Acting in the Faith-Based Film Space

Jaclyn: 00:00:00

Hello, welcome to the Faith and Family Filmmakers podcast.

Jaclyn: 00:00:02

My name is Jaclyn, and I'm excited today to be speaking to you.

Jaclyn: 00:00:05

Speaking with Gigi Orsillo.

Jaclyn: 00:00:07

As an actress, Gigi has quickly made her mark in faith based films starring in the spy comedy Sleeper Agent with comedians Leland Clausen and Mark Christopher Lawrence, who have also been guests on our podcast, Followed by the theatrically released films, Family Camp, Running the Bases, Pulled from Darkness, and Perfect Christmas.

Jaclyn: 00:00:26

She's also been in more films on streaming platforms.

Jaclyn: 00:00:29

After 40 years working in the production world as an actress, Gigi has recently felt called into the writing and producing side of family friendly content.

Jaclyn: 00:00:37

She is currently a writer and producer with Cloud9 Films and Kingdom Sight Studios, working on multiple projects and film slates.

Jaclyn: 00:00:45

She continues to pursue roles in films that portray the truth and beauty of the gospel.

Jaclyn: 00:00:50

And she lives in Colorado Springs with her three awesome daughters.

Jaclyn: 00:00:54

Welcome to the podcast, Gigi.

Jaclyn: 00:00:55

Thank you.

Jaclyn: 00:00:56

I'm so happy to

Jaclyn: 00:00:57

Me too.

Jaclyn: 00:00:58

I've been to have you on the podcast for such a long time.

Jaclyn: 00:01:01

So glad we can make it happen.

Jaclyn: 00:01:02

Yeah, I'm just so happy to talk to you today.

Jaclyn: 00:01:06

So I know you as an actress, like, you know, I was just reading in your bio.

Jaclyn: 00:01:10

but I'm curious how that got started for you.

Jaclyn: 00:01:13

When did you start acting?

Gigi: 00:01:15

Well, I was very, very young.

Gigi: 00:01:18

all of my family is in production.

Gigi: 00:01:20

So my dad was a director, producer.

Gigi: 00:01:23

My mom was a director.

Gigi: 00:01:24

On set makeup artist.

Gigi: 00:01:26

My brother ended up going into gaffing and lighting.

Gigi: 00:01:29

And so I just, I literally grew up on set, in Oklahoma.

Gigi: 00:01:33

so it just was kind of the family business.

Gigi: 00:01:35

And I was the kid that they could use that, you know, they didn't get in trouble for keeping all night.

Gigi: 00:01:40

but yeah, I just really loved it.

Gigi: 00:01:42

I loved the family atmosphere because when you're in a small town, like, film community like that, like it was in Tulsa back then.

Gigi: 00:01:50

Now it's booming in Tulsa.

Gigi: 00:01:51

but back then it was just very small film community and I just loved that because it was just like a family, you know, the best boys and the grips and the All of the producers, came to my you know, they're all just like my family.

Gigi: 00:02:05

So I loved that aspect of it.

Gigi: 00:02:08

And I never really, thought like, oh, I'm going to go to L.

Gigi: 00:02:10

A.

Gigi: 00:02:11

and try and become this, you know, movie star.

Gigi: 00:02:13

I was happy just being in that small film community.

Gigi: 00:02:18

and then God kind of had me.

Gigi: 00:02:19

different plans for me.

Gigi: 00:02:20

So I ended up in California.

Gigi: 00:02:22

I did study theater in college, because I was like, there's nothing else I want to do.

Gigi: 00:02:26

You know, I want to be in film.

Gigi: 00:02:28

And so I did end up in California and, uh, doing things on kind of like a bigger platform, you know, being able to audition for bigger things.

Gigi: 00:02:37

And, now here I am doing lots of faith content and I love the space that I

Jaclyn: 00:02:43

get to be in.

Jaclyn: 00:02:44

Alright, so having been in so many productions, I'm curious how you got into your lead role.

Jaclyn: 00:02:51

how did that happen?

Gigi: 00:02:52

Yeah, so it was all God.

Gigi: 00:02:56

I, yeah, he does these things.

Gigi: 00:02:59

So, I had been on set with a friend, her name is Jen Gotson, and she had been doing a lot of roles in faith based films.

Gigi: 00:03:07

And I said, I don't even know how to really break into this world of faith based filmmaking, because it's not through the same channels as, like, Hollywood, right?

Gigi: 00:03:18

And she said, you just have to start reaching out to people.

Gigi: 00:03:20

You just have to start looking for people who are doing the films you want to do and follow them and, watch their films and tell them what you like about it.

Gigi: 00:03:29

And so I just started doing that.

Gigi: 00:03:31

I just started looking for films that I would want to be in.

Gigi: 00:03:34

And I came across Nathan Blair, who I, know, you know, and he had thrown out something that said, Hey, I'm doing, mock up shoot of kind of a fight scene and are there any, people who know how to do stunts in Colorado?

Gigi: 00:03:51

And I kind of raised my hand like, well, I don't really do stunts, but I was a cheerleader and I, I know how to move, you know, I can help you.

Gigi: 00:04:00

And, he said, Oh, okay, well, cool.

Gigi: 00:04:03

You know?

Gigi: 00:04:04

And I said, yeah, I'm an actress in Colorado and, can I send you my stuff?

Gigi: 00:04:07

So I sent him my demo reel and.

Gigi: 00:04:09

He was like, Oh, you're like an

Gigi: 00:04:11

actress in Colorado right here.

Gigi: 00:04:13

And so I, mean, they were auditioning for Sleeper Agent that like that week or two weeks later, and yeah, God just lined that up.

Gigi: 00:04:21

And I love that Nathan Anne Leland took a chance on me because, you know, they had some more name actresses that had done some bigger things, that they were considering.

Gigi: 00:04:30

And in the end they were like, you know, we just wanted to, Go with the person that we felt God really had for the role.

Gigi: 00:04:36

And so I just so respect them for doing that.

Gigi: 00:04:38

And I'm so grateful for them because that really did just kind of start the whole process of getting to be a part of this faith based world.

Gigi: 00:04:46

Um, somebody had seen me in that, who was a producer on Family Camp.

Gigi: 00:04:51

And had said, Hey, you know, I'm helping kind of produce this film and wondered if you'd audition.

Gigi: 00:04:55

And I had auditioned, you know, multiple times for it.

Gigi: 00:04:57

And I'm like, yes, I literally just turned in my third tape here, please, please somebody in my corner.

Gigi: 00:05:04

So it's fun how God kind of lines all those connections up and

Jaclyn: 00:05:07

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:05:08

Absolutely.

Jaclyn: 00:05:09

how did you get connected with Jean?

Jaclyn: 00:05:11

Mm hmm.

Jaclyn: 00:05:11

Gene Wenger, your, agent.

Gigi: 00:05:12

yeah, Gene was another God connection.

Gigi: 00:05:15

I had been in contact with this guy named Greg Robbins, who was doing, um, faith based stuff before anybody was doing faith based stuff.

Gigi: 00:05:23

He used to do a show called Pastor Greg.

Gigi: 00:05:25

And, he had reached out to me when I was doing stuff as a teenager doing faith based content in Tulsa.

Gigi: 00:05:31

And always was trying to get on production with him, but he was always encouraging me and stuff.

Gigi: 00:05:35

And so I had reached out to him To say, Hey, I'm, you know, back into acting.

Gigi: 00:05:40

Cause I took a really long break when I was raising my kids and they were little.

Gigi: 00:05:44

And so when I was getting back into it, I reached out to him to say, I'm back.

Gigi: 00:05:48

And I, you know, if you're doing production or, you know, anybody else who's doing it, I'd love to audition.

Gigi: 00:05:53

And he sent an email to probably 15 to 20 of his connections, which people are just so kind, like I'm just so thankful for the people in this industry that have such kind and generous hearts.

Gigi: 00:06:07

Like he did that for me.

Gigi: 00:06:08

And there were some great people on that list and Jean was one of them.

Gigi: 00:06:12

And so, you know, a few of them reached back out to me and encouraged me.

Gigi: 00:06:16

And that was when she was in Florida and she was kind of, Very, very small, just very boutique.

Gigi: 00:06:22

And now, goodness,

Jaclyn: 00:06:23

I

Jaclyn: 00:06:23

know,

Gigi: 00:06:24

just exploded.

Gigi: 00:06:25

I mean,

Jaclyn: 00:06:26

very much sought after.

Gigi: 00:06:27

Yeah, I got in there on the base level.

Gigi: 00:06:30

And so I reached out to her and when I had a phone call with her, I was just like, God, thank you so much.

Gigi: 00:06:36

This is exactly what I'm looking for.

Gigi: 00:06:38

Somebody who knows.

Gigi: 00:06:39

What I will and won't do.

Gigi: 00:06:41

Somebody who knows why I'm doing this, you know, that it's not just to be famous or get to be on a movie, but it's because I feel like this is the avenue that God has gifted me to be able to be a vessel for him, you know?

Gigi: 00:06:56

And so she just got it and it just, again, it's just God lining up those connections and I'm just so thankful.

Gigi: 00:07:03

Yeah.

Gigi: 00:07:03

She's great.

Jaclyn: 00:07:04

I know, me too, me too.

Jaclyn: 00:07:06

We've had her on our podcast as well.

Jaclyn: 00:07:08

She gave some really great tips on, um, people who want to break into acting.

Jaclyn: 00:07:13

ways to get themselves set up.

Jaclyn: 00:07:15

Yeah, that's awesome.

Jaclyn: 00:07:16

Yeah, no, and I love what you're saying about, connecting with people and, and just loving how generous people are.

Jaclyn: 00:07:22

and I really think like that is what God is calling us to do and to be, especially in this industry.

Jaclyn: 00:07:27

I know Hollywood has their way of doing things.

Jaclyn: 00:07:29

but I think We're called to do things differently.

Jaclyn: 00:07:32

And, it might seem upside down to the world, you know, but if we're reaching out, trying to help other people's careers, uh, you know, to, expand and, strengthen and whatever, that God can actually bless them.

Jaclyn: 00:07:44

and us in the process.

Jaclyn: 00:07:45

Like, it's not like God is picking one person that He wants to bless and everybody else too bad.

Jaclyn: 00:07:50

He's not into that, you know.

Jaclyn: 00:07:52

He's like, let me see how much I can do all at once.

Jaclyn: 00:07:55

And so, yeah, I love when, when we understand that and, we can have that open hand to help each other.

Jaclyn: 00:08:02

it means so much.

Jaclyn: 00:08:03

have you had an opportunity to give back and maybe contribute to some other

Jaclyn: 00:08:08

people?

Gigi: 00:08:09

absolutely, like, because I have been given so much, like, I love when I get to encourage, up and

Gigi: 00:08:15

coming generation, or even people who are like me, who say, well, I'm 40, can I get into this?

Gigi: 00:08:21

Can I do this?

Gigi: 00:08:23

It's like, yes, There's never, you know, a never too

Gigi: 00:08:26

late.

Gigi: 00:08:27

and for me, like, I think living generously like that and, being somebody who is always available to be used by God to encourage and to, you know, help lead or guide or give wisdom or insight or

Gigi: 00:08:40

anything, like, I feel very honored by that.

Gigi: 00:08:44

and honestly, like, I just feel like Getting to be in this industry, it is such a gift because it is different than being on a Hollywood set.

Gigi: 00:08:52

Like in a Hollywood set, it's like your union says you can't touch that thing because that's not your job, you know, and in this world, like I get to live generously.

Gigi: 00:09:04

I get to help in ways that I wouldn't normally get to help, you know, so I just love being part of this faith based

Jaclyn: 00:09:12

Mm hmm.

Jaclyn: 00:09:12

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:09:13

And do you have any, like you said, you're going into production side of things now and writing.

Jaclyn: 00:09:20

do you have any of those things that you want to talk about or they're kind of still under

Jaclyn: 00:09:25

wraps kind of thing?

Gigi: 00:09:26

I mean, they're in all different stages, right?

Gigi: 00:09:29

Like, you know, obviously we have a project that we've been talking about.

Gigi: 00:09:32

We're excited about, I have some projects with Nathan Blair.

Gigi: 00:09:35

He has a whole film slate and we're writing a film, a Christmas comedy that we're so excited

Gigi: 00:09:41

about.

Gigi: 00:09:42

And then my dad being in the industry, we've always wanted to.

Gigi: 00:09:46

produce a film together.

Gigi: 00:09:47

So we have a kind of western ish film that's all set in Oklahoma.

Gigi: 00:09:53

And so they're all very

Gigi: 00:09:54

different, and in different stages, of course.

Gigi: 00:09:57

But I've kind of been like, well, it's hard because as an actress, There's not a lot you can do other than reaching out to people to say, Hey, I'm here.

Gigi: 00:10:05

You know, I would love to work.

Gigi: 00:10:06

there's not enough that I can do just as an actress to be able to feel like I'm making an impact.

Gigi: 00:10:12

And so I just really felt like, you know, I have other skills, like I can write, I can produce, I can help create things that I want to be in, that I want to see put out there.

Gigi: 00:10:24

and so I just have felt prompted, probably within like the last five years that that's kind of the next thing.

Gigi: 00:10:30

And I'm obviously not going to stop acting.

Gigi: 00:10:31

Like I, I want to be in all these

Gigi: 00:10:33

projects,

Jaclyn: 00:10:33

Right.

Gigi: 00:10:34

but, um, I just, you know, I don't want to just sit and wait for projects to come to me.

Gigi: 00:10:39

Like, I want to be on the side of making that happen.

Gigi: 00:10:42

And you know, somebody who really inspired me to do that was Ashley Bratcher.

Gigi: 00:10:46

the actress from Unplanned.

Gigi: 00:10:48

I just saw her and her career kind of, you know, she was an actress.

Gigi: 00:10:52

And then she became kind of an outspoken person for, that movie, Unplanned, and around, being, pro life, and I'm like, that's amazing, that platform that she has, like, I love that, and then she's like, okay, now I see this other thing, this other story I want to be told, and I'm like, That inspires me.

Gigi: 00:11:10

Like, she is going after it.

Gigi: 00:11:11

I want to do

Gigi: 00:11:12

that.

Gigi: 00:11:12

You know, so I love being inspired by people in this industry.

Gigi: 00:11:16

And hopefully, I can be an inspiration to people in this industry.

Gigi: 00:11:19

As I, follow other people's

Gigi: 00:11:21

footsteps.

Jaclyn: 00:11:21

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:11:22

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:11:22

And it seems also that a lot of this side of the industry is independent filmmakers.

Jaclyn: 00:11:28

And so with that, um, I mean, when you're working in independent film, you wear multiple hats.

Jaclyn: 00:11:34

And so if, if you are waiting for somebody else to create the project and the opportunity so that you can then act, you might be waiting around longer than if you create the project and the opportunity

Jaclyn: 00:11:48

for you to act.

Jaclyn: 00:11:49

And yeah, it, it happens a lot.

Jaclyn: 00:11:51

I mean, if you go to any of the, the film conferences or whatever, and you talk to anyone who's winning any of those awards and you ask them, you know, so like, how many hats did you wear in the process of making that happen?

Jaclyn: 00:12:02

and a lot of them wear multiple hats.

Jaclyn: 00:12:05

That's just the way it is when you're an independent filmmaker.

Gigi: 00:12:08

Absolutely.

Gigi: 00:12:09

Yeah.

Gigi: 00:12:09

And man, the person I know who wears the most hats is

Gigi: 00:12:12

Nathan

Gigi: 00:12:12

Blair.

Jaclyn: 00:12:13

I was actually thinking the

Gigi: 00:12:14

I'm like, you have too

Jaclyn: 00:12:15

thing.

Jaclyn: 00:12:16

Well, not only that, is that he also, he mentors, not all of his films, but some of his films he makes with teenagers, and so he's mentoring the teenagers so that they can make the films, and,

Gigi: 00:12:29

Yes.

Gigi: 00:12:29

I've been on a few of those projects.

Gigi: 00:12:31

And it's really sweet to watch.

Gigi: 00:12:33

I always kind of go like, you need a nap, but, but man, yeah, he's out there doing it and those projects are so fun.

Gigi: 00:12:42

That's Crosswind Productions is the name of that ministry that he does.

Gigi: 00:12:45

And it's just, it's so beautiful to see somebody teach a lesson, you know, teach these kids who want to learn and, in such a humble,

Jaclyn: 00:12:54

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:12:55

And you can see, like, in there, in the product, right.

Jaclyn: 00:12:58

When you're watching the film, you can see how much fun they had.

Jaclyn: 00:13:01

Like, what a

Gigi: 00:13:02

Yeah,

Jaclyn: 00:13:02

I love that.

Jaclyn: 00:13:04

this makes me think that, um, with that and Ashley Bradsher, like, just realizing that it's not just a film, right?

Jaclyn: 00:13:11

It's not just telling a story through film.

Jaclyn: 00:13:13

Like, there's actually life that happens around the process of making it.

Jaclyn: 00:13:18

You know, it's

Gigi: 00:13:19

that's my favorite part about it is actually being on set and getting to go, okay, God, who am I here for?

Gigi: 00:13:25

You know, because even on faith based stuff, not everybody's a Christian.

Gigi: 00:13:30

Not

Gigi: 00:13:30

everybody has, a relationship with the Lord.

Gigi: 00:13:32

And some of them have seen a lot of really bad examples of Christians.

Gigi: 00:13:37

And so I always love when it's like that light bulb moment and you're like having a conversation with somebody on set, you know, with a wardrobe girl or like the craft service person, and you're like, Oh God, this is who

Gigi: 00:13:51

I'm here for.

Gigi: 00:13:51

You know, it's just so fun.

Gigi: 00:13:53

Bye.

Gigi: 00:13:54

I love that moment when God does that.

Gigi: 00:13:56

And honestly, like, I feel like that is part of our ministry as actors, you know, being on set is getting to live generously with everyone on set, like getting to be.

Gigi: 00:14:09

That light, you know?

Gigi: 00:14:11

Hanging up our wardrobe and not throwing it on the ground.

Gigi: 00:14:14

Being on time.

Gigi: 00:14:15

Throwing away our trash.

Gigi: 00:14:16

Like, just being a person who is generous and lives well, you know?

Gigi: 00:14:23

like, how can I be a servant today on set?

Gigi: 00:14:25

Like, who can I serve?

Gigi: 00:14:27

And even in acting, like, serving your scene partner.

Gigi: 00:14:30

Like, it's not all about me.

Gigi: 00:14:31

How can I listen to them?

Gigi: 00:14:33

How can I show up for them and put the attention on them?

Gigi: 00:14:36

Like, I love being on

Jaclyn: 00:14:38

Yeah.

Jaclyn: 00:14:38

Oh, that's awesome.

Jaclyn: 00:14:39

I've been on set a few times.

Jaclyn: 00:14:41

Like, my son worked as a background actor and so I went as a chaperone and, and I realized being on set, it's really not the same as being on a stage, which is like, that's my experience with acting is, you know, on stage and it's very, very different environment.

Jaclyn: 00:14:56

And it would definitely, for me, it would have to be something to get used to because there's just a lot of waiting and like, I don't

Jaclyn: 00:15:04

really do well with that.

Jaclyn: 00:15:06

Exactly.

Jaclyn: 00:15:07

Like, oh man, that was a challenge for me.

Jaclyn: 00:15:09

But I, do, think though, when it is my project that is being filmed, I will probably have a very different kind of, you know, perception and attitude or, experience.

Jaclyn: 00:15:21

because I'm sure when you are involved in that way, like if it's your vision, your project, you're focused in a different way, I would imagine.

Gigi: 00:15:29

yeah, for sure.

Gigi: 00:15:30

And the other thing is I know when I'm on set and I'm waiting, other people are working, like other people are working really hard to get me out there on set.

Gigi: 00:15:39

And so just like Being aware that everyone else is like, busting their

Gigi: 00:15:45

butts, getting stuff together.

Gigi: 00:15:47

And so when I show up, I need to be prepared, I need to be ready and respectful and,

Jaclyn: 00:15:52

I love that.

Jaclyn: 00:15:53

All right.

Jaclyn: 00:15:53

Well, I definitely want to get into some more, insights, maybe tips or something for actors when we get into our next interview.

Jaclyn: 00:16:01

But as we close out this portion, I would like to talk about like where people can watch the films that you've been in.

Jaclyn: 00:16:08

Um, like I know Sleeper Agent is on YouTube

Gigi: 00:16:12

yeah.

Gigi: 00:16:13

I think most of them are on Amazon Prime.

Gigi: 00:16:16

I know Family Camp is, I think Running the Bases is, um, I think most everything is on Amazon

Jaclyn: 00:16:22

Mm hmm.

Gigi: 00:16:23

Yeah,

Jaclyn: 00:16:24

And which film are you most proud of?

Gigi: 00:16:28

I would say family camp.

Gigi: 00:16:30

Yeah, it just family camp was such a cool experience for me because Well, first of all, the casting process was just very hard and long and it was in the middle of COVID.

Gigi: 00:16:43

Um, and so we filmed in the middle of COVID.

Gigi: 00:16:46

And again, that's another kind of random story is that I wasn't the original person that was cast in that role.

Gigi: 00:16:53

They cast somebody

Gigi: 00:16:54

else.

Gigi: 00:16:55

And then because of COVID, God put me on that movie.

Gigi: 00:16:59

and it was interesting because I've told this story a few times, but it's worth telling.

Gigi: 00:17:03

Like I had auditioned so many times and it kind of got pushed back and pushed back.

Gigi: 00:17:08

And I was auditioning for a few different roles.

Gigi: 00:17:10

And, I was just really very kind of frustrated and worn down.

Gigi: 00:17:15

And I heard God tell me like, I'm going to give you that role.

Gigi: 00:17:18

And then I found out that they had cast somebody else.

Gigi: 00:17:20

And I was so just like, Just sad and disappointed.

Gigi: 00:17:24

But I'm like, God told me that he's going to.

Gigi: 00:17:27

And then in the end, when I did end up getting to be on that set, I remember telling the director, I know you guys are like in the middle of chaos because everything's different than you thought you're having to recast things.

Gigi: 00:17:40

But it's not a surprise to God.

Gigi: 00:17:42

Like God knew this whole time, this was going to happen because he told me in January that I was going to be on this film.

Gigi: 00:17:49

And he was like, you're right.

Gigi: 00:17:50

That's such a good reminder, you know?

Gigi: 00:17:52

And then in the end, it ended up being that they got even, better crew because nobody had anything to work on.

Gigi: 00:17:58

So they got all these people who were really, really even, you know, better than they imagined.

Gigi: 00:18:03

To get to, DP it and set decorate and all of the things.

Gigi: 00:18:07

I mean, there was just, there's something really cool about working with people who are like the best

Gigi: 00:18:12

caliber at their jobs.

Gigi: 00:18:14

And just like, kind of looking around on a set and you're like, wow, this is amazing.

Gigi: 00:18:20

Like, look at the detail in that random wallpaper that they

Gigi: 00:18:24

found, you know?

Jaclyn: 00:18:24

it raises the bar for everyone.

Gigi: 00:18:27

Better put my A

Gigi: 00:18:28

game on

Jaclyn: 00:18:29

Yeah.

Gigi: 00:18:30

yeah, I think that's probably my favorite.

Jaclyn: 00:18:33

Awesome.

Jaclyn: 00:18:34

Well, thank you so much.

Jaclyn: 00:18:35

I've enjoyed, talking with you and I'm really looking forward to talking with you more in our next episode on, some things that people can learn about acting and maybe some tricks you've learned along the way.

Jaclyn: 00:18:47

We'll see.