When Horror Meets Comedy: Jenna Ortega Opens Up About the Unholy Experience of Bringing a Killer Unicorn to Life
In the world of Hollywood, few actors have mastered the art of blending genres like Jenna Ortega. From the eerie halls of “Wednesday” to the zany world of “Scream 5”, she’s proven her ability to seamlessly transition between horror and comedy. But, what happens when she’s tasked with creating a movie that combines the two? Gizmodo’s latest interview with Jenna Ortega offers a hilarious and behind-the-scenes look at her experiences making a killer unicorn movie, a project that had her and her co-stars struggling to keep straight faces.
The Practical Aspects of Filming
Preparation for the Role
Ortega’s Preparation for Ridley: Jenna Ortega, known for her role as Wednesday in the Netflix series “Wednesday,” prepared meticulously for her part as Ridley in A24’s “Death of a Unicorn.” Ridley is not only a central figure in the narrative but serves as the moral compass of the film, often confronting the absurdity of her circumstances with a steadfast seriousness.
Ortega’s Emotional Preparation: To embody Ridley’s vulnerability and depth, Ortega engaged in deep character study and immersed herself in the script’s emotional landscape. She described Ridley as the character who carries the weight of the story’s moral implications and the responsibility of ensuring the unicorn’s safety.
Ortega’s Approach to the Script: Understanding the script’s blend of horror and comedy was crucial. Ortega worked with the director, Alex Scharfman, to navigate the script’s tone, ensuring that Ridley remained a believable and sympathetic character amidst the comedic chaos. This approach to the script’s dual nature required a precise emotional calibration, particularly when the comedic elements threatened to override the film’s darker undertones.
Set Challenges and Solutions
Dealing with Comedic Torture: One of the most challenging aspects of filming “Death of a Unicorn” was maintaining the serious tone required for Ridley’s character during scenes that were intentionally designed to be comically absurd. Ortega, alongside director Alex Scharfman, developed strategies to keep the focus on the character’s integrity and to prevent the comedic elements from overwhelming the film’s emotional core.
Maintaining Character Integrity: To maintain Ridley’s character integrity, Ortega relied on emotional recall techniques and deep character understanding. This allowed her to stay grounded in the character’s reality, even amidst the film’s absurdity. Ortega’s dedication to her role was evident in her performance, which seamlessly balanced Ridley’s vulnerability and her unwavering commitment to the unicorn’s plight.
Ortega’s Strategies for Staying Serious: Ortega detailed her techniques for staying in character, revealing that she often avoided eye contact with her co-stars during certain scenes to prevent laughter from derailing her performance. Her strategies also involved preparing mentally for scenes where she needed to maintain a serious demeanor, even when surrounded by comedic situations.
Ortega’s Personal Connection to the Film
Ortega’s Fan Experience: Ortega shared that she approached the film with a blend of excitement and fear, given her admiration for Paul Rudd, a veteran actor she has long admired. This duality of feelings contributed to her personal connection with the film, making the experience both enriching and challenging.
Ortega’s Personal Growth: The experience of playing Ridley brought Ortega a significant amount of personal and professional growth. She had to navigate the film’s comedic and dramatic elements, a challenge that tested her acting abilities and expanded her range as an actress.
Ortega’s Advice for Aspiring Actors: Ortega offered advice to aspiring actors, emphasizing the importance of understanding the script thoroughly and maintaining one’s character’s integrity, even when surrounded by comedic chaos. She highlighted the necessity of collaboration with the director and cast to ensure the film’s vision is realized both humorously and emotionally.
The Future of Death of a Unicorn
Release Date and Expectations
March 28th Release: “Death of a Unicorn,” a fusion of dark fantasy and comedy, is scheduled to be released on March 28th. A24, known for its unique and provocative cinema, is set to launch the film with a marketing strategy designed to intrigue and engage audiences.
A24’s Marketing Strategy: A24’s approach to marketing “Death of a Unicorn” promises to leverage the film’s comedic elements while highlighting its darker undertones. The studio is expected to employ a mix of traditional and digital marketing techniques, ensuring that the film’s unique blend of humor and horror is presented effectively.
Expectations for Audience Reception: With a star-studded cast and A24’s reputation, “Death of a Unicorn” is anticipated to draw a diverse audience. The film’s genre-blending approach is expected to resonate with viewers who appreciate both dark comedy and heart-wrenching stories. Ortega’s role as Ridley, the film’s emotional core, is likely to be a significant draw for audiences, as her performance is pivotal to the film’s success.
Ortega’s Impact on the Film’s Success
Ortega’s Star Power: Ortega’s growing star power has been a significant factor in building anticipation for “Death of a Unicorn.” Her recent success in “Wednesday” has established her as a formidable presence in both comedy and drama, making audiences eager to see how she navigates the dual role in “Death of a Unicorn.”
Ortega’s Fanbase and Social Media Presence: Ortega’s fanbase, active on social media, has proven instrumental in generating buzz around the film. Her engagement with fans on platforms like Instagram and Twitter has helped spread awareness and anticipation for “Death of a Unicorn.” Ortega’s social media presence has become a powerful tool for promoting the film and connecting with its audience before its release.
Ortega’s Role in Promoting the Film: Ortega has been actively involved in promoting “Death of a Unicorn,” leveraging her social media influence to share behind-the-scenes moments and insights into the film’s creation. This direct engagement has helped build a loyal and excited audience, eager to see how her character Ridley develops over the course of the film.
The Unicorn’s Legacy in Cinema
The Unicorn as a Cultural Icon: The unicorn as a symbol has a long and varied history in popular culture, often representing purity and innocence. In “Death of a Unicorn,” the unicorn becomes a more complex figure, embodying both a symbol of innocence and a force of nature that resists exploitation. This duality adds layers to the film’s narrative and offers a fresh perspective on the unicorn’s legacy in cinema.
Death of a Unicorn’s Place in Horror Comedy: “Death of a Unicorn” stands out in the horror comedy genre for its unique blend of absurdity, horror, and emotional depth. The film challenges traditional genre boundaries and offers a fresh interpretation of the horror comedy formula, making it a noteworthy addition to the genre.
Future Possibilities for Unicorn Themed Films: The success of “Death of a Unicorn” could pave the way for more unicorn-themed films that explore the fantastical and the absurd in new and innovative ways. The film’s exploration of the unicorn’s character as a force of nature with moral agency opens up possibilities for future films to delve deeper into similar thematic elements.
The Broader Implications of Death of a Unicorn
The Dark Comedy Genre in 2023
Trends and Shifts: The dark comedy genre, already a blend of humor and horror, has seen a resurgence in recent years, with films like “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” and “The Nightly Show” pushing the boundaries of what is considered typical for the genre. “Death of a Unicorn” builds on these trends, offering a unique take on horror and comedy, which could influence future films in the genre.
Death of a Unicorn’s Contribution: “Death of a Unicorn” contributes to the genre by blending humor and horror in a way that is both fresh and thought-provoking. The film’s exploration of the unicorn’s journey and the family dynamics adds depth to the film’s narrative, marking it as a significant addition to the dark comedy genre.
Future of Dark Comedy in Cinema: The film’s success could signal a growing trend in the genre towards more nuanced and layered storytelling, where the line between comedy and horror is deliberately blurred to create a more impactful narrative experience. This approach could influence future dark comedies to explore similar themes and narrative structures.
Ortega’s Career and Death of a Unicorn
Ortega’s Rising Star Status: Jenna Ortega’s performance in “Death of a Unicorn” is poised to further cement her rising star status. Her nuanced portrayal of Ridley, the film’s emotional core, showcases her ability to bring depth and authenticity to her roles, highlighting her potential for future projects in a variety of genres.
Ortega’s Role in Death of a Unicorn: Ortega’s role as Ridley is pivotal to the film’s narrative success. Her ability to remain serious and emotionally grounded amidst the film’s comedic chaos is a testament to her acting prowess and adds significant weight to the film’s moral and emotional dimensions.
Ortega’s Future Projects: Ortega’s upcoming projects are eagerly anticipated, with “Death of a Unicorn” likely to influence her future roles. Her ability to balance humor and drama in “Death of a Unicorn” will undoubtedly open new opportunities for her, potentially in more complex and challenging roles that demand a similar level of emotional depth and comedic timing.
A24’s Influence on Independent Cinema
A24’s Unique Style: A24 is renowned for its unique and innovative approach to filmmaking, often pushing boundaries and challenging traditional storytelling methods. “Death of a Unicorn” exemplifies this style, combining elements of dark fantasy with a narrative that resonates with both horror and comedy fans.
Death of a Unicorn as an A24 Production: As an A24 production, “Death of a Unicorn” benefits from the studio’s established reputation for artistic integrity and innovative storytelling. The film’s unique blend of genres and its focus on the unicorn as a moral and emotional figure is a testament to A24’s ability to bring fresh, thought-provoking films to audiences.
A24’s Impact on the Film Industry: A24’s involvement with “Death of a Unicorn” underscores its influence on independent cinema. The studio’s ability to produce films that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful is a testament to its vision and execution. “Death of a Unicorn” is expected to solidify A24’s position in the industry, particularly in the realm of genre-blending narratives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jenna Ortega’s recent interview with Gizmodo has offered a fascinating glimpse into the challenges of maintaining a straight face while filming a movie as absurdly captivating as “Studio 666”. The article has delved into the Scream actress’s experiences on set, where she had to navigate the fine line between horror and hilarity alongside her Foo Fighters co-stars. Ortega’s candid revelations about the difficulties of suppressing laughter during takes, as well as the cast’s collective struggle to keep a straight face, have provided a unique insight into the behind-the-scenes world of comedy-horror filmmaking.
The significance of this topic lies not only in its entertainment value but also in its implications for the creative process. The ability to balance tone and genre is a delicate art, and Ortega’s experiences serve as a testament to the importance of cast chemistry and directorial vision in achieving this balance. As the horror-comedy genre continues to evolve, the lessons learned from “Studio 666” will undoubtedly inform and inspire future projects. Moreover, Ortega’s willingness to poke fun at herself and the absurdity of the film’s premise serves as a refreshing reminder that, even in the most high-pressure of creative environments, a sense of humor can be a powerful tool.
As we look to the future of horror-comedy, it will be intriguing to see how filmmakers continue to push the boundaries of tone and genre. Will we see a rise in self-aware, meta-horror films that lean into their own absurdity? Or will the genre evolve in unforeseen ways, incorporating new elements and influences? One thing is certain: with talented creatives like Jenna Ortega at the helm, the possibilities are endless, and the future of horror-comedy is looking brighter – and more terrifyingly hilarious – than ever. As Ortega herself so aptly put it, “It’s just a big mess, and I think that’s what makes it so lovable.” Indeed, it’s the embracing of this mess, this beautiful chaos, that will continue to drive the horror-comedy genre forward, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store.