Savannah Kennick – Holidays

By: Lisa Steinberg

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

A) I’m working on a lot of different things, but Holidays is my newest one. I’m being very picky now and my standards are very high because of this. I’m keeping my integrity as an artist!

Q) What was your audition like for the film and did your role end up evolving since that audition?

A) I was actually really lucky. When I got to audition for this role, I was given a lot of preparation time, which doesn’t happen with auditions. Normally, you get the script the night before, you kind figure out where it is going and then you have to go into the room and go “Oh screw it! I’m just going to do whatever happens in the moment.” But I had a couple of days to really work on this, which is my favorite thing so I can research and understand the character. After I got the role, I met with co-directors/writers Dennis [Widmyer] and Kevin [Kolsch]. She changed a little bit from when I first got the audition. I got about fifteen pages of backstory and that was amazing! I really stuck with what my instincts were with her though. I had to because I had to really understand where everything was coming from. I don’t necessarily agree with what she does because she is kind of crazy. But I had to really understand her.

Q) How did you prepare for the role?

A) I would go home and journal what I thought her entries would be because I really wanted to get this stuff right. You can look at the page and go, “Wow! She’s just this crazy bully.” Or you can understand why she is the person she is the way she is and I really wanted to understand why.

Q) What did you add to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) It was actually funny because I never showed our writers or directors anything of the backstory I created, but I just found it the other day when I moved! I wrote about her home life, friends, her childhood and her family. I wrote the jobs her parents had and her favorite food. I really poured a lot into it.

Q) What did you find challenging about your portrayal?

A) I think any movie getting made is a complete miracle happening and it is all a challenge. The process is a lot of work, but very rewarding at the same time. I think the hardest part though for me was the physical stamina. We filmed a really intense scene for my character at the end and I did all the stunts. I really went for it, but the physical stamina was a new aspect for me. I didn’t really understand that I would be getting four hours of sleep, but needing a clear mind to be ready to go for twelve hours.

Q) How did you shake off the character after filming?

A) I didn’t really have the energy to do anything. I would just come home, take a shower and then fall asleep on my couch. I didn’t really have time to do much.

Q) What advice or guidance did the directors gave you that you took to heart?

A) It was funny because I had forgotten about it until opening night when I saw the directors. They pointed out that right before the locker room scene we had to do like forty minutes of rehearsal because I just couldn’t bring myself to be so mean! They told me, “No, Savannah, you have to give us more!” I got so angry when I was rehearing with Dennis, one of our directors and writers, that I actually spit on him! They were really helpful and hands-on. I really appreciate working with people like that because they made me feel like I could go on set and do anything and it would be okay. There would be no judgement.

Q) The movie premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. What kind of feedback have you been receiving to it?

A) I think the most incredible feedback I have gotten was taking my parents to see it and my dad saying, “Savannah, remind me to never piss you on or sleep with my eyes closed if I do.” That was probably the greatest so far. I haven’t read any of the reviews. I don’t feel very comfortable doing that. I haven’t read any reviews because the project means a lot to me. Everyone has their opinions and the right to their opinions. If you liked it, great. If you don’t, that’s okay, too! I see plenty of films that I don’t enjoy and plenty of films that I love.

Q) What are some of your favorite horror films?

A) My mom is a psych nerd so I grew up watching Silence of the Lambs so I would be like eight years old talking about Hannibal Lector at school. The teachers were like, “Is there something wrong with this girl?” [laughs] I love the horror genre and I realize I laugh a lot in horror movies when people die, which I know is a bit weird. But my dad does the same thing so it’s his fault.

Q) What have you taken away from your time working on the film?

A) I took a lot away from it. You learn about yourself whenever you are working on a job as an actor since you are not yourself for like fourteen hours a day. You learn a lot about separating the character from you because otherwise it is exhausting. You have to learn to let things go. The biggest thing I learned was to let go and not hold on. I learned not to torture myself for my art, so to speak.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with our readers?

A) Go see the movie! I have no makeup on in the whole thing so it is really exciting!