Spotlight on Rising Star Moniqua Plante
Independent Film Quarterly always pays attention to emerging talented actors and one was clearly evident at The New York International Film Festival held bi-annually in New York and Los Angeles. The actor is Moniqua Plante from San Francisco, now based in Los Angeles for the past six years. The short film Pillow Talk which screened as part of the narrative short film competition showcases Plante’s talent as both a lover and assassin in the captivating but disturbing role of Celeste.
The hot action short tells the story of a mysterious couple who confront the dynamics of their strange relationship while lying in bed. But when their violent past collides with their peaceful present, they come face to face with a very dangerous future. Pillow Talk is written, directed and edited by actor-turned director John Wynn, and produced by lead actress, Plante and co-starring Adriano Aragon. Interestingly, the part was written especially for Plante after she revealed her fantasy role of a heartbroken femme fatale to Wynn! It looks like the whimsical fantasy became a reality as Plante won Best Actress in a Short Film Award at the NYIFF as well as a slew of other awards for her and Wynn on the festival circuit, and the film also got picked up for distribution.
IFQ predicts some juicy role offers for Plante if directors and producers have any clout at all! IFQ’s Briege McGarrity enjoyed chatting with Plante about her life as an actress.
Independent Film Quarterly (IFQ): You’ve done very well for a debut film role. Congrats on your awards for the short film. How are you feeling about it all?
Moniqua Plante (MP): Thank you! I’ve been slightly overwhelmed to say the least. As an actor, you always hope a project will garner some attention, especially when it’s been such a labor of love, but when it happens it still feels unexpected.
IFQ: You’re rather commanding. Does that type of femme fatale attract you?
MP: Well thank you and absolutely! I come from a comedy background mainly, but in the last few years I’ve been itching to do something different and by that, I didn’t just mean switching from comedy to drama. I’m a very physical person and wanted to explore that side of myself. I am especially attracted to female characters that have an unexpected strength both mentally and physically.
IFQ: How did you get the part?
MP: This was the first time a part had been written specifically for me. I had this idea for a character I wanted to explore…a heartbroken action heroine who must face the consequences of past decisions, present circumstances and an uncertain future. I shared this idea with writer/director, John Wynn, who wrote an amazing script with that in mind. The fact that John and I are good friends only made the process that much more rewarding.
IFQ: What was challenging about Pillow Talk for you?
MP: Definitely the intimacy. I think for most actresses there is a lot of fear surrounding the issue of nudity. I know that’s the case for me. Fortunately, as I mentioned, the writer/director John Wynn is a friend, so a lot of my fears were put to rest just by talking it over with him and having a clear idea of his vision. In reality, both characters are nude, but the audience actually never sees anything. The scene is just so intense and intimate that you feel like you do.
IFQ: What does your family think of your acting? Do they like the projects you take on?
MP: My parents have been so incredibly supportive. They’ve always had that motto that I can be or do or have anything I want in this life. I’ve been so fortunate this past year to have worked on two films that really are polar opposites of each other character wise. I play a heartbroken assassin in Pillow Talk and a young mother trying to keep hope alive when there seems to be none in Buttons in the Ground. It really was an amazing experience preparing for these two roles, especially because I don’t have any life experience as an assassin or mother…I guess I’m pretty well-versed in heartbreak though! My parents champion everything I do, though my Dad won’t see Pillow Talk because I’m semi-nude…I guess I understand that!
IFQ: Can you point to particular actresses or dream roles and what roles have you been offered lately?
MP: I definitely have a few roles that are my favorites…Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth. Her performance is so incredibly rich and powerful. Even in her most vulnerable moments, she is fierce. Kate Winslet in pretty much everything she does. She transforms herself so completely, she disappears. Tilda Swinton in Orlando… her character is ordered to stay forever young which enables a long and deep philosophical quest. Along the way, she experiences a variety of lives and relationships, and even changes sex. I think the most fun acting experience would have been Angelina Jolie’s character in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Action and comedy, now that’s good fun. As far as recent roles for me, I just shot a great guest lead in the new HBO/Cinemax series Femme Fatales. The role was so right up my alley, combining a little action and a little comedy…couldn’t have been better suited or better timed. My episode ‘Gun Twisted’ will air in the second season of Femme Fatales starting in May.
IFQ: Who is representing you at the moment?
MP: I am currently represented by agent James Boyle at The Atherton Group and managed by Andre Gordon at 4HM Management.
IFQ: Are you nervous at cold readings and auditions?
MP: For the most part, I’m not. It’s taken me a long time to get to this point though! It’s sometimes just a matter of reminding myself how much fun it is to play someone else, to be in a circumstance I may never find myself in or experience something familiar in a new way and bring moments from my own life to fill it up. It’s such an amazing opportunity to have. Of course, there are those roles that touch a nerve because it’s something that could change the direction of your career or the role itself touches you in a way that’s surprising…now in those moments, the butterflies definitely fly free!
IFQ: What kind of training did you have in acting – according to your bio you started out as a comedian?
MP: I always felt really at ease with comedy. When I was a child, I studied improvisation and performed in a lot of theatre, but didn’t start acting again until college and eventually studied at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. When I moved to Los Angeles, I studied at the Lesly Kahn Studio, who focuses primarily on comedy. It really took my comedy skills to a whole new level. I instinctively understood how comedy worked, but never knew why exactly…a huge light bulb went on for me. I’ve worked with various teachers like Ivana Chubbuck and Cameron Thor, but I came full circle and now work privately with Chad McCord who had been my first teacher at the Lesly Kahn Studio. I think no matter who you work with, it’s important to figure out what works for you specifically and leave the rest behind. Every teacher is different and I’ve taken a few things from each one and created a process that works for me.
IFQ: Any advice for actors starting out?
MP: Los Angeles and the entertainment industry in general can be somewhat daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. I think most important is to have an amazing group of friends. It is crucial to be surrounded by positive, supportive friends and colleagues. This probably sounds a little new agey, but you have to remind yourself that this is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It can take time. And really, it is on the journey to getting where you want to go that you learn the most, and those experiences are what will make you a better actor and person as a whole.
IFQ: So what’s next for you? Has Pillow Talk been selected anywhere else on the festival circuit?
MP: In the first few months of this year, I traveled a bit to support the second season of Femme Fatales, including WonderCon in March. Then jumped head first back into two writing projects…it’s been a lot of fun sinking my teeth into them. And if all goes according to my master plan, I’ll be in pre-production on my next film by the fall!
As far as Pillow Talk, it has had an amazing festival run throughout 2011. We’ve been extremely fortunate to win nine awards and ended the year with a fantastic finish at the New York International Film Festival. I took home BEST ACTRESS in a short film, John Wynn nabbed BEST DIRECTOR for a short film and Pillow Talk itself took home BEST ACTION SHORT FILM.
Pillow Talk will be distributed domestically and internationally by SHORTS INTERNATIONAL on the ShortsHD Channel, available on all major cable and satellite providers. Additionally, it’ll be on iTunes. It’s exciting to think it’ll now be available for the world to see!
IFQ: Great news as it’s tough to get distribution for shorts. Any other films?
MP: My latest short film is called Buttons in the Ground. It’s a short drama written and directed by Andrew Fischer and it’s the polar opposite of Pillow Talk! I play a young mom struggling to keep her family together. Seen through her youngest child’s eyes, the film shows how precious a child’s innocence and faith is and even once hope is lost, how it might still be found. We just started our festival run with a huge win at the Idyllwild International Film Festival back in January including another BEST ACTRESS award and we were just accepted into the prestigious Newport Beach International Film Festival.
IFQ: Sounds great and versatility is definitely important. Are you a tough girl in real life?
MP: I definitely don’t fancy myself a ‘tough’ chick. I’m much more about peace and love. I should have been brought up in the hippie era! Though I think that mindset comes from growing up in a pretty rough neighborhood, where fighting was just a normal part of growing up, often times just to protect myself. So, I think I seek out the opposite of that kind of every day anxiety. Of course now, I don’t know if I’d know what to do if I was in that sort of situation…maybe kill ’em with kindness.