For our latest digital feature, we caught up with actor and filmmaker Maiara Walsh about her feature directorial debut, Bight. Stepping behind the camera while also starring in the film, Walsh leads the erotic thriller as Charlie, a role she co-wrote alongside co-star Cameron Cowperthwaite, who plays Atticus.
Bight follows two couples who embark on a daring experiment with open relationships, only to discover that what begins as a journey of liberation quickly spirals into jealousy, betrayal, and emotional ruin. In our conversation, Walsh opens up about wearing multiple hats on set, the creative approaches that shaped the film, and the lessons she learned from this experience.
Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Kathlyn Almeida
Hair and Makeup: Rachel Andersen
Did it feel natural to wear many hats on this project? (Writing, Directing, Producing, Acting)
Maiara: The short answer is yes. I’m used to wearing multiple hats. When I envision a project or start to build a world, I’m imagining every detail and then figuring out how to bring it to life with whatever limited resources there are to work with. Limited resources mean small teams and more work for each person involved. I think the question at this point is, do I want to be wearing as many hats as I do? The answer is no! I look forward to having a real budget so that I can focus strictly on creative and not have to think about returning props or driving a U-haul across town at midnight or worry about craft service and contracts. And a real budget means getting to call up team members and offer them paychecks worthy of their artistic craft and value.
What was it like when you finally starting filming Bight after all of the prep?
Maiara: We were fortunate enough to have three months of rehearsals and prep time building out the set. By the time we started shooting, we were so dialed in that the performances felt effortless. Of course, as with any project, challenges arise and a huge part of filmmaking is creative problem solving. Thankfully, the producers and fellow leads, Mark Hapka and Cameron Cowperthwaite, were there to help manage the workload and make sure that the film got across the finish line.
How would you describe the film genre and vibe to audiences?
Maiara: I’d say, imagine if Closer were an erotic thriller. There’s a tension and shorthand between our four characters who are fundamentally entangled. I also think it’s as much of a psychological thriller as it is a dark comedy. I was so glad people understood the tone at our premiere and were laughing at parts we thought were funny when Cameron and I were writing the film. Certain lines of dialogue and character moments are absurd and should be treated as such. I find that levity, when you allow yourself to go on the ride, makes the intense scenes that follow all the more impactful. So we encourage audiences to give themselves permission to laugh.
What were learning experiences from a directing perspective on Bight that you will bring to future projects?
Maiara: No matter what, you’re going to learn a lot of lessons on your first film. As a first time feature director wearing too many hats, you’re going to miss things. But I think the biggest thing moving forward is making sure the entire budget is in place. Deliverables and marketing alone on indie films can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and if you don’t account for those numbers in the beginning, you’ll be left scrambling and either pinching pennies or spending hundreds of hours learning extremely tedious tasks, often both. Thankfully, our lead producer, Mark, saved us a ton of money through the post process. And even with him performing miracles, there were unanticipated costs and a ton of additional work that we would’ve loved to outsource.
From an acting perspective, how separate are past projects you’ve worked on compared to something like Bight? Did you bring mindsets or prep from past roles to this project or are they seperate?
Maiara: Bight is different from past projects I’ve worked on because it’s something we created. We weren’t showing up to set strictly as actors. We were there from the inception of the idea until the release of the film years later. And as an actress, I’d say this film is the most adult material I’ve worked on so far. The themes are heavy and it’s super dark, but not in a made-for-TV kind of way. Which is fine in its own right but I’m a movie lover, and I love psychological, twisted films (The Handmaiden is one of my favorite films by Park Chan-wook), so it was a blast allowing the characters to unravel. I’ve played a lot of dramatic or dark roles, but this really felt more like a play on screen, which is what we were going for. Each role I take on requires a different mindset and prep. I build an extensive character backstory and use a lot of imagination work to make character memories that affect me in the moment of shooting the scene.
When people watch Bight, what are you hoping they get out of it?
Maiara: I hope people are willing to sit in some discomfort, and think about their own relationships. What are their personal boundaries? How often do they let others cross those boundaries or are the ones who cross them? Why? What character do they connect with? How do they feel about the communication in their relationships? The conversation should continue long after the film ends.
_
Bight is availabe to rent or purchase on Amazon Video and Apple TV in the US and Canada.
Follow Maiara Walsh: Instagram
Follow Popternative Magazine: Instagram