If you could clone your loved one, would you? April Mullen’s sci-fi thriller Simulant endeavors to answer that question. Starring Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu, Sam Worthington and Robbie Amell, the feature tells the tale of love and loss amid a technologically advanced world. Here’s the synopsis per Mongrel Media: “A humanoid A.I.’s attempt to win over a widow’s heart places it in the path of a government agent trying to stop the rise of machine consciousness.”
Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Maša Lizdek (pronounced “Masha”), who plays an Android in Simulant called Lisa (or L.I.S.A.), about what audiences can expect, how she prepared for her role and more.
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This interview is condensed for length and clarity.
Melody McCune: We at GGA love a good origin story. How did you get into acting?
Maša Lizdek: My mom was a single mom, so I wanted to help out with getting a job. I started modeling in the beginning, and then I transitioned into commercials. I loved auditioning for school plays and high school musicals. I like the competitive side of it and that feeling of getting nervous. Then, I made my way into TV and film.
MM: Let’s talk about Simulant. Can you tell me what it’s about and how you got involved with the project?
ML: I received an audition from my agent. I saw that it was a film by April Mullen. I’m a big fan of her work. And I was keen on booking this project. I had never done sci-fi before — I’ve always really wanted to.
It is sci-fi, but it is also a thriller and a love story. There are some comedic elements to my character. It’s about this woman; without giving too much away, there’s an accident involving her husband, and she decides to clone him into an A.I. But she gets in trouble with people supervising this procedure and has to pull the plug on him. It’s a lot harder than it seems.
MM: How does your character, Lisa, fit into the narrative?
ML: I play an Android. Lisa stands for Land-Based Interior Service Android. I’m at service to Faye, played by Jordana Brewster, and Robbie Amell’s character, Evan. I make them tea and pancakes in the morning, and sometimes, I drive them.
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MM: Did you have to undergo any physical transformation for this role? Like makeup or prosthetics?
ML: I spent at least four hours in the makeup chair every day. It was a lifelike prosthetic. They made a mold of my bust to the top of my head, and then they cast a very thin layer of silicone in this mold. When applying it onto my upper body and face, you take it off, and you melt and strip away all that. Then, they have to recast another layer. They were constantly making new applications for each working day.
MM: How did you prepare for this role as an actor?
ML: I tried to eat well. It was hard to eat in general wearing the prosthetics. I was only drinking smoothies, so that made me stay nice and lean. But in terms of her characteristics, like most actors, I have a lot of service industry background, so I live to serve.
MM: Describe Simulant using three words.
ML: Futuristic. Daring. Badass.
MM: What can audiences expect when they watch this film?
ML: These sci-fi movies are almost hitting too close to home. We’re not far off with A.I. creations and people making lifelike robots. I believe audiences will have that conversation after watching the movie. If you had the chance to clone a lost loved one, would you?
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MM: What is on the horizon for you, career-wise?
ML: I’m just about to do an ADR session for my next movie. I believe it’s scheduled to be released later this year, hopefully for the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s a movie based on the Holocaust, a true story adapted from a book by Maxwell Smart called The Boy in the Woods. The Boy in the Woods is the movie title, and it follows the adventure and survival story of young Maxwell during the Holocaust.
MM: Have you watched anything interesting lately?
ML: I’ve been watching older movies that had gotten a lot of Oscar buzz that I didn’t have time for before. I watched Ray with Jamie Foxx for the first time, and that was a tear-jerker. I was very emotional about that. I also watched The Help, which I loved so much. I love watching stories that are driven by an all-female cast.
MM: Name your top five favorite films.
ML: X-Men. Parasite. Love Actually. Shrek. The Departed.
MM: Thank you so much for chatting with me, Maša!
ML: Thank you, Melody!
You can follow Maša on Instagram (@mashliz). Simulant is now available via DirecTV’s VOD, with a wider release slated for June 2.
This article was originally published on 5/9/23.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/luciano-capozzi-the-last-kingdom-seven-kings-must-die-interview/
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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