Small Talk with Jean Grae (Gale Winters)

This October leading up to Halloween, we at 4MileCircus are revisiting the production of Small Talk. We will be adding new special features to the deluxe edition and running a series of reflections here on the blog from writer/director Nicole Witte Solomon and others who made this oddly enduring horror flick.

Today we bring you a Q&A with the legendary actor/writer/dancer/rapper/cook/comedian/producer/musician/general polymath Jean Grae who played news reporter Gale Winters in Small Talk. Listen to and purchase many excellent audio products from Jean on Bandcamp and keep up with all her exceptional projects on Patreon. (She’s also aces on Twitter and Instagram. If you’re on those platforms and not following her, you’re doing it wrong.)

Who are you, and how would you describe your role in Small Talk?

Hey there. I’m Jean Grae. In Small Talk, I play a reporter who has to break some grizzly news to the public. She’s been struggling with vertigo and a fear of clowns. Which is incredibly typical of news reporters. None of that was in the script, but I know her. From school. Night school. Trapeze night school.

Who are you, and how would you describe your role in Small Talk?

Hey there. I’m Jean Grae. In Small Talk, I play a reporter who has to break some grizzly news to the public. She’s been struggling with vertigo and a fear of clowns. Which is incredibly typical of news reporters. None of that was in the script, but I know her. From school. Night school. Trapeze night school.

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Trying not to crack up while shooting a deathly serious local news report

 

Do you have a main memory of making Small Talk? specific moment, overall impression, whatever.

I generally remember just being incredibly proud of Nicole. Watching people actualize their dreams and not wait to do so. That’s important. Things you’re passionate about, that people may have made you feel weird for in the past. Being all of you and including your experiences into your art. That’s so fucking dope. I’m so here for it.

What’s your favorite phone sex and/or horror movie?

I enjoyed watching Girl 6 because it was NOTHING like the office I worked at as a  phone sex operator. I worked there for one day, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t going to turn into a Naomi Campbell, Teresa Randle situation. Pretty, pretty sure. Horror movie? Oh. The Shining. Shout out to Scatman Crothers, RIP. He had the best velvet paintings in his home scene. It’s just so beautifully and menacingly shot. So much symmetry and patterns. Sounds. It hits all the senses. That Jack guy was pretty good at acting. He might have a future. Watch out for him.

 

What are you up to right now?

Drinking beer at 1:09 in the afternoon and answering emails. I’m an adult, so I can do that. I’m also renovating my apartment. When you have big life changes, I think it’s important to shift the energy all around you. To create new. Also, my clothes look very chic, because they have paint on them. Good job, me.

That and writing. A lot of writing. That and preparing to bring my talk show back. That and church. Yep. For artists. With Sunday services that will help us all get by. That and being ecstatic about Nicole making shit.

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