1. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER IN “16 TO LIFE” 
I don’t really know what to say about her. she is outrageous and wild, fun and outspoken. she is just the girl that you know you can trust because she is too blunt to lie and even though it is disrespectful and crude at times, you respect her brutal honesty and honest nature.
 
2. HOW DID YOU PREPARE TO PLAY THIS CHARACTER?
you know i didn’t get much preparation for her. i actually had to pass on the audition 2 times because i was so sick and finally i was better and they had not found their “Darby” yet. so i went in that day and gave it a shot and Becky was just so amazing and made me feel comfortable to make different choices and just go for it. so i had fun and ended up shooting one week later! lol

3. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE WORKING ON LOCATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI?
well to be honest it was scary for me. i knew no one, it was freezing, the clothes we wore were so tiny to boot in the chilling temperatures, there were only 2 restaurants in the entire town and one bar which is where we found everyone every night LITERALLY! but it was the most generous town, they were so kind hearted and giving and they would wake up in the middle of the night to help us if we needed something, our cast and crew worked so wonderfully together. we kept each other laughing day in and day out. we had delicious food and great coffee, crisp mornings with the freshest air you can imagine. ohhh i felt home sick then but now whenever i think about my time spent there i know that i took it for granted. for i miss it terribly now.
 
4. WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DOING IN THE FUTURE?
anything and everything as long as it is a challenge. 
 
5. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT ACTING?
the fact that i can pretend to be someone else for the day. and even if others like that character or hate her… it doesn’t matter. its not me! it makes me feel comfortable to be someone else. i can get claustrophobic and uncomfortable in my own skin. but when i am in another… there are not limitations, there are no rules… and it feels great.
 
6. WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT THE WORK?
the criticism and the let downs, the fact that you cant always get something no matter how passionate about it. and even if you see yourself portraying a character better than someone else, it doesn’t mean its meant to be yours or that the rest of the industry will see it your way. its a stressful job but at the same time it is the most luxurious.
 
7. WHAT WAS THE BEST MOMENT FOR YOU IN SHOOTING “16 TO LIFE”?
waking up every morning and walking a nice calm walk in the cool air across the railroad tracks and meeting up with everyone to have some coffee while we all talked about how cold it was even though we talked about it EVERY DAY for a month lol.

“16 to Life” writer/director/producer Becky Smith sat down to talk with Jaime Gomez about his character, his experience and his career.

 1. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER IN “16 TO LIFE”
I play Ronald, a small town guy who left for awhile, was married, divorced, but has returned to care for his ailing mother… basically a sweetheart! Ronald was injured in a snowmobile accident many years before while vying for the affection of the town babe, Louise, played by Teresa Russell. Needless to say he lost the race but fate, in all it’s mystery, has played out so there is another chapter to this story.

2. HOW DID YOU PREPARE TO PLAY THIS CHARACTER?
I spent time with a friend of mine at Cedar Sinai racing around the halls there on wheelchairs… I wanted to be muscularly fit to not have to struggle at all from pushing myself around. It’s amazing the looks you get, the pity, the stares… I also worked on my wheelies. I could move forward, back, around corners all in a wheel stand… all the important stuff! Medically, I did deeper research and imagining life in a wheelchair is very humbling to say the least. It certainly is a daily test of character of which Ronald had plenty. The realities of an injury like this are quite sobering so the opportunity to play an amazing man like Ronald was very fulfilling!

3. WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WORKING ON LOCATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI?
Being on the Mississippi is an experience I will never forget… I met a real River Rat, saw soaring eagles and met the most amazing small town folks ever… I watched the moon set reflecting off the moving water, a lazy blue and green lighted tug gliding by while holding hands with the town babe “Louise”. I raced across the river in a speed boat, saw Indian holy grounds, and staying in my lil B&B up the street from the set was a lot like having a sleep over at the Walton’s! Biscuits and gravy, hot cakes and waffles, delicious coffee, homemade butter and the frilliest room I’ve ever stayed in just made me feel a great sense of love and belonging for the place… It was magical!

4. HAVE YOU EVER WORKED WITH THERESA RUSSELL BEFORE? HOW WAS THAT EXPERIENCE?
Theresa and I worked together in the same show, Nash Bridges, but not actually together in a same scene… her character got me Killed!!! I’ve always loved her work so when I found out she was playing “Louise” I jumped without hesitation to work with her. We hit it off and she was easy to “play” with, I trusted her and we had a great time… I’d love to work with her again.

5. HAD YOU WORKED WITH HALLEE HIRSH BEFORE? WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
I’d never worked with Hallee before but right away I liked her focus and fire. She was great!

6. HOW DO YOU FEEL GOING FROM TELEVISION TO FEATURES AND BACK?
I feel that the speed at which you work in TV can be fun because everything moves so fast, you do it, you see it, and then you move on. It’s a high wire act with specific moment to moment deadlines… The adrenaline to get it right in one take I find very exciting, like theatre… Movies on the other hand are more methodical and time is made to explore the scenes a bit more… When it’s right, it’s a great place to be… when it’s not, it can be painfully slow… but what the hell, I love it all!  I’m an actor so basically feed me and I’ll show up! As the great Laurence Olivier said, “I get paid to wait! The acting is free”!

7. WHAT KIND OF INDIE FEATURES DRAW YOUR INTEREST?
The character study is what interests me most… I had to do a whole movie in a wheelchair!  To explore what it’s really like… what does Ronald think… home alone with his past, present and future staring him in the face at night, night after night… human frailty is what interests me… what makes us tick, why do we tick… who’s doing the ticking!!! I guess I’m trying to say the exploration of why we, as a species, do the things we do… good and bad… the reasons are the mystery I’m searching for… Lots of people are in wheelchairs and don’t even know it… But Why? I like the Why question!

8. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO NEXT?  WHAT KIND OF CHARACTERS DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?
I want to play Jesus! Jesus of LA! An un-employed Mexican American construction worker who changes the world! I want to play well paid characters!!!

“16 to Life”

Premiere Screening

The Method Fest Film Festival

Saturday, March 28th 7pm

Regency Agoura Hills 8, 29045 Agoura Hills Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Mercedes-Benz of Caslabasas will host a gala red-carpet party for “16 to Lfe”.

Tickets:

 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/59496?prod_id=2315

800-838-3006

Method Fest Website:

www.methodfest.com

310-535-9230

Media Contacts:

PMG Henry Eshelman/Rachel Glass

1-323-337-9042