Adrienne Wehr:
Writhing Into Your Heart

By Rhonda Baughman

It was Jeff’s fault, really. That is, Deadtime Stories writer/producer 72ndSt Films mogul Jeff Monahan - “she writhed her way into our hearts,” Jeff stated when I visited the Romero set in late November of 2007. And then he, along with fellow crew members started laughing heartily. My assistant and I gave each other wary looks. “Can you explain?” I asked, quickly looking for an exit just in case.

“Sure,” said Jeff, “Adrienne blew us away with her performance. After she finished her audition, her writhing performance, there was not a man in the room who could say his glasses were not fogged. And in some cases, contacts, too.”
So, just who is Adrienne Wehr? I had to find this woman ... She had left such a lasting impression on scores of professional individuals and I wanted an impression, too!

“I imagine that Jeffrey would be referring to the tremendous amount of ‘writhing’ on the floor -and moaning- I displayed during the auditions. Hands down, this was the most fun I have ever had during an audition process! I'm a physical performer with a serious lack of inhibition, so I basically let this one rip...no holds barred. It was, ahhhh, exhilarating to state the least. I had a BLAST and through it, the character of "Audrey" emerged in all her writhing and moaning glory. And what a terrific time it was to work on Deadtime Stories (DUST). If you're gonna be a Pittsburgh-based actor, you gotta wanna land a George Romero project at some point in your career—when in Rome! Jeffrey and I have long awaited a chance to work together and I'm thrilled it was on this project. Well-deserved kudos and thanks to the full cast and crew.”

She’s right. What self-respecting, attractive, talented, professional, and sincere actress would not want a choice cut of Romero? But this is not all Wehr is up to – not by a long shot.

“I like to differentiate between ‘Doing’ and ‘Being’. On the doing end of things I am about to perform in Kevin Smith's latest film Zack and Miri Make a Porno, I am in development with my filmmaking partner, Melissa Martin, for our latest indie feature, The Loon, which I will performing in as well as producing, and there are a number of other projects in the works. The being side of life probably best describes my goals and dreams. For me, that's about striving to be awake, aware, mindful, present, kind, gracious, giving, forgiving, creative, hopeful, positive, enthusiastic, supportive, humble, grateful, always a beginner, forever a teacher, and of service in all the ways that I am able. Practicing and carrying those qualities into all the doing is certainly what I aim towards. The cliff notes version of that would translate into coming from a place of love versus fear.”

I am offering my assent, nodding vigorously, and scribbling furiously ... Ms. Wehr seems to embody everything a Screen Siren should. In fact, Adrienne Wehr may actually define Screen Siren for me – and I’m mighty picky these days. There is something different about Ms. Wehr, and it is only at the closing of the interview that I can put my finger on it.

“I would love to work with whomever invites and welcomes me to do so. There are souls who inspire me everyday but I don't claim heroes or idols. We're all together in this wonderful, challenging, awesome, ooey, gooey mix of existence called life and we are all trying to awaken, I believe. Guides and teachers appear around every corner for me and there's not nearly enough room to honor them all here so I'll just name a few: my dad who loved me unconditionally and continues, after having passed this past year, to inform my life; my mom who at 80 years is demonstrating a world of strength, courage and humor in her new life on her own; my friend Malka (who also passed this year) who survived the Holocaust and lived her life through as a shining teacher and giver of love; and right now, this very moment as I type this I am celebrating Adrienne Shelly whose last great gift to the world, and most specifically, to her little daughter Sophie, was a film brimming with bittersweet life lessons and ultimately joy and serenity through the process of change. I can't stop singing the beautiful song she co-wrote at the close of Waitress called ‘Baby, Don’t You Cry’. Her daughter will be gifted with all this she created while she was here and with all she has left behind.”
Adrienne is rooted - altruistic AND creative ... so, I was right. There was something different about her after all. And then there is the fact her imdb.com profile does not do justice to her true talent.

“There are loads of credits that will never land there from a rich and wonderful past filled with experimental film/media projects. And this past year before the Romero project, I performed opposite the wonderful John Shepherd, who also plays my husband in Deadtimes' DUST, in Jeremy Braverman's Photo Finished. Strange Girls, by the gifted Rona Mark, just premiered on the festival circuit and was my first foray into the psychological thriller/horror genre as a performer. I love working in scary movies and demystifying all that stuff that frightens us when we sit in the audience. I do lots of TV and radio commercials— bread and butter for the working actor—& did my first turn as a zombie in a PA Lottery commercial. I was a "zombie waitress" wearing the same vintage waitress costume I donned for Inspector Gadget (I've got a big fat costume wardrobe and often wear my own duds) with make-up created by students from Tom Savini's make-up and special EFX school. And yes, I was the Associate Producer of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for a decade. I was an avid watcher of MRN as a child, so it was quite lovely to work on that project as an adult. What a treat to discuss, during a production meeting, things like what Henrietta Pussy Cat was going to wear! Fred Rogers was and remains a ‘forever teacher’ and I am most grateful to have journeyed with him.

As I must predictably write: I want Adrienne to be my neighbor. It has nothing to do with her intrinsic or extrinsic beauty, it most simply has to do with the fact I would feel safer with her living next to me. Suddenly, all that is gloom and doom takes on a much better perspective – I suspect Wehr has that ability to cast light on even the darkest of days and turn any situation into a creative opportunity. And she can make you laugh ...

“Our current company is Missus and Trixie Films and in spite of receiving lots of inquiries about this on our voicemail, I must say NO, we are not a men's escort service nor do we make naughty home movies! Melissa and I are in the business of creating integrity-laden character-driven indie films—the very kind we like to watch. As a women-owned and run business, we especially appreciate providing work opportunities for women in an industry that is growing more and more
gender balanced. Our first film The Bread, My Sweet (aka: A Wedding For Bella—that title is on the domestic DVD only) remains in successful worldwide distribution as the little indie that could. It stars Scott Baio in an award-winning dramatic performance. It was a privilege to make this film.”

It’s also a privilege these days knowing talent like Adrienne Wehr exist and are hard at work bringing a respect to the industry some of us hard-hearted journalists had perhaps thought long over.

www.thebreadmysweet.tv
www.imdb.com/name/nm0917606/