The Leo Awards, Hotel Vancouver, June 13 and 14. For more information visit leoawards.com.
The North Shore will be well represented at the Leo Awards ceremony and gala this weekend, celebrating the brightest stars in B.C.’s film and TV industry.
A slew of North and West Vancouver residents are nominated in numerous categories including Best Motion Picture and Best Supporting Actor and vying for a coveted Leo, handed out by the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia.
North Vancouverite Julia Benson is nominated for Best Supporting Female Actor for her role in What an Idiot — a romantic comedy that centres around a down-on-his-luck kind of guy who lies about his identity, and sexuality, to land the woman of his dreams. Benson, a West Vancouver secondary alumna, produced What an Idiot and stars in the film alongside her husband, Peter, who wrote the script. Benson talked to the North Shore News this week about how she got into acting, working with her husband and what her career aspirations are.
North Shore News: Was there a particular high school drama teacher that inspired you, or how did you get into acting?
Julia Benson: I fell in love with being on stage at a very young age through dancing. When I was 13, I toured with the Vancouver Youth Theatre and then did theatre all through high school and university. After university, I spent the summer training in New York. I came home from that experience and knew that I had to make my dreams a reality. That’s when I got an agent and started auditioning for film and TV.
North Shore News: You are a professionally trained dancer — do you have a chance to incorporate those skills into your acting?
Julia Benson: Throughout university I did a few musicals where dancing was a big part of my role but for the most part, dancing hasn’t been a part of my film and television career.
North Shore News: In your career you have been drawn to science fiction roles or ones that surround the supernatural — what captivates you about that genre of film?
Julia Benson: As an actor I loving playing in all different genres but one of the great things about science fiction is that the possibilities for stories and characters are endless.
North Shore News: You have already won a Leo award — what did that mean to you to be recognized by your peers in the B.C. film industry?
Julia Benson: I was very honored to win a Leo for Stargate Universe. It means a great deal to be recognized by your peers and I was very proud to be a part of that show so it meant a lot to me.
North Shore News: What do you like about the Leo awards?
Julia Benson: The Leo Awards are a great night to celebrate all the fantastic work that is done in Vancouver. We have such a talented community of people that work very hard and it’s nice to have a few nights to honour everyone. I am particularly proud of the independent film scene in Vancouver right now. So many incredible people are coming together to support projects that they believe in and I feel very lucky to be a part of that community!
North Shore News: Let’s talk about your film, What an Idiot. You produced this film and it stars you and your husband. What was that experience like, working with Peter?
Julia Benson: I produced What an Idiot and helped develop the story and characters and Peter wrote and directed it. I love working with my husband. I trust him implicitly. He has a comedic gift as an actor and filmmaker and I feel very lucky to be able to make movies with him.
North Shore News: What was the inspiration for the script?
Julia Benson: We tried to think of the biggest obstacle a guy could give himself when attempting to get the woman of his dreams and we thought: What would happen if he got stuck in a lie and told her he was gay?
North Shore News: Where was What an Idiot shown? How do you think the film was received by audiences?
Julia Benson: What an Idiot premiered at the Whistler Film Festival, played the L.A. Comedy Fest and just recently screened at the Hoboken International Film Festival. So far audiences have responded really well! We are currently working out our distribution for North America and will be announcing those details soon. We can’t wait to share the film with a wider audience!
North Shore News: Was this your first foray into producing? How did you like the experience and would you do it again? What was the biggest challenge?
Julia Benson: What an Idiot is the third project that Peter and I have produced. Our first project was a TV pilot that we co-created and shot for City TV. Next we shot a feature film called Death Do Us Part, which we co-wrote, starred in and produced. What an Idiot was our best experience so far and the project that we are the most proud of! We had such an incredible crew that worked so hard and an unbelievably talented cast. The biggest challenge was producing on a very low budget but a lot of people came together to help us make this film a reality. We could not have done it without the support of our families, friends and community! We look forward to making another movie or hopefully getting a series off the ground!
North Shore News: I see you have a theatre education. Have you performed in any theatre shows recently?
Julia Benson: I have a degree in theatre and psychology from UBC. After I graduated, I spent the summer training in New York at the Atlantic Theatre Company. I used to try to get on stage once a year but when we started producing I found it hard to find the time to do a play. I would love to get back on stage but I think I will have to wait until my kids are a bit older.
North Shore News: What’s your next project?
Julia Benson: Peter and I have a half-hour comedy series that we are pitching and we have a few scripts that we are working on. I am currently shooting a recurring role on Hallmark’s Cedar Cove and I have just finished shooting an indie film called Marrying the Family. Peter directed the movie and our friend Taylor Hill wrote it and produced it with her mom Barbara Hill.
North Shore News: What’s your ultimate career goal?
Julia Benson: I want to work with good people on projects that I’m passionate about. I love acting and I love making movies. The goal is to get our production company to a place where we are able to put the budget together to make the movies we want to make while continuing to work with our friends. That’s our dream.
North Shore News: What do you like to do in your downtime in North Vancouver?
Julia Benson: I have a 20-month-old son and another baby on the way so down time isn’t really in my vocabulary. As a family, we love going to the park with friends and having dinner parties that typically end at about 8 p.m.
