Alyssa Diaz is co-starring in the role of Maya in the film “Shark Night 3D”. She is also currently co-starring in ABC Family’s TV series “The Nine Lives of Chloe King”. Also look for Alyssa later this year in the action film “Red Dawn”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Alyssa about working on “Shark Night 3D” and also her upcoming projects.
Mike Gencarelli: What drew you to the role of Maya in “Shark Night 3D”?
Alyssa Diaz: I have always been fascinated with sharks. They terrify me! I thought it would be a fun film to do seeing the film is based on all these different species of sharks and its 3D! It just seemed like a really fun project for the summer.
MG: Can you tell us what it was like working with David R. Ellis?
AD: I had a great time working with David! He is such a sweetheart and he really knows what he is doing. David is a genius when it comes to water. He is just so laid back and cool to work with.
MG: How was it working with sharks as your co-stars?
AD: They are tough guys but they work hard and at the end of the day all they want is a bloody mary [laughs].
MG: Did you work at all with the animatronics sharks?
AD: I did some of the work with those. They are amazing because they are free swimming and they work off a remote control. They have actual shark teeth in them which were cutting some of the stunt guys. They are so life like it’s crazy.
MG: Overall what was the most challenging part of the film for you?
AD: Getting into the swamp water in Louisiana! On my last day of shooting we started at 5am and I was in a boat with my stunt double and the water was like glass. I had said I wasn’t too sure about the situation and my stunt double asked why as she had thought it was perfect out. I told her this is when all the creatures come out. Just as I’m about to get into the water I start to hear all these gasp’s coming from the other boats. I looked out and I see this big huge thing floating on the water. I couldn’t really comprehend what it was because I grew up in Los Angeles, so I’m a city girl. All of a sudden the thing I thought was a log disappeared. Our stunt crews were all ex-Navy Seals so they rode out on Jet Ski’s to check everything out. All of a sudden one of the guys yells back “That’s a big motherf#$%@^” It ended up being a 14 foot alligator, so we drove to a different section and I got in the water and did my scene.
MG: Did the movie being shot in 3D pose any difficulties for you?
AD: Yes and No. The 3D cameras are huge, so the set up takes a little bit longer. There was also trouble mounting them to the boats because they were so heavy. By the end of the day the cameraman’s feet were in the water holding it. It was a really adventurous shoot.
MG: Can you tell us about your role as Jasmine in “The Nine Lives of Chloe King”?
AD: That’s a show for ABC family and Jasmine is the Morpheus to Chloe King’s world. She is Chloe’s mentor. Jasmine is a bad ass girl!
MG: Can you tell us about your upcoming role in “Red Dawn”?
AD: Working on that was fun and it was action packed. There was a lot of fun and interesting fight choreography. It’s a drama/action piece where these teens have to fight back after their parents are killed during a World War III type scenario.
MG: How does working on something like “Red Dawn” compare to working on “Shark Night 3D”?
AD: They both are so different but intense. “Shark Night”, I was training with ex-navy seals in the water and for “Red Dawn”, I was training with Marines. I’m going to be ready for the apocalypse.