I was born in the US but did most of my growing up in New Zealand. Where I started acting in film and TV stuff as a child. I’ve always loved movies. So, I eventually decided to study Film and Theater/Media. I studied at The University of Otago in NZ and UC Berkeley here in California. I studied film and theatre because I love all facets of it -acting, writing, directing, the whole deal. I moved out to LA a couple years after college and studied improv and writing at Upright Citizen’s Brigade. The Groundlings, and acted in Comedy Central Studios‘ web project Bro Dependent. Some independent Features including IFC’s Entrance-and then got to be part of this cool Ridley Scott project!
indieactivity: How did you get on to the Phoenix Forgotten project?
Florence Hartigan (FH): I had worked with our director Justin Barber and one of our producers. Wes Ball (who directed The Maze Runner franchise) on some commercials and music videos. So, Justin asked me to be part of the initial test shoot for the film. I initially didn’t know if I was going to get to be a part of the feature length project. So, I was super excited to get to audition. Even more excited to get to play Sophie in the film.
Would you describe Phoenix Forgotten as a big movie, in terms of what you have done before?
Florence Hartigan (FH): We made the movie on a pretty small budget. So the actual process of making the film felt like most of the filmmaking experiences I’ve had before. I’ve worked on some larger budget stuff too of course. But, I’m also pretty familiar by now with the indie film scene! There was that sense of teamwork and coming together to make the most of everything. With this and all you can to get the best possible result with what you have. That indie spirit was really present on set.
Once the film is reaches completion we also had the benefit of working with Cinelou. And Scott Free-with Ridley Scott’s name on a project it opens some doors which is nice. So, it was pretty amazing to see a film I worked on on so many billboards. That was new for me and pretty exciting!
How much work; creative, energy or focus did you put into your scenes on Phoenix Forgotten?
Florence Hartigan (FH): I love acting, so when I get a juicy role I don’t hold back. I did a ton of work to make sure my character, Sophie, felt like a real person. Like a real person who has lost someone. My character loses her brother at a young age. And in a sense loses her family as well. As they fall apart trying to deal with her brother’s disappearance).
The premise of the film is that Sophie is making a documentary trying to unravel the mystery of her brother’s disappearance, so to play her I wanted to make sure I not only was prepared for the emotional gravity of this role, but also prepared to make a doc like she would.
I did a lot of the research she would do-I researched the facts of our “case”, I looked into real missing persons cases, and protocols in missing persons cases in Arizona. I listened to hours of Terry Gross and Chana Joffe-Walt for interviewer inspiration! I watched Werner Herzog docs. In the film I actually interview real Phoenix residents about their opinions and experiences, so I got to stand in the director’s shoes at certain moments, so I wanted to make sure I was prepared and comfortable with that.
