Kate Leinster - Interview

"What is your role in the film?"

I play the female lead in the film, Kathy Reeves, who is a genetic engineer. She has come to Sri Lanka with the hope of gaining access to the infected zone to try and obtain samples of the creatures before they hatch as once they are born their DNA changes rapidly and it is impossible to tell what the creatures actually are. Kathy hopes that by obtaining these samples she will be able to prove that there has been a government cover up, in turn saving both human and creature lives. I also serve as an Assistant Producer on the film.

"How would you define your character?"

I think Kathy is quite an impulsive and driven character. She is convinced that there is a US Government cover up so decides that she has to leave everything she knows behind and travel to an infected zone to prove her theory, which is both brave and perhaps a little naive. I would say that she is also a caring character and tries her best to do what is right and for the greater good. I think that the character of Kathy develops throughout the movie, as she progresses on both a physical and emotional journey, she comes to understand that things are not necessarily black and white.

 

"How would you describe the work relationship with Ray Jay and the rest of the crew?"

The working relationship between Ray and the crew was extremely productive, friendly and fun! Because it was such a small crew (8 people in total) and we all lived together, we all got to know one another very quickly and became very close. We all truly believed in the project as well so everyone was very dedicated and hardworking and there was also a great sense of unity between us all. There were no ego’s on or off set, everyone was multitasking and just got stuck in to try and make the film the best it could be.

"We realize that Ray is an unorthodox filmmaker, how insane was he?"

(Laughs) Well, I think working on a guerrilla film all of us were a little insane as within reason, anything goes. There were a couple of times when we arrived at a location and Ray would be like ‘ok, cross that river’ or ‘throw yourself down onto the jungle floor’ that I would think ‘you’re insane’ but the end result was usually worth it! Ray always had an idea and vision in his head for the movie and the direction it would go and he would tell me as much as he thought I needed to know! I sometimes found that difficult as I tend to want to know what is happening at all times but Ray made me live in the moment and not question everything which I think really helped me live the character of Kathy in real time. He may be unorthodox in his filmmaking but he proves that you don’t have to follow a Hollywood formula to make a film. He was so dedicated to every aspect of the filmic process, he never really had down time, he was always doing something film related and his passion, energy and drive really helped me to live the character of Kathy, both on and off set. 

"How was to shoot in Sri Lanka?"

I loved shooting in Sri Lanka. I had never been to the country before so everything was totally new to me. I got to travel around the country a little bit as well and thought it was really beautiful, especially Kandy which is high in the mountains and has just breathtaking views. I found the tropical climate tough sometimes, especially when we were shooting physically demanding scenes.  I was very upset by the stray dog population as the scale of the problem became very apparent as we travelled around, but it made me more determined to try and help and there are some great organisations in the country such as ‘Adopt a Dog in Sri Lanka’ and ‘Embark’ who are dedicated to improving these dogs lives. I really liked seeing the Buddhist temples dotted on nearly every corner and the monks walking about. I met some lovely people on my travels and was struck by how kind and generous Sri Lankan people are. I loved the food as well, it is definitely the best food I have eaten anywhere and I really miss it! I wasn’t too keen on the mosquito’s which seemed to like me unfortunately. I also got bitten by ants and had a close encounter with a cobra which was scary but it all sort of added to the unpredictable nature of a guerrilla shoot!

"You had to perform with nonexistent surroundings, creatures, situations where they will be included with VFX. How did you manage to pull it off?"

It was tough at times having to react to things that weren’t there and I felt more silly than anything usually but Ray was really good at explaining where things would be, what they would be doing and what they would look like so that definitely helped. I tried to just use my imagination and stay in the moment and character and ‘believe’ that what I was visualising in my mind was really there. I think it also helps when you are shooting the scene with someone else, rather than alone, as you can play off of each other’s reactions and emotions which helps you stay in character and believe in the moment.

"What are your expectations with Re-Entry?"

I just hope that the audience enjoys the film and embraces what we have done. I would hope that those fans who liked ‘Monster’s’ will enjoy this film and can appreciate that Ray has taken the original concept to the next level. I hope that the film inspires other people who have a dream to make their own movie to just go out and do it as I think we have demonstrated that it can be done if you are passionate enough. Personally I hope that I can continue to work in the entertainment industry and build on the knowledge and experience that I have gained from working on this shoot.