Interview - The Flash star Danielle Panabaker

Source: blastr

*Originally posted at Filmoria* 

Danielle Panabaker has seen her career slowly blossom over the years, from minor appearances in horrors such as The Ward, The Crazies and Friday the 13th, a regular spot on television show Shark, to becoming a regular fixture on hit show, The Flash. Having led her latest film, the sci-fi mind-bender Time Lapse, we had the opportunity to speak to the bubbly and immensely friendly actress about the film and also tried to get more information about season two of The Flash...

How did you first get involved with the film, Time Lapse?
I was at SXSW a number of years ago with a film I did then called Girls Against Boys and Lee and Coop [the writers] saw the film and Q&A and I came onto their radar. They then wrote the script and a couple of months later asked me if I would be interested.

This is a very clever and unique take on the time travel element; is this what drew you to the project or was it something different?
When I was first approached I was very impressed with how the guys had so much into this film and how they had really cleaned it up. As an actor what was incredibly appealing to me was the layers and the twists throughout the movie.

Did you enjoy working with what is a predominantly male cast? Do you enjoy representing that strong presence for women on-screen?
It's funny, it hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it, but they were all great guys and it was nice to have them to collaborate with.

The film takes place, for the main, in one location. Were there limitations to this or was it more advantageous?
The location was found because it was about to be torn down, so we managed to rent it out and make it our own for the film. We rented out various apartments, for example, one for the grip room, one for the sound room, and it made it that easier to make it very much customised for the film's purpose. It was actually a real luxury to have such a location.

How does filming a television show compare to working on a movie?
There is something different about it. On television you are obviously working at a certain speed as you have to have an episode done in eight or nine days so there's everything to do whereas in films you have the whole run of the production. I think there are some luxuries of working on a television show and on a low budget film, but every situation is different.

Was it nice to move on from minor horror movie roles to a character who is very much in the core of the film and has many layers?
It was. The character and the ability as an actor to play with lots of different layers and innovation was great.

You recently attending Supanova (comic convention) in Australia; how fun was it to meet and interract with the fans?
It was great. I feel so lucky that people enjoy the show [The Flash] so much and even feel compelled to say hi and introduce themselves. The Australians were all so friendly, I was expecting them to be much more rambunctious and rowdy! It was so nice to see everyone and it was invigorating with us going back into production for season two. To get that interaction can be very motivating at four o'clock in the morning when you're standing on set!

Talking of The Flash, how has the show impacted on you considering the mass fan base it has already built up?
It is overwhelming and so flattering that people in so many places have responded well to the show. I just feel very grateful. It's not something we necessarily experience when we're shooting but it was great to meet some fans and it's amazing that these stories connect with people internationally.

With so many unanswered questions and twists in Season One of The Flash, what can we expect from Caitlin in Season Two?
I'm really excited with what you can expect from Caitlin. The first episode of season two is going to be a doozy because it's going to include some changes as well that are really going to affect Caitlin. I'm excited and hopefully season two will see her out of S.T.A.R. Labs a little bit more...

That sounds very exciting! If you could sum up and tease what we can expect from the next series what you you say to fans?
I'm not allowed to reveal much as I will get into big trouble with the producers! We've already received emails warning us, so the fact that we've received them should tell you that they have so many great things in store.

Finally, Grant Gustin says that Superman is his favourite superhero, who is yours?
I think Mums are superheroes, those are definitely my superheroes!

Time Lapse Review

 *Originally posted at Filmoria*

It's fair to say that we as an audience are more than accustomed to the time travel element of science fiction, no matter what form it takes. Various sci-fi genre offerings have dealt up a multitude of different scenarios to explain and present this much discovered means of scientific exploration. Back to the Future used a DeLorean, Donnie Darko theorised with portals, and now Bradley King's Time Lapse uses its own special means to predict the outcome of the future.

Finn (Matt O'Leary) is an aspiring artist whose creative spark is currently flailing and far from showing itself, while his girlfriend Callie (Danielle Panabaker) seems to be blossoming as a writer. The pair, living also with their addictive gambler friend Jasper (George Finn) are in a seemingly comfortable living arrangement.

When their tenant Mr. Bezzerides (John Rhys-Davies) goes behind on his rent, Callie is forced to visit the old man to retrieve the money, only to find him dead. With the body of the old man in the apartment, Callie and her friends also discover something rather unsettling in the form of a machine that takes pictures of the future. With such technology able to essentially predict the future, the trio decide to use it for their own personal gain, but eventually the lust for money and much more turns their lives upside down.

Time Lapse is a clever twist on the conventional time travel element of the science fiction section of cinema, instead playing on the morality side of things and presenting a varying detail of seeing into the realms of future development. In presenting such an intriguing scenario, the film requires strong protagonists in order to drive the story forwards, and this is where it becomes slightly lacklustre. While The Flash star Danielle Panabaker remains a reliable force of decision-making and ultimately acting proficiency, her male counterparts are somewhat cliched and questionably dull.

Panabaker's strong-willed Callie is a key cog in this wheel, often guiding these two individuals from the dirt track back onto the road of common sense and also delivers her own brand of secrets and surprise that certainly catch us unawares. She has a sense of depth about her, while the male side of this story seems to be about money, power and a sense of depression; something that as audience we can't quite grasp hold of for too long.

That being said, Time Lapse is a refreshing proposition, especially considering this is a debut feature from director Bradly King. Limiting himself to a restricted set could have turned out claustrophobic, but in fact the director has himself a bold and advantageous choice in his repertoire, with the unfolding events playing perfectly in such a small space. It makes for extra tension and a true feeling that these three characters are very much immersed and stuck in this situation together, with no-one allowed to escape from it.

This is a film that explores the morality of human nature, questions each character's motives and places us in the position of these everyday people, asking us what exactly would we do in this specific scenario. It twists and turns its way to an impressive finale, slightly faltering at some of the key character interaction moments, but still reaches that finish line with a distinct level of impressive edge.

Time Lapse is certainly no world-beater in terms of its execution, but considering it is a debut feature, this is a sci-fi offering that is hard to ignore, if only for its innovative means of telling the often utilised time travel narrative. The film is often saved by the brilliance of Panabaker and her evolving personality, while her male partners in crime somewhat hinder proceedings at times. The usual conventions are certainly defied, but this is a film that is hampered in some of the key moments.