Rooney and Kate Mara are some of Hollywood’s most talented actresses, starring in movies such as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Fantastic Four. But, what are they like at home? This new show will let you know! Two-Mara, by Sarah Skeist and Jewells Blackwell, features Rooney and Kate as you’ve never seen them before.
We had a chance to talk to creator Sarah Skeist about her love for the Mara sisters, the idea for the show and writing this hilarious series.
Tell us a little bit about your project and how it came to be. Where did the inspiration for your characters come from?
Jewells and I were hanging out and she was telling me about how Rooney plays all the roles that Jewells would totally play if she were famous, and works with all of her dream collaborators, like Cate Blanchett (her idol), Joaquin Phoenix, Spike Jonze, etc. She kind of looks like her too. I thought, wouldn’t it be funny if you just played Rooney in a fake tv show? And I got the idea that I could be Kate, since I’m actually not too far from Kate type-wise. I watched some interview footage, and noticed that Rooney has kind of a deadpan, “over it” style, while Kate is super charming and more wholesome. So I just exaggerated those elements, and let my imagination run with it!
What helps you get into character?
I would say in general, the way I’ve personalized the role and boiled it down to its purest elements. So for Kate, she is just absolutely desperate for love. Even though she’s a bit ridiculous, I think we all can relate to that. So I just try to tap into that aspect of myself, or circumstances that would make me feel that way. Also, our wonderful Makeup Artist Leilani Sunglao helped a lot with making us feel like them!
What was the writing process like for this series?
It was a long process and took some encouragement! I started playing with the idea, and showed it to my friend and wonderful producer, Lindsay-Elizabeth Hand, pretty early on. When I had 5 episodes I liked, I workshopped it with Georgia Warner, another friend of ours who ended up directing and co-writing one of the episodes (number 4, my favorite!). The script got better and better, we attached Edge In Motion Productions as our production company, and we decided it was ready to go into production!
What challenges, if any, have you encountered so far?
I’ve been acting longer than writing, so I still find writing challenging. Also, making your own work requires motivation and investment, which means you have to believe in yourself and your work. That can be hard to do, and sometimes even harder as women. The whole process of creating your own series, and then sharing your own work can be emotional…but in tandem, I have found it to be incredibly rewarding and empowering.
What advice do you have for women looking to create their own content?
This might sound a bit weird, but…you know that voice that pops up when you’re writing, or producing, or whatever, that says, “This is dumb, no one will like this, just stop.” You know that voice? Well, this is obviously a huge generalization, but I would say that on the whole, I imagine that men don’t hear that voice quite as loudly. I mean everyone hears it, but it seems to be easier for them to believe that their artistic voice and sense of humor are valid and valuable. So, my advice to women creators would be to remind yourself of that when that voice tries to stifle you, and push through!
Also, relationships are everything. Get yourself a dream team of collaborators whom you trust and who share your sense of humor. I feel so blessed to have worked with our Producer Lindsay-Elizabeth Hand, our Director Georgia Warner, our amazing DP Michael Mastroserio, and our Editor Kristopher Knight. It seriously takes a village!
Want to catch up on the latest Mara sister shenanigans? Watch Two-Mara now at: www.youtube.com/c/edgeinmotion
Follow Sarah!
Instagram: @piggsby
Twitter: @sskeist
