Q&A with actress Giovannie Espiritu

May 26, 9:30 PMLA Asian American Movie ExaminerEd Moy

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Actress Giovannie Espiratu

Bay Area actress Giovannie Espiritu divides most of her busy schedule between SF and LA and spending time with her son.

But in February, Espiritu's long hours of hard work and travel paid off when she was nominated alongside veteran actresses Alfre Woodard, Amy Irving, Teresa Russell, and Brooke Johnson for Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 Method Fest Independent Film Festival.

Known as the only major film festival in the U.S. focusing on acting, Method Fest celebrates breakout acting performances in story driven independent films.

Espiritu received the nomination based on her strong performance as Mara in the locally produced independent film Fiona's Script directed by Florencia Manovil.

As Fiona's plucky housemate, she becomes enamored with her own newfound career in acting, as well as with her favorite coffee shop’s barista, a transgender Asian American guy with that most valuable of all bartender traits — a sympathetic ear.

Although Espiritu's endearing performance didn't take home the Best Supporting Actress Award -- that honor went to Teresa Russell -- being nominated was more than rewarding.

Espiritu's previous credits included a recurring role on ER as Med Student Ludlow, Rose on Bones, and Karen on Gilmore Girls .

She's also a one of the founders of Desert Rose Media and Production, a Bay Area based company.

What attracted you to the story of Fiona's Script?

I liked that the director, Florencia Manovil, was looking for "real" looking girls for the film. I had just been told to lose weight so that I could be more competitive for the LA market, and that really hurt my self-esteem. I'm not overweight at all, I'm 5' 1" and about 115 pounds, but I was being told that that was too much weight and that most girls my height in the LA industry were about 15-20 lighter than I was. Plus, Fiona's Script was a local movie and it was a story about finding yourself and gathering your strength from within... it seemed really appropiate for me personally at the time.

Tell us about your character Mara.

Mara wants Fiona to get laid. LOL. She sees Fiona getting in to a rut because she's hung up on a guy that she dated FOREVER ago and she wants her friend to go out and experience life again. I've totally been on both ends of that equation...

How did you prepare for the role?

Florencia scheduled a lot of rehearsal time, but that meant that we'd basically spend time getting to know one another and really becoming friends in the process. We talked about past, and current relationships. We went out dancing... and hung out a lot. It was a really fun, laid back shoot.

The film's themes include bisexuality.  Have you experienced that in your own life?  If so, how did that affect your performance?

I've always believed that love is love is love, no matter who it is that you love... whether they are of a different race, or the same sex, or whatever. You fall in love with the person, and not just what they look like externally. I loved the fact that Florencia did not use bisexuality as a plot point, but it was just a fact of life for Fiona. And yes, although I haven't been in very many relationships, I have been attracted to both men and women. :-) So, the "bi-sexualness" of the film wasn't really an issue for me...

Tell us about your Best Supporting Actress nomination at Method Fest.

It was awesome. I wish I had known about it :-)

We actually got into the Method Fest last minute with only a three week notice. There was a gala in Calabasas the night of the screening and one of the other actresses (Kat, who plays Paloma) wanted to go. It was funny because I felt really out of place at the gala. I was definately underdressed for the evening and felt like an uber ugly duckling in a sea of beautiful people. A couple of days later, I was looking online for film festival pictures and found out that I was nominated at the Method Fest AFTER the fact. But I still went all crazy and giddy about it because of the people that I was nominated alongside!

What was your reaction to being nominated?

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Seriously. I dorked out. And of course I Facebooked and Twittered it. LOL. 

Fiona (Sonia Montejano) and Mara (Giovannie Espiratu) 

How do you feel being honored with a nomination for your performance will affect the film and your career?

I am definately humbled and still in awe of being nominated with some pretty awesome actresses. I am hoping that it will open more doors, acting-wise, because I love filmmaking. It does give me a sense of, "Hey, I know what I'm doing sometimes....I think." That's the thing about acting - it's so elusive and you are constantly in a state of questioning and not knowing what comes next.

So what's next for you?

Other than remembering to breathe? :-)

I'm currently a series regular on Exit Stage Left on Koldcast.Tv and Tivo. And I had a role on the Parenthood pilot (with Maura Tierney) that is coming up as Adam's assistant, but my scene was cut before we filmed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll bring me back when they start filming. I've got a college comedy called Spot Check in post production that I'm really excited about. It's gonna be hilarious. Its about a water sports tournanment at a college campus and I play Hope Cornerstone, an ultra Christian uber bitch that wants her team to win at all costs. And if any local filmmakers are open to creating awesomeness, I'm totally down!

Fiona's Script was accepted into the Frameline LGBT Film Festival, and will have it's Bay Area premiere on Saturday, June 20, 6:15 PM at the Roxie Theater, and in the East Bay on Monday, June 22, 7:00 PM at Rialto Cinemas Elmwood