It’s no holds barred for actor and producer DEVANNY PINN as we talk all things FROST, from performance to producing to pregnancy to peeing in this exclusive interview. And what’s this that no female journalists but myself wanted to speak with Devanny about making this film?
Directed by Brandon Slagle, based on a story by James Cullen Bressack and adapted for the screen by Robert Thompson, FROST stars Vernon Wells, DEVANNY PINN, and one of the most famous wolves working today, Shadow. This is the story of an estranged pregnant young woman named Abby who attempts to reconnect with her father Grant who lives alone deep in the woods. Not having seen each other in over five years, it’s not hard to imagine Grant’s surprise at not only seeing Abby but seeing her about seven months pregnant. As the two attempt to reconnect and thaw the years and sorrows that have kept them apart, they head out for a dad-and-daughter fishing trip only to have their car go off the road and down a steep rugged hill, stranding them and trapping Abby in the car as a storm heads their way.
While Wells definitely brings the warmth to this father-daughter thriller, it falls on DEVANNY PINN to bring the nail-biting emotional terror and the horror (no spoilers here, folks!). And she succeeds brilliantly.
A film that will warm the cockles of your cold-blooded horror-loving heart, in addition to a powerhouse performance by Devanny Pinn and a heartfelt side of Vernon Wells, the strongsuit of FROST lies in the cinematography of Kelton Jones and the keen directorial eye of Brandon Slagle. With 90% of the film shot within the confines of a Prius, with a very pregnant Devanny wedged into a bucket seat with actual tree branches blocking her in, maintaining visual interest through the bulk of the film is critical. Thanks to strong visual grammar by Jones and Slagle, and some daring-do agility by Devanny in providing what physicality and movement she was able to provide while finding her emotional beats, the experience of watching FROST is immersive with beyond palpable fear.
When it comes to the full package, DEVANNY PINN is definitely the real deal. Dedicated to her craft as an actor, where I find that she really excels is as a producer as her concerns about the film extend beyond just reading a script and learning lines. Totally invested in pre-production and working with Slagle who is also her husband and screenwriter Robert Thompson, as you will hear her discuss in this exclusive interview, she is not only able to focus on performance when she hears “action”, but is also cognizant of cost and time thus making her focus even more intent to “nail it” with a first or second take. Impressive is her ability to analyze a script for its underlying themes and character and play with ambiguity, especially in a thriller or horror, something we discuss at length as it pertains to FROST.
In addition to the usual challenges when shooting outside in the environment with frosty temperatures, as well as spending the majority of her time on screen in a bucket car seat, with FROST, Devanny faced hurdles that not too many actors face and/or will discuss, and that’s shooting during advanced pregnancy. Devanny was more than 7 months pregnant during the shoot and in her 9th month when shooting pick-ups, with practical effects being employed in the production. That exposed belly that you see on screen in FROST is real. No prosthetics here. But shooting a film like FROST during advanced pregnancy brings all kinds of issues, such as blood pressure concerns and rapid heart rate during intense scenes, and perhaps one of the most important aspects of the shoot for Devanny – peeing. Yes, folks. The challenge is real and it’s something that Devanny talks about freely, something that any woman who has ever been pregnant can relate to, and it’s something that had to be considered with this production.
But one of the issues that Davanny is very candid about in our conversation is the fact that as of the time of our interview, no female journalists had spoken with her or even requested to speak with her about FROST. Everyone wanted Vernon Wells or Brandon Slagle.
An interesting, enlightening, and engaging conversation, DEVANNY PINN is candid, amiable, and a pure joy.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 10/13/2022
