Natasha Negovanlis & Elise Bauman – Carmilla

By starrymag | September 15, 2016

Q) One of my favorite Hallmarks of the series are the great pop culture references. What can you tease are some of your favorites and what are some from the coming season?

Elise: There are definitely a lot of Harry Potter references. The whole season is a little Hogwarts-esque with the magical library. So, I can say there are some very cute Harry Potter references. We would have some fun props this year when Laura is stuck in the library with nothing to do – no crazy mysteries to solve so she gets a bit bored and does some extreme crafting. There are some fun Harry Potter crafts that she makes.

Q) What is the experience like shooting the series because you film so much in such a short time? After doing two seasons, does it get any easier?

Elise: I’ve never heard it described as “bootcamp” before, but that is such an accurate description. The way that I sort of view it is more like sprinting as opposed to long distance running because you do a lot in a short amount of time. I don’t know if we’d be able to do it for more than the five days that we do it. I actually found it more challenging this year. Natasha said it really well in another interview we did that in the first season neither of us had shot much before (we hadn’t done a lot of film and television) so the pace we shoot at just seemed like, “Oh, this is what we do. This is normal.” We kind of knew it was a bit crazy, but we didn’t know any better. So, we just absorbed it and rolled with it. It is a year in between every time that we shoot so the first day of set I found really challenging to sink back into the extreme pace at which we film because we had experiences on other sets this year where you have so much time (even too much time sometimes) that rolling back into that sprinting pace seems more of a challenge for me.

Natasha: As Elise mentioned, the very first day was a little bit jarring because we were reminded how much it takes. For me, personally, I found this season easier because I feel a lot more grounded as an actor and in my character. I’m embarrassingly organized to the point where I’m anal so I have this systematic way of memorizing my lines and keeping my thoughts organized. It was nice!

Q) The show is so progressive that sexuality is not even addressed. Does Laura’s father know about Carmilla? What does it mean to you all to work on a show like this?

Elise: I think that was one of my favorite aspects of the show. The sexuality isn’t in the foreground. It’s just the accepted norm and then they are dealing with other things. I applaud the show from the beginning for that reason. Being a part of a series that is changing the standard of LGBT representation in media…This year we do get to delve into it a little bit more, which is exciting. Obviously with the introduction of a parent figure into the series, you kind of get to see it from a different aspect than you have seen it before. Laura’s dad does know about her sexuality and is very accepting of it. That is not where the conflict lies. It is not about gender and sexuality. It’s about is this the right person or vampire for you.

Natasha: It’s about that Carmilla is a vampire not that Carmilla is a girl. I think it is so special to show a parent figure being so supportive as well and I am equally as proud to work on a series that provides a voice for the LGBTQ community, especially LGBTQ youth.

Q) Let’s back track a little bit. What has been some of your most fulfilling scenes for you to film?

Elise: The last six episodes of Season Three are some of the most special for me. I feel it really wraps things up so beautifully. We really get to peer into the hearts of Laura and Carmilla, deeper than we ever have. Those were so special and it was the end of the series so it was the last of what we shot. It’s so emotional and it was a really, really special moment to share with everyone. Some of the most fun moments are when everyone is together. Some of the group scenes from Season One and Season Two were so fun. Everyone is  in such an enclosed space together, but everyone is working so diligently but still having so much fun. Just getting to share the experience with all of the cast are definitely some special memories for me.

Natasha: The first and last day of shooting are probably the most special for me. I can’t really pick one scene over the other. Season One was very exciting and Season Two and Three felt like coming home. Then, the last day of shooting for all three seasons I’m just a giant softy so I always cry. I know how lucky I am to a) be lucky to be working as an actor and b) working on something that is so meaningful to not only myself but this huge community of people is something special. I always bawl on the last day. I’m not even a big crier, but for some reason my emotions run so high on the last day of filming.

Elise: We’re so exhausted and underslept at that point that we’re all like “Ahhhh.” I think also this season…[laughs] One episode was right after lunch and we were all pretty tired and the energy was starting to drop…[laughs] Natasha and I farted at the same time and Kaitlyn [Alexander] was in the middle of us. I don’t really know how to describe that moment…It was really funny.

Q) In Season Two, we had Maddie brought into the picture and she completely changed our perceptions of Carmilla. With Sherman Hollis coming into the picture, can we expect a similar change in Laura this season?

Elise: I’ve been so curious about Laura’s backstory from day one. I kind of made my own decisions as an actor, but I think it has been such a gift to get some insight into what Laura was like growing up, how she was raised and how that influenced her view on the world and how she navigates situations. I think you definitely do get to see a different side to her, but also she has gone through such a change from Season One to Season Two and Season Three is even more. I think parents kind of represent that holding o to childhood and a big part of growing up is letting your parents go and allowing them to let you go as well. I think that’s really what Laura is going through this season. She is standing alone in the world, knowing her father loves her, but also realizing she kind of has to let him go.

Q) With Carmilla, in regards to inclusion and representation, talk about the impact and footprint the series leaves as you have been at the forefront of everything

Natasha: As we mentioned before, it’s such a gift and something that I never take forgranted, especially as actors who are still establishing ourselves in the world. So often you take what you can get that you don’t often get the opportunity to work on something that has such an impact and such social responsibility. So, sometimes the pressure can be intense, but I wouldn’t trade it in for anything else. It means a lot to me. It’s a community I’m personally a part and a show that I hold very dear to my heart.

Elise: For me, when you talk about the footprint we leave behind with the series coming to a close, what I really hope we can accomplish is to inspire other people to create their own projects. I think one of the amazing things about this web series is that it is made without a massive budget. What it really boils down to is do you have a good story and are you willing to tell that story with heart. That’s all you need to make something that has an impact on people. So, I hope that other people are inspired to keep making their own footprints in the world, even if they think they don’t have the resources to do it.

Natasha: Even if it isn’t a film or a web series, it’s been really cool to inspire our fans and Creampuffs to create in general. We have received a lot of fan art, songs and poems and it is just really cool to be inspiring people to create in any capacity.

Q) Carmilla is a Victorian vampire story that is updated into the 21^st What is fun is that Carmilla does a post-modern descontruction of taking a more LGBT and feminist perspective to kind of correct the original assumptions and combine it with a lot of geeky fun and referneces and literary references that turn it into something fun and progressive. What is your take on this?

Elise: I think you said that really well! You can just pretend that is me! [laughs]

Natasha: I honestly feel really lucky. That is a credit to our writers and I can’t take credit for what she has created with those references. She is really awesome and we look forward to speaking with her at New York Comic Con.

Q) Laura does a lot of the talking because it is from her point-of-view and she is the narrator. When Carmilla is not doing anything, you seem to always be reading a book. Was that in the script or decided on as a performer?

Natasha: That was not in the script. I think something that has been drilled into my brain as a young teenager in theater school is that you always have to be present in a scene. I always just try to fit into my character and give her things to do. I had a director in musical theater school that used to always watch everyone in the background and she would say no matter how small your part was that you always had to stay present. I think that is just an old theater trick. Sometimes you start to look at other things and look at what is happening in the background. So, I think it comes from that training and having had improv training. Also, just living in your character honestly. It is really beautiful and there are always great props and things to do. I didn’t really put a lot of thought into it. It was just Carmilla and I used the space as she would do it.

Q) At the end of Season Two, Laura is struggling with a lot of guilt for what has happened. Going into Season Three, will she blame Carmilla for some of this guilt and cause tension or will it make her realize how both of them would risk their lives for one another?

Elise: I talked a lot about this with the producer and Spencer [Maybee], the director, before we went into Season Three. I felt like Laura was starting to mope a little bit at the end of Season Two. I think that is a pretty natural thing to go through because when you make a mistake you don’t necessarily want to live with that mistake. You want to run away from it. Just as denial with what Laura did throughout Season Two, which was go “I’m right. I’m right. I’m right,” then to blame yourself thinking you’re a terrible person, to me, is the exact same thing. Blaming yourself and moping is also not taking responsibility. What I think Laura starts to do in Season Three is to start accepting that she is fallible and makes mistakes just like everyone else on the planet. She is not an inherently bad person because of that. She has choices. So, I think what we start to see is her growing up into that. She says I can’t blame other people and I can’t blame myself. This is what happens and I have to live with it. I have to live with what happens. So, I think some of the tension is resolved between the two of them as you will start to see tonight.

Q) A lot of the action (from production value) has to take place off screen, but still feels really palpable. How do you generate that same energy and excitement and engagement when you are filming the scenes that happen after the big battle?

Natasha: I think we all have pretty vivid imaginations and that helps. We are all professional pretenders in a way. Part of being an actor is feeling it truthfully and living it truthfully, but a huge part of it is just being a creative person. But the exciting thing about Season Three is that there is quite a bit of action on camera, which you will see shortly. So, it was definitely really excited.

Elise: I think everyone is equally invested in believing that this the world that exists and no questions asked. It’s kind of the charm of the show a little bit – that all of the characters (especially in season one) that there is a bit of a moment like “Whoa! There are vampires here? There are weird mushrooms floating around campus?” It’s a bit of a shock, but at the same time it is accepted pretty readily. I think that kind of adds to the quirk of the show. We as the actors did that as well. We were all like in on it, like “Hey, this is the magical world we are going to live in for the next five days while we’re filming. Let’s just believe that.”

Q) The biggest change for every Creampuff is the dropping of three acts. It’s a bit of a shock because we all feel it is coming to an end a lot sooner than expected. What would you say to the fans who are really sad it is coming to an end?

Elise: “Lovers and friends…” [sings] That song is all I can think of right now. “Why do all good things come to an end…” [sings] I think that we all just have to appreciate that we were able to have this incredible experience together. I think a lot of people met some awesome friends that are friendships that are maybe going to last for the rest of their lives. All the lessons that were learned through the series, all the acceptance of ourselves that was done through the series…Those are things that are going to be present in your life forever. Though the series is coming to a close, we can bring everything we loved about the series into the rest of our lives…Myself included!

Natasha: Also, knowing that once something is on the internet it is there forever. I think it is weird. The last day of shooting was very emotional for us, but at the same time it doesn’t really feel like it is over because we do have the opportunity to build new fans and meet people coming up. New York Comic Con is coming up. So, it doesn’t really feel like it is over and it is something we are all going to carry for a very long time. It’s something that none of us will ever forget.

Q) The setting of the series always seems like an additional character. With it now being the library, talk about this new setting

Natasha; The library is especially magical. I would say that this season the setting is a very important character. In fact, some of the characters like Carmilla actually talk to the library sometimes. I can’t give away spoilers, but there actually is some conversation with the set.

Elise: There are some fun surprises with the set throughout the season, which we can’t spoil now. But keep your eyes peeled!

Q) Where does the relationship of Carmilla and Laura go for Season Three?

Elise: I’ve said before that I feel like Season One is falling in love and Season Two is finding those parts about the other person that you maybe didn’t expect to be in the other person and they are maybe not the person you envisioned yourself with. So, there is a bit of resistance to that and you want them to fit into this little box that you had them in when you first met them. You just want to stay in that little box of love and season two kind of blows that up a little bit. I think that is so important to see that because so much of the mainstream media is you only see the falling in love part in a film. Like with Romeo & Juliet, you don’t really get to see much afterwards because they die. You don’t get to see their relationship. In a lot of love stories, you see the intimal falling in love, but the story ends after the first kiss. But what happens after that? That’s a lifetime of trials and tribulations and mistakes. So, in season three I think it is about that deeper level of recognizing that this person maybe isn’t the person you envisioned spending the rest of your life with and there is this heartache in love. Then, there is going to be challenges and it is work to make something like that work. I think that is so important to see that it is not just love and fairytale happy endings. The fairytale is maybe figuring out how to coexist with someone in harmony, knowing you’re different people and knowing you have different challenges to work through.

Natasha: My perspective on Season One was not really love or true love. It was very much an infatuation, in my opinion. It was very much lust at first sight. It was a lot of lust, new feelings and confusion. So, what I think is interesting about Season Three is you do see the love part and what that means. It is not just shallow attraction. Love can also be a very deep friendship and partnership. I think Carmilla in Season Two and towards the end sort of realizes that it was sort of an infatuation. But then she does come to love Laura.

Q) Will fans be happy with the ending of Season Three?

Elise: I don’t’ see how anyone could be disappointed in this season. I feel like I fell in love with the series this season. It has always had a special place in my heart, but I feel this year – I am so proud of what we created this year. I think it just takes everything to a whole new level. I’m really excited for people to see it.

Natasha: I hope they will be happy with it. Something that the internet has taught me, or what I’ve learned from working on the internet, is that you can never please everyone. I’m sure some people might not like it, but I think they will and I truly hope they will. I know that Elise and I both in love with it.

Q) Being Carmilla and Laura, what have you learned personally about each other over the course of the series?

Natasha: I think a big theme this year is that it is better to do things together. That despite being scared, it’s better to go to that deeper level of love instead of the sort of frustrations. Laura and Carmilla have these frustrations with each other in season two and I think a lot of that comes from being scared at what they have. That is something that I have definitely brought into my life this year and that is something that the script has in Season Three. Love is worth the risk. I’m starting to live my life that way and I think that getting to go through that scene with an actor that is as open and honest as Natasha, I really got to feel that this year. Big kudos to Natasha!

Natasha: I feel the same way. I’m just so impressed with the amount of growing that you have done, Elise. It’s been really cool to watch you. You’re such an inspiring actor and I’ve learned a lot about acting and that process from Elise as well. She can be a little stubborn like Laura…It’s been really nice to surrender to each other sometimes. Much like Carmilla and Laura were assigned to live in the same dorm room, we were very much assigned to each other and maybe not engaged with each other had we not worked together. We’re very different, but also have very common goals. We are equally as passionate and love the same things about our craft. So, just finding similarities has allowed us to have a much deeper connection. We’re just very honest with each other. I think that’s what we have both learned. It’s much better to say the truth right away. Communicating is the biggest thing. Even if we are stressed out, we make sure to talk about it and check in with each other and that’s really cool. Before we shoot things we make sure we meet up and even check in with each other on a personal level. Bringing that into our work really helps.

Q) What do you want fans to keep in mind with the ending of the series?

Elise: It was interesting to me that people were upset with Laura last year. I think, for me, I totally understand. Reading the script, I was frustrated with her. I think one of the most important things to remember is that web series, film and television – the stories that people put out there are put out so that people can learn and grow from them. I would say that to go into the third season with an open heart, willing to see yourself in every character and willing to watch it going, “What can I learn from this and what can they teach me? What did I maybe not know about myself before watching this show?” That would be my advice.

Natasha: I think also remembering that not everything is black and white and that in life there are a lot of gray areas. Despite that fact that Carmilla is an ancient being, she was once a human and still has a lot of human-like qualities. Part of being human is being very flawed and making mistakes. I think a big thing to know is to not put either character on a pedestal.

 

*CONFERENCE CALL*