Amnesia can entail much more than simply forgetting. Rising actress Nicole Souza unravels her past and present starring in the acclaimed dramatic indie film 32 Weeks, currently available on Amazon Prime, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and other streaming platforms.
From writer and director Brian Cavallaro, the socially conscious drama follows Cole (Souza), a young woman suffering from amnesia after a car accident who cannot remember the last 32 weeks of her life. Cole finds herself torn between the new man in her life that she does not recognize and her ex who she is unable to forget.
Stepping into the role of Cole came natural for Souza, adding that Cavallaro wrote the character with her in mind, which allowed her to genuinely relate to the character’s experiences. Since initially premiering on the festival circuit and then releasing online, 32 Weeks won the Audience Choice Award at the Rome International Film Festival as well as received accolades from numerous critics praising Souza’s performance, including from Film Threat and Fantastica Daily.
Hailing from Philadelphia, Souza discovered acting at a young age and went on to pursue her passion studying production and acting at Temple University. She first distinguished herself working with Cavallaro on his mystery-horror film Against the Night alongside Frank Whaley. She has also established a solid reputation in the indie film scene appearing in notable shorts including Aluminum Heart, Our Nightly Fling, and Our Weekly Binge.
indieactivity: Briefly explain your role in the new film 32 Weeks.
Nicole Souza (NS): My character, Cole, is a girl in her early 20s, living in Los Angeles. I would describe her as an introvert surrounded by extroverts. She is a violinist and music is really the most important thing in her life. She doesn’t have much family, which is what makes her friendship, specifically with Hannah, Nicole Rainteau, so important to her. The film follows Cole after she suffers a car accident and in turn forgets the last 32 weeks of her life, along with her two most recent love interests. Throughout the film, Cole uses her friends, social media, and her violin to help uncover the mysteries of the last 32 weeks.
What was your first impression of Cole?
Nicole Souza (NS): After reading the script in its entirety for the first time, Cole reminded me quite a bit of myself! I felt for her. What a horrible position to be in, you know? To wake up with a bruised body, alone in a hospital, and no memory of how it happened. The way Cole was written, and how she approached the situation was honestly, exactly how I imagine I would approach the situation. Attempting to remain positive and have a sense of humor about the situation at times. How else can you survive such a traumatic event? Cole is strong and independent. I am always rooting for her. She looks out for herself. She doesn’t apologize for who she is. While I relate to Cole in a lot of ways, there are also a lot of ways in which I wish I could be more like her.
What helped you create this character? And, was there a specific moment when you knew you were fully prepared?
Nicole Souza (NS): Brian Cavallaro, the writer, and director provided me with a lot of creative freedom, which I am grateful for. We rehearsed some of the bigger scenes, but for a lot of scenes, we just talked about its importance and the motivation behind Cole’s actions throughout it. I researched memory loss and temporary amnesia in younger individuals and spoke with my mother who works in a brain trauma unit as well to prepare. But honestly, the most important thing for me in creating and understanding Cole was building relationships with my costars.
Because I had so much freedom with Cole, and Brian wanted a really raw and natural approach, I felt developing strong connections with the people I would be working with for several weeks was my priority. I don’t think there was one single moment I felt ready to take on Cole. I was preparing for the role in my apartment in New York at the time and my familiarity with Los Angeles was minimal, so I had some difficulty placing Cole and the film in the beginning. The moment I stepped out of the airport in LA though, I remember feeling a sense of “readiness”. This was the biggest opportunity of my career so far, and something about taking a moment to breathe in the LA air – it sounds so corny.
But I knew I was ready to give this role my all. Of course, there are moments now that I’ll always think “I should have done that differently” or “Why did I make that choice?,” but overall, I am really happy with the film and my performance.
What made you want to work with director Brian Cavallaro again? How do you think this impacted your performance?
Nicole Souza (NS): Against the Night, the first film I worked on with Brian, was my first feature film. I was 19 at the time and just completely terrified of this big opportunity. But the moment I walked on set, I felt totally at ease. Brian has a way of making someone instantly feel comfortable. I’ll admit, as an actor, I can still get self-conscious sometimes. It is something I am working on every day. But I never felt that way with Brian. I was never afraid to try something different or fall completely into my emotions.
He has such a clear understanding of the creative process and gives actors space and flexibility they need to perform which I am so grateful for. Brian and I built a really great friendship after Against the Night and when he reached out to me for 32 Weeks I was literally like a little girl on Christmas. I had just moved to New York, was totally broke, my rent was insane, but I knew this was far too big an opportunity to pass up. I don’t think there is any other director I could have worked with on this project who could have gotten this performance out of me. I think we have a great relationship, both on and offset, and he understands me really well as an actor. I am so grateful for that. Not many actors encounter someone like that in their career, so I consider myself very fortunate.
How do you keep things fresh during long hours on set?
Nicole Souza (NS): You know, this is a great question. I think a long day on set has some natural ups and downs in terms of energy. On days that required more emotional energy, Brian made sure to allot more time so we could take a step back when needed. I definitely have a tendency to joke around, even on the more serious days, which I am sure Brian would say is a blessing and a curse. It helps me to feel at ease and recenter during the relaxed moments so I can be as present as possible when filming and totally engaged.
Tensions can get high when things aren’t going as planned, so I try to give space as needed, and to help with things I know I can actually help with. It is helpful for me to remember that a long day or a stressful moment is simply a small blip in time for a lifelong achievement. Allowing low energy or frustration to take over is a dangerous place to be when you only have one opportunity to shoot a scene. That always kept me going. Maybe that sounds dark and intense, but if I could balance that ideology while taking advantage of the relaxed moments through the day and keeping things fun and lighthearted, I was always in a good place.
Any other tips for actors you’d like to share?
NS: I feel like whatever advice I give, I need to take myself. Being an actor is hard. A lot of the time it can feel like the industry is working against you. But what has helped me along my way is remembering that the reason why I act isn’t for anyone but myself. Success, money, fame – they all sound great, but they aren’t my driving force. My driving force is the fact that there is no other career that brings me as much joy and happiness as acting does. If acting is your passion, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Don’t judge yourself for wanting to be an actor. Appreciate the small wins. Keep on auditioning. Keep on submitting. Take breaks when you need it. Nurture your artist. Don’t take things personally. As generic as this all may be, it is the best advice I can give. If you practice these in your everyday life, the rest will follow.
What made you want to be an actor?
NS: I have always enjoyed performing and watching movies and TV, but I didn’t really start acting until college. I started my undergraduate degree as a chemical engineering major. When I switched into the communications department, I met a lot of film students who needed actors for their student films and I always happily volunteered as a fun thing to do on the side. But the more involved I became in these films, the more I realized how much joy acting and the film world bring me. I didn’t have a lot of support in the beginning, which is natural. What parent hears their kid say, “I want to be an actor” and jumps with joy? It is a hard path to choose.
But after performing in my college’s production of Marat/Sade as Charlotte Corday, I knew there was no other path. Even if I doubted myself at times, I knew in that moment I would never find another career or passion that would bring me as much fulfillment and joy as acting does. Learning a character, loving the character, becoming the character – there is no other industry that encourages you to explore your emotions, confront your wounds, get mad, get happy, get sad, get crazy. To put it simply, acting is playing. And I want a lifetime of playing.
Nicole Souza Theatrical Reel: Featuring clips from the feature films “32 Weeks” and “Against the Night”
Who is your creative idol and how have they impacted you?
NS: Indya Moore, Joaquin Phoenix, and Charlize Theron are three actors that not only inspire me with their talent but with their stories. I have always found inspiration in actors that find success after experiencing a traumatic event or difficult childhood. They use their history to become stronger actors. I find that really beautiful. I hope to learn from them and take things from my own life that at times can hold me back and use them to push me further. A lot can be learned from people like them, no matter what industry or lifestyle you lead. They have completely eliminated excuses and “if only” from their life. They are talented, dedicated, and strong – they are what I hope to be one day.
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