As I read through this captivating account, I can’t help but feel awestruck by Annalise Basso’s journey. Her resilience and determination are truly inspiring. From dancing through pain to meeting her idol, Stephen King, she embodies the spirit of perseverance that is so often needed in the world of acting.
Hello, faithful King Beat readers! With the global debut of Mike Flanagan‘s movie “The Life Of Chuck” at TIFF, this week’s article deviates from its usual format, but I trust you will still find it engaging.
When people recognize that Mike Flanagan’s film “The Life Of Chuck” deviates from the usual Stephen King horror genre, it indicates that they are referring to its distinctive second act. This is noteworthy because while the first part presents various characters dealing with the end of the world, and the third introduces supernatural elements into the narrative, the second act, titled “Buskers Forever,” stands out. In this segment, the protagonist Chuck, portrayed by Tom Hiddleston as Charles Krantz, becomes entangled in the rhythm of a street performer (Taylor Gordon, also known as The Pocket Queen), rekindling his forgotten dancing abilities with a mysterious young woman named Janice Halliday, played by Annalise Basso.
United, the trio experiences an extraordinary, soul-touching instance that will remain etched in their memories for eternity. While there are no horror tropes like bloodied prom queens, raging canines, or menacing clowns (to clarify, a vintage cherry red 1958 Plymouth Fury makes an appearance), the scene is filled with an exuberant joy birthed from intense emotion.
Mike Flanagan faithfully adapts Stephen King’s humanistic novel to the silver screen in a way that anyone can appreciate its beauty, but it carries a unique meaning for Basso. This story, she claims, not only prevented her from leaving the industry, but fundamentally shifted her perspective on her career.
Channeling My Own Inner Chuck
Last Saturday, I had a connection with Charles Krantz as we both made our way to a quaint local tea shop for an interview with Annalise Basso. In the movie “The Life Of Chuck,” Tom Hiddleston dons a suit on a crisp, sunny day, while I wore a black polo and dark jeans under a slight chill and light drizzle. Despite our different outfits and weather, the character is an accountant on a business trip away from home, and it was my third day in Toronto covering the Toronto International Film Festival.
Earlier today, I watched Mike Flanagan’s latest Stephen King adaptation. Despite usually being meticulous about my interview preparation to avoid awkward silences or rambling due to a blank mind, I chose to rely on my background as an entertainment reporter and genuine interest in the topic. However, my nerves escalated when I arrived at the tea shop a few minutes early, during a busy influx of new customers.
Worrying about both space and crowd size, I contacted Annalise Basso’s representative regarding an unexpected venue shift to a bench outside the neighboring establishment due to improving weather conditions. However, I found out that we had coincidentally run into each other, and she was already indoors. I went back to the tea shop, which surprisingly became less bustling after mere 10 minutes, and I spotted the redheaded actress in a vibrant blouse enthusiastically beckoning me from a table at the rear of the room.
Chuck danced with Janice; I interviewed Annalise.
Becoming Part Of The Mike Flanagan Family
Annalise Basso, at just 25 years old, has a long history with Mike Flanagan that spans over a decade. During the summer of 2012, she was in Ohio with her family while her brother, Gabriel Basso, an actor, was filming the Jordan Vogt-Roberts movie “The Kings Of Summer”. Encouraged to do so, she submitted an audition tape for a promising director who was working on his second feature – a horror film about a cursed mirror called “Oculus”.
Basso shared, “Ever since then, a large part of my professional journey has been about trying to replicate the enchantment from that recording. Mike, I believe, would agree that if given the chance, he would have seamlessly incorporated it into the film.
The content was powerfully gripping, especially recalling the intense scene from the movie “Oculus” where Kaylie (performed by Basso) and her brother Tim (Garrett Ryan) challenge their mother (Katee Sackhoff), who’s under the influence of the malevolent Lasser Glass. Interestingly/appropriately, the actress acknowledges her own mother for her impressive audition performance, as she provided guidance on direction and staging. This was just the beginning of a series of expressions of appreciation in our discussion.
In addition to Karen Gillan from “The Life of Chuck” and Kate Siegel, the cast of “Oculus” included, and this horror movie was filmed in Alabama during the fall of 2012 (the same location where a new Stephen King adaptation was being shot at the time). However, it wasn’t released until spring 2014. Yet, it was Mike Flanagan’s first film to receive a theatrical release, thereby marking the true start of his career in filmmaking. Basso mentioned they always managed to stay connected.
Basso mentioned that he’s been enjoying collaborating with him since then, as he’s distinct from others due to his compassion and clarity of thought.
It’s common knowledge among Flanagan’s fans that he frequently collaborates with actors across multiple projects. In 2015, Basso joined this collaborative legacy when Flanagan offered her the role of Paulina Zander in ‘Ouija: Origin Of Evil’. He mentioned that Universal Pictures would require an audition, but this was merely a minor obstacle. Basso herself described being part of the Flanagan family, not me. Regarding on-set relationships, including her younger co-star Lulu Wilson, Basso spoke highly of them.
Mike possesses the knack for nurturing familial bonds.
O Discordia!
Annalise Basso began her acting career at age nine, landing her first professional role five years before her appearance in ‘Oculus’ in the 2007 movie ‘Ghost Image’. Her other notable roles include appearances on shows such as ‘True Blood’, ‘Parks and Recreation’, and ‘New Girl’. Following the release of ‘Ouija: Origin Of Evil’, Basso has maintained a steady acting schedule, featuring in the 2018 horror film ‘Slender Man’ alongside Joey King, and portraying LJ Folger across the first three seasons of the TNT television series ‘Snowpiercer’.
In the later stages, Basso mentions that she and Mike Flanagan had drifted apart, and when they eventually reconnected, she confessed to being in a completely different state mentally. At that time, she resided in New York City, but they met up the previous year in Los Angeles. Although Flanagan is currently at the pinnacle of his career, highly acclaimed for films like “Doctor Sleep” and series such as “The Haunting Of Hill House”, his “Oculus” / “Ouija: Origin of Evil” co-star was struggling to find her bearings in a demanding industry filled with constant rejection.
In a moment, I confessed to Mike, ‘I’m struggling here. I’m unsure about my path in my career, and I’ve been considering stepping away.’ To be honest, I was experiencing a creative slump. You know, I believe many artists can resonate with pouring so much of themselves into their work, only to face repeated rejection.
Over the course of more than half her life, she dedicated herself to acting professionally, but during this time, she began to question her own reasons for doing so. Rather than viewing her work as an artistic expression, she described it as simply something she did. This realization was disheartening for her when evaluating her career, and it was further exacerbated by a sense that she hadn’t shown enough appreciation for the industry as well as those who had backed her along the way.
During her visit to Los Angeles, she found herself reminiscing about significant individuals in her life, which ultimately resulted in her encounter with Mike Flanagan. Upon their meeting, she expressed her contemplation of leaving acting, but his words dissuaded her from that notion. This is what Basso shared with me.
He’s like, ‘Before you quit, I have a role for you.’
“It’s My Happy Place”
In the story “The Life Of Chuck“, it’s evident that Janice Halliday is having an extremely tough day when we encounter her. Not only does the man she’s seeing end their relationship by sending a break-up text, but she’s also filled with anger and shouting obscenities as she heads home from work. However, her mood shifts dramatically upon witnessing a man in the plaza who is attracting a crowd with his dancing to the rhythm of an energetic drummer. As Janice watches, she finds herself involuntarily drawn into the music, eventually dancing along until she catches Chuck’s attention. He then invites her to join the spontaneous performance.
It isn’t hard to see some emotional similarities between Annalise Basso and Janice Halliday. However, before offering her the role, Mike Flanagan wanted to know the crucial response to a particular question first.
According to him, the initial topic of discussion was ‘Do you dance?’ which he initiated, and he shared that for him, dancing is a source of immense happiness and joy.
In simpler terms, Basso shares that her love for dance has been a constant throughout her life – from ballet to hip hop, salsa, and flamenco. Moreover, she deeply appreciates the influence of all her educators in her life. Now residing in Los Angeles, she’s taken her passion one step further by joining Stuart Rogers Studios for acting studies. She mentions that she’s been fortunate to be surrounded by skilled teachers – not just her acting coaches but also her parents and dance mentors as well.
Basso mentioned that his ballet instructor was aware I wouldn’t become a professional dancer, but she recognized and nurtured my passion for ballet,” he said. “To this day, we continue to dance together in the laundry room of her apartment building. When people share a deep love for something, it’s extraordinary, and that’s beautifully depicted in the movie.
Mike Flanagan arranged primary filming for “The Life Of Chuck” in the autumn of 2023, receiving approval from SAG-AFTRA as an independent project to film during the ongoing strike. Remarkably, the production schedule coincided with Basso’s, who had spent the entire summer rehearsing dance routines in Los Angeles.
In this movie project, I was fortunate enough to collaborate with Mandy Moore and her assistant choreographer, Jonathan Redavid. Our bond was forged not only by our shared love for the art of dance but also for life’s simple pleasures. Mandy has a deep passion for dance, and our connection on that level was immediate. Jonathan, in many ways, embodies the essence of ‘Chuck’, if Chuck were allowed to dance or had chosen it as his path. He exudes an infectious joy that is truly captivating.
Regarding the on-screen Chuck character, Annalise Basso pointed out that she and her co-star Tom Hiddleston have something in common – they’re both not professional dancers, but their love for dance runs deep instead. Moreover, it’s hard to find someone as friendly and sincere as him in the entertainment world, especially considering his high profile status.
During dance interludes, Tom, who danced for 14 hours straight each day, would often greet the other performers in the background and say, “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. May I know your name?” He expressed heartfelt gratitude for their presence. The elegance that emanated from him was truly captivating to observe.
Basso’s personal dance training was succeeded by a period of rehearsals in London alongside Tom Hiddleston, an experience she attributes as striving “for the best in the now.” Following months of preparation, the moment arrived for the actors to perform under camera scrutiny.
The Magic Shot In The Life Of Chuck
Filming the major dance sequence for “The Life Of Chuck” presented challenges that went beyond just the acting performances of the cast. One issue was straightforward weather conditions: a problem for maintaining continuity. Typically, such a scene would be filmed in parts, but Annalise Basso and Tom Hiddleston “covertly anticipated” and planned for director Mike Flanagan to record the choreography all at once.
They were right, and it led to what Basso describes as “magic.”
Man, let me tell you about a pivotal moment during our gaming project, specifically that dance sequence’s final shot. Mike hinted that there were four more shots waiting in line, but after this one, he ceased production because the last take of this shot was flawless – it’s the one you frequently see in the final cut. Just recalling it gives me chills. Mike exited with an ear-to-ear grin, and Tom and I shared a silent nod, as if we both sensed the culmination of our efforts. Taylor joined us in this sentiment since we formed a trio in that instant, crafting something extraordinary together. There was a palpable understanding among all of us that we had captured the perfect take.
Over time, her extensive ballet training had made her anticipate that the endeavor wouldn’t be gentle on her feet, yet the knowledge didn’t spare her from pain and injury. During lunch breaks, she would immerse her feet in ice as she was losing toenails due to the numerous blisters that formed on top of each other…
Mandy Moore, a renowned Emmy-winning choreographer known for her work on “La La Land” and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, complimented Basso by saying she has “dancer feet.” This recognition held deep significance for Basso, making her emotional as she shared the moment with me.
That gave me so much pride, even as I was shedding tears of pain… It was one of those moments that just got flipped on its head in an instant because someone you respect, someone said, ‘I see you. I see the work that you’re doing, and you’re a dancer.’
Meeting Stephen King
In the tightly plotted storyline of “The Life Of Chuck“, Annalise Basso wasn’t initially aware of the entire scope of the movie. She didn’t get a chance to reconnect with her co-star from “Oculus“, Karen Gillan, until the world premiere at TIFF, which was the night before our interview. Interestingly, this event also marked their first encounter with Stephen King, and it provided another opportunity for Basso to express her gratitude. As she put it herself, “This experience once again allowed me to express my appreciation.
Instead of snapping a picture, I wish I had simply savored the moment when I shook hands with him. Regrettably, these instances often slip my mind, as I strive to keep my phone tucked away. However, on this occasion, I managed to savor the experience without any distractions – just a genuine handshake and a heartfelt ‘Thank you.’ It was incredibly rewarding.
After the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival of “The Life Of Chuck“, Stephen King enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly awaiting news regarding distribution plans. Keep an eye on TopMob for the most recent updates about this delightful new movie, and come back to the site next Thursday and every subsequent Thursday for a fresh installment of “King Beat”.
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2024-09-12 19:08