Najarra Townsend

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By: Nicole Holland

Seventeen-year-old Najarra Townsend’s name is synonymous with “up-and-coming indie darling.”

Najarra’s breakthrough performance in “Me and You and Everyone We Know” in 2005 drew international notice. “The LA Weekly” named her role as one of the “Top 10 Great Small Performances” for “frankness, innocence, snarky humor, vulnerability and girl-power defiance.” “Me and You and Everyone We Know” secured distribution through IFC and received domestic and worldwide releases. The film garnered awards at the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Stockholm Film Festival, Newport International Film Festival, San Francisco Film Festival and Philadelphia Film Festival, as well as an Independent Spirit Award.

In 2007, Najarra wrapped eight independent features as well as many shorts and attended the CineVegas International Film Festival for the premiere of her film “Have Love, Will Travel.” She can be seen starring in the psychological thriller and independent feature “Strange Angel.” The film premiered at the Ojai Film Festival. Following “Strange Angel” is “Dawning,” a suspense/horror family drama. In addition, Najarra rounded off her diverse roles of 2007 as the lead in the film “Presidents Hotel,” a slice of life story revolving around a small residential hotel in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco over a single day.

In 2008, Najarra is slated as the lead in three more independent motion pictures. The first is “Tru Loved,” a high school dramedy from award winning writer/director Stewart Wade (“Coffee Date”) that centers around a sixteen-year-old Tru played by Najarra, who has been uprooted by her lesbian moms from the comfortable gay-friendly home in San Francisco, to a conservative, suburban community in Southern California. Najarra will also star in “Dreams Awake,” which is about a dysfunctional family on vacation that gets stranded near mystical Mt. Shasta. Also in 2008, Najarra will star in “Darkness Visible,” a supernatural thriller about a married couple who encounters supernatural events after their daughter is killed.

As 2007 comes to a close, IFQ sits down with Najarra as she discusses her childhood, theatre, role choices and the importance of film festivals.

IFQ: In your films, you have a recurring theme of “functionally dysfunctional and/or atypical families.” What was your childhood like?

NT: I was raised by a single mom and am an only child. I believe all families are dysfunctional to a degree. I was fortunate to grow up in Santa Barbara with a strong theatre community where I could express myself.

IFQ: You had a substantial role as Rebecca in “Me and You and Everyone We Know.” In the “Chicago Sun Times,” Roger Ebert raved, “Delicate, tender, poetic, and yet so daring, it is about the mysteries of sex and the enchantments of the heart.” The film was rated R for disturbing sexual content involving children. You were in your early teens when you filmed this movie. Did you ever hesitate about accepting the role?

NT: I was 14 when we filmed. When I first read the script, of course I was hesitant, but I felt it was a subject that needed to be explored because things like this are happening in every day life, and I loved how Miranda [July] was able to keep and bring the innocence and sweetness to the whole situation.

IFQ: What influences the types of roles that you choose?

NT: I’m open to all things if I think it’s a good script, well written and has something of value to say.

IFQ: Which genre is your favorite?

NT: I really love drama. Doing a heavy drama is like therapy for me.

IFQ: As an actress and promoting your films, how important are film festivals?

NT: It seems as though film festivals are becoming more and more important in the promotion of films. There’s the exciting feeling of being a part of where it all comes together and everyone can share their art. There is electricity in the air at festivals. With so many exciting and new innovative directors and also so many new women directors, it’s a wonderful way for them to be seen. For many independent films, the film festival is a main way for films to get notice and to secure distribution.

IFQ: Are you formally trained in the craft of acting?

NT: Mainly my training is from working in theatre and film since I was four. I did a lot of theatre and loved it, and counting shorts, I’ve done over 60 films. I think working in independent films has been very valuable training. I grew up very involved in the theatre scene, and performed in Shakespeare, the classics, as well as a ton of musicals.

IFQ: Who are your film influences?

NT: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn and Vera Farmiga.

IFQ: What are you currently reading?

NT: I recently saw “Into the Wild” and fell in love with it. So I’m reading the book now. I’m also reading “Almost Moon” by Alice Sebold; I’m big fan of her books.