t have the ability to do that on some of these Lifetime movies so I think it will look different in that aspect. I think it will be a larger scope than some of them.

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

A) Yeah, it’s always cool to get live feedback. Most of the time it’s cool. [laughs] But it is always interesting to watch people on Twitter for Lifetime movies give feedback. I definitely try to pay attention if I can if it is live. I can always usually tell if something is airing because I’ll get alerts from people. It is fun to watch, actually.

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

A) Hopefully, watch this one. I think it will be a really fun movie and a well done movie. Thank you for the support. I’ll try to keep putting out good stuff.