Christian Actress Jenn Gotzon Plucks Lead Role in Doonby

Dan Wooding : Jun 28, 2010
Dan Wooding - ASSIST News

"Seeking God if acting was the journey I should be on, the Lord gave me the verse to challenge all the impossibilities with me..."

(Los Angeles, Ca.)—Jenn Gotzon, who portrayed President Nixon's daughter Tricia in director Ron Howard's Oscar-nominated "Frost/Nixon," starring Frank Langella, has just finished co-starring with "The Dukes of Hazzard" icon John Schneider in "Doonby", a feature set in a small Texas town where a happy-go-lucky visitor's good deeds do not go, as they say, unpunished.

"Jenn's star is rising, and we're glad we hooked our wagon up to her," said writer/director Peter Mackenzie, who describes the picture as a cross between "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Crazy Heart". "She brings a lot of energy, wholesomeness and innocence to the role."

Producer Mark Joseph noted of Gotzon, "She was one of the first people we thought of for the role. And when we sent her the script she fell in love with it as I had. It was a perfect fit".

Gotzon has been a regular participant in the Movieguide® Awards as well as the faith-based 168 Film Festival. In 2008 she received the Rising Star award at the Wildwood-by-the-Sea (NJ) Film Festival for her growing body of work, and won Best Actress at the 168 Film Festival for her turn as a political prisoner in the futuristic "Stained."

The following are excerpts from a Q&A With Jenn Gotzon:

Q: What was it like playing President Nixon's daughter?

JG: Playing Tricia Nixon was a gift. It was a joy studying Tricia with the goal to accurately portray her emotional being, thought-life, behaviors & mannerisms and precious family relationships. I researched everything I could find on Tricia at the Nixon Library, the "Pat Nixon" book written by Julie Nixon-Eisenhower, archive footage, pictures and editorials online. Nixon's farewell speech and departure to his helicopter were archived video. Every movement, physical gesture, emotional temperament Tricia experienced on that difficult day for her family, I tried to accurately portray. The other four scenes I was in were not historically documented. I deeply felt the remorse from the resignation and love she had for her dad—and still does.

One of my favorite moments on "Frost/Nixon" was after Frank Langella (President Nixon) concluded his farewell speech and we joined hands as a family to say good-bye. When Ron called cut, cast and crew in the room expressed sentiments that we felt like we all just lived through that time in history because the emotional tone in the room was dynamically sad from Frank's powerful performance. There is a funny story related to this. For, during farewell speech, I fought tears back trying to hold posture and strength as Tricia did (for nearly four hours) as soon as we broke for lunch, I blinked and my contact flew out of my eye because of the tear build up.

Q: What is "Doonby" about?

JG: "Doonby" is a mysterious-dramatic film entangled within a love story between Sam Doonby (played by John Schneider) and my character, Laura Reaper. Sam is a happy-go-lucky drifter who takes up residence in a small Texas town, falls in love with Laura, but seems suspiciously immune to the misfortunes that beset her family and the other townsfolk. There is a surprise at the end along with a wonderfully surprising cameo that I think the audience is going to find compelling and surprising.

Q: How did you get the part?

JG: Mark Joseph, one of the producers of "Doonby", and I were friends on Facebook. He thought I would be good for the role. I soon met "Doonby" writer-director Peter Mackenzie and my involvement along the "Doonby" adventure began, and it has been the time of my life.

Q: What is it like working in Hollywood as a Christian?

JG: Working in Hollywood is no different for me than working anywhere in the nation such as my hometown Northampton, PA—except the amount of people chatting about the "industry" while placing their order for Starbucks :) Since my husband is a filmmaker/owner of Elysian Pictures, it is really great living in a town where there are so many talented friends who enjoy making redemptive and inspirational content with excellence. This past year, our friend Loren Brock and I produced a few projects for him easily because of the amount of resources available established from our faith-friendly filmmaking community 168 Film Project. We keep grounded in our walk with God by attending a weekly Bible Study called "Tinseltown Ministries" which meets on a studio lot and going to church. There are many groups and organizations that minister to those walking with the Lord (Movieguide®, Act One, Greenhouse, 168 Film Project, Beacon, Biola Media, etc)—one of my new favorites is the group my husband and I are a part of called Entertainment Alliance which focuses on mentoring (trade and Biblically) to the newbies of Hollywood.

Q: Did you ever feel like you don't belong there?

JG: When you strive to genuinely love, encourage and serve those around you wherever you go—I believe God provides a place for us wherever He leads. I've really enjoyed my time on every set I've worked on here in Hollywood and throughout the country. Working with Ron Howard's production team, you could feel the fellowship from everyone because they've all worked together for years. It was a great family—just like working last summer for writer-director Brent McCorkle "The Rift" (Doorpost third place winning film) shot near Austin, TX. Brent's independent film set was the same "faith-filled-family" vibe as that on Ron's Oscar-nominated film's set. It's about relationships and loving and encouraging those around you. Also, I believe it is very important when God blesses with an opportunity to work with excellence as a professional—when doing so, I believe those of faith or those seeking belong when you serve with kindness.

Q: What would you say to a young Christian who wants to get involved in movies?

JG: Since my journey has been consistently grounded in the Lord, such as reading the Bible, prayer journaling, developing a community for fellowship, while pursuing passionately the gifts and purpose I believe are from the Lord, my advice would be for a young Christian is to 1) Keep your focus on the Lord and His Righteousness, 2) Pray for God to give you direction, 3) Step out in child-like faith upon His direction, 4) Trust God will provide in His timing (not our timing), 5) Love those around you like Jesus loves all you, 6) When you hit obstacles or failures, find growth and depth with your relationship with God and how He fearfully created you in your mother's womb with a hope and future, 7) God desires to be our only God: avoid making your career be your God. (When I'm living inline with those above thoughts, blessings have occurred: such as when I got cast in "Frost/Nixon" and most recently offered the role of Laura Reaper in Doonby) From a practical point of view, understand everyone's journey is different.

She then gave some further advice:
1) Educate yourself so you are excellent in your trade (acting, writing, directing, lighting, editing, music, etc), 2) prayerfully seize every opportunity presented to you or go out and find opportunities (craigslist, local theater, college films, contact local agencies, etc). Experience, combined with education, creates a solid foundation for your trade, 3) Find a mentor and have them guide you, 4) When the Lord prompts you to speak to someone about your passion/trade or pursue in a certain direction, trust that is the Holy Spirit. Many times, when we follow God's promptings there is bountiful fruit. 5) Prayer, perseverance and faith in Jesus has been my guidance along my life's adventures. God Bless your journey! If I can help you, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook.