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Also we have added the interview of AJ:
One of the interesting things about Expecting Amish is that Hannah’s love interest Josh is played by Jesse McCartney – a fellow singer-actor whom AJ has known since she was a teenager. “I was really excited about that,” she told us. “Playing roles like we were playing, where there is chemistry and a relationship going on between these two characters, it does make it easier. I knew that he was also acting but I had never really auditioned for anything with him or been in anything with him.. and it made me more comfortable. I was even more excited about doing the project.”
“I think the cool thing about the film is that it’s really upholding Amish tradition,” she continued. “It’s not bashing their religion or culture or way of living. It’s upholding it in a really positive light. It was really a film that wasn’t trying to be racy or over the top.” For example, Hannah is depicted as a strong young woman who’s been serving as a sort of caretaker for her siblings, and just because she’s tempted by the outside world doesn’t mean it’s automatically presented as the right choice for her.
Like Jesse, AJ has been an actress about as long as she’s been singing, but most people probably don’t know that. Her acting career dates back to 2002, when she appeared on the soap Passions and in two episodes of the cult hit Birds of Prey as the young Dinah. Other notable parts include a recurring role on The CW’s cheerleading series Hellcats (which starred her sister Aly Michalka) and fifteen episodes of The Guardian.
More recently, she has a recurring role as Lainey Lewis on ABC’s retro sitcom The Goldbergs. She was also the murder victim in an episode of Motive this season entitled “Dead End.” That one was a whopper: her character Emily was killed by her best friend, after having become pregnant by her friend’s father.
“That was a really weird storyline. When I read the script it was like ‘Whoa, this is shocking,’” she laughed. “I’ve always wanted to do one of those procedural shows…I love those shows. They’ve always been really entertaining to me.
“It was really cool to be a part of that show, because I had also never died on screen before, and it was horrific,” AJ continued. “But it was also really interesting, and I actually like how that show has a little different spin on victim-killer.”
“I really do want to continue balancing both [acting and music],” she told us. “It’s hard and a lot of people are like how do you do it and I don’t really know. One does take a back seat when you’re focused on the other. You have to be really specific and be in communication with your team…and you just have to be real about it. As much as there are really exciting [acting] projects out there, music is also a love of mine. It’s hard to balance the two, but you don’t really have to choose, which is the beauty.”
“I have a lot of respect for people who are doing both,” she continued. “You see someone like a Will Smith or Gwen Stefani, who really have been able to brand themsleves in a classy way, and be musicians and actors and producers and work on a clothing line. I think you can accomplish as much as you set out to do, if you have the right team around you. ”
And AJ is setting out to accomplish a lot in the near future. Having formed the production company Violet House Productions with Aly, she’s looking toward a big year in 2015 in both disciplines. She and her sister are in post-production on a new film that “really focuses on our relationship as sisters,” and they’re also planning to release a new record, their first under the new band name of 78Violet.
Saturday night, though, AJ will be tuned into Expecting Amish with the rest of us. “This is something I wanted to be a part of,” she told us, “and I really hope people are moved by it.”
And we have added another interview (source: http://starrymag.com/?p=3605):
Q) What is it about your role as Hannah and the project that made you want to be a part of Expecting Amish?
A) I’ve always had a lot of respect for the Amish community. These families are extremely close knit and the work ethic is extraordinary. I love Hannah. She’s so genuine and really brave. There’s nothing like playing a strong female character who has to make a life changing decision.
Q) Is there anything you added to the role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?
A) I think nuances can be overlooked once a film is put together, but as an actor, it’s what keeps things fresh. I always feel that what is not on the page is extremely important and in this case that consisted of my discover with Los Angeles. This is a girl who never experienced life outside of a very small town and I really wanted to make sure that her introduction to this big city felt authentic.
Q) What kind of advice or guidance did director Richard Gabai provide you?
A) The best advice he gave me was to be careful not to put the maturity that I have as AJ into the role as Hannah. Growing up in LA and working with adults from a young age does not benefit me when doing a role like this. This girl has not lived a life like me and Richard helped me eliminate myself. He knew what to say to get me there.
Q) What scene was your favorite to film and which was the most difficult and why?
A) My favorite scene to shoot was Jesse’s arrival at Hannah’s door after they have fallen for each other and parted ways. I knew that the scene would unfold emotionally in such a natural way because of the context of it. It is such a heartbreaking scene and I can’t even imagine how I would handle a situation like that. I think Hannah was holding everything back not to just jump in his car and never think twice about her decision, but at that moment it didn’t feel right to her and I love that she wanted to do things on her own time by saying goodbye to her loved ones and showing more respect in leaving. The hardest scene to shoot was getting shunned. It broke my heart and was hard to hold it together in rehearsal. The saddest thing is that my father is the one who shuns me and when I say goodbye to my young siblings, I’ve realized my entire life is going to change.
Q) What are your favorite aspects of your character Hannah?
A) She is such a hard worker and really became a mother figure to her siblings at a young age. She is so kind and delicate. I love her grace and have a lot of respect for her.
Q) Is there anyone from the film that you did not have that many scenes with that you had wished you had gotten to work with more?
A) Probably my younger siblings in the film. I love kids and we all got close towards the end of the shoot. That’s when I wish we would’ve had more shoot together. It’s so great when you can capture innocent relationships like that on screen.
Q) Did the chemistry with the cast come naturally or did it take some time to develop?
A) It came naturally. I’ve known Jesse and Alyson for a long time and I felt very comfortable with them. Everyone else on set was really outgoing and open. I really like making new friends and every time you step on a new set for the first time it feels like the first day of school – minus the bullies. Although, some sets can have those too, but luckily this set did not!
Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching the film?
A) I hope that no matter what, people come to terms with the fact that no matter where we come from or what we believe in, love should guide our decisions and we have the individual freedom to map out the course of our lives.
Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback it will provide you and are you planning to do a live tweet or Q&A during the airing?
A) I won’t be doing a live Q&A during the film airing because I really want to just sit down, curl up and enjoy it. We all work so hard on set and when it airs, that’s really the first chance you get to relax, take a breather and let it all go. I’m very excited to see what people think though and social media allows that instant feedback.
Q) Will you be releasing any new music or putting out a new album in the near future? How will it compare and contrast with “Hothouse?”
A) We will absolutely have a new album out in 2015, officially, along with our film we recently wrapped. The two will coincide with one another and give everyone a chance to reintroduce themselves with who Aly and I are now as women. “Hothouse” was a really good 78Violet intro because it will for sure be consistent with the music we’re continuing to create.
Q) Is there anything else about the film that you would like to share with fans?
A) I’m really proud of this movie and I hope it’s just another way for families to cozy up and enjoy time together. If this film makes people talk and think (and not just be purely for entertaining purposes), then we have done our job.
