Sonya Salomaa – Chasing A Dream

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  I finished working on season three of “The Collector,” which wrapped in Budapest in November.  Since then I have completed a Lifetime movie called The Ties That Bind. 

Q.  What can you tell us about the premise for the film Black Eyed Dog and about your character?

A.  The premise for The Black Eyed Dog is about a woman named Betty who has always wanted to follow her dreams of becoming Canada’s next Joni Mitchell, but now at thirty all she does is work in a diner.  The film gets into her remorse and regret as to why she hasn’t followed her dreams as well as the anger she has to everyone else that she blames for her lack of success.  This, set inside a mysterious tale of murder and mayhem sets the stage for a wonderfully written movie laden with metaphors and symbolisms of all of our fears that we face when trying to go beyond our day to day lives.  I play Betty, she was a very challenging character for me to play as she was downtrodden by life.  She got into my body and really dragged me down.  She also reminded me a lot of people I know in my life and gave me a new empathy that I had not seen or felt before.  Betty takes a real journey in this movie and comes to a definite resolution by the end of the film and we realize that no matter what the outcome may be, Betty has made a choice and in that choice their is her empowerment. 

Q.  What made you want to be a part of this project?

A.  I have always wanted to be a part of a brilliantly written film.

Q.  How was getting to work with director Pierre Gang on this film?

A.  I am in love with Pierre.  We do not need to speak with one another anymore because we are now able to read one another’s minds.  He is honest, candid, receptive and beautiful.

Q.  Do you have a most memorable moment from working on Black Eyed Dog?

A.  My most memorable moment was a very small scene that I was doing with Fred Ewanuick at the end of the film.  Although the scene did not call for it at all, I was unable to stop crying.  Fred is truly the most open and available actor I have ever worked with and for some reason every scene I had with him I either was uncontrollably laughing or crying.  This scene, however, was incredibly moving to me for some reason and quite difficult to get through but truly memorable because I felt something very real.

Q.  Why should viewers take the time to check out this project?

A.  Because it is a film that every human with a dream will relate to.  It will either inspire you or or depress you but you will feel something.

Q.  At the end of the film you play a song that you wrote.  How did composing the song come about?

A.  I was originally supposed to play a Joni Mitchell song to end the film.  However, just after we finished blocking that scene, I went back to my trailer and got a knock on my door.  It was Pierre, he told me that unfortunately, they just found out that they had not gotten the rights to the song.  We had ten minutes before we were to shoot the scene.  I freaked out a little bit and then told Pierre not to worry about it, I would have a song for him in ten minutes.  Years ago I wrote music and played and sang at open mics and such.  So, I got on the phone with an old friend who knew me who knew me then and asked if he could help me remember anything.  After ten minutes or so I pieced together a verse and a chorus that I thought might fit the film and made Pierre promise me that I could finish the true song in post.  Well, it worked out and that truly could have been one of my most proud moments to date. 

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  In my spare time I like to go for walkabouts, read books, drink wine with my friends and eat.

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession?  Are you into any particular book, music group, sport or activity?

A.  My most recent favorite book is an old one but a new one for me which I am obsessive about and it’s The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. 

Q.  Now that it is 2006, what are you most looking forward to this year?

A.  The surprises that life throws my way and marrying my love on some tropical island.

Q.  What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A.  Thank you, let’s keep truckin’ on!