As somebody who appreciates a suspenseful haunted home story, I am fairly excited to see a movie like Presence, directed by Steven Soderbergh, flip the basic style on its head. Intelligent in its execution, Presence is strictly shot from the ghost’s standpoint in a newly renovated suburban residence, creating a singular and eerie “fly on the wall” expertise for the viewers. The result’s an exciting gradual burn that may have you ever questioning the intention of the presence at each flip.
In a collection of unbroken sequences, the presence witnesses a household divided, led by Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan, as they transfer in on the lookout for a recent begin and uncover they is probably not alone. It is not lengthy earlier than the presence takes specific curiosity within the daughter Chloe—performed by newcomer Callina Liang, who’s a standout within the movie. Grieving the demise of her greatest good friend Nadia, Chloe is misplaced and indifferent from her household, particularly her work-focused mom. Her life seemingly uncontrolled, the teenager finds an unlikely consolation in her reference to the presence.
Coming off her first-ever movie Unhealthy Genius and straight right into a Soderbergh challenge, Liang, who grew up between Australia and Singapore and attended The New College in New York, is establishing herself as one to observe in Hollywood. We caught up with the actress to speak concerning the intimidating but thrilling journey that was filming Presence, real-life ghost encounters, and the stunning Chinese language tv present that ignited her ardour for performing.
Presence is shot solely from the ghost’s POV, which is a singular type of filmmaking. Did that side make you nervous in any respect?
It positively did make me nervous. I booked this job proper after I wrapped on Unhealthy Genius, which was my first-ever movie. This was my second-ever movie challenge, and it’s totally, very completely different to what I skilled, clearly, on Unhealthy Genius. Once I first learn it, I used to be like, “Okay, I truly have to reread it yet one more time.” I used to be like, “Wow, what is going on on?” I feel one thing like this has been finished earlier than, but when I am not mistaken, it was a pair years in the past, like 10 or one thing. It has been some time since one thing like this has been finished.
Personally, I’ve by no means seen something like this earlier than. I am in the identical boat as you, so after I learn the script, I used to be like, “How is that this going to occur?” I used to be excited. I used to be intrigued and slightly bit scared, however positively, the joy overpowered that. It ended up being tremendous enjoyable, and the truth that the entire actors put all of our religion into Steven and Steven put all of his religion into us, we have been capable of create this very magical, artistic working setting. We have been simply utterly entrusting one another and the forged too. It was simply very enjoyable to discover, very enjoyable to see what Steven had deliberate, and really enjoyable to see all of it come to life. It was a really magical expertise.
Did I learn appropriately that it was shot in simply 11 days?
Sure. Initially, it was deliberate for 13, after which [Steven] was like, “Okay, we’re finished. It is 11 days. We’re finished.”
In what methods was this filmmaking course of distinctive and/or difficult?
Loads of alternative ways. The primary one which involves thoughts is I needed to act rather a lot with the digicam. Most of my scenes are with [the] presence, which is Steven as a result of he is the DP. I did not actually take into consideration that side till we needed to rehearse plenty of our actions, and it actually felt like a dance. It was like, “Okay, at this level, Steven’s going to return to my proper facet. I have to look this manner after which this manner, after which he involves my left.” In order that was new and really enjoyable.
Additionally, the truth that every little thing is completed in a single shot, there isn’t a protection. Each scene is only one take, and at first, I used to be like, “Wow, how’s this going to work?” As filming went on, we settled in, and it grew to become actually enjoyable as a result of it gave all of the actors the chance to discover and play. There have been no points with continuity. Each take is a brand-new slate, and also you simply go forward and check out something. Steven gave us a really secure setting to do this in, and I used to be very comfy. Me, Lucy, Chris, Eddy [Maday], and West [Mulholland] rehearsed rather a lot in our personal time. We grew to become very comfy with one another, so on the day, we might simply go in and play.
What conversations did you might have with Soderbergh concerning the position of Chloe and interacting with the digicam?
I’ll be so trustworthy. I do not assume we talked concerning the character in any respect. No less than, I do not keep in mind. He simply anticipated us all to be very ready. The truth that he selected to forged us was sufficient, and we will take these characters and do what we predict is greatest with them. That’s equal elements liberating and equal elements terrifying. I used to be feeling all of that. Steven is simply such an incredible director, and he has a really distinctive strategy to the way in which he directs, and it is clearly working. However the factor is it was very completely different to what I skilled earlier than with J.C. [Lee] on Unhealthy Genius. Steven did not say rather a lot. He truly does not say a lot in any respect. If he is pleased, he goes, “Alright, we’re transferring on.” The primary couple of days, I keep in mind going as much as Lucy and Chris and being like, “Guys, are you getting any notes? I am scared. I do not know if I am doing it proper.” They have been like, “No, we have heard completely nothing.” And I am like, “Okay, if Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan aren’t listening to something, I feel I am okay!”
By way of ensuring you confirmed up ready, what did that appear like for you?
It required plenty of us actors getting collectively throughout our downtime and simply ensuring that we have been so fluid with the textual content that, on the day, it simply comes out of us and we’re within the second utterly. We needed it to look as pure as potential, and since every little thing is all one take, there is not any probability for any of the dialogue to be edited in put up. We made positive that we have been on high of dialogue and would strive plenty of methods of doing plenty of various things. Me and West particularly did plenty of work along with the choreography.
Let’s speak about Chloe. She’s going by way of rather a lot. She’s grieving the demise of her good friend Nadia, and her household is a bit dysfunctional. How did you faucet into that?
I did plenty of journaling because the character. That is my favourite strategy to strategy a personality and begin embodying that [person]. I did discover plenty of similarities between me and Chloe. She’s 16, she’s very misplaced, and she or he’s in a really remoted area in her household. I grew up solely with my dad. I had no siblings. I had no cousins. Actually, my household is simply me and pop, and it was fascinating how, within the script, the individual [Chloe] connects with probably the most is [her] dad. That got here very simple and pure to me, and that need for motherly love, I can positively relate to that as a woman, too, determining such a troublesome time, that 16–18 interval.
She’s simply very misplaced, and if something, I simply felt plenty of love for her as a result of… To not say that I went by way of precisely what she went by way of as a result of I completely didn’t, however all of us develop up. All of us expertise private trauma. We have all skilled that feeling of being misplaced and never understanding who you’re, so I actually tapped into that for Chloe. I feel plenty of her actions and choices have been made due to the headspace she was in, and I truly assume that applies to all of the relations. Everyone seems to be damaged in their very own method, and we simply do not know how you can navigate that. It is fairly heartbreaking, the entire dynamic.
Chloe is the primary individual in her household who experiences the presence, and she or he thinks it is her good friend Nadia. What do you assume?
Chloe has this comfy relationship with the presence, and I feel she feels that method as a result of every little thing else in her life is so chaotic and unstable that that really is likely one of the most steady issues that she’s attempting to know and maintain on to. I feel that is why she is so determined to attach with the presence at first, and I feel the character thinks it is Nadia. I feel [Chloe] needs to consider it’s as a result of she misses [Nadia] rather a lot. However personally, after I learn it at first, I assumed perhaps it might be [Nadia], and the second time, I used to be like, “It should be one thing else.” I 100% agree it has this function. It must do one thing, however I really feel just like the presence does not know what. In order that’s why I feel it is actually fascinating for Chloe and the presence to each be on this confused state and each attempting to attach with one another. It’s totally enjoyable to discover. David [Koepp] did an incredible job of writing the script.
This being such a singular movie in the way in which it was shot, how was it for you watching it for the primary time as an viewers member?
Oh man. I watched it for the primary time when it premiered at Sundance to some hundred individuals. I needed to go do a reside Q&A proper after, and I simply keep in mind strolling up on the stage like, “Guys, I have to take a second. I do not assume I can communicate proper now.” Clearly, filming it was one expertise, after which seeing it with the sound, the way in which it is edited, I used to be blown away by the way in which it regarded and likewise simply disturbed. Once I watch myself carry out, I wish to separate me and the one who is on-screen, however yeah, it was disturbing to observe. Simply on the sting of my seat and tense your complete time. If something, that goes to point out how a lot of a hit it’s. Steven and David each achieved their objectives, however I positively wanted a second afterward to recoup and take a deep breath.
Have you ever had any real-life experiences with a presence or ghost?
Sure, I’ve. Twice truly! I am positively an enormous believer in ghosts. I am additionally an enormous horror fan. My first expertise was after I was in drama faculty. I went to The New College in New York, and I used to be within the dorms that have been transformed from an outdated individuals’s residence, so you might think about this constructing had plenty of spirits inside. That was the place I skilled my first paranormal exercise. I’d get up, and there can be writing on the wall, and I’d see a shadow behind me if I used to be trying within the mirror. Typically if I used to be cooking, I may really feel somebody brush behind me. I lived with three different ladies, so we actually all lived with this ghost collectively. We ended up speaking to the ghost and have been like, “Look, you are positively not going wherever. We’re not going wherever. Let’s simply be buddies.” And it calmed down. After that have, I used to be like, “One-hundred %, ghosts are actual.” After which I skilled paranormal exercise whereas filming Presence.
In the home?
No, it was within the resort. I’d get up to my alarm blaring regardless that I did not set it. I keep in mind [this] vividly. In the midst of the evening, I went to make use of the toilet, and I actually watched the bathroom flush, and I did not press something. I informed Eddy and West about it, which was a very dangerous concept as a result of they began pranking me. No less than, the ghost did not have any unwell intent.
You have already labored with a few Hollywood legends in Steven Soderbergh and Lucy Liu. Who’re you dying to work with subsequent?
So many individuals—the place do I even start? I feel Sandra Oh. That may truly change my whole life. … Mikey Madison is insane. Margaret Qualley, I liked her ever since Maid. Michelle Yeoh [is] only a legend.
Is there a movie or efficiency that was actually influential for you early on?
That is truly an excellent query. Really, I used to be obsessive about Chinese language physician TV reveals rising up. It is like a Chinese language model of Gray’s Anatomy, and I began watching that at like 3 years outdated. I’d all the time require it on TV, and my household would all the time be like, “Why?” I do not know. I simply loved watching it a lot that I used to be like, “I have to go be a physician.” I truly went to highschool to turn into a physician, after which after a few years, I spotted, “Wait, I feel it is the performing I actually need to do.” I simply began feeling like I used to be dropping extra into myself and the craft, and I used to be like, “That is what ignites me. That is what will get me going.” Now trying again, all of it is smart. I simply actually love watching individuals act on-screen. It began with the Chinese language model of Gray’s Anatomy.
What’s subsequent?
I actually am simply drawn [to] meaty and distinctive storylines. Any story that, after I learn the script, makes me do a double take, these are the scripts I am most drawn to. Each different week, I am studying a cool script, so I feel there’s plenty of actually cool tales to be informed. An ideal instance is one thing like Heretic. That script was phenomenal. I suppose one other dream of mine is to do a job that entails martial arts as a result of I have been coaching for a few years now, and it is simply a type of bucket-list issues for me at this level.
Earlier than I allow you to go, I’ve to ask about being photographed by Annie Leibovitz for a Vogue profile spotlighting Zac Posen’s new Hole assortment. Would you take into account your self a style girlie?
It was a dream! The day was so enjoyable. The power was so nice. Annie is simply an trade legend. She requested what music I appreciated, and I stated Charli XCX and Chappell Roan, so I did your complete shoot listening to Charli XCX and Chappell Roan. I peaked. However no, I am positively a style girlie. I really like my garments. I really like styling. I am truly self-styling myself for this shoot, and I am truly having a very enjoyable time.
Catch Presence in theaters January 24.
Photographer: Alvaro Goveia
Stylist: Ayelet Joelle
Hair and Make-up Artist: Liv Tsai
