Tracey Birdsall wins Actress of the Year at United Nations WIFF

New York : Actress Tracey Birdsall has won Actress of the Year of Women in Film at the Women in Film Forum, presented by WeLink Media Groups, at the United Nations.

Birdsall, star of such films as Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter and Who’s Jenna..?, was presented with the award at the Delegates Room Dining Hall at the UN on March 15th.

The Women In Film Forum, initiated by WIFF founder Ira Houston in cooperation with the United Nations, was first held last year during the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Now a permanent part of the CSW, the forum this year invited some of the world's most influential women filmmakers and artists - including film and television star Birdsall - from all around the world to participate.

The Women in Film Forum at the United Nations, helmed by Zoe Chang, Multimedia Guild President, was held and televised on the United Nations channel March 14th, and remains available across the world on their website.
The WeLink International Film Festival was also held during this time, where Birdsall was invited to participate in the Filmmakers panel.

Birdsall’s film Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter, directed by Neil Johnson, was screened at the festival.
The versatile actress is currently in post-production on two up-coming television series “Age of Darkness” and “The Time War”.

Birdsall was dressed by Lavanya Coodly for the event.

SCI-FI star TRACEY BIRDSALL loses home, all possessions in Malibu Fire : Help Rebuild Her Life

Actress Tracey Birdsall, known to sci-fi and fantasy fans for her starring roles in Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter and Evolution War, lost her home and all possessions in last week’s devastating fire in Malibu.

Birdsall’s eldest daughter Nicky has set up a GoFundMe page to help her mother :
https://www.gofundme.com/tracey-birdsall-rebuild-her-life

"November 10, 2018, the Woolsey fire which raged through Malibu destroyed the home of Tracey Birdsall and her family. As her oldest daughter, aware of the devastation this has caused in her life, I decided to create a GoFundMe for her so people could contribute and support her.

She lived in this home since 2006, raising my younger siblings, being involved in the community, and it was completely destroyed. Only a few succulents still stand in the front yard, and a lone tangerine tree in the back yard. Perhaps most eerie is the standing garage doors, their metal warped and nothing else of the garage present.

As many of you who knew her know, the changing times in her industry and distribution have made the past few years very difficult for her, even though she was working constantly or trying to help others get work, and this was the last thing she owned.

Oddly enough, this week is also the one year anniversary since her mother (my grandmother) died of Alzheimer’s after a lengthy battle - which tore her apart day by day, week by week, and year by year.
My mother bought this home herself, and worked tirelessly every day of her life leading up to this catastrophe in order to provide a place for her family to live. She welcomed friends to not only stay with her, but numerous people over the years have also been welcomed into her home to treat it as their own when they were going through troubles of their own. There was always a blanket and a pillow to be found and a warm meal. Her home was a haven to people she knew, and she opened her heart and her doors to many numerous people, far too many to even count.

Although insurance will undoubtedly help eventually, she was minimally insured and even her fireproof safe in the garage in which she kept resources for emergencies - was turned to unrecognizable dust. Several priceless sentimental items are gone forever, and she hasn't even begun to process their loss.

Perhaps even worse, a neighbor two doors down said that he could have put out the fire, he brought a hose to the front yard just as the City of Malibu shut off the water… I mean, who shuts off the water supply when there are fires? This hose still sat limp in the street when she came to see what was her home.
She has lost everything.

I've never seen her shoulder's so slumped, or the way her fingers tremble while she keeps repeating how glad she is everyone made it out, that her neighbors are okay. She's always been the sort to hide her tears when it's not for a script. My mother's always been the strong one, but she has never seemed as frail as now. Any support and assistance would be greatly appreciated no matter how small. Please help in any way that you can understanding the struggles she has endured, and the tireless hours she works. She is the most loving, caring, understanding, and wonderful mother and friend anyone could ask for.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know what else to do to help her, so I’ve organized this for her."

Interview with Tracey Birdsall - Star of "Who's Jenna"

The new comedy Who’s Jenna…? (out this week on DVD and VOD) tells of a woman who is mistaken for an adult entertainer. Which adult entertainer? Well, as actress Tracey Birdsall explains, the threat of legal action has seen that we never get that answer.

Okay, we want the dirt. Who is Jenna?

The title is really tongue in cheek, as it refers not only to the main character in the movie (my character) but also the confusion as to Andy’s (Joseph D’Onofrio) curiosity as to who she might possibly be. Not to give away a spoiler, but Jenna in the film (my character) is a woman who is a lawyer who is a doppelganger for someone else named Jenna in the adult film industry.

Originally, mistake me if I’m wrong, the ‘Jenna’ of the movie was originally going to be a certain adult film star – but then the script changed?

Yes, any good Googl’ing of the title will unveil that story; however, the producers (who thought of the clever title in the first place) were threatened with legal action unnecessarily. Since they felt it wasn’t pinnacle that the last name be used, they abbreviated it. It really doesn’t change anything, as it’s a comedy!

How much has the script changed, or even the tone of the movie, since you initially got involved?

Besides the above question, the film remained the same right through my involvement. Several months later when they went to film the scenes I wasn’t in, the film took some side turns having to do with the chemistry of the “boys network” as I like to call it. The ending specifics also changed due to the above question, but the interweaving thread of the love story and mistaken identity remained the same.

What films would you compare it to?

Some parts of the film (the love story) have a very Sleepless in Seattle feel, some of the crazier moments have a very Hangover feel, and some of the “boys network” scenes are a bit of a cross of the lighter moments in the television series The Soprano’s.

You’ve worked on bigger budget stuff. What’s the difference working on Who’s Jenna..? to something on a larger scale. Does it all come down to craft service?

I do very little craft services during filming because then I constantly have to brush my teeth! Some of the larger films I’ve worked on are very much like a machine where everyone has a job and it all gets done more seamlessly – to the actors perspective. A film like Who’s Jenna…?is more of a committee or a conglomerate effort… Both extremes are quite enjoyable to me.

Were you a fan of “The Sopranos”- there’s a couple of guys in this movie that fans of the show will recognize. Was it fun working with them?

I was a fan of The Sopranos, and Goodfellas, etc. I loved working with these guys and their Italian American elements. Particularly Bill Sorvino, Joseph D’Onofrio, and Garry Pastore were an absolute blast both on screen and off! Super amazing guys and actors…

Having done a few sci-fi movies now, is this the new route – comedies? Shaking it up a bit?

I try not to get stuck in a genre, but I also try to mix it up within the genre. Who’s Jenna…? although a comedy, has many dramatic moments. The sci-fi that I do also has many action and drama moments, along with some comedy. You see, being an actor is about living a life, and the elements of developing a character has to do with feeling all that they feel. I don’t usually choose projects within any genre that doesn’t allow for the character to have an arc, have a journey, laugh a little, and/or cry a little (even if it’s masked). It’s experiencing being a human being no matter what the genre.

Interview with Tracey Birdsall - Preview of “The Time War”

The Time War, which reunites Tracey Birdsall with her Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter director Neil Johnson, will also star William Kircher, Stephen Manley, Aaron Jacques, and Daniel Logan. The late Christopher Lee recorded narration for the film shortly before his death.

During World War 2, the Nazis were alleged to be experimenting with Time Travel Technology.  What if they were successful?

The Time War shows the consequences of Adolf Hitler traveling through time and re-writing history.  Rather than taking a campy-cartoony stance on the notion, The Time War takes a more serious, scientific-based approach to the consequences of time travel and the theoretical multi-verse.  As Adolf Hitler starts to re-write his genetics, he learns that cause and effect are not as simple as it may seem on paper.  After dealing with multiple versions of himself, his greatest nemesis is his own daughter Dijanne (played by Tracey Birdsall) who takes on his legacy of empire building and creates an army of one, from various versions of herself from across a billion different time lines.

The resulting Time War spans thousands of years and lays waste to the earth following a devastating atomic war.  Time travel and rewriting history are heavily complex notions, and Dijanne, daughter of Adolf Hitler, discovers that she is the center of the universal destruction that threatens to extinguish all life from planet earth.

Film is currently in production USA and UK and due out sometime in 2018.


How does it feel to be playing a kick-ass lead?

It’s exhilarating for sure, but it’s also very hard work!


Is this dissimilar from your roles you've played before?

It’s really completely different, although most roles are. It’s definitely the hardest role emotionally, physically and intellectually I had lived – at least all at once. Most roles use various tools that you’ve acquired over the years, and skill sets. This one used everything I had, and many things I had to find within myself.


Did you find it an exhausting shoot – mentally or physically speaking?

Physically, I’ve never burned so many calories, but that’s taking into consideration how many takes and angles the action scenes were – and the fact that I didn’t want a stunt double.

Mentally it was excruciating, as the places Sienna (my character) had to go on her emotional discoveries were quite dark and difficult to live.  Additional scenes and re-shoots were equally as brutal, but it’s all worth it in the end.


In terms of training for the role, did Neil Johnson insist on any fighting or weapons lessons?

I’ve had a lot of fight training all the way back to my youth, but yes additional fight training, strength training and choreography was all part of this project.


How was he to work with? 

I adore working with Neil, but it’s only because he really pushes me to the extreme over and over. He likes to wear an actor out until their emotion is just so raw. Sometimes it’s excruciating, but it’s also what some of us thrive on to do great work.


Do the yanks and the Brits work any differently? 

Clever question, but I think it’s more individual than that! I have worked with so many different types and styles of directors… It’s more of a skill and talent thing – just like actors. Sure, there’s “cookie cutter” directors, we’ve all worked with those. It’s the highly skilled passionate hands on directors that are the most fun to work with, and Neil is one of those.


Did you know any of your co-stars before filming?

I knew two of the supporting actors prior to filming, and they were both perfect for the roles they were cast in. Neither of them were known names, but they were both exactly what we needed, and well trained.  Marc Hawes was The Scourge, and we had a particularly poignant scene together. Rhianna was played by Ashley Park. All of the other actors were cast in the traditional manner.


Do you have a favorite moment in the movie? Maybe a fight scene?

Anything where the character was running or as I call “in high adrenaline mode” was the most fun, but I think the most memorable moment was the scene where she gets Blister in a head lock as she “loses it” while he gives the narrative of her past. That scene is quite long, and a turning point in the film… whilst also one of my favorites.


Big props to the sfx effects guys on this movie – everything looks so great. How were they to collaborate with?

Thank you! Everyone was quite a joy to work with. Our only hiccups in this film were in dealing with the elements – which were quite harsh at times. Although we knew it would look great in the finished project, filming in heat waves and windstorms in the desert is extremely difficult. However, it did add to the realism of the nature of the film.

Interview with Tracey Birdsall The star of Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter

Tracey Birdsall has done it all, but it’s an independent science-fiction film that she’s really making her mark in. The star of Rogue Warrior : Robot Fighter tells us what interested her about making the transition into science-fiction, how she prepared herself to play a kick-ass action hero, and the appeal of working with British filmmaker Neil Johnson.

Is there any interesting story about how you got involved in Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter?

Actually meeting with Director Neil Johnson was an interesting time in my life. It was a moment in time, so much like thousands of others – you meet a director and sit down and discuss your careers. You speak of what’s important to you, what your approach and direction is, and you see if it’s a good fit – much like dating. The difference with Neil was that we were both so impressed by our love of our craft, our painstaking stop-at-nothing approach. The rest is history. The best… yet to come.

Has being in an action sci-fi movie been a goal of yours?

I’m not brave enough to make specific goals within a certain genre; moreover, I make career goals and strive to always make each project better than the last. I research the character both on the page and in my mind to see what I can make of it – if there’s any brilliance I can bring to it. That said, I’m kind of an action chick in real life. I like pushing myself physically to the extremes. It kind of makes sense for me to do sci-fi (my favorite genre) and action (my physical way and my other favorite genre). It was never planned that way, but I see how I got here. It all started with my tomboy nature… In many ways, doing Rogue Warrior demonstrated that my “child self” was okay – that growing up being a tomboy – can pay off. That was huge for me as the youngest of three sisters (and the only tomboy.)

How did you transform yourself, mentally and physically, to play the role of Sienna?

I put on about 10-15 pounds of muscle to play Sienna. I trained even harder, ate even more, strategically balanced my protein intake and physical output to get into optimal shape for the role. It was kind of tricky, as Sienna’s journey has a past that involves her more physical nature – so I had to take that into consideration when preparing her physically. She had to be not just capable of the action, but also very womanly – as the reveal would expose – I had to take everything that she was and everything that she would become – into consideration. Mentally? I had to just “let go.” Mentally Sienna was a bit of a mess. She didn’t realize her own reality as she had memory loss from an accident – which later exposes itself to be purposeful misinformation.


Though an entertaining movie, would you suggest there’s also a ‘message’ to the film?

It’s a film of persistence, defiance, strength and overcoming one’s own limits. It’s a film of female empowerment, lack of sexual identity and understanding, realization of one’s self, and acceptance of one’s vulnerabilities whether due to family, self-identity, or situational. There’s a message of persistence, undeniable self-worth, and the constant questioning of what would happen if? …Very much like real life.

What interested Neil Johnson in telling this story?

Neil has quite a curious mind! He delves deep into science and science fiction – oftentimes looking past what the viewer knowingly realizes he is viewing. He tells stories meant to be re-watched and appreciated at whole new levels. Rogue Warrior was a story that was morphed from a previous script he wrote – morphed to fit the current needs of society and the market… and also that of its characters.


What kind of research did you both do into A.I, if any? 

I grew up with a realization of Artificial Intelligence as my father worked both as the President of PowerCon (the largest Power Electronics Convention in the world at the time) and in consulting arenas involving the chips for the Stealth Bomber (amongst other things). Robotics was a part of my world long before computing was a “thing” for the public at large. My fascination with Artificial Intelligence (between this and being a sci-fi geek) made it where it was only natural for me to be not only interested in – but fascinated in – A.I. It was already an extreme awareness.


Are you going to stick to this genre? Or try something completely different next?

I was the lead in two comedies and two sci-fi films this year. I’m going to stick to doing amazing films with character-driven arcs - within all genres. Although sci-fi is my favourite, it’s important to work across the realms and genres in order to continue to stay relevant and grow within oneself. I’m a serious actor. I can’t get pigeonholed. I see relief in genre switching.

ROGUE WARRIOR : ROBOT FIGHTER is out now in theaters and on DVD August 15, 2017

Pre-Order now from Amazon at the following link
Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter (Opens in a new window)