Hi all!  Jenna here.  I want to start by saying THANK YOU to everyone who has rented, purchased or prattled on about LolliLove to their friends.  The response to our little film has been amazing.  I think I speak for the entire creative team (myself, Peter Alton, Stephen Blackehart and my husband James Gunn) when I say that we never expected our movie to be doing so well.  It is hard to be creatively expressed in Hollywood and this was our way of having our own voice.  It was a labor of love.  So, thank you, thank you, for your support! 

I thought it would be fun if I interviewed some of the people involved in the movie.  Well post new interviews every couple of weeks.  To start things off, please meet Jennifer Eolin.  She is the actress who plays Jennifer, one of the LolliLove volunteers in the movie.

Hello Jennifer!  I am pleased to be doing this interview with you today. 

Jennifer:  Me too! 

We should probably tell people that we are friends.  I mean, you acted in LolliLove but we are also friends in real life. 

Jennifer:  Yes, weve been friends for quite some time now.  We met in an improv class and we just clicked.  I think it was about 6 years ago, time flies!  I love our chats over tea.    Were like little old ladies already.  I consider you part of my family.  You keep me sane.

I couldnt agree more.  You keep me sane too.  My husband thanks you.  Can you tell people how you got the role in LolliLove?

Jennifer:  Getting the role of Jennifer in LolliLove was a very elaborate process: huge negotiations back and forth on pay, I had to have complete script approval, and most importantly, I needed to know that my posse would be taken care of while I was on set.  I was a complete nightmare.

To better understand the process, Ive included a transcript:

INT. JENNIFERS APARTMENT - DAY

Jennifer sits on her couch, the phone rings, she answers it.

Jennifer: Hello?
Jenna: Hey, Jennifer, its Jenna.
Jennifer: Hey, Jenna.
Jenna: I have a question for you.  Im making a movie called LolliLove and was wondering if youd like to be in it?

Jennifer: ARE YOU KIDDING, ID LOVE TO!
Jenna: Great, Ill get you a script.
Jennifer: HOLY CRAP IM SO EXCITED!  When do we start?!  How should I wear my hair?!

Jenna: Im not sure yet.  But Im glad youre on board
Jennifer: Im gonna be in a movie!  HOLY CRAP!  THIS IS SO EXCITING!  HOLY CRAP! I GOTTA CALL MY PARENTS!!  HOLY CRAP!

Jenna: Im glad youre happy.  Ill send a script over later this week.
Jennifer: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  AHHHHHHH!  AHHHHHHH!

Im seriously surprised you got me to do it because as you can see, I was a total hardass about the whole thing and was completely resistant at times. 

What was it like working on the film?  What was a typical shoot day like?

Jennifer:  It was really fun!  Id be in make-up for like 45 minutes (I love people fussing over me!) and then wed start shooting.  I remember not being nervous because I was having too much fun and really enjoyed every minute of it.  You really kept things moving along too and you never had us there if we werent needed.  So there wasnt a lot of waiting around, which kept the pace of the day flowing.  But if there was downtime, you had plenty of food (food = donuts) and that completely satiated me.

Also, you were really flexible shooting around my crazy schedule. I was writing for a reality show and that included working on weekends so I had very little free time.  But you made it work and I totally appreciate that. 

James and I are married in real life.  Was it weird seeing us work together?  How did we do?  (Its okay, you can tell the truth.)

Jennifer:  It was funny actually.  You guys call each other baby all the time in real life and it was hilarious to hear you guys call each other that in the movie.  I loved the give and take between you and James.  You guys never fought for the spotlight in a scene. The comedic timing obviously came out of years of being married in real life. 

This movie took several years to complete.  From an acting perspective, what was it like to be involved in a production that took so long to shoot?  I mean, we shot tons of original footage with your character and then years later we shot that new talking head of you in the backyard where you talk about being in an abused womens shelter.  Crazy.

Jennifer:  I remember shooting the very first version of LolliLove and I had so much fun.  When you decided to re-shoot it I was excited to do it because our characters were so much richer in the final version of LolliLove because we had that jumping off point of the first version of the film.

And I love the talking head you added for my character.  I dont mind at all that it was years later.  As it was before that scene was added, my character, Jennifer, was low status but we never really knew why.  So that talking head scene added more power to Jennifers reaction at the end of the movie which was to look at a tree and go to your happy place. 

I admire that you got the film done.  This was a project that you originally thought would be a 20-minute short and it turned into so much more.  I was happy to watch you take the time it needed to be completed.  I think it made the movie that much better because you didnt just settle for what it was you kept making it better.

Was there a part of this film that you thought would never get done?

Jennifer: Handing out lollipops to actual homeless people.  I thought, Really?  Will we really do it?  Really? And we did!  And it was fine they were all game for it and it was easy.  Stevie played such a huge part in making that day go smoothly.  I never felt awkward.

What is your favorite LolliLove moment or memory? 

Jennifer:  I have two moments.  The first was when we were in Santa Monica handing out lollipops to the homeless a busload of 20 Asian pre-teen schoolgirls swarmed us thinking that we were huge movie stars and demanded pictures with all of us.  You and I took individual pictures with EVERY GIRL.  And then that group photo!  Do you remember the group photo they took?  The girls were in their school uniforms and then you and me in our frilly dresses, gloves and baskets.  We were about 2 feet taller than everybody so we looked like these over-dressed giants.  And all the girls did this thing where they made sideways Vs with their fingers and put them over one of their eyes.  We were so confused by that.  What did it mean?  It was a sight to behold.

Second moment was talking to Thaddeus Branch about the God of Meat.  This guy talked about radios and how that will transmit to the God of Meat for about 7 minutes.  Maybe longer, maybe shorter, Im not really sure.  All I know is that time stopped as I listened to him.  People ask me how I didnt laugh during his speech but I was honestly too stunned at what was coming out of his mouth to process it as funny at the time.  About 5 minutes after the interview I burst into laughter.  

What are the best things about working with me as a director?  (Please, I know you can go on and on and on, but try to keep this one short.)

Jennifer:  You were a great director!  I cant stress this enough.  You had a clear vision, you were patient and you got what you wanted from the actors.

I remember my first scene I shot.  Everybody there had done film before and I hadnt.  (I was an improviser on stage only at the time.)  So my first scene was going off on Sarah and I yelled (which was appropriate had I been on a stage) and nearly blew Petes ears out of his head (as he was monitoring sound as well).  Everybody kinda looked at each other and you gently gave me a re-direct and all was well.  You were awesome, you had my back and you made me look good.  I dont think Ive ever told you this!  But I really honor and treasure the time you took with me considering it was my first film.  I learned a lot and you helped me to be a better actor.

Wow!  Thank you!  I guess it is true that you were not really an actor when you appeared in LolliLove.  I mean, we met in an Improv class but you were working professionally as a writer not an actor.  Did LolliLove cause you to catch the acting bug?  What are you up to these days?

Jennifer:   SO many questions!  Yes, at the time I started in LolliLove I was only a writer.  Id been a writers assistant for several sitcoms and even wrote an episode of Its Like You Know (the Jennifer Grey sitcom on ABC for about 2 minutes in 1998).  Id actually gotten into improv to improve my writing.  But then I fell in love with acting and yes, LolliLove definitely made me want to be an actor.  Over the past year Ive done a ton of improv shows and a bunch of short films.

Currently Im still writing for reality television.  In 1999, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire came on the air and dashed my hopes for getting a writing gig on a sitcom as they all went off the air.  Right now I write for House Hunters on HGTV.  It a fun show and it really, really, REALLY makes me want to buy a house.  When Im not doing that, I teach improv and creative writing.  I perform with TheatreSports and Comedy Sportz.  Yeah, thats all.  Im totally lazy as you can see.

Is it true that you got married in my backyard?

Jennifer:  That question makes me laugh.  It sounds like you came home one day and your neighbor said, Hey, while you were out your friend Jennifer got married in your backyard.  I thought you should know, and now youre gently trying to find out if its true. 

I did get married in your backyard!  It was awesome!  And you and James were amazing for letting me literally take over your house and backyard.  We had the rehearsal there with people you never met before.  We lined up 60 chairs in your backyard and took over your entire house on the day of the wedding.  I handed you a 7-page production schedule for the week of the wedding and you didnt punch me in the face.  Youre a good friend.

Yes, that production schedule was hilarious.  It was more organized than many films Ive worked on.  What was it like to get married in the same place as your film acting debut?  Did you have flashbacks to being hit in the face with a fight pad while saying your vows?

Jennifer:   Its funny to think that the scene where we shot the learning to fight off the hobos scene is where I married Seth years later.  I just realized that Ive had a lot of life changing moments in your backyard. 

During the wedding I dont think I had that clear of a thought process to put that all together though.  My brain pretty much read like the transcript of you offering me the role in LolliLove except replace movie with getting married.  Obviously, Im an excitable person.

I think its safe to say you are crazy about your husband.  Hes a pretty awesome guy.  And, also a great improviser.

Jennifer:  I love being married to Seth hes just as crazy as I am and we met at the same theatre where I met you!  Hooray for improv bringing people together!

What else would you like to tell us about yourself?  What are your hobbies?

Jennifer:  What else about me?  I love improv and all it has to offer.  I teach improv now and love all my kids who I teach.  Theyve become my friends.  I also teach creative writing which makes my heart 100appy.  I love writing and believe that everybody has a story in them that needs to be told, so I love helping people find that story and write it effectively.  When Im not teaching, performing or writing Im at Target.  Or you and I are having tea and eating tiny sandwiches.  I work a lot so not much time left over for hobbies.  I used to make jewelry and paint, but I havent had time to do any of that in over a year.  I miss it actually.

Is it true you and I have a Target addiction?

Jennifer:  Shut up!  So what if I do?  And so what if I can point out my favorite products and sound like a commercial when I speak about them? So what?  Theres nothing wrong with me!!  THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH ME!

Is it also true that you have an abnormal obsession with shopping club cards?

Jennifer:  I hate that you know me so well.  YES I only shop in places that I can get a discount of some sort.  You always laugh at me when I say, Hey can we go in here?  I have a 20ff coupon.  I cant help it!  My mother is a HUGE coupon person.  She makes me look like an amateur.  She used to host Coupon Club when I was a kid and all her lady friends would come over and they would swap coupons.  She had an orange tackle box filled with coupons when we went to the grocery store and I remember being annoyed with her as we stood in front of the cereals and shed hunt for what coupons she had for cereal (they were all categorized in alphabetical order and expiration date).   One time she left the tackle box in the shopping cart at Bombergers (grocery store in PA) and we had to go back and get it and she was in tears at the thought of possibly losing all her coupons.  At the time, I thought she was 100 razy.  But now I understand.  But for the sake of my friends who are in public with me, I dont carry a tackle box.  I just bring what coupons I need for that trip. 

Finally, I read your blogs.  Dont leave us hanging.  Have you decided to cut your hair or grow it long? 

Jennifer:  (Drum roll please) I am going to let my hair STAY AS IT IS!  Ta-daaaa!!   I know, I know.  Everybody has been thinking about it.  But its staying the length it is, maybe grow one more inch and then Ill cut it for winter.  Phew.  Everybody can rest now.  I know you were all concerned and I thank you for that.

To keep up with Jennifer, you can visit her at www.myspace.com/jennifereolin or click on her photo in the LolliLove Top Friends.