Jazz Anderson provides a glimpse into her diverse career as an actor and offers exclusive insights into her leading role in the highly anticipated BET+ film Trope, which was released earlier this month.
Trope is such a unique blend of psychological thriller and horror. What attracted you to the role of Liv, and how did you prepare for such an intense character?
What attracted me to the role of Liv is that it was my first time doing a thriller/horror film. The character Liv has many layers as well, which I hadn’t had the chance to tap into yet in my acting career. You’ll see Liv go through every emotion that a young adult would in this film, possibly becoming emotionless at one point. The film takes the audience through every emotion and many twists and turns.
The Final Girls concept is a recurring theme in horror. How do you feel Trope puts a fresh spin on this trope, and how does your character, Liv, contribute to that evolution?
In Trope the audience will be left with a plot twist that will have their mind blown, not expecting what may follow the “final girl” trope. The director, B. Harrison Smith, did a great job at making more than just a predictable slasher film. The storylines and subplots throughout the film and by the end of the film will make the audience want to question everything they thought they’d figured out. Liv’s ending may be the start of a new beginning or simply the ending of her and her friends and family’s trauma.
The film explores the idea of past trauma resurfacing. Can you share your perspective on how Trope tackles this emotionally charged theme, especially through Liv’s relationship with her mother, Tracey?
We see emotional and vulnerable moments between Liv and her mother Tracey. Leslie Segar, who played my mom in the film, wanted to capture that healthy emotion between mother-daughter, which I think is necessary in a film with a predominantly all-Black female cast. To show that just because we are growing and may not always see eye to eye, family should always be protected and held dear to us, especially when adversity arises.
You worked alongside actors like Claudia Jordan, Caryn Ward, and Robert Sisko in this film. What was the dynamic like on set, and did you have any memorable moments with the cast?
These are all great actors and actresses who I was honored to be working alongside. They were also very welcoming and made me feel at ease being on set… I am like a sponge on every project I work on so I was soaking up knowledge like a sponge when on set with them since they are seasoned and accomplished in a field I’m new to.
The film is set in a remote cabin and a creepy, time-locked town plays a big role in creating tension. How did filming in these eerie locations impact your performance?
We shot a lot of the film late at night or early in the morning up in the hills, so I was actually scared in real life, which helped my performance on camera. The eeriness of not being sure where an actual sound is coming from, whether it’s in the bushes or if it’s the director trying to scare the emotion out of you (laughing).
Trope is set against the backdrop of secret experiments and scientific research. How do these elements tie into the narrative, and what message do you think the film conveys about the consequences of such actions?
I think the best example of scientific experiments is what we are experiencing now, known as AI. In 2024, we are at a time where through technology and science, we can basically copy a template or blueprint and make a duplicate. In “Trope” we see how this similar usage of technology and science can either hinder or help depending on how it’s being used. I’m all for the advancement of science if it’s for the greater good.
Horror often involves facing fears head-on. Was there a particular scene or moment during filming that challenged you emotionally or physically?
I don’t want to give too much of the movie away, but there is a scene where it seems as though Liv’s whole world is falling apart after being faced with a heartbreaking situation. Instead of letting that defeat her, she used that pain to prevail. This is similar to when I lost my grandmother in 2014. I was devastated, but I knew I couldn’t give up on myself because I knew she’d want me to continue on my journey for her.
You’re also starring in Season 2 of *Haus of Vicious* shortly after Trope premieres. How do you balance working on projects in such distinct genres, and what can fans expect from your character in both?
Liv is a young adult facing challenges and ultimately fighting for her life. My character on Haus of Vicious is similar to Liv’s; strong-minded, tough, in charge, and doing what she needs to survive in circumstances that most would run from.
The “Final Girls“ in Trope survived a series of gruesome events. Do you believe Liv has that same survival instinct in her? How did you channel her inner strength in the role?
Liv is tough and exudes perseverance and strength which I think is important to show in a young, black woman. I mirror Liv in a sense, being a woman who doesn’t stop until I get what I feel I’m owed or what I want out of life. In addition, similar to Liv, when my back is against the wall, I don’t falter.
With the film being released on BET+ and your ongoing role in *Haus of Vicious*, what excites you most about this moment in your career, and what kind of stories are you hoping to tell in the future?
Being able to consistently work throughout 2024 has been a blessing, and all I can do is bask in the moment and be thankful. I am excited that these roles could possibly bring about bigger roles for me in 2025. Having just started my acting career about four years ago and taking part in acting class, I am doing my due diligence to be taken seriously in this field, so I am appreciative that I’m being embraced.
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