Kaitlyn Black – Killer Single Dad

By: Kelly Kearney

Q) You play Jennifer Monroe, in the Lifetime movie Killer Single Dad. What is the premise for the film?

Kaitlyn: Killer Single Dad is about a single father, Garrett (played by Cameron Jebo), who in college was a sperm donor. Later on, in life, he becomes mentally unhinged (for a reason you will find out during the movie; I’m not going to give it away) and decides he wants to round up any of his potential children. So, there’s some kidnapping and when he comes to me, I’m somewhat estranged from my husband because of indiscretions and I did use a sperm donor to get pregnant and now I’m in my last trimester. While spying on me he realizes I’m still with child. I have a fall and he actually calls 911 and I’m taken to the hospital. So, I decide to seek him out, this guardian angel who kind of saved me and my child’s life. Then, Garrett befriends Jennifer and actually moves down the street and she is unsuspecting of his true intentions. Meanwhile, things slowly start to add up for her until it’s a little too late.

Q) How did you prepare for the role? What’s your process like?

Kaitlyn: Luckily, Jennifer is a very strong woman. After her husbands second indiscretion, even though she’s in her last trimester, she kicks him out. So, she has strength and she’s not going to put up with this kind of behavior. That was something I can relate to as I feel like I’m a pretty strong cookie. Unfortunately, I have not found my partner in life or been pregnant, but I desperately do want to be a mom. I have played pregnant women before, so I think some of the toughest stuff is making sure you are feeling heavy and weighed down and a little breathless or can’t move as fast as I normally could.

Q) What was it like filming in that pregnancy suit?

Kaitlyn: The pregnancy suit helped with the performance although its not nearly as heavy by any means, but it does become uncomfortable. I had three straps with Velcro to get it on and every time I sat down, it went right into my ribs. At the end of the shoot, I definitely had a little bruise on my left side from wearing the belly, but it helped me stay uncomfortable which the performance needed. It was great, but I would still take it off every time during lunch [laughs] like, “GET THIS THING OFF OF ME!”

Q) Were there any challenges to playing Jennifer?

Kaitlyn: I think part of that was trying to remember you have a little life inside of you and keeping that connection. The biggest challenge was when it came to any kind of delivery scene and what those contractions feel like and also just the normal movement of a baby in utero. They move around a lot and they’re kicking and you’re constantly uncomfortable. So, the bump definitely helped keep me a little uncomfortable. Especially sitting, just because it would poke right into my ribcage. You know, I think the hardest challenge for me was that I haven’t been a mom yet. So, trying to tap into that and talk to friends about what it’s like and what that experience is like was probably the biggest challenge in playing Jennifer. Ultimately, she’s very sweet, empathetic and understanding and yet, still a very strong woman.

Q) Talk about working with costar Cameron Jebo.

Kaitlyn: He’s great! He was wonderful to work with. Every morning we would get into the makeup chair and we would run lines together and check in with each other. There weren’t a lot of stunts or physical work, but we always rehearsed if necessary, especially if there was any hitting or pushing or grabbing. We both made sure that we were both very comfortable and safe and obviously so did our stunt coordinator and our director and producer. But he’s lovely [laughs] and he plays such a creepy person! I was really fortunate to have such a great leading man to play off of.

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

Kaitlyn: Oh, wow. [pauses] Well, without giving too much away, towards the end of the movie Jennifer is going through the process of delivering a baby and not in the way she would like to be delivering her baby. That was really difficult, the amount of emotions you feel. You know, you’re scared, and you’re terrified but also excited. Everybody on set was really great because I would listen to certain songs that put me in a melancholy or emotional state so anytime during a scene when someone would yell “cut” someone was there with my earbuds and everyone would be quiet on set. I think it was challenging to stay in that emotional mindset for that long. By the end of the day, I was exhausted from crying and being upset. It really takes a lot out of you.

Q) What advice did director Robert Malenfant offer that you took to heart while filming?

Kaitlyn: The biggest thing was he rally trusted my instincts and let me play and work through stuff. He was always great about reminding me with things like, “Don’t walk so fast,” or, “You should be breathing a little heavier right now.” He was great about reminding me about the extra weight I would be having on my body. He was very kind and a really great collaborator and allowed for a lot of creativity. So, I would work with him again in a heartbeat.

Q) Fans loved you in “Haart of Dixie.” What do you miss most about filming that series?

Kaitlyn: Oh gosh, I miss playing Annabeth so much. I miss her comedic relief and she was such a quirky and wonderful character. There were definitely deep and emotional moments, but for the most part I loved figuring out what facial expressions she was going to use, how her tone or inflection in her voice (you know her certain comedic lines) and I miss the cast. We had such a great family unit and Rachel Bilson is such a lovely and grounded human being. I loved playing opposite Scott [Porter] and it was just wonderful. It became such a home with our crew, cast, our writers and our showrunner. It was just lovely to go to work and play dress up and have a good time every day.

Q) Do you have any advice for your young fans who aspire to be an actor? Perhaps, something you wish someone had told you when you were first starting out?

Kaitlyn: I’m not as social media savvy as the younger kids or young adults these days. I’m about to be thirty-five years old and even doing Instagram can be difficult for me. [laughs] I think the young people who are getting into this business now understand the importance of networking and social media and that’s become a big part of the audition process and getting your name and face out there. I started in theater so one of the biggest things I tell other people is to have a really strong work ethic and be professional. When you’re doing a show and you have to learn it in two and a half weeks and you’re doing eight shows a week, you have to show up to rehearsal before to go over your lines and blocking and choreography and you just have to be prepared. So, I always tell people who are aspiring to be in this business that you are going to hear “no” far more than you are going to hear “yes” so you better have thick skin and really want to do this because you love your craft. Also, just be professional and be patient when others are not. I think that’s one of my biggest hiccups, when I would see other people who wouldn’t show up to set on time, in other facets of the job not just “Hart of Dixie” or had a bad attitude. I feel very lucky to get to do the job I do so it would aggravate me, and I would sometimes let it get to me a little bit. I should’ve just taken a deep breath and thought, “Look that’s the way they’re choosing to live their life, but I don’t have to behave like that.” So, that’s one thing I think you have to stay in your own lane and make sure you keep your side of the street clean. It’s not all glitz and glamour and I think if you want to be an actor than you need to want to do this, but if you want to be a celebrity then be an influencer or start your own YouTube channel. Acting is just a lot more work than some people realize. I mean, you’re up at the ass crack of dawn sometimes and you’re on set for twelve to sixteen hours where you have to stay focused and you have to do it again the next day. I’ve been very grateful to do the work I do so just go out there and have a great work ethic and do it because you love it.

Q) What’s next for you, Kaitlyn? Are you working on any other projects we can look out for?

Kaitlyn: I actually just wrote my first sketch and we shot that in March and I just got the first cut of it. I acted in it as well and it’s called “The Relationship Deli.” The logline is basically you go to a deli to order a partner like you would a sandwich, but all the good ingredients are taken. Hopefully, I’ll be getting it up on YouTube and I’ll have a link to it on my Instagram page. I’m not on Twitter anymore. I was on there, but it got a little too bullying and I deal with enough in my own life to try and keep my head on my shoulders so the more positivity I surround myself with the better. Instagram is great because I love to take pictures from when I’m in set or of my life. Right now I’m in Ohio and, hopefully, I’ll get a channel going on YouTube with this sketch and I a few others I’ve got going on in my brain that I will hopefully be working in while I’m here. I’m also auditioning a bunch and looking for that next big show.

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

Kaitlyn: I am eternally grateful and feel extremely lucky and blessed that people were such fans of Annabeth. I started as guest star that went to a costar that went to a series regular and very big part of that was due to the love of the fans and how they felt about Annabeth. So, I really am eternally grateful and hopefully I will be on something again soon, making people laugh again.