via Forbidden Fruit-Readings From Banned Works of Literature FB Page
This past Sunday, Renee Felice Smith joined other celebrities such as John Landis and Kevin McKidd at Pen Center’s “Forbidden Fruit” event to help promote freedom of expression censorship awareness.
Before the event began, I was lucky enough to get the chance to chat privately with Renee about everything from what she was going to read that day to what fans can expect in the NCIS: Los Angeles season finale.
Can you talk about the event today?
Renee Felice Smith: We’re here today with the Pen Organization and we’re reading formerly banned books – all classics that have been banned from libraries and classrooms around the world. And it’s amazing to wrap your mind around the idea that ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ would be banned from a classroom, but it has been and it’s important to recognize that has happened and to hear the stories read aloud and resonate.
What did you pick to read at the event and why?
Renee Felice Smith: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ holds a special place, I guess you’d say, for me. Also it’s in the voice of a young female, Scout, and I always connected with this character. They don’t really think she absorbs it all, but she does and she’s kind of an observer – a very tuned-in observer – and sometimes I feel like that in my own life. I’ve kind of had that experience, where people don’t think you’re really absorbing what’s really happening but you are and you have kind of this insight into the truth of things. I think Scout has that and she’s kind of seeing these events unfold. I guess that’s my connection.
You just created a short film. What can you tell us about it and what inspired you to do it?
Renee Felice Smith: My short film, ‘Young(ish),’ I wrote, directed and produced. It is a story revolving around an elderly couple and they have a magical experience down at the beach. They experience a form of transformation. It was just a passion project, really. I was watching my grandparents – about two years ago my grandfather had some heart issues and had a defibrillator put in – and I just watched the way they dealt with it and they kind of had a sense of humor about the aging process and about life and it was really lovely.
What can you tease about the NCIS: Los Angeles season finale?
Renee Felice Smith: It’s such a cliffhanger, I have to tell you. There’s an unexpected kiss. There is a very dramatic final scene where we may find some of our most-beloved character in a very compromising position. It’s the return of one of our most deadly villains. We’re kind of left in question. Nell Jones is flipping out, freaking out, she can’t believe what she just heard and it’s a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers.
Does Nell have a specific storyline in the finale?
Renee Felice Smith: I wouldn’t say she takes on any specific responsibility in this last episode, but we do see next season Nell take on… it’s kind of great, we see her out and kind of taking charge of the situation. We’ve already filmed an episode for next season and it just so happened to be a very Nell-heavy episode. I’m excited.
You and Barrett have such great chemistry as Nell and Eric. Did that come quickly or was that something that you really had to work on?
Renee Felice Smith: It came super-quickly. I mean we met in the test, which is basically like the final audition, for my role and he was in the room with me and I had to basically… it was like we were filming a scene together and all the producers were in the room, they were all behind the camera, it was right on set. We just kind of had this instant connection, this instant friendship, which was really cool. I just felt like I knew him.
We were just with him earlier today at this adoption event, the ‘No Kill L.A’ event that was happening at the La Brea Tar Pits. We were there and Linda Hunt was there and it’s a fun, warm family environment I guess you could say. We don’t really have any diva stories. We don’t have that on our set. Everyone’s always like, ‘Oh man I bet you have stories’ and no, I don’t have any of those stories and I’m glad I don’t.
Well, it certainly sounds like we’re in for another exciting season finale this season. Be sure to check it out and check out Renee’s short film as well. Big thanks to NCISLA Magazine for letting me be their special Los Angeles correspondent for the event and for the chance to speak with Renee.
~~ by Michelle Carlbert (@Mokibobolink) ~~
