Katelyn Tarver – Dead on Campus

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

A) Dead on Campus was earlier this year and I am mainly just working on my album. I’ve been writing that for over a year and I recorded it this year. Now, I’m just kind of getting ready to plan the release of the music and figure some other things out. I’ve really just been focusing on my music stuff.

Q) Please talk about the premise for Dead on Campus and about your character.

A) My character is Natalie and she is graduating high school and getting ready to go off to college. Natalie has gone through some hard times. Her mom has recently died of cancer. So, she has recently had to face some tough stuff. So, going off to college is a mixture of excitement and a bittersweet feeling. She really wants to get into the sorority that her mom was in because her mom loved being in a sorority. Natalie really wants to follow in her mom’s footsteps. When she gets there, she goes through some crazy stuff involving the sorority and has to decide if that is the most important thing to her or if doing the right thing is more important.

Q) What was it about the movie that made you want to be a part of it?

A) I had never done a movie before, much less play the lead. So, it was really exciting to get that part and I just thought it would be fun. I related to Natalie and it reminded me of myself in a lot of ways in the way that the character is written. It takes her a little while to find her strength and she doesn’t have a ton of confidence. She is nervous and wants to be accepted into this new place, but then throughout the movie she finds her strength and confidence. I thought that was cool. It was just exciting to get to play this kind of character and get to work on a movie in a new city. I just thought it would be a fun, cool, new experience for me.

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

A) I didn’t write any new lines or anything, but everyone brings their own experiences and inspirations to the character. I hope that it comes through in my portrayal of Natalie. I was definitely pulling from experiences that I have gone through and, hopefully, that comes through a little bit in the movie.

Q) Was there any advice director Curtis Crawford gave you that stuck with you while filming?

A) Curtis is such a nice guy and such a fun, easy going kind of calming presence to have around while we were shooting. We would shoot all day and really late into the night, pretty much every day. It can get exhausting. Curtis just helped get me and the other actors able to be in a place where we weren’t too tired to do anything. I just remember that about him. I don’t really recall any crazy little nuggets of wisdom that he said. I just enjoyed working with him because he was really encouraging to us and he would offer notes when we wanted it. He definitely bring out the performance in each of us. He was just a fun, easy going director and it made the experience really good.

Q) Did the chemistry between you and your fellow sorority sisters come immediately or did it take some time to develop?

A) The girls were really easy to get along with. I know that we didn’t have a ton of scenes together. It was always me and one other girl or me and Tamara [Duarte]. We weren’t together all the time, but we did eventually all end up in the same room. When you are out of your hometown you are all alone. You just kind of naturally start hanging out with each other because you might as well make the most out of being on location for a month. It was a perk that they were all such cool girls. We actually did enjoy our time. So, I wouldn’t say it was immediate, but it definitely grew over time. It is always fun to meet new people and make new friends when you work on set. You kind of have this bond that just naturally develops because you are spending so much time together. It was really fun and I really liked the girls from the movie.

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

A) I had never been to Ottawa, Canada before. It was really cool to be in a new city and get to explore that a little bit. Tamara, who plays the head of the sorority, she and I rented bikes and rode around Ottawa on one of the rare sunny days there. We had shot until about four or five in the morning. So, it was nice to have a day off on one of the rare sunny days. Renting bikes together was really fun. We developed a really strong addiction  to Rice Krispy Treats during filming, which I had to kick when I got back. They were kind of the only junk food around. I remember we all just wanted Rice Krispy treats every break we had. We had a lot of late nights, which is always hilarious because you are delirious.

Q) What makes Dead on Campus a good fit for the Lifetime Network?

A) I think it has everything you want in a Lifetime movie. It has drama, high stakes and it is about a sorority. It has things girls can relate to, especially if they are in a sorority or planning to join a sorority. This could maybe scare people off, but I think people will enjoy the movie. If you enjoy Lifetime movies you won’t be disappointed.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive when the film premieres?

A) Yeah! Always! Social media is so fun in that way and I get to see what people are thinking. It’s in the moment and in real time. I’m excited! I hope people like it and I’m definitely excited to get some feedback and see what people think.

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

A) A really big thank you! It is goes without saying, almost, that with music, acting and everything I’ve been a part of it really doesn’t matter without the fans. I’m really thankful to have people’s support and that they care about what I’m doing. It helps me to feel supported and I can’t say enough how grateful I am for their support and that they continue to be interested in what I’m doing. I hope they will continue to support me throughout the next few years and with whatever other projects come up. Just a giant thank you!