Sara Canning – Amish Abduction

By: Lisa Steinberg

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

A) I’m doing sort of sporadic episodes for “Nancy Drew” on The CW. It’s been a really great thing to be a part of. I have also done a web series called “Hospital Show” that is being released one episode at a time on YouTube. They are very short, little comedic episodes. That is what I’m most excited about right now because the whole cast is wonderful. It’s basically about actors on a hospital show. It’s been such a joy to work on and to get to know everyone. It’s a lot different than anything I’ve gotten to do in the past. I’m also developing a feature film that I’m going to direct. I’ve been developing it through a screenwriting program. It’s busy, but good. That’s when I feel my best. I also did an independent film with some friends of mine that hasn’t been released yet called An Awkward Balance. We rehearsed it as a play for a month and then we shot it. I think I had two days off and then I did Amish Abduction and then I had three days off and then I did the “Hospital Show” web series.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the movie Amish Abduction?

A) Honestly, one of my closest friends Ali Liebert directed it and she approached me about the project. And I would do anything with her. [laughs] I was interested in the character as well. I’ve always been interested in really devout faith, just from a character standpoint. I think it’s kind of a fascinating way to approach a story and the character’s motivation. Also, Ali was sort of hand picking the cast and there were a lot of people I admire in the film. The people who play my parents are some of my absolute favorite actors and very close friends. It just felt like it was going to be a very tight-knit family.

Q) What did you find challenging about your portrayal?

A) Yeah, I think just the fact that the film lives in this sort of thriller genre it was trying to keep things really true to how this character is experiencing this very tumultuous thing in her life. And not catering too much to a genre and more to what felt true to the character. Ali was super helpful with that because she is an actor herself. So, she’s very protective of the character arc and making sure everything is truthful and not just serving, “Oh, this needs to feel a certain way because it’s a thriller.”

Q) Was there anything you added to the role that wasn’t in the initial breakdown?

A) We certainly sat and talked a lot about the characters. I won’t say which character dynamics, but between Ali and myself and Andrew McIlroy (who plays my dad), we kind of talked about community dynamics that I think really brought a lot to certain scenes just in how certain characters are outliers. Through their religious views how they treat people. There were certainly a lot of discoveries.

Q) Did you do any research into the Amish community for the film?

A) Yes, it did. I think I’d already researched the Amish community because I think I’ve always been really interested in niche groups. I’m just really kind of fascinated by world religions. So, I had already kind of looked into sort of what the core fundamentals of what the Amish lifestyle are and the Amish faith. I certainly did more research when I was getting ready to play this role.

Q) How did you shake off a long day of filming?

A) [laughs] I actually shot this film during a very busy time. I honestly don’t know if I shook it off. [chuckles] There were a few of us who would share a van home and even though we knew each other well we would just kind of be very irreverent and silly with each other. That kind of breaks up the day of playing a devout religious woman. It was having friends around.

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

A) Because my brain is sort of living in the realm of about to direct a student film in January and I have my own film I want to direct. So, I’m thinking really cinematically. There are few things that happen in the woods where Annie is looking for her son and overhearing conversations she’s not supposed to be hearing. And saying things that she’s not supposed to be saying. I just remember little smidgens of it and it’s really cinematic and almost feels like it’s from a Grimm fairytale world. Those were great to shoot because otherwise we’re in very quiet homes. Then, there are scenes in the city as well. Definitely shooting in the Amish village and sweeping landscape were cool because I like those things aesthetically.

Q) What did you take away from your time working on this movie?

A) It was a real joy to work with my friends. It was sort of a really busy…I was going through a lot of shifts in my own personal life at that time. To just be amongst people who really supported each other and wanted to make the best possible film that we could and support each other creatively was the best. We had a dinner afterwards to really celebrate Ali since it was her feature directorial debut. I just remember thinking how fortunate to feel a part of the community. I think it’s one of the biggest reasons that I do what I do. That feeling of creative community is extremely important to me.

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

A) Yeah! Definitely. [laughs] That’s sort of when social media feels really nice because I’m pretty cognizant of how much time I spend on it. It’s always special when people tell you what they feel about a project. It’s always exciting.

Q) What else would you like to be sure our readers know about your time on the film?

A) It’s just having a creative family around you is like the best feeling ever.

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

A) Thank you! It’s never lost on me that there is a reason why I get to do what I do. That’s what I love the most. I’m extremely grateful for that.