Because I interviewed Gelsea Mae earlier this year, I was already familiar with the upcoming show The Arrangement. Per usual, this sparked a personal quest on my part to find the actors who are involved with this project in an attempt to get the word out about this show. Andrea Stefancikova is one of those actresses on this spring show, and having the opportunity recently to ask her some questions introduced me to the wonder that is Andrea. She was quite forthcoming about why she started acting, her most well-known works, her views on indie films, and also her upcoming works (of which there are many).
Why did you decide to become an actress? What kind of training have you received?
When I had seen a theatre play for the very first time, it made me excited, and it lit a fire in me, that resonated the acting bug throughout my entire being. I would imitate what I saw on the stage and make small performances for my family and family friends. Later, I would perform as a dancer, and it was when I had a solo that I felt that connection between the audience and myself. In life, I was/am quite shy, but when I was on stage, I felt different – connected to everyone in a way I couldn’t comprehend.
The primary reasons why I wanted to act were to create, to tell stories, to express myself, and to have FUN. I wanted to discover myself and get to know human beings on a raw, real level, to connect and to share, to feel, to emote, and in a way, to risk. My life experience, which has not been carved in a smooth, easy trail, but has rather been dramatic, has only added to the importance of acting in my life, and to my craft.
The studying never stops. It’s hard work, and it’s work which involves discipline. It’s making choices that aren’t always easy and making sacrifices. It’s a dedication.
I have studied in different schools with different teachers, taken workshops, and I still do. (Meisner Technique, Strasberg Method, Chekhov, Improv, Movement, Scene Study, On-camera, Dance, Voice, Singing, Musical Theatre)
When I don’t work enough, because and this is the reality, not every actor is lucky to work consistently, and that has nothing to do with talent, I still take classes, … I coach for auditions, I read biographies, novels, plays and psychology books and then have contact with every day people and just try to always be present. That is important. Acting is a constant discovery, ongoing learning and struggle (for the majority, because the celebrities are a minority).
As I was going through your credits, I noticed that you are listed as having done stunts for Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Please comment on this experience.
Yes, this is true, I do have a stunt credit for Percy Jackson.
I am not a stunt performer; it’s not a career path I have chosen, although I could definitely do certain stunts just like many other actors could.
I ride horses, have basic weapons training and stage combat, dance background, etc., but because of insurance and other reasons, when actors are doing anything that involves a remote possibility of being injured, even if it’s just falling to the ground, driving on a bumpy road, being hit or slapping another actor, a stunt performer/double may be used, and a stunt coordinator is definitely present at the scene for safety. There are times that is seems unnecessary, but that is just how it works. But then there are actions that require serious skills and stunt performers are trained to perform these to make them look easy and natural. Oftentimes, they risk their lives. Bless them.
So to answer your question, I sort of fell into it. The stunt double of one of the actresses couldn’t fit the prosthetic mask on her head, and there wasn’t much time. One of the AD’s knew me, so I got the call. It was a stunt driving sequence, and I was doubling one of the actresses who was a passenger in the car and she had to hit her head when the car abruptly stopped. That’s it. I know, oftentimes I wonder why certain stunts fall into the stunt category, but I can’t complain. 🙂
You have been involved in many shows/films in the past. While we will get to your most recent work, please comment on your most notable works leading up to this year.
One with which I went into great depths, resulting in a long character hangover, was the role of Velvet in Real Fiction, which is still in post- production. It will hopefully premiere at one of the major film festivals in 2017…maybe premiere at Tiff 😉
Velvet is a street worker, who comes from a complicated background, a lost soul with not much to look forward to, and she is also a drug addict. Deep inside though, she has a dream, which she shares with someone she encounters, falls in love with and whom she goes on a killing spree with.
It’s a modern Bonnie and Clyde/Femme Nikita, noir-esque thriller, arthouse, action film.
I had the opportunity to shoot guns and do all sorts of fun stuff along with all the dramatic work.
Everyone involved from the wonderful talented director, writer, and co-star Kirk Caouette, was passionate about this project, and the film would never be finished without the efforts of all these amazing people.
What was also memorable is that I had the opportunity to play with my brother Milan Stefancik, who plays my on-screen brother. He is a natural! We had one particularly challenging scene … I wish I could tell you more.
All the actors were fantastic. I really cannot wait for the film to be released into the real world and shared with everyone.
A note about this project: The casting director didn’t bring me in to read for the role. It was a friend of mine, my ex-boyfriend and actor/producer Sage Brocklebank, who insisted that the director see me for the role of Velvet. Kirk emailed me the script the same night and I was brought directly to the screen test the following day or the day after, and I booked it. So I believe in relationships with people and word of mouth, but also in the saying that “what’s meant to be will happen.”
I notice you have a role in Dark Harvest. Please tell us about how you got that role and your experience filming that movie.
I play an immigrant woman, one of the character’s lovers, Regina Vesela, who also goes by Candy in her line of work.
My name was passed to the director, James Hutson, by my friend Ryan Petey, the cinematographer of Dark Harvest. Once again, I wasn’t brought into the auditions by the casting director.
The principal photography was more or less finished at this point, but they decided to recast and reshoot the role of Candy and thought I would be a good fit. I had a lunch meeting with James and Alan C. Peterson, who plays Bernie. We spoke about music, the film, art, about life in all its glory. We laughed, we cried and we clicked. I was offered the role by the time we received our bill. Thank you James!!
My experience filming was great. I love the work of immersing myself into different roles. This particular one, Candy, has a risqué element, and I have to say that I am pleased with my work and how it came out. Everyone involved was a passionate filmmaker and a professional.
Dark Harvest had a world premiere at the Portland Film Festival, and just won the Best Picture at the Oregon Independent Film Festival. Yaaay!!
And I see you are also in Below Her Mouth. What was your experience filming that?
Yes, I am also in Below Her Mouth, which just had a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff). Congratulations to everyone involved once again!
My experience on Below Her Mouth was unique for different reasons. I have been involved or in the loop since the very first draft. I recall reading it for the first time one morning by the pool in sunny Los Angeles and then looking out into the splendid, warm view of mountains, houses and the glistening ocean, being thoroughly moved by the story and visualizing it. I wanted to be part of this production so very much.
I read for the role of Jasmine a few times, including flying to Toronto for a “chemistry read-through.” At the end, it came down to locking in an actress for the role of Dallas, which had specific requirements. When that went to Erika Linder, Natalie Krill was cast subsequently as Jasmine. They were a perfect fit. “You can’t have two European accents in the leading roles of a Canadian film.” Natalie and Erika were fantastic together.
So then I was offered the role of MJ, which made sense from the story’s point of view. The producers knew me by then, and wanted to make me a part of it. I accepted, even though MJ was a small role and initially I wasn’t convinced I needed it to do it, but I said “yes,” and I am grateful. Thanks ladies!
The production flew me out to Toronto and my scenes were shot at the end of the last day of the entire shoot, which was good, because the atmosphere was festive and excited. Everyone knew each other and was relaxed, but at the same time the women were exhausted, happy to have a break and naturally sad, as it was the end of filming.
If you notice I said “the women,” which takes me to the most important part of my answer. Working on Below Her Mouth was special, because it was an all-female production, from the writers, producers and director to the entire crew. I believe this might be the first time in the history of Canadian filmmaking and I am so proud of all of us – #womeninfilm.
As you may have heard, this film contains a lot of nudity and sexuality, which is shot raw and real-life like. The director, April Mullen, along with the wonderful creators, Stephanie Fabrizi and Melissa Coghlan, wanted to honestly express a women’s view of intimacy, honesty, lust and sex, love and what really turns women on, and they succeeded. At no point during the shoot did I feel uncomfortable, objectified or embarrassed, which is a lot to say being given the fact that I was practically bare throughout the entire scene.
And now you’re in The Arrangement. How did you get a role on that show? In how many episodes will we see you? Any behind the scenes stories or special moments? Do you know when this will air and where we can see it?
The Arrangement goes a while back. I first auditioned for the role of the therapist/cleaning woman in August 2015. They were originally looking for a Mediterranean/Hispanic actress, and I was brought in as the “wild card.” I had a good audition, which resulted in a producer/director callback session a week later, for which I was nervous beyond belief. I remember walking into the waiting room, spotted a few local name actresses, series leads types, all brunettes, dressed in dark colors, where I was an Eastern European blonde dressed in pastel pink and nude…utterly different and still a relatively fresh face. Once I was in the actual room with Jonathan Abrahams, the creator, Ken Olin, the director, two other producers and the casting director, everything was fine. They were warm, friendly and just overall grounded people. We spoke about the character, scenes, they were curious about my opinion of it, how I understood the role, etc. After that, I read it a few times, took directions easily and that was it. I was put on hold the same day as their first choice (I totally freaked out by the way), and after the network’s (NBC Universal for E! Network) approval, I was cast for the pilot and in a recurring role should the pilot be picked up.
And it did get picked up in January, 2016.
I nearly lost my mind I was so excited. I cried like a baby. Seriously.
We went to camera at the beginning of summer. I cannot share any details, as it’s hush-hush and filming. I will say though that things change on a daily basis like on any other TV show. The storyline is different than what it was initially and it keeps evolving. It’s fascinating.
My character now has a name, Sophie Marchuk.
What really became present for me in this experience is that sometimes things are not what they appear to be so I can’t always count on them. It’s just the unpredictable and unstable nature of television.
Yes, when you are excited to be in every episode of a brand new series and are totally in love with your character, the story, the creators, and then changes happen that are outside of your control and you work less that you anticipated, it is naturally disappointing when you are passionate about a project.
What I know is to be grateful for each day as it comes, and enjoy it. And I do that fully. I have lots of other things to be excited about.
So that answers your question. As far as I know, I am in one or two episodes in the first season. My character is sassy, intelligent, calculated and strong. She is a chameleon that changes from scene to scene. I can’t wait to see it.
I loved working with Josh Henderson, Michael Vartan, Ken Olin and Jonas Pate and fingers crossed we meet again in Season two.
The Arrangement is supposed to air on E! in March, 2017.
Any other upcoming works you can mention?
I just wrapped a short film called Unintentional Mother supported by the Kevin Spacey Foundation, written, produced and directed by Mary Galloway. I got to dig myself into a challenging role, and I felt like I grew once again as an artist. It’s very rewarding for me. Sorry, but I can’t reveal more at this point.
Real Fiction is definitely one to watch out for next year. I already mentioned it earlier and I hope the official trailer will be out soon.
I enjoyed working on an MOW called Straight A’s (working title), produced by Tina Pehme and Kim Roberts, and directed by Vanessa Parise. Cheers to #womeninfilm once again. It seems to be the recurring theme of my recent work and in the industry. We wrapped less than a couple of months ago, and the film is supposed to air in December, on Lifetime. There is no information about it on IMDB or anywhere as of yet. I had fun working with Haley Pullos. She has such a pure and big heart and Judd Nelson is a legend!
There is another production I am excited and proud to be part of and that is the action thriller – AST and the other two segments of a trilogy.
I booked the villainess role and will star opposite the Danish film actor, and recent James Bond perennial, Jesper Christensen, as his daughter, and/or lover? Are you intrigued? The filming will take place between Toronto and Miami starting next year.
I am cast in the next Terry Miles’s passion art project or two, where the dates are unknown at this time. Each one is very unique and I can’t wait until the day we go to camera.
I consider myself lucky and I thank the universe every night and morning for everything it has been sending my way☺ Of course, I am aware that it is largely my persistence, hard work and work ethic that comes to play. Without my strong drive, I would be probably still sitting in my pink chair at home and day dreaming instead of making things happen and living the artist life in full swing, which by the way comes with a lot of downs as well. I don’t act every day. I still have a “joe job” to make sure I have a steady income and can pay bills, etc. Fortunately, it is still in the film industry, so I never feel out of touch or disconnected.
As you have done several independent films/works, what do you see as the benefits and challenges of indie films?
I love working on independent films. There tends to be more freedom to play and experiment, which is fantastic. The non-mainstream stories can be unconventional, more complex and/or artsy, which is a dream for me as an actor in terms of fulfilling my inner artist. Oftentimes, independent films are less about money and business, and more about the actual art, acting and story-telling. I hope nobody is going to bite my head off. It’s not technical like television acting and it also puts less pressure on the actor. It just feels like everyone is there to make a movie and is equally as passionate, because very often, it is certainly not about the paycheck. And that could be considered challenging too, because I commit to a certain amount of weeks and will make next to nothing.
In an ideal world, I would like to work on a major picture or a television series and then do a passion indie film.
Then when an actor does too many indie films, his/her value diminishes from the “finance” point of view, unless the movie wins a Palme D’Or or something similar to it.
Do you have any plans to eventually write/direct?
Yes I do and I am already on it.
I have written a book, which has been optioned by the Canadian producer, Robert Lantos, of Serendipity Point Films, for a television series. I have put this project on hold due to an overload of work and big life events, but will resume in the near future. The book will hopefully be on the shelves of Chapters/Indigo and online by summer of 2017.
I have a couple of outlines for scripts I plan to write next year. I am a creative individual, so I am never stagnant or resting. There is always something in the works and always will be.
Any advice you would give to others planning to enter the entertainment business and pursue a career?
Don’t! Hahahhaaa! But if you do, be your best, be persistent, be reliable, be true to yourself, and grow thick skin because rejection will be on your daily menu, and giving up is not an option! Use fear as your catalyst.
One more piece of advice for aspiring actors: Have a plan B! It can still be within the industry, but make sure you are fulfilled, and be okay with the fact that the fulfillment might not come right away from acting itself, or maybe never. And one more thing, don’t take yourself so seriously! Have fun!
Thank you for your support in reading through all these answers! I appreciate it more than you know!
Frankness is something I truly admire in this world of hypocrites and smooth talkers. Gratefully, there is no doubt that with Andrea, she is as credible and as straight-talking as they come. She has the correct attitude when it comes to this industry, and she has made the decision to actively pursue her passions rather than waiting for a day that may never otherwise come. In Andrea’s case, the size of the role is not as vital as the profundity of the character. While I have yet to see Andrea in any of her many films and shows, I greatly anticipate many of the works in which she has been featured. Be sure that you watch out for Andrea’s various network spots in the coming months and on into the new year with the advent of the highly anticipated show The Arrangement. Additionally, I would request that you follow her at the various links below so that you will be amongst the first to know when this tenacious, industrious, and lovely actress is appearing in a film or a TV show.
FOLLOW ANDREA
