“I hope it makes people walk away wondering if there’s a bigger meaning or purpose to life.” Interview With Producer & Star: Kelley Mack For UNIVERSAL

Written and directed by Stephen Portland, Universal had its premiere at this year’s Dances With Films on June 21st. Film inquiry was able to speak with the star and producer Kelley Mack about the challenge/intrigue of playing her character, her commitment to research and much more!

This is Kristy Strouse with Film Inquiry. Congrats on the film! Let’s talk Universal: What made you want to back it and star in it? What was your introduction?

Kelley Mack: Well, it came in as a normal audition. I was submitted for it, and they sent over the character breakdown and everything, and yeah, I taped for it. And then we started just talking right away, and he was like, “I want you to do it.” So I was like “great!”

I put a lot of effort into the audition because I loved the script so much and the character. I was really happy to get involved that way. And then on the producing side, I’ve produced a couple short films, and I want to produce, a feature by myself next. I know with micro-budget films like this, you can have more of a say in what happens, rather than a TV show where you just show up and say your lines.

So I kind of told Stephen that, and he seemed pretty open to just hearing feedback on the script itself, and then also other suggestions regarding producing. I just kind of—with my experience that I’ve had anyway—gave tips or asked questions. I really wanted to be involved, to have a little bit more control over my character.

I wouldn’t say I produced it, I…I don’t know, put more effort into everything, and I love working on the post-production side of things. So I was like, “If you need help with any, you know, marketing stuff or whatever… I am here!”

What was it about your character from what they originally sent you that kind of made you go, “Oh, this is interesting, I really want this”?

Kelley Mack: Well, she was so complex, and I could just tell Stephen cared so much about this character. And he told me pretty early on that this character is kind of the glue of the group, and she pushes the story forward. And of course, that’s attractive as an actor—to get a role like that.

But then also, I mean, I’ve never played a code breaker who’s super socially awkward, so it was a new challenge for me. And yeah, it was just tons of fun doing all the research as well, because I didn’t know anything about code breaking. I don’t remember what I learned in school about DNA, so I was just doing that sort of research to make sure everything made sense, what I was saying—so I could deliver it in a believable way.

Well, you did! It was very believable.

Kelley Mack: Oh, thanks.

And she’s very awkward and comical in a charismatic way.

Kelley Mack: Yeah, she was really fun to play. It was a big challenge because… well, several reasons, but yeah, it was fun.

What were some of the reasons? What were some of the challenges?

Kelley Mack: Well, first of all, I hadn’t been involved in a project where the character has so much really complicated dialogue. And also, the prep time was quite short, and we were only filming for—I think it was eight days total—and I didn’t even film for one and a half of those days because it was just the other characters.

But I had like one take on. That dinner scene, that was one take, and then we had to stop filming that night. It was just like, go, go, go. I knew that was going to be a thing, and that’s why just memorizing these lines was really, really… I mean, obviously on every project it’s important to me, but I also wanted to understand what I was saying.

I love that. Would you say there was more prep for this role than kind of anything else? Because the jargon you’re throwing out there—I’m like, wow, you sound like you know what you’re talking about.

Kelley Mack: It’s like made-up, but it comes from truths that are actually,  real. So yeah, the prep was definitely the most intense I’ve ever worked on something. But I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t care about it. I thought she was really fun.

And so you said you became a producer on this, kind of in a way to take more part in your character. Was there any change, as far as when you got signed on, to the character or the script? Any change in how you portrayed her?

Kelley Mack: Yeah,  there was the collaboration that you’d normally have between the director and actor. The main question was: how socially awkward are we going to make her? And then also, the part that I wanted to have more of a say in was the dialogue.

Because I knew this isn’t a documentary, but I wanted to adjust the dialogue as much as possible to make it make sense—so if someone out there works in DNA, it wouldn’t sound totally wrong. So I had to do a lot of research with that. And we did change several different sections; I couldn’t tell you what they were, but we cut a lot of stuff and changed some things. There was a little bit of improv too.

Interesting! Has anyone seen it that works with DNA or anything like that? Just out of curiosity.

Kelley Mack: No, I mean, I haven’t. We just had that premiere screening—and I wasn’t able to make it—but usually I love at screenings, talking to people afterwards and seeing what they think. So, no, haven’t come across it yet. But maybe when we release it, someone will be like, “Hey!”

Kristy Strouse: You’ve worked on The Walking Dead which is huge in scope production wise. 

Kelley Mack: Oh, god, yeah.

Can you talk a little bit about that variation? Is it more challenging or kind of a comfort to do something a little more intimate like that?

Kelley Mack: Yeah. I mean, I think it’s definitely more challenging. I wasn’t as involved as I would be as like a main producer, but with a low budget like that it’s always tough.

The short films that I’ve produced were written based around the locations we had available. So you start from there, then you have to get all your crew together. And if you’re really trying to keep it under budget, it’s definitely more challenging because you’re doing five million jobs on set. Luckily, I didn’t have to, but Stephen was doing everything.

And there’s also the aspect that it’s more revealing about yourself, or you’re being more vulnerable—because people know “Oh, you created this project,” versus a TV show where it’s like, well, I was just an actor; the stakes aren’t as high for me.

I would say I do like working on indie films more, though, just because you have so much more say, there’s more risk, and you put your heart into it.

Very well said! So if someone was to ask you to describe this film (and I know it’s difficult because there’s a lot under the surface here) in a sentence, what would you say?

Kelley Mack: God, I’m so bad at this. [Laughs]

I’d say: there’s a couple on vacation, and they’re interrupted by a very socially awkward genius code breaker who thinks she’s discovered the biggest thing in history that will change the future of the world.

So no big stakes, you know. [Laughs]

Kelley Mack: Not at all. Just a nice little weekend getaway.

Was it interesting to play that intruder character, coming in from that perspective? That sounds super fun.

Kelley Mack: Oh, for sure. You can just tell from reading the script that she’s the energy, she brings the intensity to the situation, because her stakes are really high—at least she thinks they are. Like, this is the time we’re going to change the world, and she needs to do it now because she’s got him in a location where they can work together.

And there were aspects of her I really related to. I used to be very socially awkward, like I couldn’t speak to people without turning red and crying. It was really bad, back in high school a lot. I think acting helped me grow from that. So I related to her in certain ways. And yeah, I also liked how she was pretty funny.

Perfect segue, because I was going to say she’s also hilarious! I mean, some of the stuff you say “What’s your name again?” Acting as if you’re not the one intruding. [Laughs]

Kelley Mack: Right? Stephen wrote it perfectly. The circumstances are great, and her inability to pick up social cues was really fun.

Was it hard to balance the humor and the intelligence and sci-fi element in a way that keeps the intrigue up?

Kelley Mack: Yeah. When I first read it, there’s one scene, which maybe you know which one, that kind of comes out of nowhere and is funny for the first time, really. Some people said it felt out of nowhere, but not in a bad way.

At first, I didn’t know how much I should play for comedy, but hey always say in comedy the character isn’t trying to be funny—they’re just going after what they want. So I focused on her stakes, making them super high, and Joe (who’s hilarious) would bring the jokes.

I think the comedy came from the clash of personalities. I really just focused on her goal.

That’s very interesting and insightful! Anything you hope the audiences will take away from it?

Kelley Mack: I hope it makes people walk away wondering if there’s a bigger meaning or purpose to life. I liked that aspect of really trying to consider: maybe we’re here for an actual reason.

Other than loving the character, that was a big reason I loved the script. I think it could open people’s eyes—even just for a night—to wonder why we’re here.

Very well said. And something I always love is when there are big world consequences, but the nature of the film stays in one location—small but big at the same time.

Kelley Mack: Yeah, and it’s one of those films where if you actually like that style and really pay attention, it just gets your gears turning. It did for me when I read the script. And I love that kind of stuff—art should do that.

Yes it should! Well, thank you so much for speaking with me and congratulations again!

We want to thank Kelley Mack for taking the time to speak with us.