indieactivity: How did you get connected to the project? Did you have to audition?
Jenna Kenney (JK): I knew about the project through Paul Day the writer and also on Facebook. In a way I kind of did Audition. I took weekly classes at Angel Studios for years and the Director of Magdala Rose owns the studio, so he watched me develop as an Actor over the years. There were other Actors who auditioned for my character but in the end the Director chose me for the part, which I’m really grateful for.
What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Jenna Kenney (JK): I was already on the project before I had the opportunity to read the whole script. After I did read it, I think the thing that was most challenging was the accent and mannerisms. We had to make sure no shortened words like ‘they’re’ slipped out because speech in the 13th century is a lot different to how it is now.
You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Jenna Kenney (JK): What keeps me working is getting to meet and work with so many incredible people. Seeing people put their heart and soul into a project and helping each other out. Indie’s don’t always have the big budgets so sometimes everyone needs to jump in and help where they can.
Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Jenna Kenney (JK): This might sound funny, but I received directions on how to peel parsnips! There was a specific way to do it and even after being told I was still awful at it and the parsnips didn’t look so good either.
How did you create your character from ground up?
Jenna Kenney (JK): Esclarmonde was a real person so I didn’t exactly start from scratch. I started with finding as much information about her as I could (there wasn’t a lot) and from there I read the script as much as I could and found her relationships and what she thought about others.
As support cast on the film, describe the feeling of responsibility that you shouldered. Where you scared? Or did it fire you up? What scenes where difficult to shoot?
Jenna Kenney (JK): It definitely fired me up! The most difficult scene to film was one of the throne room scenes. There were six of us with lines and it’s probably a 5 minute scene and it was difficult to listen for your next line but not make it look like you’re waiting.
