In an exclusive interview with Villain Media, actress Nicole DuBois talks about the role of Sheik in the mystery comedy, Debunkers, Inc. Find out what happens when a group of amateur detectives end up taking on the case of an unsolved murder.
The Debunkers are a band of amateur detectives, who will do anything to become heroes and make a buck while they’re at it. Doc, the Chief Investigative Officer, is happy to bring along a new friend, Sheik (DuBois), the intern and Canadian foreign exchange girl, to join the group. Together, theseDebunkers are at work on their first case — the mysterious murder of Nina Galanosa.
With Debunkers, Inc. now available on VOD, Nicole DuBois talks about how bringing in the comedy, working with the ensemble cast, and opens up about the surprise twist in the murder mystery. Check out the review of Debunkers Inc. as DuBois and I head on over to the actor’s studio to discuss the craft of comedy.
Villain Media: Tell me how you became involved in Debunkers, Inc.
Nicole DuBois: I became involved in Debunkers, Inc. through the director Matt Thompson. A lot of the cast and crew met in college, at LMU. I was friends with Matt in college and he was making this film the summer after graduation. We had worked together on a lot of student projects while at LMU and drank a lot of dragon fruit Bacardi together.
VM: I love how Sheik represents the first day at your new job and all the awkwardness that comes with it. Tell me what interested you about the role of Sheik.
ND: Thanks! It’s a strong female character surrounded by high school boy nonsense. And I kind of got to play multiple characters as she is in disguise, which was fun.
VM: You share the scenes alongside Josh Pinkowski, Izzy Pollak, and Blake Kevin Dwyer. Tell me about working with them.
ND: We had a really fun group. I knew Kevin and Izzy from college. Kevin and I were on the improv team together — along with director Matt — so we had already done all of our weird bonding before the film. I knew Izzy because everyone knew Izzy. I think Izzy was LMU famous. I had met Josh before, but didn’t really get to know him until the film. I’m a big fan of the three of them. We did our fare share of joking around on set. They’re a bunch of musical theatre boys too! So I listened to a lot of impromptu singing that would usually end in a full blown performance. But when it came down to the work, everyone knew when to settle in and bring their A-game.
VM: In a surprise twist, you’re actually playing two completely different characters. Tell me about playing Vicky Lundin, who is the complete opposite of Sheik in wardrobe and personality.
ND: Vicky Lundin commands the space better than Sheik. She is confident and has earned the right to be confident. She is skillful but humble. And even though she is more professional, she is still a teenager and hasn’t forgotten the bond she’s created with the boys. So she is still able to connect with them on a playful level, even with the shift in her demeanor.
VM: How did Debunkers, Inc. change you as an artist?
ND: Debunkers, Inc. was my first feature film where I played a leading role. So that in itself was a massive learning experience. Looking back on the film, of course there are things about my performance I wish I could tweak. But recognizing those small things has helped me better prepare myself for next time. A couple of times, I let outside forces effect my performance in certain scenes. Then you learn that no one cares if it’s freezing cold, or it’s the middle of the night, or your head is throbbing. All they’re going to see is what is on film, so you better find a way to get to your best performance no matter what else is going on. I also realized how much I love making movies.
VM: Where can the readers of Villain Media find your movie?
ND: It can be found on Showtime, Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, and Vudu.
VM: What are you working on now?
ND: I’ve been doing live performances! I perform sketch and improv comedy. I post all my show dates on my instagram @nickydoobs. I was also just “Rebel Girl” in the Angels and Airwaves’ “Rebel Girl” music video, also directed by Matt Thompson, which was super exciting! My next big project is a pilot I am writing that I plan to have filmed by the end of the year.
Debunkers, Inc. is now available on Amazon, Vudu, iTunes and GooglePlay.
[Writer’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Links are highlighted in bold.]