Part One of an Exclusive Two-Part Showcase
Featuring Amber Benson and Mike Massa
 

In our Exclusive two-part Series, we'll take a look at the Independent Film Projects of two amazingly talented woman of the Joss-verse along with the insidious talents and outstanding performances of two men that rock your demon infested world each week, both in front of and behind the camera. In Part One of the series, we'll look at the Indy Film Chance written and directed by Buffy's Amber Benson [Tara] who also stars in the film and Mike Massa [stunt double for David Boreanaz] on his physical contributions to the recently-released Pearl Harbor and the in-production film, The Matrix Reloaded! Following in Part Two of the series, we'll feature another Indy Film first, The Enforcers written and directed by Angel writer, Mere Smith. Also in part two, Angel actor Andy Hallett [The Host], who is featured in both Indy productions, tells us of the experience working with the ladies at the helm.


'Summer Film Festival' Part I

 Amber Benson, Writer/Director/Actress 
In our ongoing effort to cover the latest and most interesting aspects of the Angel cast and crew, we begin with Amber Benson's own Indy project entitled Chance, is her first self-written and directed film. Appearing in Chance are Buffy actors, Emma Caulfield [Anya] and James Marsters [Spike], along with Angel actor Andy Hallett and including Amber herself in the leading role. Plus an appearance from Buffy Writer, David Fury. Mike Massa has just completed production in San Francisco, filming the stunt work on the much anticipated, Sci-fi spectacular, The Matrix Reloaded. Mike's most recent physical contribution comes off the heels of the May 25th release of Pearl Harbor where he doubled for Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett.

In a first of our own at CoA, we landed an interview with a Buffy cast mate, Amber Benson! The buzz and excitement over her first film project did not limit that other show we all so fondly watch and when we had the chance (No pun intended. Well, hell yes, pun intended!) thanks to the connection of Andy Hallett's appearance in the film, we jumped on it. A huge endeavor like your first major production doesn't germinate overnight, so from the initial conception to the final cut had planted its seed in Amber's mind a ways back. "I started writing it a few years ago," Amber explains. "Just playing around on my computer babbling about this and that. Then the story kinda took off and then died and then took off again. It's always herky jerky when you're trying to be creative. I personally wait for my muse to come and whisper in my ear, but that's just me. Then, some friends and I decided to make a movie and Chance was the only thing I'd been working on that fit a digital format and was cheap enough to shoot." We're all familiar with Amber as an actor, and not just limiting herself to the roll of the spirited yet shy and loving Tara. Amber has appeared in such pop-culture hits as, Bye-Bye Love along with fellow co-start Eliza Dushku [Faith] and The Crush.

"I feel like a bony carcass slowly being digested at the bottom of some monster's third stomach."
More recently, in Taboo and The Prime Gig. Writing is a completely different mindset from the format as well as the performance. So has writing always been a passion on the same level as acting for Amber or did it naturally follow as a part of her expanding career? She told us that she's always liked writing, "I think that is because I'm a story teller. Whether it's acting or writing or just imagining scenarios in my own head, I just adore stories. I love creating a magical, non-linear world that my brain can inhabit and just feast on. Writing lets you play God a little bit too, so that's kinda fun."

Chance is a black comedy about a girl, Chance is her name, and her relationship with her neurotically obsessed best friend Simon. We watch as Chance deals with her loves, loses, family, self and most importantly Simon. The film takes you along an emotional yet thought provoking journey that can make you laugh and cry. Dramatic at times, flooringly funny at others and with just enough twists to keep you guessing how it will all end and if Chance can really find true love! For most writers, exploring new worlds and limitations is almost therapeutic. Sometimes you tap into things you never realized where there when developing a character or plot. Amber agreed, "Inside you because this is an emotionally and psychologically reaching piece in my mind. I didn't realize how much of this script was me. I mean, it says a lot about who and what I am. And not the way you would think, either." She was quick to explain, "I am not Chance. She may think a bit like me, but I'm really more Simon, the male lead, than anyone else. All his quirks are mine. Strangeness, huh?" It may not be far from how we perceive Amber. Parts of Tara reflect her caring and compassionate side as well. And any actor who doesn't put a small piece of themselves into each roll they take on, well, there would be something missing. Certainly not the case when Amber appears on screen.

Amber, cast and crew on the Set of Chance
Of course, the beasts are either never as bad as you expect them or worse than you feared. In Amber's case, now that the film has run its course from beginning to end was it a 'labor of love' or 'The Film from Hell that Ate Amber Benson?' "At this very moment, I feel like a bony carcass slowly being digested at the bottom of some monster's third stomach," she confesses. "But at other times, I think I created something really cool. The critic in me just hasn't learned to shut-up, I guess." Critic or not, there is always a favorite moment and a least favorite moment on the set that you can reflect upon with the knowledge that you'll take that learning into the next project. Amber recalls those moments for us, "I guess my favorite moment would have to be right before I started filming that first morning. It was very early and I was walking my dog. I thought to myself, 'Tonight when I go to bed I will be a filmmaker'. It still gives me goose bumps. The worst moment probably would have to be when we lost some footage and had to re-shoot a very important scene. And this one still gives me nightmares." The scene was an extremely funny encounter at a restaurant when Chance and her mother meet up for dinner with dad and his new, quite younger girlfriend (played by Emma Caulfield). Along for the fun was Simon (played by James Marsters) and what followed was some of the most witty and comical entanglement of the film. The scene was re-shot later on a boat with a slightly revised script but the original version was hilarious.

 

 



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