February 2024 Author’s Addendum: Andreea is the daughter of author Joana Geier, whose volume of poetic works, Brutal White (Brutal Weiß), was recently released by Romeon-Verlag Publishers and is available at Amazon and Thalia.
The last time actress and screenwriter Andreea Boyer graced the pages of Idol Features, she was in Los Angeles, shortly after having done a film in London entitled Snapshot, in which she plays a brutalized kidnap victim named Veronica. When we did that February 2016 interview, she had been in LA, by way of New York, since December 2015, working on a screenplay. Currently in her home country of Germany, Andreea very recently unveiled her film Julia 17, a revealing drama which is a project she’s worked long and hard on. Worked on as late as last month, when she was recording voice-overs for the trailer.
Right now, Andreea is keeping certain details about Julia 17, as well as the film’s trailer, close to the vest. She’s now in the process of submitting the film to festivals around Europe, before she focuses on the US. In this interview, Andreea sums up her character; “The forgotten and ignored, real and tragic happenings in our society are reflected and revealed in the role of Julia, who tries to identify herself while she is facing the dark side of her life.” Intrigued? Read on to learn more from her.
CHRIS CHARLES: It’s always a pleasure, Andreea. I know we’ve pretty much covered your background in our previous interviews, but for readers who aren’t familiar with you, would you like to tell how you were first bitten by the acting bug?
ANDREEA BOYER: I was a small child when the first spotlights hit me as I started dancing during a competition for a role at the theater. Of course, I was a child and I was fooling around as well and not following the rules, so I used to run down from the stage during the dancing and I loved jumping around the cameras. I felt like the cameras had a magnetic effect on me and because of that, I only wanted to be near those, and starting the age of six years I always expressed my wish to be in the front of the cameras and to be seen. I didn’t wanted the other girls to be upset, so I used the excuse that I was smaller, which was true, and that’s why I should dance on the big stage in the front line. So I ended up most of the time being in the front line and near the audience and the spotlights and the cameras. But dancing alone was not only my interest. One day I heard the female director from the theater telling the older girls and their parents about a new play on stage and of course I ran into the group and I screamed loud that I wanted to be one of the actresses as well. Despite my young age, I got the role and I was very happy about it. I loved that costume as well.
CHRIS: That’s a great story. So, you recently unveiled your latest film, entitled Julia 17. I know you’ve really worked hard on that, but you still give a lot of credit to others who were involved.
ANDREEA: My latest project could not have been possible without the amazing cast and crew. I was born on October 16th, 1995 and I worked for my film Julia 17 as the director, one of the producers, the writer, the main character, among other fantastic actors who played main roles as well, and I was also active behind the camera as one of the camera operators. I had a specific vision and I wanted to be sure that it was filmed exactly the way I wanted it to be. The other actors who played main roles are; Wolfgang Flatz, Mikael Schallock, Ulli Lommel, and Berivan Kaya. It has been a great chance for me to bring my directing, writing, acting skills into practice. I am also the post-production supervisor and this also includes as well the job of choosing the right music for the scenes and working together with the editors very attentively on every moment and scene in my movie and even if it is completed, it is important to watch the result again a week or so later, and to be sure that there is no aspect to be changed and if so, then to be willing to change it. It can be a scene which has to be shorter or maybe adapt another song to a scene or switch scenes or the title format has to be changed, things like that. Once again, thanks to the cast and crew!
ANDREEA BOYER: I was a small child when the first spotlights hit me as I started dancing during a competition for a role at the theater. Of course, I was a child and I was fooling around as well and not following the rules, so I used to run down from the stage during the dancing and I loved jumping around the cameras. I felt like the cameras had a magnetic effect on me and because of that, I only wanted to be near those, and starting the age of six years I always expressed my wish to be in the front of the cameras and to be seen. I didn’t wanted the other girls to be upset, so I used the excuse that I was smaller, which was true, and that’s why I should dance on the big stage in the front line. So I ended up most of the time being in the front line and near the audience and the spotlights and the cameras. But dancing alone was not only my interest. One day I heard the female director from the theater telling the older girls and their parents about a new play on stage and of course I ran into the group and I screamed loud that I wanted to be one of the actresses as well. Despite my young age, I got the role and I was very happy about it. I loved that costume as well.
CHRIS: That’s a great story. So, you recently unveiled your latest film, entitled Julia 17. I know you’ve really worked hard on that, but you still give a lot of credit to others who were involved.
ANDREEA: My latest project could not have been possible without the amazing cast and crew. I was born on October 16th, 1995 and I worked for my film Julia 17 as the director, one of the producers, the writer, the main character, among other fantastic actors who played main roles as well, and I was also active behind the camera as one of the camera operators. I had a specific vision and I wanted to be sure that it was filmed exactly the way I wanted it to be. The other actors who played main roles are; Wolfgang Flatz, Mikael Schallock, Ulli Lommel, and Berivan Kaya. It has been a great chance for me to bring my directing, writing, acting skills into practice. I am also the post-production supervisor and this also includes as well the job of choosing the right music for the scenes and working together with the editors very attentively on every moment and scene in my movie and even if it is completed, it is important to watch the result again a week or so later, and to be sure that there is no aspect to be changed and if so, then to be willing to change it. It can be a scene which has to be shorter or maybe adapt another song to a scene or switch scenes or the title format has to be changed, things like that. Once again, thanks to the cast and crew!
CHRIS: Of course I’m sure that since you were also directing this film, you had many more responsibilities than you would have had if you were just acting in it.
ANDREEA: Yes, because I was also the writer, the main actress, the supervisor, etc., I faced small challenges of being more communicative than I usually am. I’m more the thinker, that type of person who thinks several times about something before doing it. I am an introvert and I made this experience of being involved with so many positions where I had to talk much more and to explain all my visions to the cast and crew in a individual way so every actor and everyone from the crew would understand me. Besides that, timing was a challenge because I ran back and forth from the location with the actors to the crew behind the cameras and I did not have time left to prepare myself for the role before filming so I stayed calm and most important for me was to make sure that my directing is correct and also my instructions. But I had to be focused on everything at the same time. Looking at the script with the actors and helping them and maybe changing a line or the location and listening very carefully to everyone and managing the filming at all locations together with the line producer. Directing definitely helped me to realize another perspective in acting from the directing angle. I have learned more factors and of course the techniques and the lights which a director can use to create the best image of an actor. I also learned how to instruct myself, as well as the other actors and to bring us into the best light of acting. I now know much better that every actor needs the guidance to truly understand the scene and he or she needs individually the time to prepare her/himself for the role. It has influenced also a bit my opinion about acting.
CHRIS: You play the title character. So who is Julia?
ANDREEA: Yes, because I was also the writer, the main actress, the supervisor, etc., I faced small challenges of being more communicative than I usually am. I’m more the thinker, that type of person who thinks several times about something before doing it. I am an introvert and I made this experience of being involved with so many positions where I had to talk much more and to explain all my visions to the cast and crew in a individual way so every actor and everyone from the crew would understand me. Besides that, timing was a challenge because I ran back and forth from the location with the actors to the crew behind the cameras and I did not have time left to prepare myself for the role before filming so I stayed calm and most important for me was to make sure that my directing is correct and also my instructions. But I had to be focused on everything at the same time. Looking at the script with the actors and helping them and maybe changing a line or the location and listening very carefully to everyone and managing the filming at all locations together with the line producer. Directing definitely helped me to realize another perspective in acting from the directing angle. I have learned more factors and of course the techniques and the lights which a director can use to create the best image of an actor. I also learned how to instruct myself, as well as the other actors and to bring us into the best light of acting. I now know much better that every actor needs the guidance to truly understand the scene and he or she needs individually the time to prepare her/himself for the role. It has influenced also a bit my opinion about acting.
CHRIS: You play the title character. So who is Julia?
ANDREEA: The forgotten and ignored, real and tragic happenings in our society are reflected and revealed in the role of a young woman who tries to identify herself while she is facing the dark side of her life.
CHRIS: Because of the subject matter, would you say that that you role in this film has been your most emotionally challenging so far?
ANDREEA: Julia was indeed my most emotionally challenging role. Especially because of all the different situations which Julia is in while she’s experiencing a very tragic part of her life.
CHRIS: I know you’re very passionate about acting. Can you separate yourself as an actress and as a “regular” person?
ANDREEA: Acting is almost a part of my DNA when I am on stage or in front of the camera only. Otherwise, I don’t act in my private life. I do read different books about acting and philosophers, artists, famous actors. And some of those books are, as for example, about Al Pacino, the book about Maria Callas, which was written also by her mother. Of course, I have all books from Konstantin Stanislavski like An Actor’s Work, My Life in Art, etc. Those are inspiring and reminding me at the same time that despite the fact that we all are busy with other jobs, the desire and the flame of an actor can’t go out like a candle light. This fire inside of us is tremendous, the fire to pursuit the career in good and in bad times. We the actors are all humans as well and of course we wish to have just like everyone else our own family and to devote our time and our focus on our private life and that is the priority because this part of our life is real and if we let ourselves be drawn into its beauty and diversity of situations, we then develop our acting. That’s why it is important to keep the work and the focus in life in balance and to think realistically about the real values and the best moments we can create besides our career because a solid life is our engine for a solid career. I’m working right now independently in my own company and I’m busy with different jobs including managing, marketing, and sales, etc.
CHRIS: Because of the subject matter, would you say that that you role in this film has been your most emotionally challenging so far?
ANDREEA: Julia was indeed my most emotionally challenging role. Especially because of all the different situations which Julia is in while she’s experiencing a very tragic part of her life.
CHRIS: I know you’re very passionate about acting. Can you separate yourself as an actress and as a “regular” person?
ANDREEA: Acting is almost a part of my DNA when I am on stage or in front of the camera only. Otherwise, I don’t act in my private life. I do read different books about acting and philosophers, artists, famous actors. And some of those books are, as for example, about Al Pacino, the book about Maria Callas, which was written also by her mother. Of course, I have all books from Konstantin Stanislavski like An Actor’s Work, My Life in Art, etc. Those are inspiring and reminding me at the same time that despite the fact that we all are busy with other jobs, the desire and the flame of an actor can’t go out like a candle light. This fire inside of us is tremendous, the fire to pursuit the career in good and in bad times. We the actors are all humans as well and of course we wish to have just like everyone else our own family and to devote our time and our focus on our private life and that is the priority because this part of our life is real and if we let ourselves be drawn into its beauty and diversity of situations, we then develop our acting. That’s why it is important to keep the work and the focus in life in balance and to think realistically about the real values and the best moments we can create besides our career because a solid life is our engine for a solid career. I’m working right now independently in my own company and I’m busy with different jobs including managing, marketing, and sales, etc.
CHRIS: Shifting gears now, I remember during one of our conversations, you told me a story about an embarrassing situation you had during an audition, in which you unintentionally pissed off a director. Care to share it?
ANDREEA: Yes, it was a bit strange because I behaved stupidly. I walked into a audition room among others and I was standing there looking around for the director and I saw a man at my height. He had a cap on and sporty clothing. He was sitting a bit far away from us and when I first saw him I thought that that’s the director’s child. So I asked very loud; “Where is the director?!” You can imagine how pissed off he was. Then he stared at me. Everyone was just blushing.
CHRIS: (Laughing) Yes, I can imaging that didn’t sit well with him. So, you studied in Paris with Jack Garfein a couple of years ago and you’ve said what a great opportunity and experience that was. Please tell me more about that.
ANDREEA: My personal approach to acting and the character is how Mr. Jack Garfein has told me during the acting class in Paris in 2015 where I studied acting and the “Actors Technique” with him. It was an unique and incredible opportunity to work with such an esteemed director. Those six weeks took my acting to a new level. He is also a great person. So my approach to acting is as follows: It begins with reminding myself about a moment or a situation from my own life from the past. Something similar to the situation in the scene which I have to play. This immediately makes me feel the emotions I had in the past in a specific moment and I am now ready to start playing the role. We all experience different situations every day and if we are emotionally able to close our eyes and to get back to that then we can play every character. This also means of course to forgive the negative people who made us sad or angry or who might have hurt us psychologically and physically and if we are able to do that, then we can use that power to release it at the right time when we play a character. Everything we experience is valuable, so don’t try to forget, learn from it, be courageous, and keep it in your mind in case you might need it for a role.
CHRIS: In closing, you are also included in an upcoming article of mine, which you actually inspired during a conversation we were having, that will feature 12 ladies, one from each sign of the Zodiac. Would you say you put much trust into your Horoscope?
ANDREEA: Sometimes it is true. Sometimes I feel like also my Ascendancy sign which is Sagittarius, somehow gets into my mind and my body and it changes a bit the way I think and feel. But most of the time I am the Libra.
CHRIS: With that, I thank you again for doing this Andreea. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
ANDREEA: Thank you Chris for the amazing questions and also a special thanks to everyone who has read this.
ANDREEA: Yes, it was a bit strange because I behaved stupidly. I walked into a audition room among others and I was standing there looking around for the director and I saw a man at my height. He had a cap on and sporty clothing. He was sitting a bit far away from us and when I first saw him I thought that that’s the director’s child. So I asked very loud; “Where is the director?!” You can imagine how pissed off he was. Then he stared at me. Everyone was just blushing.
CHRIS: (Laughing) Yes, I can imaging that didn’t sit well with him. So, you studied in Paris with Jack Garfein a couple of years ago and you’ve said what a great opportunity and experience that was. Please tell me more about that.
ANDREEA: My personal approach to acting and the character is how Mr. Jack Garfein has told me during the acting class in Paris in 2015 where I studied acting and the “Actors Technique” with him. It was an unique and incredible opportunity to work with such an esteemed director. Those six weeks took my acting to a new level. He is also a great person. So my approach to acting is as follows: It begins with reminding myself about a moment or a situation from my own life from the past. Something similar to the situation in the scene which I have to play. This immediately makes me feel the emotions I had in the past in a specific moment and I am now ready to start playing the role. We all experience different situations every day and if we are emotionally able to close our eyes and to get back to that then we can play every character. This also means of course to forgive the negative people who made us sad or angry or who might have hurt us psychologically and physically and if we are able to do that, then we can use that power to release it at the right time when we play a character. Everything we experience is valuable, so don’t try to forget, learn from it, be courageous, and keep it in your mind in case you might need it for a role.
CHRIS: In closing, you are also included in an upcoming article of mine, which you actually inspired during a conversation we were having, that will feature 12 ladies, one from each sign of the Zodiac. Would you say you put much trust into your Horoscope?
ANDREEA: Sometimes it is true. Sometimes I feel like also my Ascendancy sign which is Sagittarius, somehow gets into my mind and my body and it changes a bit the way I think and feel. But most of the time I am the Libra.
CHRIS: With that, I thank you again for doing this Andreea. In closing, any shout-outs to anyone?
ANDREEA: Thank you Chris for the amazing questions and also a special thanks to everyone who has read this.
With Mikael Shallock (left) and director Ulli Lommel (right)
Andreea with Berivan Kaya (left) who plays Julia’s mother
Last month in the studio, recording voice-overs for the trailer
Julia 17 official trailer
About the author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris flirted with the music business there and in Nashville before joining the U.S. Army and serving in South Korea. He remained in Asia for several years afterwards, teaching English, traveling, and covering the regional entertainment scenes. Currently in a mindset between Seoul and San Francisco, besides Idol Features, you can also catch his writings in the print edition of the monthly magazine, Effective.
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