Kelly Pendygraft plays “Sarah Prescott” as an octogenarianand as a young woman.
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, highlights of your career so far, how you got into this crazy business, and how you became involved with the movie.
Kelly Pendygraft: I’m originally from Louisville, KY and was involved in theatre throughout college. I moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of an acting career and became active behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera.
I worked in wardrobe, makeup and craft services departments until I started developing my commercial resume. I've had my fair share of managers and theatrical agents but only one commercial agent who is the best agent anyone could ever have. I then started getting small parts here and there in bigger budget movies and landed a few lead roles in indie films. I met my current manager while becoming involved with two other actors developing our own show called Watersigns.
Tell us about your role in the movie.
KP: From the first time reading the script, I totally loved it. I don't think that happens all the time. I thought playing Sarah would be fun and such a great role for me. When I found out I got the part I was elated. Sarah is the storyteller; she gets to be a hero, falls in love, and finds new strength within herself.
What is the film about?
KP: Told from the future, the film is about a small town sixty years ago. The government tried to cover up the fact that aliens have visited our planet and that these aliens are infecting and killing people. There are a group of people who save the town and perhaps the rest of the world with a simple antidote. But soon the truth is uncovered.
What was it like working on a low budget film?
KP: Working on this film was fantastic. Working on low budget films in general is great because everyone is there for the art and not the paycheck. People come together to really make something happen and work really hard no matter what their job title is.
Did you learn anything about yourself or others from the experience?
KP. I learned that I can sit in a chair for five hours at a time for makeup. The days wearing old age makeup were difficult, really itchy. I feel like I learn a little more about my art every chance I get to make a movie. Working on my own character and working off other actors is always a great experience.
How was the casting process?
KP: I had to read for Young Sarah, and Old Sarah. I knew how important the Old Sarah audition would be so I really did some research on how eighty-year-old women move, sound, and look. I wanted it to be as real as possible and I tried to stay away from any stereotypes. I enjoyed reading with Bryan Brewer who plays Deke. And I really connected with the director, Howard Wexler, when talking about the young Sarah. We were very much on the same page.
How did you work on the arc of your character?
KP. I wanted Sarah to come out of her shell. I had imagined Sarah to be someone who was never a girl with straight A's in school rather a little quirky and a bit rough around the edges. I saw her as never really seeing the rest of the world and just kind of stuck in her own head.
I wanted to show the possibilities of Sarah being part of something bigger than her own life