Award-winning actress Kristanna Lokenis best known as the dangerously beautiful “TX” in the highly successful Warner Bros. franchise film TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES. Kristanna has also starred in S.W.A.T: FIREFIGHT, BODY OF DECEIT, ATTACK ON DARFUR, LIME SALTED LOVE (the latter two films she also produced), just to name a few. Loken has starred in numerous T.V. cult favorites including THE L-WORD, PAINKILLER JANE (which she also co-exec produced), and the award winning Sy-Fy mini-series, DARK KINGDOM: THE DRAGON KING. After recurring in seasons 5 and 6 of BURN NOTICE on USA Network, Kristanna produced and starred alongside two-time Academy Award nominee, Bruce Dern in her film FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM. Kristanna reprised her role from the hit show BOY MEETS WORLD on Disney’s GIRL MEETS WORLD. She co-starred in DARK STORIES for France 4, and guest starred on FOX’s TV adaptation of LETHAL WEAPON. This year DARKNESS OF MAN will be released by Saban Films where Loken stars alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Kristanna stopped by to chat Darkness of Man with us.
Hi Kristanna, Thanks for taking the time to chat. Today we’re talking about your latest picture Darkness of Man. What was it about the script that appealed to you?
Well, I had the pleasure of meeting James Cullen Bressack, the writer, producer, director through a mutual producer friend that I’ve worked with and I read his script and really enjoyed it. And, of course, I was intrigued by the idea of working with Jean-Claude Van Damme. I really wanted to help James flesh out the heart and soul of Claire; she really lends herself to the vulnerable side of Van Damme, and what his character is going through. I thought that we could really bring the heart and soul of this Neo noir action thriller out through Claire and her support of Van Damme’s character, and then also of Jayden’s character as well.
How would you describe your character, Claire?
So, Claire is a mobile veterinarian and that’s how she meets Russell Hatch (Van Damme’s character); she goes several times a week to his home to give his cat fluids. She sees this wounded soul that is Russell Hatch and as she takes care of wounded animals for a living, she’s very compelled to really also help nurture and care for Russell Hatch. Through doing so they end up falling in love. Then when she meets Jayden, she also catches a glimpse of the woundedness that he’s experiencing through the loss of his mother and so they formed this pseudo family that really helps fill a void in one another’s lives.
Great, and how did you find working with JCVD?
He’s really wonderful. He’s got a very big heart that you really see shine through in this performance. And just very, very kind, personable, real man who really tries hard. He’s in incredible shape and his action looks amazing, and just a really kind soul.
ScreenshotWere there any particular scenes moments or behind the scenes experiences that deeply resonated with you?
Yeah, I would say there were a couple of scenes to two different levels. The first one that comes to mind is the scene where Claire is nursing, Russell back to health. She really affects him on an emotional level, and says things to him that he’s never heard before, or really allowed himself to hear and it hits home for him. It resonates and it’s a very bonding moment for the two of them. So I think that was a great moment for the two characters. I really enjoyed working with him on a personal level in that scene, and then also on a humorous side, in the ice cream scene with Jean-Claude and an Emerson, the boy who plays Jayden. We’re supposed to be sharing this ice cream. And of course, it can take many hours to shoot one scene with various different camera angles. Emerson just really was going to town on this ice cream and before you know it, they barely have any rocky road left and they’re trying to build it up with vanilla underneath. I think Emerson might have eaten three quarts of ice cream so we all had a good laugh about that (laughs).
What was the most challenging scene for you to film and how did you prepare for it?
Hmm, do you know each and every scene has a different inroad to it and a different level of care. So you really want to start from where you are at the beginning of the scene and just take the emotional journey. So, it’s really hard to say if one is more difficult than the other, you just have to really be aware of where you are beginning the scene and allowing the emotional ride to shine through.
How would you describe it James Cullen Bressack’s directorial style?
James is very collaborative, which I really appreciate. He’s very fair. He’s got great people skills in the way that he communicates with others; I’m very impressed with that. He really listens and takes things in and it’s refreshing; he thinks outside the box, and is willing to listen to new ideas. I really appreciate that, because I think in the end, it makes for a very pleasant working environment. Also, you may get a fresher outcome.
What was the most rewarding part of working on this film? And how did it challenge you as an actor?
I’d say the most rewarding part of working on this film was collaborating with James and also really seeing a very emotional side of JCVD that we don’t get to normally see and working with him on that depths than that level, and that connection that was really rewarding for me. Every actor too, is also different, obviously, and how they work and the style in which they work. So, it’s also really finding that inroad and that connection with the other actor. Each time you work with someone, it’s building that rapport and finding the way to get the best performance together and to be there for your acting partner. I think that was a nice challenge to have in the working environment with JCVD.
Great, and the last question is, what would you like audiences to take away from Darkness of Man?
I think Darkness of Man is much more than just a Neo noir action thriller; there’s a real heart and soul to it. I think these characters really resonate on a human emotional level. I think people are going to be able to relate to them on some level. So, I think people will be able to feel for them and their journey that they’re going through. I think they’ll be able to walk away from this film on a level that’s potentially more rewarded than just your run of the mill action film.
Thank you for your time and all the best with the film.
Thank you very much.
Darkness of Man is out now on Digital.