Katie Goldfinch on playing ‘Sienna’ in Mark J Blackman’s ANIMUS

Katie Goldfinch is an English actress and film producer. She is a graduate of Italia Conti and has worked in the industry for many years. Katie’s exciting career has spanned major blockbusting films, TV appearances on terrestrial and satellite channels: BBC, ITV, E4 and Nickelodeon and performances in some of London’s most famous West End theatres.

Katie has built an excellent reputation as she is known for her determination and creativity. She is currently producing a short; a documentary and a TV series. We talk to her about her work on Mark .J Blackman‘s short film ANIMUS, which she acted and co-produced.

You can watch ANIMUS if you are already curious. The story follows a young couple after years apart, who are reunited under quietly tragic circumstances in this tender yet unsettling drama.

indieactivity: How did you get connected to the project?
Katie: I co-produced Animus with Johnny Sachon as a result of us deciding we wanted to make something together. We considered different ideas for a short film and agreed a simple ‘life slice’ was what we wanted to create. We brought on board Mark J Blackman who then collaborated with us to conceptualize and produce Animus.

indieactivity: As lead on the project, how did this ‘choice’ work for you?
Katie: By ‘choice’ I assume you mean my character choices as Sienna. I wanted to embody a subtle manifestation of our current societal conformities. A confidence in my direction and evident ruthless decision making that has changed my life and lives of others. Seeming to have made all the right moves to be ‘happy’ yet unfulfilled and still complicit in accepting that fact. I hope that comes across.

indieactivity: What part of the story challenged you when you read it? What drove you to get on the project?
Katie: The driving force was to create something that had space to breath. A film that wasn’t trying to say too much. Not many films do that these days. That was a challenge in itself. As an artist there is a pressure sometimes to convey poignant messages, but also to deliver something that everyone wants to watch. And it’s hard to create, when you worry about an audience’s approval. This project was different because the intention was to make something simple and great with great people. The process was organic and fully collaborative. Johnny, Mark and I workshopped and developed the writing together, which was a super refreshing way to work.

indieactivity: You’re not new to indie films. What do you enjoy about the work that keeps you working?
Katie: I love learning new creative processes. Indie projects work on shoestring budgets and thus teams resource in creative ways too. That interests and excites me. There is more camaraderie I feel in indie projects sometimes, more ‘in it for the art’ folk whose intentions are in the right place.

indieactivity: Give an example of a direction you received from the director during the production?
Katie: The ‘it was decaf, the coffee’ line, Mark asked me to zone out and not hear Johnny’s line. It really helped me make be best of the writing and anchor further into Siennas thoughts processes.

indieactivity: How did you create your character from ground up?
Katie: Sienna was birthed in the workshops that built the structure of the dialogue. Johnny, Mark and I discussed attributes we wanted to play before the writing came. So the back story was established before the script was written. Therefore my understanding of Sienna was beautifully easy to get a grip on. As her evolution developed as the entire project did.

Mark J. Blackman editing suite with Katie Goldfinch on screen in ANIMUS

indieactivity: As main 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?
Katie: I wasn’t scared working with such a fantastic team. That was the beauty of producing it too, we made the choices on team, location etc. It can be difficult to split your head between producing and acting on one project, but the team on Animus made that transition easy. Johnny Sachon is such an incredible actor and producer! I couldn’t have done it without him. t.

indieactivity: Explain one creative choice you made on set during production?
Katie: The creative choices I made were all internal character driven decisions. Everything about how it looks is down to the awesome Mark J Blackman.

indieactivity: What did you take away from the film production?
Katie: That you should always follow through with what you set out to do. .

indieactivity: What do you like most about the director, and his collaboration with his team?
Katie: Mark was great from the outset. He’s willing to get stuck in, flip things on their head and explore angles you haven’t considered yet. His energy is infectious and he commands a set amazingly well.

Katie Goldfinch & Johnny Sachon in ANIMUS (Dir. Mark J Blackman)

indieactivity: What is next for you?
Katie: Off to Cannes with my feature Crucible of the Vampire which I lead. Developing 2 projects which I’m producing and preparing for a couple of indie features which I’m acting in soon.

indieactivity: What advice do you give actors regarding what you learnt on the project?
Katie: Do less. Only think the thoughts you believe the character would think.

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