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Home | Interviews | Interview: Taya Calder-Mason (Beast No More)

Interview: Taya Calder-Mason (Beast No More)

What made you want to become an actress?

I think everyone has thought at one point or another “I wonder what it’s like to be this person or experience that life”. I’ve always thought living one life would be boring. I remember being 8 years old and creating a home horror movie with my cousin using an ancient video recorder and a freaky porcelain doll my Auntie gave me for Christmas. That love to create and play has never left me.

How did you get involved with the film “Beast No More?”

I was actually put forward for the role of Beth through a friend who was already cast. I was in Melbourne at the time so I put down a self tape and a few weeks later I got the call. I had only a few days to prepare for the audition so I did a ton of online research for the role. Because Beth was born blind I really had to understand what I was like to live without sight. Once I was cast I worked with Vision Australia and met some really inspiring people. They were fantastic.

What was it like working with director Aaron Warwick?

Aaron was great. He is a super chilled out director who really lets the actor take control of the scene and follow their instincts. He understood each of the characters emotional journey and watching him with Jess (Tovey) was really gripping.

Who has inspired you professionally?

I’ve always loved watching actors with a unwavering point of view. I remember watching Brie Larson in Short Term 12 thinking her performance was so powerful. We have so many talented, beautiful and strong women in the industry at the moment – it’s inspiring.

What was it like working with the cast?

Everyone was brilliant. We were working on a story that is so crazy and unimaginable but so real on many levels. Jessica Tovey who plays my sister was really amazing. She’s 10 years older than me and has so much experience under her belt. Watching her everyday was like being in acting class. Dan (Ewing) had some gritty scenes with some characters and he handled it with such grace.

What projects are you working on next?

I’m really excited to be working on my first ever project that I’ve written and will star in! It’s a short film called Fight Like a Women. It’s about a female boxer who is struggling to be treated like an equal in her sport.

It’s inspired by the fantastic movement of why fighting like a girl shouldn’t be a bad thing. I’m really proud to be apart of something that will reinforce a topic that shouldn’t be left in the dark.

Did you face any challenges while filming?

Oh my god! We dealt with everything Mother Nature could throw at us. We shot in Australian winter when the days are short and the temperatures are bitter. As we were filming in the middle of nowhere we didn’t have electricity so there were a lot of hot water bottles and warm cups of tea.

I remember on one of the last night shoots we ordered a stack of pizza to be delivered (it must have been 30+ boxes of pizza) and the shop actually thought it was a prank call so they didn’t put the order through. We all became very hangry people!

Thank you so much.

My instagram handle is @ tayacaldermason and my imdb is: www.imdb.com/name/nm7380663/

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