Alaina Huffman discusses Oscar Award contender, Waltzing With Brando
Tell us about this film, what drew you to this character and how did you prepare for it? Waltzing with Brando to me is a love story. It’s a love story to Marlon Brando, to Tahiti and to the surrender of finding peace. It’s a story about how Marlon Brando found himself in Tahiti. After years of fame, awards and Hollywood he went to the corner of the earth where he could just be still. He buys an island but needs it to be livable. So he brings on environmental architect Bernard Judge (Joh Header) to make it happen. My role is Dana Judge, she is Bernie’s (Bernard) wife, an artist and a mother. I was particularly drawn to Dana because I found her sacrifice of supporting her husband on this journey admirable. Here is a woman who has her own career, life and community at home in Los Angeles and she agrees to join Marlon and Bernie in Tahiti for 3 years while making this island habitable. This was in the 70’s so there was no Amazon prime, no modern conveniences. They homeschooled their daughter, camped on the island and lived off coconuts and fish, while immersing themselves in Tahitian culture. It had its challenges on her personally and on their marriage. All so real to me in my personal life navigating motherhood, partnership and a career. We shot this movie on the island of Moorea doubling for Teterioa which is now the very exclusive “The Brando” Hotel thanks to this journey.
Is there one moment from filming that stuck out to you? Filming in a remote location really helped me explore what Dana felt being so isolated and it resonated with me personally. I am so grateful to have been a working artist for the majority of my life. I began my career at 14 traveling around the world as a model. To be on location working is always such a blessing. Mainly it means I’m working which I’m always so grateful for. But traveling is hard on your family, relationships and can even be really isolating. I get lonely on the road. After years of this career I have a pretty good system to deal with the inevitable ups and downs so I used this time away to do some deep work. Shooting on Moorea it was very quiet And over the 5 weeks I was there I only shot a day here and there so it was an excellent opportunity to explore, I went on long morning runs, spent a lot of time meditating and praying and I scheduled a block of sessions with my life coach to dig deep while I was away.
On the more fun side, they put us up on a beautiful coconut farm, where we each had our own villa but a shared kitchen space so the cast became really close, we made dinners together every night, played games and spent our days off together exploring beaches, waterfalls and the island on mopeds. Billy Zane has had such a long career, now playing iconic actor Marlon Brando. What was it like working with Billy? Billy is great, I met him during the audition process over zoom, he was at the art institute of Chicago doing something artsy! Fitting! He’s such an artist. The way he moves, the way he lives. His real life daughter Ava Zane, played my daughter on screen and Billy also produced the film. So I got to have several relationships with Billy. As my boss, as my costar and as papa bear he was always onset with Ava (Sabrina Judge). The way he was able to morph into Marlon was a treat to watch. Our days started out with Billy’s playlist on during hair and make up, we went on adventures together, swimming with sharks, backyard BBQs and fun family dinners. It was truly a joy to work with this whole crew!
Movies don’t get made overnight, what was a surprising aspect of the filmmaking process for you? I believe all filmmaking is a labor of love! It’s why everyone cries at the Oscars! It’s really hard to do. It’s a huge process. This film in particular actually started filming way before I was involved. They began filming early 2020 then Covid happened so it was delayed, financing got delayed too and finally we were able to resume in May of 2023 when I was brought in. Which was at the beginning of the writers strike! And we finished just before the actors went on strike! It’s actually a miracle it was even made. I’m always so grateful to be a part of a project because it comes in waves. As an actor we usually come in when all the prep has been done, then we walk away, revisit it months later to do ADR (additional dialogue recording) and finally many months later to see the finished product! But for the film makers it’s years, sometimes decades to tell these stories.
What is a message from this film that you want to resonate with people? Surrender! Say yes, be open! As artists, we often don’t know where our next meal is coming from but that very vulnerability and openness is exactly what is needed to show up tomorrow in Tahiti ready to make a movie. It takes faith, faith in oneself, in a higher power maybe, in your team. But knowing that whatever happens is exactly what is meant to be and trusting that! On the first day of filming, Billy gave me one of Brandos lines. He said I want Dana to feel this... The line was something like “ I’ve never been in a place like this, a place that tells me to stop running” The American "hustle" mentality is so big, and though I believe in working hard I also know that on the 7th day, God rested. So while I believe we should all strive to work hard and do our best, I also know that finding peace and joy is living up to our ultimate potential. Surrender.
Alaina Huffman @alainahuffman
Agency Ceo: @peakmodepr
MUA: @makeupbyhappi
Photo: @tmoromisato
Pub: @highvolt_magazine
Stylist: Alyx Kottmeier
Comments