During the International Filmmaker Festival World Cinema 2016 in London we had the chance to meet a whole new wave of story tellers and actors among the horde of artist who travel to this majestic city to celebrate international cinema.
Among them we had the chance to meet and talk to the whole cast and director of "Where is she now?", a documentary-ish experimental film who follows the story of John Henry, an acting professor who is trying to find his old students around the globe but one of them is missing. This journey take him and his camera to travel to wonderful countries with magnificent landscapes trying to gather information about the lost student.
An extremely propositive and risky film like this literally went all in and end up winning for Best Film and Best Director.
We had the chance to talk to the whole cast, but one outstanding member needed to have a proper interview.
Ragnhild Bjoerge, a young actress and stunt woman (an actress who loves actually to perform her own stunts) from Norway and with a long career both in her country and in Hollywood. She is a center piece of this film as an actress but also the creator, stunt and stunt coordinator of a couple of the most exciting scenes of the film (spoiler alert, yes all of them containing stunts, even a massive gang fight scene at a Norwegian park in Oslo. Bjoerge recruit and trained actors and literally produced the scene by herself while the director was traveling and shooting in Amsterdam).
This odd combination got her a recent interview by NRK Hedmark go Upland (Norwegian TV) where she displays a few of her talents in a very interesting and relax tone we never get to experience, because we rarely get to see good actors in their natural habitat.
After "Where is she now?" won the Best Film at International Filmmaker Festival London we set up an interview with her to explore a little more about this direct descendant of the almighty vikings. Fair warning, she does know how to handle weapons and hand to hand combat in real life as well.
- Tell us a little about your role in "Where is she now?"
I play the featured role of "Rags"; a previous student of John Henry Richardson (lead actor, director, producer, writer). In Norway I am leading him on to important clues of the missing girl he is looking for. 'Rags' knew the missing girl since before starting school in USA together, so she is carrying crucial information that might help john Henry find the missing girl.
- Why did you agree to play a part on this film?
I choose to play a part of this film, because the script really caught my attention. I am a fan of crime and detective stories and this film has a lot of it.
Also, how could I refuse to play a role that was written just for me? Opportunities like that are rare in this industry and I see it as a honour to be recognized like that.
- You coordinated the actors and big action sequence (and starred in it) in Norway. Is there a noticeable difference between the actors and their work in Hollywood compared to your home country in Norway?
Actors in Hollywood usually don't do stunts, that's what they have stunt people for, but when I contacted a group of actors in Norway and asked if they were interested in doing a big mass fight, they didn't even think twice about it. They were in.
I have worked with brave actors in Hollywood too that has done their own stunts, but the attitude towards doing stunts is very different. They want to do it but they hold back. The actors i worked with in Norway didn't hold anything back. I think Norwegians are used to be a little more "wild," from our culture of skiing and being out door. So when I asked them to throw them selves on the ground, they were not asking if it would hurt or how to do it, they just did it. It was very easy to work with them. Because when you are not scared that you might hurt yourself, you don't and then you can grow and learn faster. After one week, they went from a group of actors who had never thrown a punch in their lives, to 'two street gangs' fighting, punching and falling to the ground.
- Tell us your experience at the red carpet and the event where the film won Best Film in the London Flim Festival
Oh my goodness, that was such a great experience. I got to see a lot of the cast and crew again, which was all just amazing people. Where is she now? had four nominations; Best Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay. I was so nervous when our categories were up. And can you believe we won two awards? Best Director and Best Film! That was just unbelievable. It was such an honour to be there and to be a part of this event. And there were so many great films, which for me personally was a proof that we all put the best of us and our work into this film.
- What are the projects in your near future?
Right now I am working in Taiwan on a TV series where I play the starring role and I get to do my own stunts. But I feel very honoured that when I am done in Taiwan I have projects waiting for me in USA. There is one future film I am in particular excited about. I am playing a doctor and a very dramatic role. I can't tell you more about it unfortunately. But also I have signed for two web series, a commercial and I am negotiating about an action picture. This year has stared really, really great. I feel so lucky to have work and to be able to do what I love for a living.
Unluckily time was short, but we got to see some of her impressive work behind and in front of the cameras. A few of her films has been screened all around the world and premiered in competition in massive film festival like Cannes as well.
We can´t wait to see more of this blue eyed Norwegian warrior again on screen, beware and make our words. Vikings are coming and we are loving it.
Fuente: tv.nrk.no
