With roles on massive television hits like ER, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and Star Trek: Enterprise (to name a few), Michelle Bonilla has already had a very impressive career in entertainment. But now, with her short film, “Slip Away,” she is ready to add writer and producer to her list of credits. Here we talk with Bonilla about her latest projects, standing up to Jane Seymour, coming out in Hollywood, and more.
CherryGRRL (CG): Michelle, thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, especially since it’s really clear you have a LOT going on. First I want to talk about the status of “Slip Away,” because the trailer, the story, and the cast look fantastic. So, when do you expect to release this film to eager audiences – where are you in the production schedule right now?
Michelle Bonilla (MB): Right now, we are on the festival circuit. We’re trying to get into all the different festivals and are going international with it. We currently have it on the schedule to play The Melbourne Queer Film Festival, in Melbourne, Australia, March 19. We’re really excited about that. And, we hope that the film’s message can touch as many people as it can in as many different countries as it can – as well as in the United States of course. I’m really trying to create a positive message for the gay community, the Latina community, and women in general. I am in the process of submitting it to more festivals in the U.S. and hope to have them play in as many cities as I can. Viewers can also check out the trailer on the website and also on YouTube.
CG: I urge people to check out the film’s site and watch the trailer but in short what can you tell us in terms of plot and the character that you play?
MB: The plot centers around our two characters, Selena and Jane, who are caught in a web of desire, deception, and untruths. The question is – who is lying to whom? It is inspired by true events, and tells the gripping story about love, addiction, self-discovery, and what is lost and gained in its wake.
I play “Jane,” who is struggling to balance her relationship with Selena, while she chases her own gratification through artificial bliss.
This story was very personal to me and the character I play does not mirror what I experienced in real life. I wanted to play the character who had to struggle with her demons and her substance abuse issues. Number one: it’s a great character to play. Number two: to complete the circle of “letting go” and healing, creatively as well as spiritually – what better way to let go of something than to create?
I’m really excited because I know that people will be able to relate. Slip Away is really my story. It took me six years to get the courage to write it and it was very therapeutic to me to get the story out. Then it went through all its phases. Then I took some time to put all of the pieces together in pre-production before we began filming. So, I wrote it to kind of release myself from it. I chose to play the character I had to let go of in real life.
CG: You took on the roles of actress/writer and producer for this – how challenging was that? Which was the hardest?
MB: Any of these roles have their own, inherent, challenges in them. However, the hardest seems to be the role of Producer in Post Production. I am having to continue to be on top of festival dates, entry deadlines, creating exhibition copies, sending out flyers, publicity, etc. What makes it all worthwhile is that I KNOW I have a product that many, generous, talented, people worked on (both on and behind the camera) and it inspires me to continue to do it all.
CG: It must be a far more stressful experience making a film that you wrote and produced and acted in as opposed to just starring – do you find yourself more nervous about the success of this project than others you have been involved with?
MB: Oh yes, hell yes (laughs). I find myself more nervous about the success of this project than others I have been involved with because it’s my baby, you know? And it is my story and I want to make sure that people see it because the theme is so universal and I really am giving a piece of my heart. It would just complete the cycle for me if I could just have people experience it. (continued on next page)
