Gretchen Lodge Has a Scary Time in 'Lovely Molly'

Gretchen Lodge had no film or television credits on her resume when she responded to a casting notice in Back Stage for a low-budget horror film looking for a female lead. She was in the midst of moving from London to New York and shooting her first film, also booked through Back Stage, and admits her mind was in a thousand places. So it wasn't until later that she realized the film's writer-director was Eduardo Sanchez, the co-director behind the seminal horror classic "The Blair Witch Project."

Lodge would go on to book the role in the film, now titled "Lovely Molly" which is set for release this week. In the film, Lodge plays a newlywed who moves into her childhood home in the country, where she is haunted by painful memories and strange visions. It's a wrenching, emotional performance from the previously unknown actor in a genre not always heralded for its acting.

Tell us about the process of booking "Lovely Molly"; you weren't initially aware of who Eduardo was, correct?
Gretchen Lodge: I had a very straightforward audition where I met Ed. But I was so busy and there was this flurry of other things happening, it wasn't until I was back on the set of my other film that I started talking to other people who had also auditioned for it. They were like, "Yeah it's the 'Blair Witch' guy!" So when I got a callback, I really researched. The initial sides didn't tell you much about the film, but when I go the callback I got more of the script, and you could tell how intense it was going to be. The callback was a very long day. We'd read with a lot of other people; it felt to me like there were two or three auditions shoved into that one day. After the callback, I spoke to Ed a few times on the phone and via email. About a month later, he offered me the part.

Were you a fan of "The Blair Witch Project"?
Lodge: Definitely. It's funny, when it first came out in theaters, I wasn't allowed to see it. I think I was 18 the first time I finally saw it. But no matter how many times you see it or where you are in life, it affects you. I was a huge fan of Ed's style; he was able to get something that's really special out of the actors and the material he had. So I was intrigued to work with him.

You have to travel such rough emotional terrain in this film; was it a difficult shoot?
Lodge: I think everybody felt really blessed because it was such a family. Every person there was there because they wanted to be. They believed in the script and one another. From beginning to end, it was incredible. While sticking to a rigorous shooting schedule-21 days-they always made sure I had the time I needed. It also helped that it was shot chronologically, which is unique and incredible.

How did you handle all the nudity and violence in the film?
Lodge: The gory stuff was intimidating in the script but when you got on set, it was all handled so professionally. Ed and I talked about the nudity a lot. I felt it wasn't gratuitous or unnecessary, it was all part of her journey. Of course, when we were shooting, I could really use a whiskey on those days!

You shot on location in and around the Maryland town of Hagerstown. I understand you really used the location and atmosphere to get into character.
Lodge: Yes, I got to town two weeks before shooting and I would stalk the locals. I'd pick someone who reminded me of Molly and watch them for an afternoon. I also stayed alone at the house we shot in to familiarize myself with the environment. I'd never done anything so scary in all my life. There were these cats that lived in the house and they stayed with me. I remember telling myself: as long as the cats aren't scared, I'm okay. They'll tell me if something is going wrong! I pretty much stayed up all night watching the cats.

What's up next for you?
Lodge: That is an interesting question. We shall see. I've been devoting a lot of time to getting my writing off the ground and working more on that side. But I'm ready to be in front of the camera again.