Actress/Stuntwoman/Martial Arts Instructor Lisa Skvarla took time out from kicking ass and taking names to chat at length about The Collectibles.
Q: How did you get involved in The Collectibles?
I received a call from Todd Downing and he said he wanted to sit down with me and talk about an upcoming comedy web series. I knew Todd on several different levels. He told me how this series is a combination of SuperFriends meets The Office. I read the script and was fascinated. I thought he was interested in me because I thought they needed a person with stunt work experience and action skills. And he said no, that they didn’t need action or stunt people for this series and that I was being asked solely on acting chops. I thought how ironic considering I was playing a superhero. As we discussed the character in detail, I thought, “How perfect!” Professionally, it was exactly what the doctor ordered for me, because I just came off a national TV shoot — “The Worst Thing That Ever Happened to Me” — where I played a woman surviving a brutal, violent attack. So the opportunity to play something light, funny and not physically demanding , was perfect timing for me. The bonus was that I got to dress up like my favorite childhood superhero, Wonder Woman!
Q: Who is your character? What is she like?
If I were to describe Ultrafemme in one word, it would have to be “poison”. On the outside, she is super cool, super smart and super sweet. Oh and did I mention super strong? She is an Amazon warrior princess with superior martial-art abilities. On the inside, she is cold, relentless and insecure, and serves ulterior motives. She has a hidden agenda. She is vain and cares a lot about her physical beauty and looks. She was a past beauty queen and her superhero motto is, “You have to look good to do good!” Ultrafemme knows the clock is ticking both in her physical looks and staying in the superhero business. She is middle-aged and her dream is to become the leader of the Power Posse. In actuality, she should be. From her point of view, she is the most competent superhero on the team. She struggles with the fact that she isn’t taken seriously because she is a woman and the superhero industry is male-dominated. She has, however, adapted to the corporate shark-infested waters rather nicely, using her womanly assets and ways. She will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. She is politically shrewd and conniving.
Q: How much of your own personality went into the character, if any? What is your process for creating the character?
Personality-wise, Ultrafemme and I are polar opposites. Situationally, we have a lot in common. I am a third-degree black belt with exceptional fighting abilities. The martial-arts industry is a male-dominated industry with very few women owning their own schools. When I first took over the dojang, it was very difficult dealing with Korean culture, because the Korean men thought of women as submissive and weak. In the beginning, to get anything done, communication had to go through my husband because the Korean culture wouldn’t deal with me directly. It wasn’t in their nature to talk to a woman about business. It was the man’s job. I had to earn their respect by being incredibly successful, competent and confident. Ultrafemme is fighting that same battle..
Personality-wise we are waaaay different. I consider myself honest, straightforward, direct and horrible at being politically shrewd. I wish I cared about my looks as much as Ultrafemme does. You’re talking to the girl who most of the time walks around in sweats, T-shirts and very little makeup. Ultrafemme is HOT! She walks around in short skirts, fishnet stockings and sexy boots, and wears a push-up bra. She is vain and two-faced and does things behind people’s back. At her core, Ultrafemme is very insecure.
As far as the process, I worked with both my Seattle coach, Colleen Patrick, and my L.A. coach Steven Anderson. In the beginning, when talking with the director, he envisioned Ultrafemme as this motherly matriarch figure. As I began the process, my instincts told me she is more of a competitor/predator. She isn’t going to concede to gravity and middle-age flab around her waist. She isn’t going to wear glasses in public, although she desperately needs them. She isn’t going to let the others know she is having hot flashes and hormonal imbalances that set her off. She does everything in her power to stay young and to prove herself. So of course she is going to work out like a crazy woman. Of course she wears tight corsets and matches perfectly down to her bulletproof nails and pearly white teeth. She’s an Amazon warrior princess! I thought she is a combination of Wonder Woman and Xena.
I am constantly creating the character. During the promotional photo shoot, I just said while I was getting photographed that Ultrafemme should have a whip. And lo and behold on filming day there was a whip in wardrobe, which I actually used in the third episode. And better yet, the action-figure doll Ultrafemme they created has a whip, too! Cherelle Ashby and Janelle Cornwell in wardrobe are the best! Ultrafemme is a constant work in progress. I was even creating during the filming. I love being in her skin. I’m always asking myself, “What would Ultrafemme do?”
Q: What was your experience of the actual shoot? Any good stories from the set?
Working with this cast and crew was a complete blast! It was also very special to me because I got to work with people I have always wanted to work with, plus many of the actors (Brian, Frank, Trish and Dan) came from the Seattle Acting School, too.
On the second day of filming, I was getting ready in wardrobe. I thought the crew was still downstairs filming, so I thought I would quickly sneak to the little girls’ room while I could because, well, nature was calling. When I went around the corner, the entire crew was waiting, applauding and cheering for me. SURPRISE! The bright lights came on and it was lights, camera, action time! Little did they know I just wanted to go to the bathroom. And I had no idea that they already moved upstairs! That’s how fast this crew worked. They were incredible!
Q: What would you like to see happen in future episodes? To the series as a whole?
Well, of course I want to see the series completed. I want to see the show fully funded and then some. I was already told by Dan and Todd that I should be desperately afraid of what’s going to happen to Ultrafemme in upcoming episodes. As an actor, you live for these kinds of opportunities, so I say bring it on! With the one episode that was already shown to the public, many people thought there was chemistry between Super Star (Brian Sutherland) and me, which I thought was interesting, knowing our characters’ current relationship. It’s been a blessing to be a part of this ensemble and show.
