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Folie Interview

INTERVIEW w/ LAUREN LAVERA: “I want to advocate for those who are attacked because of their identities”

The new queen of horror thrillers, Laura LaVera (June 14, 1994 Philadelphia, USA), is knocking on Hollywood’s doors. Her career began to take off with various roles in smaller projects, but it was her portrayal of Sienna Shaw, the main heroine of “Terrifier 2” (2022), that catapulted her to recognition and gave her remarkable visibility in the film industry. Now he’s back with “Terrifier 3.” For this reason, we wanted to know first-hand their desires and desires to belong to the realm of the seventh art.

“The more complex the character, the more I’m attracted to it”

RUN, BABY, RUN

“Failure is surrender”

What’s it like to be you?

I don’t know. I’m constantly thinking about work. It’s my biggest priority, but lately I’ve been trying to find more balance. I enjoy martial arts and spending time with my husband and animals. Still, I feel blessed to love what I do.

Can you describe your routine as an actress?

I train with two different coaches, both on and off projects. I have a new project that will start right after this one, and I’ll be working with both of them soon. I’ve been busy with promoting my new film. He takes extensive notes and tries to create a world for the character I’m playing. I think about its subtext and watch many films for inspiration.

What can you tell us about your involvement in Terrifier 3?

I am chased again by this murderous clown. It was exhausting, both emotionally and physically. My character faces horrific experiences and deals with trauma, including time in mental health facilities. I reached out to facilities on the East Coast and watched YouTube videos about PTSD and survivor guilt to investigate, which was fascinating and gave depth to my character.

What is your biggest fear in real life?

That is a profound question. My biggest fear isn’t creepy; it is the fear of not succeeding. Failure, for me, is giving up.

Translated by Google.

—-Source: www.folie.es

Read the full artice in our Press Library.

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Photo Sessions > Set 15 – Folie (2024)

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GQ Mexico

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Photo Sessions > Set 14 – GQ Mexico (2024)

Lauren LaVera returns as the definitive final girl who will face the bloodthirsty Art the Clown in Terrifier 3, a film that arrives today in theaters in Mexico.

Lauren LaVera has reached new heights in her career by playing Sienna in the brutal horror saga Terrifier, a role that has redefined her relationship with the genre and earned her the title of “final girl”.

With the arrival of the third installment on October 31 in theaters in Mexico, the actress delves even deeper into her character, bringing a visceral authenticity and a genuine connection with fans. “This time I had a better understanding of the character… it just felt like coming home,” she tells GQ. In Terrifier 3, the actress not only explores the physical and emotional limits of horror, but also the deep bonds that have bound her to the team and strengthened her as an actress.

The experience in Terrifier 3: “I felt like I was coming home”

When Lauren LaVera immersed herself in Terrifier 3 — one of the most brutal R-rated slasher films — she already had the advantage of having played her character, Sienna, in the previous installment. The Philadelphia native describes how, upon returning to the set, she felt an almost homey familiarity with her character and the environment: “This time I had a better understanding of the character. I did extensive research for Terrifier 2 on how I thought Sienna should be interpreted and characterized. Going into this new movie, it just felt like coming home.” Director Damien Leone’s on-set chemistry, according to LaVera, was strengthened by working with a team that felt like family, which made the whole process more natural and enjoyable: “It was really fun and I felt surrounded by people I love, which was a real pleasure.”

In addition, when describing the atmosphere behind the cameras, he does not hesitate to admit the intensity of the filming. Terrifier is known for his visceral style, and the actress defines it as a “totally frenetic” process, in which everyone was looking for the best possible result in each scene. This commitment to authenticity is something Lauren says can be seen in every shot of the film……

—Source: www.gq.com.mx

***Translated by Google***

You can read the full article at www.gq.com.mx or in our press archive.

 

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New Film ‘The Monster’

‘Terrifier’ Breakout Lauren LaVera To Star Opposite Djimon Hounsou In ‘The Monster’ From ‘Saw’ Duo

Terrifier breakout Lauren Lavera has landed a co-starring role opposite two-time Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond) in horror-thriller The Monster, which will be directed by the Saw franchise’s Darren Lynn Bousman.

We revealed the project last week and can now confirm that rising scream queen LaVera is aboard to star in the movie.

From a screenplay by Jonathan Bernstein and James Greer (Steven Soderbergh’s Unsane), the pic was developed and is being produced by Lee Nelson and David Tish of Envision Media Arts (The Ice Road) alongside Saw franchise producer Mark Burg.

The Monster follows two millennials who make quick money by leasing incredible New York City apartments they don’t own to people who don’t know they are being scammed. The con works brilliantly until they run into an apartment owner with a dark secret who flips the game on them.

Principal photography is due to start in Danbury, CT, in November.

LaVera has been one of the breakout stars of hit horror franchise Terrifier, which recently launched its third installment. The actress also recently starred in TIFF hit The Life Of Chuck with Tom Hiddleston. That Stephen King adaptation is being released by Neon next year. She was also recently seen in two eps of NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Hounsou, coming off Paramount’s A Quiet Place: Day One, is currently at work on director Vadim Perelman’s thriller The Zealot, starring opposite Kodi Smit-McPhee, and earlier this summer wrapped on Sony Pictures’ shark pic Beneath the Storm alongside Phoebe Dynevor and Whitney Peak.

Lynn Bousman has directed four movies in the Saw franchise, while producer Burg has been aboard for every instalment.

—Source: MSN.com/Deadline

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Swagger Magazine

Terrifier’s Scream Queen Lauren LaVera

Though it always had a presence in film, the horror genre has recently surged in popularity, gaining more recognition than ever before.

Leading this resurgence is Terrifier, an independent slasher film that grew into a cultural phenomenon, driven in part thanks to its terrifying antagonist, Art the Clown. Equally captivating in this blood-chilling saga is its heroine, Lauren LaVera, whose breakout role as Sienna Shaw in Terrifier 2 solidified her status as a “Scream Queen” on the rise.

Now, with the highly anticipated theatrical release of Terrifier 3, LaVera spoke with SWAGGER to discuss her journey into acting, the challenges of stepping into a beloved franchise, and all the bloody details behind the scenes.

When you took on this role, did you have any idea that you were entering such a wild universe?

Lauren: Definitely not. I had my final audition in 2019, and at the time, I hadn’t even seen the first Terrifier. I saved watching it, as I didn’t want it to influence my decision-making during the audition process. After I booked the part, I went home and watched the first film with my partner, and we were both like, “What the hell is this?!” [Laughs] But the storytelling was captivating. I’ve always loved horror, though I didn’t grow up watching gory films. Being on set and seeing how they made these big moments with such a small budget gave me a real appreciation for the franchise and for gory horror films in general.

Lauren: I started acting around 2017 and booked Terrifier 2 in 2019. I was really fortunate to find work so quickly early in my career, which I think is attributed to hard work and timing. Damien (Damien Leone, Director Terrifier) actually tried to do a similar storyline a decade earlier, but it fell apart when they were almost finished filming. I wasn’t acting back then, and they had a different actor in mind. So it was serendipitous that everything came together when I was just starting out. I had been training as an actor for two years by then, and this opportunity just clicked into place. I was very lucky.

How did you approach developing your character, especially with such a dedicated cult following already in place?

Lauren: I tried not to focus too much on the cult following—it might have psyched me out. After I booked the role, Damien and Dave (David Howard Thorton, Art the Clown) took me out to dinner, and they were so welcoming. They said, “You’re going to be the Batman to Art’s Joker,” and I was like, “Guys, don’t tell me that! I just want to focus on the work.” Damien was incredibly collaborative. I keep journals and take extensive notes on my scripts, and I created playlists for my character. I was actually filming a Hallmark Christmas movie at the same time, so switching between a happy holiday film and Terrifier 2 was a challenge. Music really helped me balance those tones.

Damien even made a playlist for Sienna, which I still use. He also gave me great “homework,” like watching Alien and Halloween to study final girls. He saw Sienna as a mix of Ripley (Alien), Laurie (Halloween), and Sydney (Scream), so I watched those films and took notes on characteristics I thought aligned with my character Sienna.

It was such a fun, collaborative process—he’d either agree with my ideas or gently guide me in a different direction.

It must be intense with all the blood and action. What’s the set like behind the scenes?

Lauren: Luckily, none of the actors are method actors, so once we call “cut,” we’re all just ourselves. I’m really fortunate that I know a lot of the cast and crew for Terrifier 2 and it’s a really friendly, family-like environment. We’re constantly cracking jokes and hanging out between takes, which helps break up the intensity. But while we’re filming, it’s very intense and from doing my own stunts, my body would ache. So I took quite a bit of ibuprofen during filming and I was sweating all the time because my body didn’t know the difference between acting scared and actually being scared. I was talking to our intimacy coordinator, Maria, and she explained that my body was reacting to the stress, even though my mind knew it was all fake. So I would love to do a romcom next because I feel like my body needs a break from all this stress. [laughs]

We don’t know if your character Sienna will survive Terrifier 3, but are there plans for a fourth Terrifier film?

Lauren: As far as I know, Damien plans to wrap up the story in the fourth film, but I think that will also depend on the reception of Terrifier 3. Fingers crossed!

What’s it like working with director Damien Leone?

Lauren: Working with Damien is incredible, and it’s amazing to see someone so passionate about every aspect of their film. He’s everywhere—writing, directing, editing, doing special effects makeup. He never seems overwhelmed, even though he’s juggling so much. For Terrifier 3, we had a bigger budget, so there were more people on set, which allowed Damien to focus more on directing. He wasn’t as hands-on with the makeup this time compared to Terrifier 2, though he’d still step in for touch-ups and, of course, call for more blood when needed. It felt like a more intimate process, because he could focus solely on being creative and working closely with the actors. He’s incredibly collaborative and encourages us to explore different takes. For Terrifier 3, he even gave me the freedom to try something different after his directed takes, and he always listens to our input. It’s a really great environment to work in. He’s also a fan of the horror genre, and I think that shows in every frame of these films.

Let’s talk about your status as a “Scream Queen.” How does it feel to hold such an iconic title in horror?

Lauren: You know, it’s interesting. When people call me that, I do often wonder if I deserve the title because I feel like I haven’t really been doing horror for that long. Of course, I’m so grateful when people refer to me as these wonderful titles, like Final Girl or Scream Queen, and I’m very humbled by it. However, there is always this imposter syndrome— “have I done enough?” Do I deserve this? But the fact that people resonate with Sienna’s character is so incredible. That’s why I started acting—so that people could feel less alone or feel represented.

So that’s enough for me, but the fact that they give me these wonderful titles is just the cherry on top. Do I think I deserve it? I’m not entirely sure, but I will continue to work hard.

Looking back at your career, is there a moment for you that you are most proud of?

Lauren: I’d say the moment I’m most proud of would be when I first started acting because prior, I had a really great white collar job. I was an optician in the city and was making really good money. But I was really close to my grandmother, and she always wanted to be a dancer and an actor. She never even got a chance to try. And when she was on her deathbed, I remember being with her and thinking, “she didn’t even get to attempt her dream.” So shortly after she passed, I decided I needed to try for her, and I quit my job. I took my first acting class the same night I quit my job, which is so stupid, but I did it, and luckily that was at a casting office. They held classes there, and got to know me, and even before I had an agent, they would bring me in for auditions. I’m really grateful to myself for just taking that leap, even though it was a really irresponsible one. I don’t recommend people do it the same way I did it, but I’m proud of the fact that I believed in myself and cared enough about my relationship with my grandmother to try.

What’s next for you after Terrifier 3?

Lauren: I’ve been auditioning like crazy. I’d love to feed my creative love in a different way and try to do something more comedic next, so most of my auditions have been in that vein. I would still do horror, just as long as the story was different from what I’ve already done. I’ve also been writing a coming-of-age comedy with my best friend about our time studying abroad in Europe, and just the shenanigans we got into. So I’m hoping to do that next, and of course, I love horror and would be thrilled to continue in the genre, especially if it means working with Damien again!

Terrifier 3 will be available to watch in theatres starting October 11. Follow @LaurenLaVera on social media for more!

This interview has been edited for brevity.

—Source: SWAGGERMAGAZINE: SELFMADE – LAUREN LAVERA INTERVIEW

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Public Events

Lauren recently attended a couple of events. Photos from the events are now in the gallery.

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