▶A CHAT WITH GIGI ORSILLO
ACTRESS SHINES BRIGHTLY FOR GOD ON & OFF SCREEN
Versatile actress Gigi Orsillo, one of the stars of the upcoming Christian comedy film, "Sleeper Agent." Inset: Gigi shares a laugh in a "Sleeper Agent" scene with comedian Leland Klassen, star of the motion picture.Versatile actress Gigi Orsillo, one of the stars of the upcoming Christian comedy film, "Sleeper Agent." Inset: Gigi shares a laugh in a "Sleeper Agent" scene with comedian Leland Klassen, star of the motion picture.
▶ CREATIVE MOTION INTERVIEW
Creative Motion Online was graciously granted the opportunity to interview actress Gigi Orsillo, one of the stars of the upcoming Christian comedy film Sleeper Agent. Her life is a little bit of drama, a little bit of humor, and a whole heaping-helping serving of faith.
CM: Thanks for chatting with CM. Gigi, when did you first show an interest in acting?
GO: I began acting at the ripe ‘ole age of 2 1/2. I was in a local mall commercial, which ran at Christmas every year. It became a long-standing Tulsa tradition for locals to see that beloved commercial each year, and when a new big-wig advertising agency was hired for the mall, they looked at the old footage and shot a new fancy Christmas commercial to replace it. The people of T-town were none too happy and called in to file complaint after complaint and demand that they put it back on the air. That thing ran for almost 20 years (17 years I believe!) before they finally retired it, when a chain bought out the local mall.
CM: What were some of your earliest roles as a child?
GO: I did several fun projects as a youngster.... I think my first big audition was for young Jenny in Forrest Gump. I was called back several times and even put on hold, but by the time they shot the film almost a year later, I had aged too fast for the age of the part. Ahhh, the one that got away! “Run, Forrest, Run!” I could have nailed that one!! But in all seriousness, it was a pretty cool experience and my first introduction into the exhausting audition process of a big budget film. One of the most memorable projects I did as a kid was flying to Wales as an 11-year-old, to shoot the music video Great God, for recording artist, Carman, in a beautiful historic castle.
CM: What’s a role folks tease you about?
GO: The one childhood role my friends like to tease me about was UHF with Weird Al Yankovich, which kind of became a cult classic. They like to embarrass me and bring it up at get-togethers, that I was the 'Spatula City' girl, until they get past the people who are like, “What in the world is that...never heard of it,” to the people that are super excited and scream, “WHAT!!? NO WAY!!??” I have really nice friends can you tell!? No... I really do have the best friends, they just like to embarrass me a little.
CM: Then you become a big girl, where did your path venue next?
GO: After continuing along the acting path in my youth, with numerous Christian projects and national commercials, I went on to study communications and film at Oral Roberts University. I married my college sweetheart, Elliott, and moved to California. There I began pursuing acting on a higher scale. I continued doing commercials, but began carving out a niche as a TV host, with shows like Kids on the Move, Gamer Nation, AMC’sDate Night, JCTV’s Extreme Video Zone and Starz Channel’s Inside Look. I loved hosting and getting to exercise the improv skills I was learning at The Groundlings School, but I really wanted the opportunity to use my gifts in theatrical projects that pointed people toward Jesus.
I decided to jump in with both feet and started studying Meisner technique at Playhouse West in LA. There I really learned how to access my emotions easily and respond deeply and richly to my scene partners. It was such fun that I craved opportunities to truly stretch myself.
I remember auditioning for casting director, Beverly Holloway for the film Magdalena: Released from Shame. It was one of the first times I was given the opportunity to connect emotionally to a scene in a casting room. I felt so alive!
In the film, which was a remake of the original Jesus Film, but with a focus on female stories from the Bible, I played the role of Salome, who was there at the cross at the feet of Jesus when he was crucified...talk about emotional and talk about pointing people to Jesus...like literally!! That film has been translated into many languages and used as a missionary tool around the world.
A friend, who was a missionary in the Northern Caucusus, wrote to tell me that she was at an evangelical outreach to Muslim women and was so surprised to look up and see me on the screen, dubbed into Farsi! Ha! Even though my role was small, I was so honored to be a part of that project, and I love still hearing testimonies of the women’s lives who have been transformed after seeing that film, even after all these years!
CM: Then you left Los Angeles?
GO: After my years in LA, my husband and I moved home to start a family, and I put my acting career on hold. I gave that piece of my life over to God, not knowing if it would come back to me, but trusting that if he wanted to bring acting back into my life, he would do it in his timing. Last fall, I was invited to audition for a faith-based feature film shooting in Sacramento. I knew that saying “yes” to the role would be a sacrifice for my family, but also that it would be super valuable for my three daughters, to see their ‘lil ‘ole momma pursuing her God-given dreams that once seemed forgotten, and that...to me, was pretty awesome. Since filming that project last fall, God has brought along some amazing stuff...most excitingly - Sleeper Agent.
CM: Tell us about Sleeper Agent.
GO: Connecting with Nathan Blair was all God’s timing, and me booking that role was all God’s favor. I am so so thankful. As much as I love tapping into my emotions, comedy is just plain fun and Sleeper Agent is seriously a laugh-out-loud comedy. Leland Klassen is so perfect in the painfully awkward, but lovable, role of Walter. Leland and Nathan wanted the film to have a very real-life, spy and espionage feel and a dramatic look, so that Walter’s comedic moments would stick out like the sore thumb that basically defines who Walter Goertzen is. I think they pulled it off really well!
Leland is one funny dude, and his knack for physical comedy is just so spot-on that many of the scenes had to be shot and re-shot, because the crew couldn’t hold it together, especially when all the comedians (there are a lot in this movie!) started improving new stuff in every take. It’s hard when you don’t know what funny thing is coming at you next!!
One scene, in particular, that I had with Leland was literally so hilarious that I couldn’t stop myself from crying laughing. It was the last night, and we had worked several late nights in a row, so we all were working on small amounts of sleep, which may have had something to do with it, but I’m pretty sure Leland was just extra funny that night.
I had to keep saying to myself, “Gigi...you are a professional...you can do this.” And still, I think, it took about six or seven takes before we could get through the physical comedy of that scene without breaking. I kept apologizing to Nathan, and he said something like, “Stop apologizing, I’m laughing just watching it on the monitor, I can’t imagine actually being in the scene.”
I can’t wait to see how it turns out in the film, and can only expect to see a few of those out-takes in the blooper reel.
CM: What did you think of the script?
GO: These guys had written a truly laugh-out-loud spy comedy, with a bit of romance thrown in, all with a sweet “Be who God made you” message! I was even more stoked to join the team, if that was possible! Every casting announcement I saw I got more and more excited, as people like Mark Christopher Lawrence, Matt Falk, Stacey Bradshaw, Tim David, Heath Arthur and Julie Aguero joined the cast!! These actors are an amazingly talented group! I was impressed every day on set as I watched them work.
CM: There was a lot of spiritual thought going into creating the team, correct?
GO: Each crew and cast member were prayerfully picked, and it was evident that this was the team that God had in mind for this project. Every day was started in prayer, led by the creative Nathan Blair, our fearless leader and director, who I can’t speak more highly of.
CM: Is it fair to say you weren’t making a movie, this was kind of an outreach on film?
GO: Nathan explained to the team on my first day that this is more than just reaching people who see the movie, it was about touching lives as we make the movie, as well! Which I saw unfold right before my eyes. Our crew, especially our star, Leland Klassen, took time to always speak to, and thank, each background actor, each security guard, each home, or restaurant owner, who we were working with.
CM: Were there some touching moments associated with making the movie?
GO: At one point we were working on a dirty street, which was supposed to be an old Mexican village - and Leland took the time to bring a cold drink and some extra cash to the homeless man on the corner, who was clearly wondering what we were doing on his turf. Every day on the set I was encouraged by multiple people all day long. It made coming to set and working long hours enjoyable.
CM: It sounds like a fun experience, no doubt. But do you think actors put too much pressure on themselves and should lighten up a bit?
GO: I do think actors can put a lot of pressure on themselves. I know, for me, I just want to do my very best for everyone on set. I want to do the writer justice, by giving voice to the words they’ve drafted, in a way that tells the story they intended to tell, just right. I want to do my scene partner justice by connecting and showing up for them on every take. I want to do the DP justice, so that when he gets that perfect pan shot, the level of my performance matches his perfectly timed move. And I want to do the director justice, by hearing how he articulates what he wants and letting that vision come through in my performance. Making movies is like a team sport. It takes everyone on set being on their game at the same time.
CM: What’s in your career dreams from here?
GO: One of my life-long dreams is to write and produce a faith-based film with my dad, and I believe we are both aimed in that direction. This spring his production company, Cloud Nine Productions, shot an awesome ten episode TV series, which I was honored to be a part of, called, In The Gap, which will be airing starting September 8, on TBN. From here, I’m not sure what’s next! I’m just trusting that God has good things in store and that as I continue to trust in him he will bring the right projects my way. I’ve already seen Him at work, opening doors only He could open for me! I truly pray that I am able to use the light that God has put inside of me to shine bright for Him, on and off screen. 8/14/19
Creative Motion Online was graciously granted the opportunity to interview actress Gigi Orsillo, one of the stars of the upcoming Christian comedy film Sleeper Agent. Her life is a little bit of drama, a little bit of humor, and a whole heaping-helping serving of faith.
CM: Thanks for chatting with CM. Gigi, when did you first show an interest in acting?
GO: I began acting at the ripe ‘ole age of 2 1/2. I was in a local mall commercial, which ran at Christmas every year. It became a long-standing Tulsa tradition for locals to see that beloved commercial each year, and when a new big-wig advertising agency was hired for the mall, they looked at the old footage and shot a new fancy Christmas commercial to replace it. The people of T-town were none too happy and called in to file complaint after complaint and demand that they put it back on the air. That thing ran for almost 20 years (17 years I believe!) before they finally retired it, when a chain bought out the local mall.
CM: What were some of your earliest roles as a child?
GO: I did several fun projects as a youngster.... I think my first big audition was for young Jenny in Forrest Gump. I was called back several times and even put on hold, but by the time they shot the film almost a year later, I had aged too fast for the age of the part. Ahhh, the one that got away! “Run, Forrest, Run!” I could have nailed that one!! But in all seriousness, it was a pretty cool experience and my first introduction into the exhausting audition process of a big budget film. One of the most memorable projects I did as a kid was flying to Wales as an 11-year-old, to shoot the music video Great God, for recording artist, Carman, in a beautiful historic castle.
CM: What’s a role folks tease you about?
GO: The one childhood role my friends like to tease me about was UHF with Weird Al Yankovich, which kind of became a cult classic. They like to embarrass me and bring it up at get-togethers, that I was the 'Spatula City' girl, until they get past the people who are like, “What in the world is that...never heard of it,” to the people that are super excited and scream, “WHAT!!? NO WAY!!??” I have really nice friends can you tell!? No... I really do have the best friends, they just like to embarrass me a little.
CM: Then you become a big girl, where did your path venue next?
GO: After continuing along the acting path in my youth, with numerous Christian projects and national commercials, I went on to study communications and film at Oral Roberts University. I married my college sweetheart, Elliott, and moved to California. There I began pursuing acting on a higher scale. I continued doing commercials, but began carving out a niche as a TV host, with shows like Kids on the Move, Gamer Nation, AMC’sDate Night, JCTV’s Extreme Video Zone and Starz Channel’s Inside Look. I loved hosting and getting to exercise the improv skills I was learning at The Groundlings School, but I really wanted the opportunity to use my gifts in theatrical projects that pointed people toward Jesus.
I decided to jump in with both feet and started studying Meisner technique at Playhouse West in LA. There I really learned how to access my emotions easily and respond deeply and richly to my scene partners. It was such fun that I craved opportunities to truly stretch myself.
I remember auditioning for casting director, Beverly Holloway for the film Magdalena: Released from Shame. It was one of the first times I was given the opportunity to connect emotionally to a scene in a casting room. I felt so alive!
In the film, which was a remake of the original Jesus Film, but with a focus on female stories from the Bible, I played the role of Salome, who was there at the cross at the feet of Jesus when he was crucified...talk about emotional and talk about pointing people to Jesus...like literally!! That film has been translated into many languages and used as a missionary tool around the world.
A friend, who was a missionary in the Northern Caucusus, wrote to tell me that she was at an evangelical outreach to Muslim women and was so surprised to look up and see me on the screen, dubbed into Farsi! Ha! Even though my role was small, I was so honored to be a part of that project, and I love still hearing testimonies of the women’s lives who have been transformed after seeing that film, even after all these years!
CM: Then you left Los Angeles?
GO: After my years in LA, my husband and I moved home to start a family, and I put my acting career on hold. I gave that piece of my life over to God, not knowing if it would come back to me, but trusting that if he wanted to bring acting back into my life, he would do it in his timing. Last fall, I was invited to audition for a faith-based feature film shooting in Sacramento. I knew that saying “yes” to the role would be a sacrifice for my family, but also that it would be super valuable for my three daughters, to see their ‘lil ‘ole momma pursuing her God-given dreams that once seemed forgotten, and that...to me, was pretty awesome. Since filming that project last fall, God has brought along some amazing stuff...most excitingly - Sleeper Agent.
CM: Tell us about Sleeper Agent.
GO: Connecting with Nathan Blair was all God’s timing, and me booking that role was all God’s favor. I am so so thankful. As much as I love tapping into my emotions, comedy is just plain fun and Sleeper Agent is seriously a laugh-out-loud comedy. Leland Klassen is so perfect in the painfully awkward, but lovable, role of Walter. Leland and Nathan wanted the film to have a very real-life, spy and espionage feel and a dramatic look, so that Walter’s comedic moments would stick out like the sore thumb that basically defines who Walter Goertzen is. I think they pulled it off really well!
Leland is one funny dude, and his knack for physical comedy is just so spot-on that many of the scenes had to be shot and re-shot, because the crew couldn’t hold it together, especially when all the comedians (there are a lot in this movie!) started improving new stuff in every take. It’s hard when you don’t know what funny thing is coming at you next!!
One scene, in particular, that I had with Leland was literally so hilarious that I couldn’t stop myself from crying laughing. It was the last night, and we had worked several late nights in a row, so we all were working on small amounts of sleep, which may have had something to do with it, but I’m pretty sure Leland was just extra funny that night.
I had to keep saying to myself, “Gigi...you are a professional...you can do this.” And still, I think, it took about six or seven takes before we could get through the physical comedy of that scene without breaking. I kept apologizing to Nathan, and he said something like, “Stop apologizing, I’m laughing just watching it on the monitor, I can’t imagine actually being in the scene.”
I can’t wait to see how it turns out in the film, and can only expect to see a few of those out-takes in the blooper reel.
CM: What did you think of the script?
GO: These guys had written a truly laugh-out-loud spy comedy, with a bit of romance thrown in, all with a sweet “Be who God made you” message! I was even more stoked to join the team, if that was possible! Every casting announcement I saw I got more and more excited, as people like Mark Christopher Lawrence, Matt Falk, Stacey Bradshaw, Tim David, Heath Arthur and Julie Aguero joined the cast!! These actors are an amazingly talented group! I was impressed every day on set as I watched them work.
CM: There was a lot of spiritual thought going into creating the team, correct?
GO: Each crew and cast member were prayerfully picked, and it was evident that this was the team that God had in mind for this project. Every day was started in prayer, led by the creative Nathan Blair, our fearless leader and director, who I can’t speak more highly of.
CM: Is it fair to say you weren’t making a movie, this was kind of an outreach on film?
GO: Nathan explained to the team on my first day that this is more than just reaching people who see the movie, it was about touching lives as we make the movie, as well! Which I saw unfold right before my eyes. Our crew, especially our star, Leland Klassen, took time to always speak to, and thank, each background actor, each security guard, each home, or restaurant owner, who we were working with.
CM: Were there some touching moments associated with making the movie?
GO: At one point we were working on a dirty street, which was supposed to be an old Mexican village - and Leland took the time to bring a cold drink and some extra cash to the homeless man on the corner, who was clearly wondering what we were doing on his turf. Every day on the set I was encouraged by multiple people all day long. It made coming to set and working long hours enjoyable.
CM: It sounds like a fun experience, no doubt. But do you think actors put too much pressure on themselves and should lighten up a bit?
GO: I do think actors can put a lot of pressure on themselves. I know, for me, I just want to do my very best for everyone on set. I want to do the writer justice, by giving voice to the words they’ve drafted, in a way that tells the story they intended to tell, just right. I want to do my scene partner justice by connecting and showing up for them on every take. I want to do the DP justice, so that when he gets that perfect pan shot, the level of my performance matches his perfectly timed move. And I want to do the director justice, by hearing how he articulates what he wants and letting that vision come through in my performance. Making movies is like a team sport. It takes everyone on set being on their game at the same time.
CM: What’s in your career dreams from here?
GO: One of my life-long dreams is to write and produce a faith-based film with my dad, and I believe we are both aimed in that direction. This spring his production company, Cloud Nine Productions, shot an awesome ten episode TV series, which I was honored to be a part of, called, In The Gap, which will be airing starting September 8, on TBN. From here, I’m not sure what’s next! I’m just trusting that God has good things in store and that as I continue to trust in him he will bring the right projects my way. I’ve already seen Him at work, opening doors only He could open for me! I truly pray that I am able to use the light that God has put inside of me to shine bright for Him, on and off screen. 8/14/19
