Danielle Bisutti remains an unstoppable force in Hollywood. With a rich background in acting, theater, and music (and countless awards to prove it), Bisutti has now turned her focus to the big screen with her latest project, 'The Blue Rose'.
Photo Credit: Neeta Agrawal
This highly anticipated film, in which she stars alongside Olivia Welch and George Baron, tells the gripping story of two rookie detectives who find themselves trapped in an alternate reality filled with their darkest nightmares. With her extensive experience both on and off screen, including her work with Perfect Timing Productions, Bisutti brings a depth and authenticity to her role that is sure to thrill audiences. The film premiered in select theaters on July 12th and will be available on VOD starting August 9th.
Read below for a Q&A with Bisutti, and catch up with the entertainment icon on Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and IMDB.
Photo Credit: The Blue Rose
Q: Tell us about your new project, The Blue Rose.
A: The Blue Rose is a surrealistic pastel film noir set in the late 1950s following two rookie detectives on a homicide case. What starts out as a linear story slowly dissipates into an ethereal space of dreamscape surrealism. If you enjoy any films within the David Lynch universe where the audience puts the pieces of the mosaic together, then The Blue Rose is for you. The film was conceived, written, directed, produced and costarring George Baron when he was all of 15 years old. Now at 19 years old, we have distribution through Dark Sky Films. I play the enigmatic formidable femme fatale socialite, Norma Steele. True to her enigmatic nature, Norma will conjure more questions than answers and since I would never betray any character I play, you’ll just have to watch the movie to discover more.
Q: Compared to your past projects, what makes The Blue Rose special?
A: It truly is a surrealistic psychological-thriller horror film set in the pastel pageantry of the late 1950s. I’ve always fancied myself a vintage dame, so I love a good period piece. I’m attracted to a good psychological thriller just as much as I’m drawn to abstract surrealism in both art and theater so when I read the script for The Blue Rose, it felt like I was already living in that world somehow, somewhere and finally it came to find me.
In this nondescript liminal space, there’s so much freedom for creative expression, and that can be quite liberating as an actor.
Q: How did you prepare for this new project?
Faithful to the mysterious nature of Norma Steele, I cannot reveal too many preparation secrets, but I will say that my preparation for her was extensive. (My script turned into Norma's diary, filling it with personal entries from front to back.)
How do you make sense of an enigma? Perhaps it's best you don't try to.
With Norma, there are more questions than answers, and so it was up to me to figure out the "why" of her audacious, some might say calculated, choices.
No one wakes up in the morning thinking they are the villain of the story. This is also true for Norma, even though some might see her as the antagonist of the film. (George and I disagree on this.)
When it came to understanding Norma's violence, I had to uncover the deep-rooted pain and betrayal she kept buried from childhood.
A character's childhood trauma is a portal into understanding who they have become, especially in a psychological thriller-horror script.
Norma's relationship with her half-sister Sophie was my way into the heart of Norma, being that Sophie is the only person she ever loved and trusted.
Some audience members have suggested that perhaps Norma doesn't really exist in the human world but only in the esoteric liminal space... I guess you'll have to experience the film to develop your own theory.
Q: What is your advice for someone starting out in the film industry?
A: My advice is always the same when asked this question. If being an actor, a filmmaker, a writer, director, or producer is in your blood and what you were born to do then, nothing will stop you from making that dream a reality if you love it deeply enough. I always recommend the basics of studying the craft whether in high school, university, or classes with a great teacher. Study the filmmakers and actors whom you admire, whose work moves you and whom you aspire to be like. Make sure you surround yourself with an unflappable support system whether it be family or friends. Realize that rejection and interviewing is part of the job. It’s not easy, but you must realize it’s not a rejection of you personally. It does not diminish the quality of your talent, the brilliance of your ingenuity nor the spark of your uniqueness. There are a zillion different reasons why you may not get a job and most of the time it has nothing to do with your talent or value nor is it a reflection of your past resume. I always recommend therapy. Mental health is vital in this type of industry. It’s also very helpful to understand the human condition better by understanding yourself, and with this type of emotional and mental intelligence, you can discover the deep inner workings of the characters you bring to life. Lastly, create your own content. Everyone has a story to tell, and the world needs more original stories. So, write what you know, find a group of people who are also interested in creating their own projects and getting them out into the world. Don’t stand by the phone waiting for it to ring or for opportunities to come find you. Make your own opportunities, liberate yourself creatively because if that is what you love then that is what will bring you joy.
Q: What is next for you in this new chapter of your career?
A: Dovetailing on my last statement, I have moved into producing with my company Perfect Timing Productions. I’ve been writing for the past 10 years with co-writers and projects I’ve written myself. I find great joy in writing, producing, and directing. This past December, I co-executive produced and co-starred in an action-comedy film called “Hollywood Heist“co-written, co-starring, directed and produced by Mike Hatton of a Ton of Hats productions. I play a nightclub chanteuse singer called "The Queen" and sing and dance to one of my original songs, "Salem." The film also stars Alec Baldwin, Nick Cannon, Mickey Rourke, Tara Reid, Patrick Warburton, Danny Trejo, Gary Busey, and Carrot Top! Quite a colorful cast of characters! This was my first venture co-executive producing a film at that level. We are speaking to several major distribution outlets who are interested in the film. I am also very excited to share that I will be directing my first feature film project, a psychological-thriller, horror, suspense drama called “Wake Me.” The tagline is “what if you’ve been sleepwalking your whole life?” My company, Perfect Timing Productions, is producing alongside producer Sean Burke of 222 Pictures. We have Ed Speleers tapped to play my conflicted protagonist, "Everett Copeland," and aim to film in Spain this Fall. Of all my writing projects, "Wake Me" is the most important story of my life thus far, and I cannot wait to share it with the world.