Following Skateland with Haley Ramm

You may recognize the actress, Haley Ramm who will be updating us on Skateland from X-Men: The Last Stand or Without A Trace. Check it out!

Starting off with Skateland, tell me about your character, Mary and what attracted you towards the character.
She’s a perfectionist. She wants her family and her life to be perfect but she knows that her family is far from that, as it is falling apart. What attracted me to the character was that she is a really strong girl. Her mother is emotionally absent so she feels like she needs to step into her shoes and become the “mother figure” that the family needs.

What was the audition process like for Skateland?
I went in once and met the Director/Producer/Co-Writer, Anthony Burns and Co-Writer/Producer, Brandon Freeman. Then I got a call a month later telling me that I booked it. I love it when that happens!

So what did you learn from Anthony Burns and Brandon Freeman?
They were great. I learned that the shots of the film are so important. There are so many long shots of the film. Anthony is so good with the actors. He really listens to them and hears what they have to say about their roles.

Which actors did you work with on the film?
Most of my scenes were with the family, including Shiloh Fernandez (United States of Tara) who is my brother Ritchie in the film, Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) who plays the mother, and Brett Cullen (Damages) who plays the dad. We really clicked as a family. There is also a party scene that I did with Ashley Greene (Twilight).

Can you talk about the family dynamic in the film and how you can or cannot relate it to your real family?
They are very Southern. I don’t think that the parents know their children too well. My real life parents are very much in my life so I cannot relate in that sense. Although all of the young characters in the film are trying to find out who they are.

Do you have a favorite scene in the film?
I love all of the family scenes because you really get a good look at what Ritchie’s family life is like.

Which cast member did you relate to the most?
Probably Shiloh since he reminds me of mine own brother. It wasn’t hard at all to have that relationship with him right off the bat.

What would you say is the message of the film?
When you are young, find out who you are and always learn to take chances.

What were you looking forward to most about going back into the 80s, when the film is set?
I definitely loved the hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Once you put it on, it is like you are completely the character.

Did you guys listen to 80s music on set?
Yes! There was a lot of 80s music played in the trailers. There was also a lot of current music played…Jason Mraz was very popular.

What was your favorite part about filming in Texas/Louisiana?
The food! I’m from Texas so living in LA makes me miss the Southern food so much. Tex-Mex and Whataburger were so good! I ate that a lot!

So, what advantage or disadvantage is there when it comes to living in LA as opposed to living in Texas?
I think people would say that a disadvantage of living in LA is the traffic and all of the people but I love it all. I still love going back to Texas but my career has brought me to LA and I’m not complaining.

Do you know when the film will be coming out?
I don’t but we are hoping to go to the Toronto Film Festival.

You are also in an upcoming film, Just Peck.
It is such a great movie. I do not have a very big role in the film but I did have to wear a wrestling unitard. That was interesting. It was probably more uncomfortable for the guys that had to wear them.

Some of those in the film are Brie Larson, Marcia Cross, and Camryn Manheim. Do you watch any of their shows?
I love Desperate Housewives. I have never missed an episode! My scenes though were with Keir Gilchrist who is also on United States of Tara with Brie Larson.

Tell me about your appearance on the new TNT show HawthoRNe.
I had so much fun. My character comes into the ER with her dad. My character has a gash in her head from a rollerblading accident but the real problem is with her dad who is having symptoms of a stroke.

That’s kind of funny with the rollerblading on HawthoRNe and then Skateland.
That is funny! You know the funny thing is that I didn’t have to roller blade in either of them! I used to roller blade all of the time but I wasn’t very good. (laughs)

You have appeared on numerous shows and films but which show has been your favorite to work on?
I really enjoyed my role on Without A Trace and I really learned a lot from Anthony LaPaglia, who all of my scenes were with.

Of all of the roles that you have had, which has been the farthest from your personality?
I would probably say that role would be Missy on iCarly. I played the old best friend of Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) who comes back to Seattle and tries to steal Carly from Sam. So that was my first time being evil and sassy. Miranda is one of my best friends in real life and I am not too sassy so that was fun.

Is there anything aside from acting that you would like to do?
I would love to get into producing and directing.

Do you have any Directors or Producers that you look up to?
I think Sean Penn is amazing. He has such a great career and is such a great person to look up to. It was so great to work with him (on Into the Wild). I learned so much from him.