#beautiful fools

306. 

Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald

9 Questions with Heather Higginbotham 

>How did you get involved with the project? The show's creator, Steven Soria, and I have been friends and collaborators for a number of years now, and had always talked about developing a web series. We even had a couple of attempts in the past that never got off the ground. I remember he was re-reading "The Great Gatsby" when he came up with the idea for "Beautiful Fools". From there, he approached me with the role, which I took without hesitation. I always immediately fall in love with Steve's projects because he always has creative integrity. Having produced for Steve in the past, I think I fell into my role as a producer organically once I accepted the role.

>How did you balance acting and producing? This would not have been possible without the competence and general amazingness of our other head producer, Benita Robledo, who also plays Jenny. She always had my back and shared the weight, making independently producing an ambitious web series actually possible.

>Who is Scotty? Scotty is a person who proudly thinks she has things figured out, but doesn't realize how immature she actually is. That's largely because rather than focusing on herself, she places her attention on the people she loves. She's always trying to help "guide" them, and / or at least be a source of compassion and understanding. She loves Peter. In her eyes, he is her brother. She doesn't realize that what she actually does, is enable him. She's always been there for him, but to apply bandaids to his wounds, rather than get him to stop hurting himself, and that's because she can't...especially because she doesn't even realize that she doesn't know how to take care of herself. She's like an edgy/contemporary Emma Woodhouse...except also not at all.

>What do you think she brings to Peter’s life? Oh boy, well like I said, she, and really I think they both feel like they're friends who support and love each other...and they do,  but in reality they enable each other and you see the culmination of that in this first season.  

>What was it like working with director Herbert Russell? Working with Herbert was an awesome experience. I've seen his work as an actor and honestly hoped that I would one day have the opportunity to work with him closely at some capacity. SO when I found out he was interested in directing one of the episodes I had my fingers crossed that Steve would assign him an episode I was in, and he did! It was a fantastic learning experience for me. We had a lot of rehearsals, which I still appreciate. I felt incredibly supported by his confidence and commitment to bringing the episode to life.    

>What was it like working with creator Steven A. Soria? I always love working with Steve. He casts who he casts because he knows that they will bring what is necessary to his vision for the role, and that they will work well with the other people on set. Steve is the director I've worked with the most, and he's been a huge part of how I've evolved as an actor. With each new project I have grown more confident largely due to his belief in me. I trust him, his opinion, his taste, so, thank you, Steeb. Lab you.    

>You have an improv background, how did that play into the production? Performing improv always continues to improve my ability to listen and have fun, which are extremely important for an actor. A specific scene that comes to mind is *spoiler if you haven't watched it yet* the car accident in episode 2. Steve had the beats he wanted to hit, but not a written draft he was sold on. So Dom and I improvised, which was really a lot of fun. Arguing with Peter (Dom) has been a great release for me because I'm really just yelling at Steve (Steve you can delete this part).  

>What is your favorite cocktail? Honestly if they put bourbon in it I'm probably definitely down. I also like moscow mules, mojitos (thats the Miami in me, plus they're objectively good), mimosas/bellinis, I'll drink vodka sodas with lime when I'm being "healthy", wine and beer are good too but I guess that's not technically a cocktail...HONESTLY, if it's a drink I'm probably definitely down, but you know, responsibilities and stuff so I keep it to weekends...what was the questions again? Well made whiskey cocktails that are just a touch sweet...all well made cocktails...nevermind.  

>What other projects are you working on? I've recently been cast in two horror shorts, "The Sick" and "The Shed", which I'm very excited about. I am also 1/2 of a comedy duo called, "John Baxter". My other 1/2 is "Beautiful Fools" writer/producer, Anna Salinas! We are working on tons of new content so be sure to find us on facebook to get details for live shows and check our youtube for new digital sketches!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC6ae9IfUjMg9AZjvTUrmIQ/feed

Oh, oh my god, I've also been working super hard at getting caught up on Rick and Morty which is such a fucking good show oh my god. Anyway, I'm caught up now so I guess I'm not working on it again until Sunday. GAH! Thank God, "Beautiful Fools", releases new eps on Tuesday, which is before Sunday from my perspective.

>Would you return for a season 2? DUH. Why is this question even here? You-you know the answer to this already.

8 questions with Anna Salinas

>How did you get involved in the process? I got involved in the process because Steven brought me on as a producer, initially just to consult on story. Shortly after that, he invited me to co-write a few of the episodes, starting with Jenny, and eventually I became story editor. By now, I feel incredibly close to and invested in the story of Beautiful Fools; it's as if the world of BFS has taken on a life of its own.

>What was the difference between being a writer and story editor? I think the main thing is that as a writer, I'm focused on my story, and as story editor I try to think a little more broadly about what makes sense in terms of the show as a whole.

>Who is Jenny? I initially wrote Jenny as a pretty heavy handed version of myself. She was a kindergarten teacher, like I was at the time. She doodles, like I do, loves her students, even loves teaching, but still feels trapped in a life that isn't completely hers. Over time, I started developing Jenny beyond myself; she took on a life of her own, particularly when Benita signed onto the role. Jenny tends toward order--and the ways you see that play out on screen are in part a product of conversations I had with Benita. Of course, for Jenny, throughout the course of the series, that order is disrupted. It's scary for her, but it isn't something she fights. Maybe that's what draws her to Peter; his fearlessness in the face of total chaos.

>What role does Jenny play in Peter’s life? Peter sees Jenny as a fresh start. She's unconnected to the shit he's been dealing with, and the bridges he's been burning. When we fall for someone, we see them in a rosy glow. That's how Jenny sees Peter. For his part, I think he's still a little too broken by everything to match her feelings, but he enjoys her company. For now, it's light. It's simple.

>What was it like working with actress Benita Robledo when she portrayed such a personal character? Working with Benita was amazing. She's a pro. She dove head first into the character, examined every piece of the scripts I'd written to understand Jenny better. Without Benita, I don't think Jenny would have been the same person. Benita has such a natural talent for comedy; she could take what I'd written and breathe so much life and humor to each  and every scene.

>How did you convince singer/songwriter Kaela Sinclair to get involved Kaela is a good friend and from my hometown in Florida. I've always been a big fan of her music; in fact, she even once performed a few jazz standards at my parents' house while we were home from college. I'd been following her new music (her latest album Sun & Mirror is so beautiful and great) and when I imagined Jenny's tone in the series, Kaela immediately came to mind. She agreed to collaborate and wrote an absolutely perfect composition for the episode, It Was Just a Dream, which she actually just released as a single. I think if my life had a sountrack, it would be a Kaela Sinclair original score.

>Can you talk briefly about the animated sequence in the finale and what it was like to work with animation producer/animator Will Feng? Working with Will, like working with Benita, was a complete treat. I'd always dreamed of seeing my comics animated, and Will did that and so much more. He helped flesh out the ideas, worked tirelessly to make sure his animation fit the designs I'd developed, and the end product is absolutely lovely thanks to him.

>What other projects are you working on? I write comedy sketches with (BFS producer and star) Heather Higginbotham as the duo "John Baxter." We've got a Youtube channel and several new sketches due out soon. We also perform improv and sketch at comedy theaters around town, including UCB, iO West, and the Clubhouse. In addition, I I make a daily webcomic called Badcomixbyanna, which you can find on Tumblr and Instagram. I'm working on a few projects that will expand Badcomix into more than what you've seen, so I'm excited to start rolling that out.

>Would you return for a season 2? Of course! I'm already working on scripts for season 2 and excited to see our characters go on new adventures.

Check out Heather and Anna as they perform as the comedy duo “John Baxter” tonight in Los Angeles at “Church Improv” at the Clubhouse 1607 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027

producer Benita Robledo as “Jenny”

> How did you get involved with the project?

I don’t really remember, actually. I’d known Steven for a few years and we’d just finished working on a short we’d written together, And After. We were in a very collaborative place and I think at one point he said “Hey have this new idea and this is you’re character”. It was a given I’d love to be a part of it.

> How did you balance between being an actress & a producer? With a lot of help from my fellow producer Heather. Since I wasn’t in every episode it was easy for me to stay in producer mode as long as I wasn’t acting. When it came time to shoot though, Heather would take over my duties, and I could just focus on being Jenny. There’s no way I could’ve done that if I was worrying about getting everyone lunch.

> Who is Jenny? She was the girl who ate lunch in the library. Now that she’s grown up though she’s not so sure playing it safe was worth it.

> What was it like working with director Steven A. Soria? The best part about working with Steven is his willingness to see what you come up with on your own. He trusts his actors. It’s incredibly freeing.

> What was it like working with writer/director Anna Salinas? Anna’s such a thoughtful director. You can tell that she’s thought about what’s happening and her choices for the piece deeply. But she’s not married to them either. She genuinely loves the characters and is excited to see how they blossom.

> What was it like working with actor Dominic Best? He’s always present when you’re working, he’s with you every beat. It makes for a lot of fun on set!

> What do you think Jenny represents in Peter’s life? His lost innocence and hope. For as uptight as Jenny is she still knows how to play. That’s something Peter’s forgotten.

> What do you think Peter represents in Jenny’s life? Everyone has a darkness in them, but Jenny spends her life trying to ignore hers. Peter is that darkness for her. A way to touch the bruised and neglected parts of herself.

> Do you get day drunk? Only by accident. I get drunk on one beer, so it’s happened once or twice at a BBQ.

> Do you think people like Peter can have happy endings? I think everyone can have happy endings, if they’re willing to face their problems and deal with them. What a Jenny answer!

> What else are you working on? I currently play Deputy Clark  on MTV’s Teen Wolf. I also recently wrapped a short film based on Jim Mahfood’s Grrl Scouts where I play a 90’s drug-dealing katana wielding badass. I regularly work in voice overs and just got back from the Ojai Playwright’s Conference.  I like to stay as busy as possible.

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