Q&A with Vampires Suck Jenn Proske!

Just over a year ago, actress Jenn Proske was sitting in a Boston University classroom studying theater. Now, Proske, a College of Fine Arts alumna, is celebrating her movie debut in the summer film <em>Vampires Suck</em>, which hit theaters in August. MUSE talked to Proske about BU, acting and her passions in a telephone interview.

<em>Just one year ago you were in a BU classroom, how does it feel seeing yourself on the big screen?</em>

It is so surreal &amp;- I'm excited, terrified and honored, a little bit of everything. I can't believe I was in school over a year ago &amp;- I feel really lucky to have jumped into a career path so quickly.

<em>So if you weren't an actress. . .</em>

I would probably be some type of criminal investigator.

<em>Who was your favorite professor or your favorite class?</em>

One of my favorite professors headed my master's in criminal justice at BU &amp;- Thomas Nolin &amp;- he became a mentor. There he was an ex-police officer coming to my plays &amp;- it was my two worlds colliding, he was really so encouraging.

<em>Was Vampires Suck the first role you auditioned for in Hollywood?</em>

No. I got to Los Angeles in late October, early November and started auditioning full time, almost every day. February was when I booked the roll, after a good four months of auditioning almost on a daily basis. It was the first [movie] that said yes to me.

<em>Talk a little bit about the film.</em>

I think what's really exciting is that it's a great comedy &amp;-in order to make it funny you have to take it seriously. I learned through BU that you really have to invest in characters and journey and story and really believe in it. It's a combination of really believing in it and working your butt off but also being silly. Combination of my work ethic of letting go and not be afraid to fail . . . you have to put yourself in the most ridiculous situations but you have to take it really seriously.

<em>How long was the filming process?</em>

About seven and a half weeks &amp;- we filmed for about seven.

<em>What's been the most challenging part of this movie?</em>

I think the most challenging part is the innate never having done a film before, the pressure of knowing you're responsible for carrying the film. I'm in every scene of the movie. It's a lot of pressure starting the career knowing you'd be the first one to be criticized. I think that pressure was difficult but the directors made me feel insanely comfortable so I worked hard to live up to their expectations.

<em>Advice for aspiring actors and theater majors?</em>

My greatest advice is to believe in yourself and be proactive every single second of the day &amp;- it's kind of a hard career because obviously you have to wait for someone to hire you but you have to be actively putting yourself out there, auditioning, taking classes, doing as much as you can to make it easy for them to cast you &amp;- once you've gotten that door open, you stay active and believe in yourself and keep putting yourself out there.</p>