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By Kenn Gold and Jim Iaccino
Gina Holden has been successfully carving out a niche for herself in the world of Sci Fi and fantasy over the last several years, most notably in her recent leading roles as Dale Arden on SCI FI channel’s Flash Gordon, and as Coreen Fennel on LifeTime’s BloodTies. Gina also had roles previously in the big screen features, Butterfly Effect 2 and Final Destination 3.
Most recently, Gina had the opportunity to play the dream role for any Sci Fi fan, that of a victim of an Alien Xenomorph in the blockbuster Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem, which was launched on Christmas day. Flash Gordon wrapped filming for season one on December 18th, and with little time off, Gina is jumping right back into the action with a guest role on Smallville, to be followed up by a feature film in which she will play a lead. Her character on Smallville is that of Patricia Swann, the daughter of Christopher Reeves Dr. Virgil Swann, and she will be bringing new secrets to bear that show the history of the Swann’s and Luthors in awaiting a visitor from Krypton.
Gina recently returned to MediaBlvd Magazine’s “The Two Doctors” radio program to talk about her experiences in the movie, and her upcoming role on Smallville.
Kenn> So Gina, welcome back to the show. What was it like to be eaten by an Alien?
Gina> I've been dying to talk to you guys about this, because of course, I couldn't say much before, it was so tight. But I was wishing I could tell you, my pregnant belly just get ripped apart! It was so crazy to shoot that, and so much fun and gross, and I loved it in a sick crazy sort of way. I couldn't have been more honored than to have been eaten alive by those Aliens.
Jim> So what was up with the alien blue liquid- and why wasn’t the predator cloaked when your husband saw him in the film?
Gina>Yeah, that's actually an interesting point, and the fact that he wasn't cloaked when my husband saw him in the woods. You'd think he'd be cloaked at that point, but he wasn't. I think it was a reveal for the movie because the film makers really wanted us to see the predator, but at the same time if you really step back, my brother who watched with me and is a purist, said, yeah, the predator should have been cloaked more, and they shouldn't have done that. But from a film maker point of view, I understand that. But he did have a lot of that blue liquid.
Jim> Why do you think they would only send one predator?
Gina> I guess he was a pretty powerful predator, and he does sit there and look for the aliens in the clearing rather than jumping in to fight them all at once. So that aspect, I understand. But he had a huge fight against him, and a whole mess of aliens to take out. He just saw the one sort of thing happen in the playback. But that sure was a lot for the one predator to have to take on by himself.
Jim> When we got to see the Predator homeworld, I noticed they have widescreen TVs…
Gina>They must have gotten all those Boxing Day specials at Best Buy. Now I know who the jerk was that got all the great deals, camping over night, getting the great wide screen I was waiting for.
Jim> I also noticed one of the hawkmen from Flash Gordon was in the movie. At the electric power plant, I'm sure that was the Hawkmen leader.
Gina>I love that you picked that up! Isn't that interesting how they're all in that movie. We shot on a different day, so I didn't see him when I was working, so when I saw the movie, I'm like "Oh my gosh, there he is!"
Kenn> Wasn’t the actress playing Ms. Yutani also Kate on Blood Ties?
Gina> Yes, Francois Yip, a very very good friend of mine. I liked the ending. I liked how they left it so open like that, then with the government being in possession of this weapon.
Jim>Have you ever seen any of the other Alien or Predator films?
Gina>I've seen all of them and I'm a huge Alien fan, probably more so than the predator, but I did see that, quite awhile ago. So this was sort of new for me. It sort of refreshed my memory of what I did know, but it was so much bigger and so exciting. I just got right into it. I guess I'm such a fan of Sigourney Weaver, so I watched all of them. I just get so drawn into all of them. I'm so honored really to have been a part of this. I just think it's so amazing that I got to work with all of those creatures, and everyone involved behind the scenes, and the puppeteers. Everyone!
Jim> The film ran an hour and half- did you film a lot more scenes than the few minutes we saw?
Gina> There were quite a few cut, but I absolutely understand that. Especially with big blockbuster, action packed movies like this. It was the same thing with Fantastic Four. But with this movie, there were a lot more horror scenes with me really digesting where my husband was, and what happened to him, and more interaction between myself and the cook that I walk in on being eaten. There was a whole relationship between us and developing that. But they really run short on time when they are putting the whole thing together, and have to think about big exciting stuff. And showing the Alien and the Predator and the hybrid, there's so much to fit in that understandably they have to cut out the more emotional side stories that build up to the end. It was absolutely hands down the best experience for me ever as an actor, and I got so much more than what was put up there. Even one scene takes a whole day. The whole scene in the kitchen where I'm being eaten, that takes all day. So it wasn't just a snippet. It was building up to these moments and this experience with the attack. Understandably they have to cut it all down to get the action in.
Kenn> Did they actually have someone there in the Alien Xenomorph suit when you were filming?
Gina> They had the full suit, and all of the things that go along with that. I can't say enough about it. Being a fan, I was so star struck working with the whole crew, and the Aliens. I was just blown away. As far as the main hybrid that came in and ripped me apart, they didn't want anyone to actually see that, to prevent leaking out information about it. I think it was just a tennis ball coming after me. The one you did see was right in there with me. The noises it made, and it was so close to my face breathing, it was just awesome.
Jim> How did you land role in AVP? Did they know your work, or did you just try out?
Gina> I think that it’s a bit of a combination. It’s a very complex, kind of random process as far as casting goes. It’s a combination of directors and producers and studios having worked with me before. People remember you from other work you’ve done, and also your resume, and then casting directors that know you. The other aspect is the scheduling, which is always an issue. When they have casting sessions, they aren’t very flexible. So initially I was shooting a very busy schedule with Blood Ties, so I couldn’t go into the auditions. But luckily, I had some people at the studio that had seen some of my other stuff. And they said, “No, we’re not going to cast this role, we want to see Gina.” And I went in, and I’d already read for a part, but it was a completely different name for a movie. The sides were not from the actual film; it was just going in for something that I had no idea what was, it was just this random project. That’s when I went in and read for the scene in the kitchen, and I still didn’t know what it was for, or the name of the movie. They just worked it out and waited for me, but I’m just really fortunate that everyone was behind me pushing me for it, and then I had a great read and met the directors again, and got the call. And my agent said, “You won’t believe what this is for, it’s for Aliens Vs. Predator 2”, and I just screamed in my car! And we just worked it all out; it was in the stars for me to do.
Jim> Does having worked with a Green Screen before help in getting a role like this?
Gina>I do have experience working in this genre, and working with green screen. That’s a specific skill, and it’s a lot of imagination, and a lot of long days screaming and crying and making that all real.
Kenn> Obviouslly this film is rated R, with Carrie being pregnant and eaten, and with the scenes with the women in the hospital. That has some people complaining about the movie. What do you think about that?
Gina> Women and children are no longer safe. – I really liked it though, I do understand the controversy, I really, really do. If you step back and take a look from the point of view of someone a little more conservative, maybe not quite into the SciFi genre. As fan of the genre I really did like it. I thought it was really cool. I’m not saying I’m into killing women and children, but I think it was really entertaining. It made the stakes a little higher, and you wanted to see this thing go down. I didn’t take my eyes off the screen once. Maybe it’s because I’m a really big fan, or maybe I’m really sick. But all of the action and the gore, maybe I was expecting more. When I was talking to the directors before the screening, they were saying they had to go back and amp it up because it wasn’t gory enough. I think again, it’s one of those things you can’t just quite win. It’s not going to be enough, or it’s too much, but people are talking so that’s good. For me, I thought it was great, and I liked all of those new twists they threw in there.
Jim> How long did the makeup take with the damage the Alien did to your character?
Gina> It was actually relatively quick, because they have a whole piece already done. The prosthetic probably takes hours, but for me they just strap it on, then put on all of the gore and goo! I just kind of have fun with it. At first they put it on, and I’m like “That’s a little shocking”, but by the end of the day, I’m just having fun with it. I’m playing with everybody, just chasing people with it saying “Hey look at me”. It’s very creepy to look down and see that for sure, but for me, not too much time for the makeup.
Caller> Was it kind of creepy to see yourself on the screen?
Gina> I’m watching it as a fan and an audience member, and I know it’s me, but it doesn’t quite register. It’s really creepy, and if I think about it too much, it’s weird to see yourself die in so many different movies. But I can really take it in and watch it as an overall movie instead of just the little parts I’m in. But I always get really excited when I see my name come up on the screen.
Kenn> Can you tell us about some of the other stuff you have coming up on Flash Gordon?
Gina> On Flash Gordon, we have a huge season finale, with so much action.
Jim> Is it going to end on a cliff?
Gina>Oh yes, we’ve got a nice cliffhanger going on, and boy did they amp up. There’s just a whole lot going on. It’s just gotten better and better with every episode.
Jim>Do you know when we’ll be hearing about whether season 2 is going to happen?
Gina> Oddly enough, I don’t really know. I know that networks have their own deadlines, and I believe somewhere around the end of January or February, but I’m really not sure. I really hope we find out soon though, because it would be great to know. But there are so many levels above and so many things to go through, that thought process is a little out of my realm. But attitudes are great, and all are ready for a second season.
Kenn> Can you tell us about your other projects?
Gina>I’m going to be guest starring in Smallville, which starts filming on the 2nd of January, so just a few days off, then back to work. I have a great character that’s so strong and driven and on a mission. My character is Patricia Swann, someone that Lex knew growing up, and she has some information that her father left her when he died. She’s found herself trying to go back and unravel some of the mystery that was left in his paper work. It’s a fairly dark mood throughout the episode, and we’ll get right into. It’s a really awesome character. I’m a huge fan of the show, and I’ve always wanted to be on it. I believe my plot it is quite tied in fairly far back, so it’s a great time to come in and stir things up, and I love to stir things up.
Jim>How about the feature film that you mentioned? Can you tell us anything about that?
Gina>That one I can’t give too many details about, but it’s right in this genre. It’s a leading role, but I’ll actually email you once I get clearance on everything. We’re keeping everything under wraps right now, but we’ll get things confirmed in about a week or so.
Jim> It’s great to hear that you have a lead! I keep thinking you die too quickly in these films!
Gina>I’ve been working very hard to get to these great supporting leads and leads, and it’s great to hear that. And I certainly will in this next feature. I really paid my dues in some great, great memorable roles, and they’ve really got me where I am. They’ve all really brought me here. It’s very exciting to be coming up, and working, especially in this genre, because it’s so cool. I’ll be working on this one right up til mid March.
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