Making Anyone Believe Anything

 by Moran Atias (Inez)

When I approach a scene I try to find out why, from all choices of actions or reactions, my character chooses to make this particular choice. My job is actually a little like archeology. Glen Mazzara writes my scenes beautifully. It is then my job to dig into the character and find the meaning underneath. Because in real life we never truly say what we mean.  Even when we are trying to be honest and straightforward, no one tells the absolute truth.  It is no different with a character, and especially not my character. 

Inez takes action based on her experience, education, culture, habits, genetics, and feelings. Inez is someone who takes big risks, she provokes people, and she goes after what she wants no matter what the consequences.

Every actor has their own way of working.  I find it helpful to create a background for my character. I do this so I can understand her values and ideas, so I know why she makes decisions, why certain things are important to her and others aren't.

With “Crash,” I started by finding out as much as I could about the gypsy culture by reading books like Bury Me Standing: The Gypsies and Their Journey by Isabel Fonesca, Gypsies, The Hidden Americans, and watching Emir Kusturica's movie Time Of The Gypsies. They truly helped my understand the gypsy culture so I was able to create a set of values, traditions, habits, and beliefs that gave new
colors to Inez.  They gave her a place to come from and a place to go to.

From reading Bury me Standing I learned that gypsies lie more often and more inventively than other people. Malice is not intended. They think of it as an embellishment intended to give pleasure and amuse. Deception is considered a duty for survival—which often must be accomplished without a passport, home, education, or profession. Inez can make anyone believe anything.

I usually head to the set before the sun comes up.  I
bring my script, which has a gazillion notes scribbled on it. And I ALWAYS bring music, something that helps me
understand the scene, but also something to play in the makeup and hair trailer--where we dance for 10 minutes, waking up and getting our blood flowing and just having fun! It's our Girls Time.

The amount of care I am given makes it easier to do some of the outrageous things that Inez has to do.  I don't think that without all these great people I would ever be able to find the courage—because Inez truly does live out forbidden fantasies, things that make me blush just thinking of them, let alone think that I have to do them in front of a camera!  She is just so much fun to inhabit. I am having
a blast.

I can't end without saying that so much of my character is actually created by the people I work with--and especially my friends in the makeup and hair and wardrobe and props departments.  They give Inez her style and her life, from
her choice of eyeliner and fake fingernails, to her hairstyles, to the outrageous colors and fabulous
animal-print clothes and yellow gold jewelry.  I love them all!!!