Meagan Tandy – UnREAL

By: Lisa Steinberg

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

A) I was shooting “Survivor’s Remorse” in February and that’s when I found out I booked “UnREAL.” So, they are basically airing around the same time this summer.

Q) How did you manage to balance filming both shows?

A) Thankfully, I was already in the works of filming “Survivor’s Remorse” when I found out about booking “UnREAL.” So, I was coming towards the end of when I would be filming “Survivor’s Remorse” and it allowed me to hop on a plane and relocate Vancouver. There were maybe only a couple episodes where it overlapped and I had to go back to filming in Atlanta. It was right when I finished I jumped on the next one. It’s kind of good that way. I liked it.

Q) “Survivor’s Remorse” ended on this cliffhanger last season. What can you tease for Allison this season?

A) With Allison this season, you can expect a few ups and downs with Cam (Jessie T. Usher). We have the situation where his uncle got into the car crash in the season finale. The audience can expect that it may or may not cause a little bit of a rift in our relationship. People will kind of go on this journey of either blaming the car crash on me or not because that was my car that he was driving at the end of the season. Had I taken the car, would that have been me in the crash? So, we kind of go through this up and down thing a little bit.

Q) How was your character on “UnREAL” originally described and how did it evolve since the audition?

A) When I first auditioned for it, I don’t want to say what the condition was. There was a certain condition that she had that she has to deal with. I auditioned in that way. It will make no sense for a second, but they liked it and thought it was awesome. It did change though because they wanted me to play her more realistic, level headed and normal. But I must say, as I’ve been filming, that original issue Chantal has was coming in a little bit. It really goes along with the character and it is fun. I’ve put a former pageant girl spin on it because I used to be Miss California and Chantal is a former Southern debutante. A lot of southern girls are beauty queens and compete in pageants so I put my spin on it. It’s been really good. It’s been really funny.

Q) A lot of the characters have skeletons in their closets. What kind of bone rattling will we see in Season Two?

A) There is going to be so much! There are going to be a few contestants where you will think, “What is going on there? There has to be a little bit more here.” That is definitely eminent in this season. For Chantel, I do have this station where my fiancée passed away. I carry him with me in a way this season as I’m pursuing Darius (B.J. Britt). It’s very interesting how I release him and let him go so I can be closer to Darius. It’s actually really, really silly. But everyone has a skeleton and some of them come out and some of them don’t.

Q) A lot of people host viewing parties for “The Bachelor.” Will you be having people over to watch your episodes of “UnREAL?”

A) We have been talking about having viewing parties and going over to each other’s homes. This is actually a show that you want to have a big viewing party for because it’s so freaking funny! I think the audience will do that as well because every week is going to be about them trying to figure out where this is going and what is happening.

Q) How do you shake off the drama and emotions from filming?

A) For some reason, when I get really emotionally invested in a character I actually do sit with it and live with it. So, it takes me a little while to get out of it. I will say that recently we filmed a relatively deep scene for myself and because everyone was laughing and having a good time I was actually able to snap out of it really quickly. For this season, even though it is very deep emotional stuff going on, there is still this dark humor to it. Even though it is bad, you want to laugh it because you are just trying to make the satiation better. How that is effecting me on set, you just kind of come out. Everybody is laughing and it kind of just brings you out of it. I will say there are some girls who have it much harder and have needed a few minutes to get out of it. Even though it is all a fake reality show, you can still get very emotionally involved and attached to it. It can take a minute to get out of it. I think it just kind of depends.

Q) Do you enjoy working mostly on a strong female led show?

A) So far, the highlight of this has been working with Shiri [Appleby] and Constance [Zimmer]. They are two absolutely wonderful actresses and it was amazing to be able to pick their brains. First of all, to find out how they felt about Season One compared to this season, they are absolutely loving it. It’s just been nice working with them. As far as being a part of the show, I love the fact it is a fake reality show. I have to explain to people all the time because they say, “Oh my gosh! You’re on a dating show?” I say, “No! It’s ‘UnREAL,’ man! Just listen to the title!” So, it’s been fun because you are acting, but then you are not acting. It kind of puts a different spin on your job. So, it’s been kind of fun to do this fake reality show and show people a whole different side to what happens in the producing world.

Q) What did you learn about the production side of television?

A) Of course, a lot of it is forced. People need to understand that. There are some people in the reality TV world that are just putting on in order to further their career and get attention. But a large majority of it is real yet forced and over exaggerated. They make it a bigger deal so it draws more attention to it. If anything, that is what I have learned from my friends who have worked as producers on shows. A lot of it is taking a story and stretching it out and they might put a little spin on it just so it becomes a little bit bigger. That’s why I personally couldn’t do reality TV. It’s kind of funny I’m doing this show. Thank God it is fake because I would never be on a reality television show. I could never be manipulated!

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

A) I’ve been getting into my Snapchat. It’s been crazy with social media for me because I’ve really been trying to do behind the scenes photos and videos with B.J. [Britt], Jeffrey [Bowyer-Chapman] and Gentry [White.] I will continue to release pictures and things. I’m always putting up stuff. The wonderful fans of “Teen Wolf,” it doesn’t matter what I put on Snapchat because they are always so supportive. So, you just never know your audience.

Q) I’m sure you get asked all of the time about you coming back to “Teen Wolf.”

A) I am getting that all the time from the “Teen Wolf” fandom! They are very loyal. I feel bad because sometimes I’m not allowed to answer. I’m pretty transparent on my social media, but sometimes I try to let it be and let it go to let them figure it out.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure to share with your fans?

A) I just want everyone to know that although I’m still grinding it out in this business and booking jobs here and there, I am still very passionate about my youth program called Girl Talk. That is still very much in motion and I just love giving back to the community when it comes to the youth. It’s something that is very passionate to me. And to the fans, know that I freaking love them! I really appreciate all of their love and support. I would want them to know that they are so awesome and I appreciate them.