Michelle Danner – The Runner

By starrymag | June 23, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

The Runner is an action thriller about a teenager, Aiden (played by Edouard Philipponnat) whose mother, Miranda (Elisabeth Rohm) desperately calls the police on him as a wakeup call but when he gets arrested by Detective Wall (Cameron Douglas) Aiden is given a terrible choice, go to jail or become an informant and bring down a dangerous kingpin, local legend (played by Eric Balfour).

Aiden falls into a downward spiral, mourning his love Layla (Kerri Medders) and dragging down his best friend Blake (Nadji Jeter) and his girlfriend Liz (Jessica Amlee).

 

Q) What inspired you to be a part of this film?

A) Jason Chase-Tyrrell wrote the screenplay, and I wrote the treatment that led to it. One night I was watching the news and was moved by a story about high schoolers being forced by police to bring down the town drug lord. I found the story important. Obviously, the war on drugs and our kids is something that needs to be focused on and I always feel deeply for the kids that adults don’t show up for.

Q) You serve as director, producer and star in the movie. What was your experience like trying to balance all of these roles at one time?

A) In this movie I had three lines, but I enjoyed doing every single one of them. And I was directing and producing, so I was wearing a lot of hats. I like signing the painting and being the keeper of the vision for the story.

Q) How involved were you when it came to the casting of the film?

A) I love working with casting directors, but my production company cast this movie. I am in a unique position because of all the actors I know and have worked with that I can pick up the phone and a lot of the time get the actors that I like to work with. My wonderful co-producer, Josephine Hies, has contributed very much to that process. It’s almost like we should put up our shingle and cast movies, except we’re too busy making them.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to shoot?

A) I am attached to every scene in the movie, but I did love shooting the scene in the kitchen with Miranda and Aiden, played by Elisabeth Rohm and Edouard Philipponnat, where mother and son have it out. It was a wonderful scene, very well acted and not predictable. I also loved shooting the scene between Detective Wall (Cameron Douglas) and Aiden (Edouard Philipponnat) where he holds his feet to the flame. I like these climactic scenes.

Q) What scenes did you find the most challenging for you shoot – either logistics or emotionally?

A) The scenes that were the most challenging to shoot were the scenes at the party. We had over a hundred people we had to reign in and capture the shots that were needed — calibrating the intensity of the party, especially when all hell breaks loose with the shooting and swat team. We had fight choreography and swat advisors. The other challenging scene was to put a crane on the beach with the high tide, not knowing if the water was going to recede. The space to bring down the crane was very tight, but we made it happen.

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching The Runner?

A) I hope they take a rollercoaster ride, that it makes them feel something, that it moves them and that, ultimately, they want to go home and hug their kids, parents and loved ones.

Q) Do you have any upcoming projects you have been busy working on either as an actress or director?

A) I am working on two wonderful films – one is a romantic comedy called Starstruck and the other is a comedy The Italians. I feel, after the year we’ve all had, comedies are what I want to see come to life. Starstruck is a fun comedy about a powerful executive whose life gets turned upside down when he’s forced to live his life by his horoscope. The Italians is a heartwarming film about a typical Italian-American family that meets their son’s new girlfriend for the first time.

Q) You are also a highly respected acting coach. What are some basic tips you would give to people just starting out as actors?

A) I think the most important thing is to take a deep breath and to make a decision to learn the craft of acting. It’s important to have a real knowledge of not only how to create a character and make choices, but also how to navigate the business and understand how you fit in and what you have to contribute.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fan and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) Keep being creative, the world needs artists. The world needs you and we need to tell stories that illuminate the humanity of all of us.

 

 

 

Michelle Danner’s Acting Class

 

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