Interview by Geno McGahee
In a time when filming is a difficult task, Nicole D’Angelo has found her way, being very productive and creating film after film, each of which have been creating a buzz seldom seen.
Recently released on Amazon Prime & Vimeo, BODY OF NIGHT, a sensual thriller, HEARBEAT, a suspense film, CHOKE, a edge of your seat drama, and ACRYLIC, a comedy, have been huge successes and have been getting rave reviews. This is what film is about and this is what D’Angelo is about.
Seeing distribution through CINEMA EPOCH, these atmospheric interesting films have really introduced D’Angelo to the public and her star is starting to rise. From writing, to producing, to acting, to directing, she has worn many hats and has worn each well. Scared Stiff had the opportunity to sit down with D’Angelo for a great discussion about her films, her future and navigating the journey in a difficult time…
GM: You have been very busy lately with various productions. Could you give us a brief rundown what you’ve been working on and how the experiences have been?
I’m very grateful for all of my recent projects. Each one has been very different content wise, which has allowed me to expand into different areas of production and find new grooves within the creative process.
GM: You have worn a lot of hats, from producer to writer to actress. What do you prefer and do you find that working the different areas make you better in the business as a whole?
I really enjoy learning new things and am usually the type that wants to know how it all works. I’d say that definitely applies here and I enjoy each category, some more than others of course but It’s nice to be able to switch it up, keeps things from getting too stale.
GM: BODY OF NIGHT has just come out, a film you co-directed. It has been doing really well after its launch on Amazon Prime. How was it to co-direct and how was your overall experience with it?
Co-directing was definitely different, you have to mesh well with the other person and luckily I’ve worked with Greg many times, this was just on a slightly deeper level. I think he did most of the work truly, I was there to inspire when needed. It was a great learning experience before taking on a film of my own.
GM: ASMR is pretty common in the films that you’re a part of. How was it to incorporate this into the films and how has the reaction been thus far to its inclusion?
When I first came across ASMR I was so deeply fascinated by the whole topic. I spent hours checking out videos and becoming pretty obsessed with how satisfying and bizarre it all was. It was natural for me to try and squeeze it in, especially due to the current social relevance of it all.
GM: You’ve written a film called ACRYLIC, a comedic drama. Can you tell us a little about it?
The opportunity came about for me to write and direct my first feature. I had a few ideas floating around and the others were much darker and cerebral. I felt going with this genre just felt better with everything going on. I really wanted to create something that people could connect to through laughter and try and utilize the current social temperature to bring folks together in a real way.
GM: How is it to direct and act in the same film? Is it difficult to maintain control as you wear both hats at the same time?
In Acrylic I was lucky enough to focus on directing, although I did make a couple small cameos. Wearing multiple hats can absolutely be draining, at times I’ve hated it. I think though, even on the rough days I feel so lucky to be creating art and doing something I enjoy as a whole, If you are the creative type, you have to create, there’s no choice, or else it’s madness.
GM: HEARBEAT is a very stylish flick. Can you tell us a little about it and what the audience should expect?
Heartbeat is a film born out of chaos. Everything happened so last minute to pull this together and we still came out with a fun, stylish, thriller. I was excited to see this ode to the giallo genre take shape here and there are a few solid laughs to be had as well.
GM: Making a film can be a very emotional experience, especially when you are producing and directing. How have you dealt with the stress and emotions considering just how many films you’re involved in?
Every day is different in the realm of indie filmmaking, especially when working with a smaller budget and doing things that require a deeper dig emotionally and mentally to pull together. I enjoy it all, even the shit moments. I believe that self-care is super important so finding the time to ground yourself, call on friends when needed and just trust in the process.
GM: The Coronavirus has impacted every facet of life. How does film progress under the current world situation?
We wrapped on Acrylic right before things started to take a nose dive. We all felt very lucky to have finished that in only 8 days with a 2 month turnaround time, which is pretty unheard of normally. Now, there’s more time to write, plan and get some things out there that have been in the cue. I know as a collective we need art and connection more than ever and I hope they take the opportunity to explore new outlets.
GM: What else do you have in store for the audience in the future?
I am co-directing QUARANTINE GIRL and I’m starring in SINFUL, both coming out in June and July.
GM: Any closing comments?
Thanks for the opportunity to share on this platform! Love to all.
Watch ACRYLIC NOW on AMAZON PRIME – CLICK HERE
WATCH BODY OF NIGHT AMAZON PRIME NOW – CLICK HERE!
