Renée Olbert interviews star of Slip Away, Michelle C. Bonilla.

Slip Away is a new short film from actress/writer/producer Michelle C. Bonilla. It will make its Canadian debut as part of the Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) program at this year’s Toronto Inside Out festival on Thursday, May 26. Slip Away is a provocative film that deals with addiction, abuse and love in the Latin lesbian community, and it stars Bonilla, Lauren Birriel and Wilson Cruz.

Bonilla comes to this project boasting an extensive resumé that spans theatre, TV and film. As a matter of fact, anyone who was a fan of ER (and who wasn’t — Dr Legaspi, swoon!), would recognize Bonilla as paramedic Christine Harms, who spent 10 years bursting through the doors of County General shouting things like “BP 100 over 80 pulse ox.” If your interests lean more to the Trekkie side of things, you will likely remember her as a Klingon named Bu’kaH on Star Trek: Enterprise.

If that isn’t enough to pique your interest, a few years ago Bonilla came out in the pages of The Advocate. In doing so, she became the first ever openly gay Latina actor in Hollywood. Recently, this force of nature took time out of her busy schedule to talk to QueeriesMag about Slip Away, the true events that inspired the film’s story and why Spanish is such a hot language.

QueeriesMag: Although you have written for the stage before, this is the first time that you’ve written for film and the first time that it was not a collaborative project. Did you find the process of writing for film much different?

Michelle C Bonilla: Film has its own structure and form. The way I write for television or film is set up very differently, as opposed to theatre, which has its own set of rules. However, in the same breath, they are very similar. One must stay true to character, tone and arc. Each of the characters lives and coalesces with one another, like a dance.

It’s always easier for me to write in script format for television and film because I am very used to seeing that format in my line of work, as an actress. It’s what I know and am used to. So it is always an easier process to write in the form you are familiar with. However, I love and respect both formats, but playwriting and screenwriting are different beasts.

QM: You are not only the lead of Slip Away but also the writer and executive producer. It is obvious that this project is very close to your heart. What made you decide to create a project from the ground up?

Bonilla: Slip Away is based on true events that happened to me. Of course, I have changed names to protect the innocent, and the story has been raised to the optics of film. And, as such, it served as a cathartic experience in the writing, and that was how it made its evolution to the final screenplay. I knew exactly how I wanted to be seen and needed to connect with the right people to make that happen.

I also served as producer on the project with the very talented Jenn Garrison, who also produced and helped me bring my story to the screen. I would be remiss if I didn’t include my director, TM Scorzafava, who saw what I saw — the colours, the mood, the tone of the script. We connected immediately. She has an amazing eye and I trusted her right off the bat, to put Slip Away in her hands so that I could concentrate on acting.

QM: Slip Away deals with some very challenging themes. It has also been mentioned that this story is based upon true events. Without our prying too much, would you be able to tell us where the inspiration for this short came from?

Bonilla: The inspiration came from the very real life I experienced living with an active addict/alcoholic. In the film I play Jane, the addict. However, in real life I was Selena. As I wrote it, it served dual purposes: to relieve myself of the terrible pain, disbelief and denial that comes with this “dis-ease.” It took me a long time to write Slip Away. It went through many transformations, as did I. However, in the end, I feel that I have come full circle. I not only made my film, but through the entire process, I was able to forgive and let go. And, in giving my experience to an audience, I have already, artistically, achieved my goal.

I also wrote it to serve as a piece that other people can relate to. You have no idea how many times people have come up to me and said, “Oh, my gosh. I went through something similar and…” — fill in the blank. That inspires me to no end because I know what it’s like to live through a situation like this. I respect others who have been through it as well. And, I respect and have grown compassion for the alcoholic/addict on the other side. That required spiritual growth on my own part, and I wouldn’t have been able to finish the film without it. I’m very grateful for that.

QM: It seems we live in an age where independent projects are having a more difficult time finding funding. How taxing was the development process of taking Slip Away from script to screen?

Bonilla: I knew Slip Away was going to happen. There was no doubt. The most difficult part of the development process, after the script, was finding the right producing team who could make that happen. I don’t like taking “No” for an answer or “That isn’t possible” for a statement. So I found the right people, who along with me had the right attitude. Si se puede!

QM: As a HUGE My So-Called Life fan, I am always thrilled to see Wilson Cruz pop up on my screen. My keen eye also spied fellow Canuck and Queer as Folk alum Thea Gill. How did the collaboration between you and all the familiar faces we see in Slip Away come to pass?

Bonilla: You are a keen one, indeed. LOL. My dear, dear Wilson. What an amazing light he is. Indeed. We had worked with a director in the past that we both knew, Ken Kwapis, and I reached out to him with the project. He read it and really connected with it. He was super cool because he had to wait, almost a year, to actually get started with me on it. That’s how the preproduction aspect can wreak havoc! He knew we were still gathering up our team, but he still put my little script in his back pocket for when we were ready. I love him for that.

I have known Hal Sparks for years. And I met Thea through a mutual friend. So when I knew they were on board it was just a matter of time before I had my magnificent cast. April Grace, who is just a fabulous actress, plays April. And we held auditions for Selena.

Selena’s character was very important to me. I wanted her to be Latina, beautiful and smart. A lot of people were doubtful that I would find such an actress with all those attributes. However, I wanted the actress playing this role to be Latina. She would end up making a very positive decision for herself in the end. It was important for me to convey that to the Latin community. I was already switching roles and playing the “addict.” I wanted the other Latina to be seen making a “better choice.” And I found that. I found that in the wonderful Lauren Birriel.

QM: You’ve made mention of Slip Away’s affiliation with the The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project. How important is it to you to see projects driven by women succeed?

Bonilla: I love when people help people. Period. It can be a very tough business, and there are more downs than there are ups. It’s a given fact. So I always like to stay close to positive, proactive, motivated people.

When there is a project that is driven by women and it’s good, of course I want to see it succeed. And it takes a very giving person, a person that is sure of themselves, and confident not only in themselves but of others, who would fall into a category of “being an advocate” for others. The Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Project is an organization that does it to the nth degree. DeeJae Cox and Michele Weiss have proven themselves, not only with my project but other projects, to seek to help women in the arts. I mean, how hot is that? It’s exciting to hear “Yes”! And if I can do it, other women can do it! Si se puede!

QM: Lastly, I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that it has been scientifically proven that Spanish is one of the sexiest languages on the planet (certainly when you speak it). Can you explain to our readers why everything sounds so much better in Spanish?

Bonilla: [Laughs] I decided to ask someone else, who doesn’t speak Spanish, to answer this one, and this is what they said: “It is something that you can’t really describe. You have to experience it. It’s a powerful thing!”

[More laughter] Here is my shot at it: Spanish is a Latin-based language, and when one speaks, it almost sounds like a song. Therefore, you are being sung to. This immediately has the effect of a “warm and fuzzy.”

And, if your readers could hear me say this in Spanish, I would say:
Usted puede ver Slip Away en el programa Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) ,TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 2, Jueves, 26 de mayo | 10pm

Translation: You can see Slip Away in the program Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) ,TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 2, Thursday, May 26 | 10pm

Slip Away trailer:

You can find more information about Slip Away on the official Inside Out page, or by checking out Slip Away’s official site .

If you’d like to buy tickets from the Inside Out site click here.

Or you can purchase tickets:
By phone: 
10am to 7pm daily, 
416-599-TIFF (8433) Toll-free: 1-888-599-8433

or

In person: 10am to 10pm daily, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 
350 King St W (at John St)

Tags:Film, Inside Out Film Festival, Interview, Interviews, Latina, Michelle C. Bonilla, Renee Olbert, Short Film, Slip Away, Spanish, TM Scorzafava