INTERVIEW: EVELYN BONELLA

I N T E RV I E W EVELYN BONELLA

INTERVIEWED BY JAKOB LEWIS BARNES

Here at JumpCut we are extremely passionate about suppor�ng independent film, from produc�on companies and their exci�ng projects, to the talented actors who bring these visions to life on screen. So when we were introduced to the White Lady Produc�ons team at the start of this year and we learned about the funding campaign for their web series White Crow and the accompanying ac�ng prize package they were offering, we naturally wanted to help them in any way we could.

This gave us the perfect opportunity to provide an emerging actor with a spotlight by offering an interview with ourselves as part of the compe��on prizes. I am delighted to introduce you to the winner, Evelyn Bonella, who has quickly become one of the most kind, suppor�ve and passionate members of our online community.

So Evelyn, the age old ques�on that all actors face - what is it that first inspired you to go into ac�ng?

Ac�ng happened for me because of the actors I was inspired by, icons such as Elizabeth Taylor in Na�onal Velvet, which as a girl growing up on a farm with horses I felt a connec�on to and believed ac�ng was possible. This really began to form when I took ac�ng classes at school and I experienced how entertaining others created so much enjoyment for all involved. From there I went into youth theatre, and then drama school and university, before more recently training for the screen.

How have you found the transi�on from stage to screen ac�ng?

Transi�oning from stage to screen has been an incredible experience and as I fall in love with the technical process as well as maintaining the spontaneity in my performances, the work remains natural and ins�nc�ve.

I also think of my experience with musicianship as my secret weapon, with film and TV requiring very specific �ming that has a natural cadence to it.

How important do you think it is for an actor to be as versa�le as possible, with skills like singing and being able to move between different mediums?

Being part of the entertainment industry is such a gi� and having the ability to entertain with skills such as singing are definitely great and the ability to ar�culate them in different mediums is essen�ally how an actor makes for a combined performance, that’s the cra� of ac�ng.

And you write screenplays too? Can you tell us a li�le about what you are working on at the moment?

There’s a psychological thriller I’ve wri�en called Ghosted, a film which is very similar in structure to the sonata form in music, but with Ghosted the very nature is ambiguous and unresolved. I am also working on a show �tled Loot which is about four visionary women from Italy, Ireland, India and Africa, who all immigrated to England circa 1910 who essen�ally seek emancipa�on and educa�on around the era preceding the suffrage�e movement and the Russian revolu�on. At a �me of societal unrest, these women fall prey to a violent underworld where they learn to protect each other in a bid for progressiveness and freedom.

They sound great! Do you find that wri�ng your own roles is perhaps the best way to forge an opening in such a compe��ve industry?

I think wri�ng your own roles can help you gain insight into your own innate characteris�cs that can hopefully get you cast, be it comedic elements or complex characters. However, I’m a firm believer in not reinven�ng the wheel, so belief in yourself and your own unique ability is everything in this industry.

I know you have taken part in a lot of ac�ng workshops too, can you tell us about these experiences and what you have gained from them?

Part of the wonder of being an actor is the discovery of new insights and techniques, knowing this is an art and it’s subjec�ve, workshops and working with a teacher and director allow for the process of evalua�on for an actor.

We are having this conversa�on, of course, thanks to the exci�ng compe��on you won with the White Crow team. Can you tell us about the prize package you won and the experience you’ve had since winning?

Since winning the compe��on with the White Crow team I’ve been introduced to Darren and Alex at VShowcards in launching their new site, which is a great way for actors to profile themselves. Adam at the Unstoppable Ac�ng Studio has also launched his studio and my coaching with him led to a posi�ve audi�on result! I’m looking forward to my headshots with James Ward Photography to showcase the roles I can play, too. I have to say a big thanks you to Dave at White Lady Indie Produc�ons who gave me great advice to develop my wri�ng and the White Crow Team who have exci�ng announcements ahead. And of course, the opportunity for this interview with you guys at JumpCut Online, which is now my favourite film read of the decade - you guys are so suppor�ve to the ac�ng community!

And finally, what does the future hold for Evelyn Bonella? Any projects lined up? Where would you like to be in, say, 5 years �me?

Coming up for me is a comedy role I’m researching and developing for a project called The Wrong Colour Blue which is about music, mayhem, mishaps and millennials. My five year plan involves ambi�ons such as playing the lead in a prime �me TV Series and ge�ng stuck into more film projects, and most importantly learning more about the filmmaking process from actors and directors I admire.

Support Showroom

As Sheffield’s original and leading independent cinema, Showroom Cinema has been bringing the best of indie film and events to the community for 25 years. Their films are programmed by an in-house team, which enables them to screen a diverse programme of films from across the globe. On 18th March 2020 the cinema had to close its doors due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. As a registered charity your support makes a huge difference and they want to be ready and wai�ng for the community when they're allowed to re-open.

Head to their website to find out the various ways you can support them www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/support-us

WELCOME TO ISSUE #4 EVERYONE!

As always, Iʼd like to thank you for supporting our wide cast of writers by purchasing this issue. Weʼve all experienced stories in gaming that have captured our hearts, excited us and made us cry all the same. At the core of that experience is a superlative team of actors working tirelessly to transport us to other worlds with their voices, their words, their emotions. Weʼre also incredibly honoured to have an immense artist from this world join us, as Agent 47 himself sat down with our own Aaron Bayne to discuss his Hitman legacy. This issue is a love letter and tribute to the art of performance capture, packed full of features born from passion and admiration.

Sam Comrie

Editor in Chief