MISS NOVEMBER 2007

DANIELLE DONAHUE

In Ryan Cavalline’s ultra violent “Aspiring Psychopath,” Danielle Donahue plays the twisted role of Lucinda. The character studies, stalks and eventually murders serial killers. She wants to be the best she can at slaying, so she studies their daily routines from a far. She learns how they pick their victims, how they torture them and how they take their lives. When she feels she’s learned all she can from the sickos, Lucinda then takes all the knowledge she has gathered and uses it against them.

Lucky for us, Danielle is nothing like Lucinda in real life. Though the actress has so far specialized in nobudget horror films, the former college athlete that graduated with a double major in Corporate Communications and Information Science and Technology, seems just as friendly, if not more than Lucinda was evil. She also says she hopes her roles in “Aspiring Psychopath,” “Dead Body Man,” “House of Carnage” and “WildCat” are just the beginning as she is looking to try her hand at different genres in the future.

Aside from being an aspiring actress, Danielle is also a musician, a model and an artist. Danielle talks bit about all of her creative talents, as well as tapping into her darkside, serial killer H.H. Holmes, working on “Aspiring Psychopath,” getting a tooth knocked out in a fight and more in this month’s thankful edition of Polly’s Pinups.

MISTRESS OF THE DARKSIDE

CCF: First, I wanted to say thank you for taking the time for PollyStaffle.com and tell you that I loved “Aspiring Psychopath” and I thought you were really good in it.

DD: I’m glad that you liked it. I have yet to see it, but there is an event on November 9th in Erie, Pennsylvania called Films for Food, where they are premiering it at midnight and I’m going to see it then. I am afraid to see it actually. I don’t like watching my films because when I watch them I always pick apart my performance and find so many things that I should have done or could have done better.

CCF: Well, this is a performance to be proud of, so hopefully you don’t pick it apart too much… When I first watched it and contacted you, I asked how you geared up for the role. You said it was pretty difficult because you were a college student/athlete at the time and you had to tap into your dark side to be able switch from Penn State New Kensington school girl to sadistic killer. I personally feel humans all have a dark side. Most of us keep it hidden, but we’re all born with it and entertainment helps us to cope with that. Do you see it along those same lines?

DD: Everything has a dark side. I’m fortunate enough to be able to control mine with creativity. Sometimes it was difficult for me to balance the sides because anyone that knows me knows that I’m not dark in my everyday life. But when it comes to my creativity, nothing but the macabre surfaces for some reason. It’s not a good thing, nor a bad thing. It’s just my thing. I did a research project recently on the serial killer H.H. Holmes and how his actions coincided with the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Here was a man performing horrific calculated acts for the longest time in the shadows during a time of rebirth, light and recreation.

CCF: Almost a yin and yang balance…

DD: Exactly. If we didn’t have darkness or evil in the world, how would we know how “good” really felt? Everything would be a constant mediocrity.

CCF: Right. It’s definitely one way to look at good and bad, dark and light… For you, was there any pent up rage or anger you had to pull from deep down inside to use for the film? Like the friend that did you wrong or that year Santa screwed up your Christmas or the time you had to make your own Halloween costume out of your mom’s old wardrobe, a cardboard box and some tin foil? (LOL)

DD: (LOL) No. Nothing like that. I don’t ever remember being disappointed at Christmas. Even the year when I got coal in my stocking I was so excited: “Wow, rocks that burn!”

CCF: You’ve done some other movies, but this was your first starring role, right?

DD: Yes, this was my first big role. It was a role I always wanted to play because you rarely see female serial killers. I loved doing it.

CCF: When did you first get involved with acting?

DD: My acting first got started with Ryan Cavalline’s “Dead Body Man.” It was my first year at college and there was an email sent to all the students about a local film company casting for a movie. I thought I’d give it a try. Ryan met me at a Subway and the rest is history. I never had an interest in acting before that. I hated the fact that I would pretend to be someone that wasn’t me. Then I realized it gave me a chance to explore my artistic side in a whole new way because I was bringing forth certain parts of my personality while suppressing others. I tried out for a play once when I was 23 and after the first couple practices I went and found a replacement for myself because it was really difficult to memorize lines and stage positions. I give theater actors a lot of credit.

CCF: Speaking of Ryan, he directed “Aspiring Psychopath” as well and you were in a couple of his other 4th Floor Pictures. He seems like a pretty cool guy from the contact I’ve had with him. I’m also amazed at the number of movies he produces, writes and directs each year. What’s he like to work with?

DD: I always loved working with Ryan. The set is always laid back and he’s great to collaborate with during filming. There is a method to his madness. He’s also a really great editor. When we are done filming and I see the final product I’m always amazed on how well he puts everything together to tell the story.

CCF: How long of a shoot was “Aspiring Psychopath” and what was it like? Was it go to school, take a test, pitch a game and then do some killing? (LOL)

DD: Wow, it seems so long ago it’s hard to remember. We shot it over the course of a year, on and off. It was on the weekends when I could travel back to Elk County from Pittsburgh. I can’t remember how many full days it took though.

CCF: You not only are into acting, but you also do some modeling, you’re into singing and you’re an artist. Which do you consider your passion that you wish you could do as a career every day?

DD: I actually wish I could do music as a career. It’s been my passion for over 10 years. I do have a few pieces that are in the industrial/electronic genre. I’m trying to get into film scoring and just started on a few independent projects. Art and photography, I don’t do so much anymore, but did constantly in high school.

CCF: What about modeling? How long have you been into that?

DD: I’ve only been modeling for a little over a year. I never considered that either until I started to get offered paying work.

CCF: So, the art’s more of a hobby? Is there anything in particular you try to express with it?

DD: My art is also on the darker side. My paintings and drawings always try to depict some sort of unspoken feeling. I love focusing on the eyes when it comes to this because a person’s eyes can say so many things. And that’s definitely something you want when you are trying to express something with a single image. My photography expresses somewhat of a dark humor. My one photo “Evil Teddy” shows a girl on the floor with a knife with blood on her and in the middle of the floor is a teddy bear with blood seeping out of it. In another, I have a girl slouched down in a corner with a plastic bag over her head with a frowning face drawn on it and a note on the wall that says, “Mom, please bury me in this dress. Thanks.”

CCF: You sure Santa never ruined your Christmas? (LOL) You were somewhat of a tomboy growing up, right? You have any good stories about kicking boy’s asses, intimidating them or anything like that?

DD: The first fight I was in was in was 1st grade. We had recess in the parking lot and my friend Kelly came over to me crying. She said how this boy, Brian, kept making fun of her. I went over to him and told him to leave her alone then pushed him. He came back at me with a full swing that hit me in the face and knocked out my tooth. I was so mad and tackled him. We were wrestling on the ground when we got split up and I was sent to the nurse. I was kind of glad that tooth came out. It was loose anyway.

CCF: Okay, there’s the pent up rage. (LOL) You personally are into a lot of horror films and gory movies. Did you get a chance to see “30 Days of Night” yet?

DD: No! I want to see that, but haven’t had the time. I thought it was a brilliant concept. Alaska has those extreme weather patterns with months of constant light and then constant darkness. I never considered what if there were vampires there. Spooky.

CCF: It’s awesome. Make sure and see it. Lastly, you’re an “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” so I have to ask this any time I find that out. Who’s the coolest: Meatwad, Master Shake or Frylock and why?

DD: Definitely Master Shake. I also like Carl. And the German plutonian Oglethorpe. But Shake is my favorite. He always has smart ass comments. “This TV needs to learn a lesson. If it doesn’t want to get hit anymore it will straighten up and fly right!”

CCF: The ladies seem to always go for Shake. Anyway, thanks for your time Danielle. Good luck with everything. Like I said, “Aspiring Psychopath” was pretty damn impressive, so keep it up and hopefully we get to see a lot more of you.

DD: Thank you again so much. I greatly appreciate it!

Films For Food is scheduled for a 24-hour marathon November 9th through the 10th at the Historical Roadhouse Theater, 145 West 11th Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. The event is to benefit the Erie Food Bank and admission is a cash or food donation. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and runs till 7:30 p.m. Saturday. “Aspiring Psychopath” will get its world premiere and Cavalline’s “Dead Body Man” trilogy will also screen.

- CCF, November 2007