Q) We are a few episodes into “The Magicians,” how has the fan feedback been on social media?
A) The fan feedback has been, from what I have seen and heard, fantastic. People seem to be responding well in regards to my Julia…our Julia.

Q) What can you tease about dynamics shifting as the season progresses?
A) Throughout the season, we get to see all different sorts of dynamics among the characters. Their relationships with themselves and with each other. What is great is that none of these progressions of change are ever “over” or “finished.” They fluctuate and sometimes back track (progress, regress) – emulating real life. We do get to see Julia and Quentin together again towards the end of the season. That much I’ll give away! And it’s worth it.

Q) Is there anything you have added to the role that was not originally scripted?
A) I tried to keep Julia as true to the books as possible, except for what was changed for TV format.

Q) What has been the most challenging aspect of your role?
A) I don’t think I can narrow it down. So much of this role is challenging. To be able to take a character as complex as Julia, already written in novels, and bring her to life on the screen…That, in itself, is challenging.

Q) What drew you to this project or role?
A) The people involved, the trilogy of novels and the element of magic and how it’s a metaphor for our lives. It was the depth, the darkness, the humor and the dark humor. And Julia. She is one of the most interesting characters I have ever gotten to play.

Q) What have you learned or taken away from your experiences working on the show?
A) I have learned how much art imitates life and how life enhances the art. I think with each character I play I learn another fact of myself. I grow more as an artist and a human. And with Julia in particular, I’ve learned a lot about my personal life. I have been through a lot of darkness. I made it through and I’m still here. It reminds me of this quote that I saw somewhere, “Let us walk through the fear as we reach for the stars.”

Q) Is there a specific moment coming up that you can tease or share you are most looking forward to fan reactions?
A) Later in the season, Julia goes through a very traumatic and awful experience. It will be interesting to see how viewers respond.

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has drawn so many viewers in?
A) I think because of the trilogy of books that the show had already secured a fanbase. And in moving forward with the television adaption, it has found a way to encompass fun, campiness and darkness all in one hour.

Q) Are there any special guest stars coming up this season?
A) A magician never reveals his secrets…

Q) Congratulations on the Season 2 pick up! What would you like to see happen for your character?
A) I’m so excited for Season 2! Thank you. I hope to stay close to the books and perhaps see Julia get to speak and develop her special relationship with animals.

M&C: The Magicians is terrific. It’s smart, cinematic and unique. What struck you most when you read the script?
Stella Maeve: Julia, these characters, and the books have this underbelly of darkness and grit. The show is also not afraid to make fun of itself.
Most shows in the fantasy genre don’t possess a raw, real, organic element combined with magic and fun, flawed human beings, which makes them difficult to understand. I love that.

M&C: Julia so wants to develop her powers, powers that seem to come easily to her friends. We can see how important it is. Is there anything you can relate to in that longing?
SM: I felt as if Julia’s “determination” and “longing” was more comparable to an addiction. This “thing”, this “magic”, got a hold of her, she became consumed by it.
And as a result, she was behaving in ways she never would have prior, finding herself in compromising positions with an entire spiral of events to come.

M&C: The Magicians is set in a series of worlds, some real some not, that stir the imagination. Does that help you as an actor?
SM: I think it’s harder as an actor to go to a “fantasy world”. However it’s extremely fun to get to travel to these mystical magical lands to play and to use your imagination.
However, there are no rules. It isn’t real life so what are the boundaries?
Luckily, the way this is written, we as these characters get to have those “uh…what the hell” moments where weird creatures pop out of nowhere and we can remind ourselves of the obscenity and ridiculousness of it all.

M&C: There are really disturbing moments that spring from naturalism, not from shock or gore. Did you find it scary?
SM: Julia goes through the most horrific journey in the entire series. It gets really, really dark. It’s always scary, being vulnerable. Being able to throw yourself into what you’re doing, and make those events, those emotions, true to yourself at that time and believing your truth as that character.

Syfy renewed the filmed-in-Vancouver fantasy series The Magicians for a second season today. Based on a trilogy of books by Lev Grossman, The Magicians follows Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) as he leaves Brooklyn for a secret college of magic in upstate New York, where he and his friends learn how to practice magic and travel to the magic land of Fillory. Other Physcial Kids include Quentin’s friend Eliot (Hale Appleman), Alice (Olivia Taylor Dudley), Julia (Stella Maeve), Margo/known as Janet in books (Summer Bishil) and Penny (Arjun Gupta). Among their teachers are Dean Fogg (Rick Worthy) and Professor Sunderland (Anne Dudek). Other characters: Eliza the paramedic (Esme Bianco) and Penny’s love interest Kady (Jade Tailor).

“Thanks to an extraordinarily gifted creative team of executive producers and our partners at Universal Cable Productions, The Magicians has become a buzzed-about hit, enchanting fans of the novels as well as attracting new and younger audiences to Syfy”, said Syfy and Chiller president Dave Howe.

One of the pleasures of watching this Harry-Potter-crossed-with-Narnia series is seeing different parts of the University of British Columbia campus transformed into the Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy. The Magicians filmed its pilot in New Orleans, but featured UBC as Brakebills University in its second episode.

Source : yvrshoots.com & deadline.com

The world premiere of “Long Nights Short Mornings” will be at SXSW Film Festival in the category Narrative Spotlight, in march.

High profile narrative features receiving their World, North American or U.S. premieres at SXSW.

Long Nights Short Mornings
Director/Screenwriter: Chadd Harbold
An examination of the romantic life of a young man in New York City and his sometimes fleeting, sometimes profound experiences with the women he encounters.
Cast: Shiloh Fernandez, Ella Rae Peck, Paten Hughes, Layla Koshnoudi, Christine Evangelista, Cassandra Freeman, Helen Rogers, Stella Maeve, Natalia Dyer, Ebonee Noel, Addison Timlin, Louis Balletta (World Premiere)