Sydneytribe's Interview

»• 'Pitch Black', the new sci-fi blockbuster from United International Pictures, has unleashed a new star into the celluloid stratosphere. Rhiana Griffith is an elegant young lady [14 years old], but hey, she's made the big time as a boy.

The other day I turned on the radio to hear America's latest movie hero, Vin Diesal discussing his new film, Pitch Black, the new thriller made here in Australia. He raved about a certain young Aussie actress with whom he'd worked. Her name was Rhiana Griffith, who plays a young boy named jack. Funny, I'd just spoken with her the week before on the same topic. This is what happened…

Ed: So you’re an Arian, got a bad temper?
RG: Nah, [laughs] I think I'm a pretty passive person. I don't think I go off my block a lot.

Ed:Pitch Black is aimed at young people's fears - being afraid of the dark. In the film, you're the youngest surviving crewmember. Did you discuss the significance of this with the director?
RG: I think so. It was important to have a younger character for the younger audience because everyone else was older. So, yeah, we discussed loads of that stuff.

Ed: How did you prepare for the role as young jack - the boy?
RG: For starters I had an American dialect coach and the rule was 'no lips and no hips' -that was my theme to get rid of those girlie things. I'd present different things to David [Twohy, the director] and he'd say "yeah" or "no."

Ed: Was it ever spooky on night shoots?
RG: Not so much spooky, just fun, really. I remember one night shooting in Coober Peedi and it finished really late and I wasn't the slightest bit tired. I was just running on adrenalin.

Ed: Your American accent was great…
RG: Glad to hear it. That's funny, when I first met Vin, he said 'where in America are you from?' He was like 'oh wow, my god, you're not from the states?'

Ed:How was working with Vin and Col [Hauser]?
RG: Col is a cool guy - they're both really cool. I was probably closer to Vin , I don't know why but he calls me his little sister. They're both great actors. I think all the girls love him on the Internet.

Ed: Did Vin do anything cool on the set?
RG: He's always cool. He's a genuinely nice person, which I think is important otherwise it's tough working together on a movie.

Ed: You get to say some pretty cool lines in the film - some where you're a little badass. Can you give me one now?
RG: I can't actually remember any of them - I'm gonna have to see the movie. We did so many takes and different versions that I'm not sure what's in there. I can't wait to see it, it'll be 2 years in June since I worked on it.

Ed: Will you go to America?
RG: I hope so - I'd love to - I plan to.

Ed: Are you modelling?
RG: No, not any more, I'm focusing on my acting - which's what I want to do. I'm doing at least one audition a week so it's great to keep my face in there.

Ed: Does acting come naturally to you? You seemed to be very well cast, how did you become a boy?
RG: Without knowing I made some changes, the way I dressed for starters. Dresses didn't really suit my shaved head so I sought of stuck to the cargo pants and big boots, which really helped. There were heaps of guys around so I'd copy their walk and things like that.

Ed: You remind of other actors like Chloe Sevigny, Martha Plimpton - all actors with a sense of androgynous strength. Which actors do you dig on most?
RG: The entire cast from Pitch Black for starters. I learnt so much from them….I find Christina Ricci interesting, she's a bit weird and cooky.

Ed: Nose rings, lip rings, and tongue rings. Would you be willing to alter your body for the right part?
RG: I think my mother would have a real problem with that. Depends how much they pay me.

Ed: What do you do in your spare time?
RG: Art. If I wasn't doing what I'm doing, I'd be focusing on that. I love music too - I'm stuck on the piano, I'm making it up as I go. It's kinda spooky like Picnic At Hanging rock.

Mum pipes up: "It drives us crazy."

Ed: Habits?
RG: Mmmmmm, Humming. Daydreaming.

Ed: Last night on earth what do you do?
RG: Tell the people you love, that you love them - "see you in the next world."

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