Horror’s Scream Queens and Rising Talent: Six Questions for Geovonna Casanova
Geovonna Casanova is a young actress out of Fresno county. She grew up in a small town, working on her dreams of becoming an actress. She began working as an extra for TV shows in Los Angeles, and started her real acting career in Fresno. She started her journey as a thuggish tomboy named Lil’ Dude, in a movie that was never to be completed. She soon after landed the lead role in a zombie trailer that is to be made into a feature film, A World Gone Mad, a Michael S. Rodriguez production. She is also the star in a NSA spy thriller, Dolphin Protocol, a Brian Craig Keith film, and will be receiving special training for the movie. Casanova has more roles in TV shows, such as El Guardian, and leads and supporting roles in other films, such as FEARS, that are in production. You can see her as a body double and as a “college student” in Lake of Shadows: The Legend of Avocado Lake. Keep an ear out in a couple of months for her voice in a science fiction cartoon.
1. How did you get into the industry?
Getting into the industry felt almost like a life-long effort. Since I could talk, I always loved acting out my favorite scenes in movies, as well as imitating characters’ accents and mannerisms. I had always listened to the radio, hoping a praying I’d hear about some audition or casting call. When I had, I’d go. It took me some time to figure out that going to a hotel for an audition was a scam. (I was in elementary school, I had to learn somehow!)
Anyway, I’d join a couple plays and musicals, and fall in love with acting in a new light. Although it has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, only recently has the ball really started rolling. I am a musician, also, so I had been in the art scene for quite some time. I met some awesome people who were around all forms of art, so I, in turn, met people who were in films. I saw a casting call for a comedy, sent my headshot over, and got the part for a lead in a gangster comedy. Word about my acting got out, and I had started getting offers for roles, and I was putting my headshot in people’s inboxes in the meantime.
I got cast for A World Gone Mad, which was only supposed to be a fake trailer… but it caught so much attention, we are making it into a feature length film. Promotion for that movie and putting out some reels is what really got me into horror and other genres. So, to make a long story short, getting into films and TV shows took a lot of trial and error, and years of it. I’m finally living my dream.
2. What Scream Queen/Woman in Horror inspired you the most?
Growing up, Carrie was one movie that really resonated with me. I felt so much empathy for Sissy Spacek’s character, as I felt that she and I had a lot in common. To get personal for a second, my mom and I used to have a very rocky relationship, when I was growing up. The last three years or so is when we started to make amends, and then I had lost her in a house fire, March of this year, (2018.) Since her passing, it has made me think back to the hard times, but see them differently. In relation to Carrie, I got the chance to make amends. My mom taught me a lot about life, and Carrie’s mother didn’t even have a heart to tell her daughter about a period, for crying out loud.
While, growing up, I thought I had a lot in common with Carrie, but when looking back now… it’s a bit different. This new revelation gives me a new outlook on the movie, and a new appreciation for it. Carrie had it bad at home, as I did, and she had it bad at school, as I did. When she got her revenge, it always pumped me up. She was powerful, and everyone got what they deserved. “Treat others how you’d want to be treated,” I suppose. In light of the recent events, it made me look back on my life and be grateful for what I had. No matter how bad it could have been in that time, people like Carrie had it much worse.
3. What horror film hooked you on the genre and why?
I can’t exactly pinpoint what movie got me hooked on the genre; I just remember seeing Chucky on TV and it scaring the shit out of me as a kid. But my crazy ass liked it, so I enjoyed watching horror after that. It definitely isn’t a favorite, but I suppose it kindled the flame for loving weird and creepy movies. (I honestly can’t remember which of the Chucky movies I saw, but I think it might have been Seed of Chucky? Or Bride of Chucky.) I later watched all of them.
My favorite horror films are usually more so psychological, as well as super gory. Good acting helps, too. (Ha-ha!)
4. When you are presented with a project, what are the things that draw you to certain projects and away from others?
When being presented with any script or concept of modeling, etc., I will jump right on it if the person behind it all is professional, and has unique vision. I try and stray from clichés and sexual characters, as well as people who do not conduct themselves, professionally. I feel as though overly-sexual female characters happen to be tired clichés, so, I suppose they go hand-in-hand. I don’t want my brand to be a sex-symbol; I want to be known solely for great acting and a passion for the craft.
You can say yes or no to whatever script you want, and I have. As far as the people behind these things go, it could be a great story, but if the director does not carry his/herself as a professional, I will not take a job working with them. I have done so once before and, with a lack of better description, I wasted my time and was treated poorly, taken advantage of and the movie never was finished. Never doing that again.
5. What are your thoughts on how things have changed in the genre and what are your hopes for the future evolution of Horror?
I never really thought about that, really. I always enjoyed horror movies in their entirety, whether or not they had a strong female lead. I do know that we will be seeing a lot more female leads in the future, and they will all kick major tail, just like in the past. I’m stoked to be a part of that. It’s way too much fun!
6. What are the next couple projects you are working on?
I am the lead in an upcoming NSA spy thriller, called Dolphin Protocol. Production has already begun, and this movie will kick everyone’s ass when it’s done. A World Gone Mad is being turned into a feature, and will be starting filming for that. I am a supporting role in a TV series called El Guardian, which should start filming sooner than later. I play a small role as a bartender in a movie called, FEARS. I play small roles in Lake of Shadows: The Legend of Avocado Lake. I was asked to be a lead in a few other movies and TV series coming out, as well as voice-acting for a Sci-Fi cartoon, but don’t want to put out any names until everything is finalized.
I am beyond blessed to be a part of this industry. It’s been a dream, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.
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