The Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries project came to me through my agent. And, I auditioned for it. I was immediately drawn to it for a few different reasons. The faith aspect of the story really stood out to me. I was also really intrigued by the Amish aspect because, it was a world I hadn’t gotten to explore before. I thought it would be really interesting to learn about the culture. And, the community and then get to bring that into the character and the story.
Once I started learning more about the project and the character, I became even more excited about it. I love getting to work on stories that have a mystery. Or something that keeps you guessing, but also have a lot of heart underneath that. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries has that combination of mystery, faith, family, friendship, and community. So it felt like a really special project to be a part of.
indieactivity: How did you prepare for the film and approach playing the role?
Riley Beeson (RB): Preparing for this role was definitely one of the most fun parts. Because, I got to do so much research about the Amish. I spent a lot of me learning about their communities, their culture, and their traditions. And just trying to understand what everyday life can look like within an Amish community. There were so many li le details that I found really interesting.
Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries | Official Trailer
One of the coolest experiences was getting to go to Sugarcreek, Ohio. This is my first me and actually stay in Amish Country for three weeks. Being there in person was completely different from just reading about it or watching videos. You get to see the area, experience the environment, and really take in the atmosphere of the community. It helped me understand the world that Esther lives in. It gave me so much more to draw from when I was on set.
What was it like playing such an intense character of Esther Miller?
Riley Beeson (RB): Esther was actually such a fun character to play because she’s very upbeat and kind. But, she’s also very grounded. I really loved that combination in her. She has this positive energy and is someone who genuinely cares about the people around her. But, at the same me she’s very grounded in who she is and what she believes. I think that balance made her really interesting to play because she isn’t just one thing.
She can be lighthearted and happy, but she can also be serious when she needs to be. She has a strong sense of herself, and I really enjoyed getting to explore that side of her. There are definitely some more intense moments throughout the story, and those were fun to dive into as an actor. But, I also really enjoyed the quieter moments with Esther. Sometimes you learn just as much about a character from the little moments. As you do from the big dramatic ones. Getting to find all of those different sides of her was probably one of my favorite things about the role.
How did you find collaborating with the director?
Riley Beeson (RB): Working with Sandra Martin was so much fun. She is an incredible director, and I really loved getting to collaborate with her. She has such a great understanding of the story and the characters, but she also creates an environment where you feel comfortable trying things and bringing your own ideas to the table. I really appreciate working with directors who trust their actors and allow there to be a conversa on about the character. Sandra was wonderful about that. We could talk through a scene, figure out what was working, and really make sure we were telling the story in the best way possible.
What drove you to want to tell this particular story?
Riley Beeson (RB): The faith aspect was probably one of the first things that really caught my attention when I auditioned. I thought it was really meaningful to have a story where faith is part of the characters’ lives and the community, but where there is also a mystery and a lot of things happening within the story. The Amish aspect was also really intriguing to me because it was a culture and community that I hadn’t personally gotten to explore in a role before.
I knew there was going to be a lot for me to learn, and I actually really enjoyed that part of the process. I love when a role gives you an opportunity to learn something outside of yourself. I also think the relationships are such an important part of Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries. The mystery draws you in, but the characters and their relationships are what make you care about what happens. That’s always something I’m attracted to in a story. I want the audience to be invested in the people, not just in figuring out the mystery.
Were the any specific moments on set that you reflect on as special?
Riley Beeson (RB): There are honestly so many amazing memories from being on set. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is a set like no other, and I think a lot of that comes from the people. When you’re working on something for a while, you really start to become a li le family, and there are so many li le moments that happen between takes or when you’re just hanging out on set that you end up remembering forever. One of my favorite memories was from Season 1. We were on a smaller sound stage, so all of our sets were really close together.
The “Swiss Miss Store” and the “Miller Home” were so close that you could practically step into the next room. Our cinematographer, Isaac Alongi, started making this joke at the end of a scene whenever we were switching to another set. He would say, “You’re on the wrong set!!” It became this recurring joke between everyone. It was so silly, but those are the kinds of things that make a set really special. It became such a familiar joke that we still use it to this day, even though our sets are a bit more spread out now.
What is next for you?
Riley Beeson (RB): I am currently writing a script for my book Letters to Heaven, so I’m really hoping to do something with that in the future. That’s something I’m really excited about because I’ve been able to spend me developing the story and figuring out how I would want to bring it to the screen. It’s been really fun getting to explore the writing side of storytelling more.
As an actor, you’re usually coming into a story that someone else has written, so getting to work on something from the beginning and think about the characters, the world, and how everything comes together is a completely different experience. So hopefully Letters to Heaven will be something I get to bring to life in the future. Beyond that, I’m just excited to keep ac ng, keep learning, and hopefully get to tell a lot more stories that mean something to me.
What advice do you give aspiring actors?
Riley Beeson (RB): I would say the biggest thing is just to keep going. This industry can have a lot of ups and downs, and there are going to be auditions where you don’t get the part and moments where you wonder if something is going to work out. But I think it’s really important not to let one reject on define how you feel about yourself or your abilities. Every audition is an opportunity to learn something, even if you don’t book the job.
You get to practice, you get to meet people, and you get a little more comfortable with the process each me. And eventually, the right opportunity comes along. I would also say to stay curious. One of my favorite things about ac ng is that every role gives you an excuse to learn about something new. With Esther, I got to learn so much about the Amish and their communities, and that ended up being one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. Don’t be afraid to do the research and really immerse yourself in the world of your character.
And most importantly, don’t lose the reason you started ac ng in the first place. There can be so much focus on auditions, bookings, numbers, and everything that comes along with the industry, but at the end of the day, it should be about loving the work and loving storytelling. If you keep that at the center of what you do, I think it makes all of the ups and downs a little easier to navigate.
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