You had some really compelling scenes with Vanessa Hudgens in this movie. Can you talk about how you worked with her and how the two of you collaborated in your scenes together?
Rosario Dawson: It wasn’t like we ever really talked about it, and I think that was kind of important because these two characters are so volatile towards each other and they don’t have that intimacy. There isn’t that safety and connection and communication. I think it was just an understanding that we were both in it and we could see it every single day. We were both really prepared and we would just check in with each other to make sure. It was really physical and really violent at times, so most of the things that we checked in on were, “Am I hurting you? Are you okay? Are we good for another one?” You know what I mean? I think it helps that Vanessa worked with Harmony (Korine), too. I had worked with Harmony on Kids.
I went home battered some nights though. I know she had some bruises, but for me I got into a lot of fights. This girl and this woman were just all over the place, and I was fighting with some of the girls from the shelter who don’t do fight scenes (laughs). They don’t realize that my knee doesn’t bend that way, you know? Once you stop being physical, it starts to settle in. And sleeping on pillows in this particular way, you’re just going, “I’ve never felt this kind of pain before. It’s horrible! I didn’t realize I was signing up for this.”
Have you seen the movie with any of the people from the shelter. Did they contact you about watching it? Or even on set, how was it to experience this and share it?
Rosario Dawson: I saw this by myself (laughs) which was a bit rough. I look forward to actually seeing it with an audience and seeing what that’s like. It was really compelling and it’s really powerful. The feedback that I did get was interesting though. They had done a rough cut because we shot this in 2011, and then we did pickups in 2012. Ron had done a cut of the film and the audiences were like, “We need more June.” And so we ended up doing this scene that’s in the hospital that wasn’t written. That’s like our biggest scene actually. It was like an 11 page scene and it was super intense.
I remember this one moment where Ron sat down and started talking to me, and I’m looking at him and I can hear that the set is getting ready so I just started crying. I’m just kind of keeping it going because in the middle of the take he just looks at me and says, “Oh, right. Okay, I’ll leave you alone now. Sorry.” I’m like, “Thanks! It’s cool. It’s not like you just wrote an 11 page scene that you gave me that I have to memorize and do this. It’s fine” It was like so grotesque.
That scene was really one that compelled me, and I remember 24 hours after shooting that I’m taking a shower and washing my face, and my face was in this grimace. I realized I had been contorted for 24 hours and it really gets to you. There’s just something about it.
That concludes our interview but we’d like to thank Rosario very much for her time. Be sure to check out Gimmie Shelter, in theatres this Friday!