Opening September 16 – 22, 2024 – Margaret Barton-Fumo reports
By newscreenmagazine / September 24, 2024
A filmmaker with an incredible voice!
In honor of her return to Rockwood Music Hall, Alyssa released not one, not two, but three new songs. And we personally can’t choose a favorite!
We had the pleasure of speaking with Alyssa about collaborating with her husband, and more!
When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue music?
A: “While I played and studied music a ‘bit’ before anything else, I was drawn to storytelling through the theater and then film as an actor, and director – but keep coming back to music with everything I do!
Filmmaking is such a complex collaborative process, and I found composing, writing music, and playing live encompassed much of what I love in filmmaking but in a more intimate and direct way than with the films I continue to make. I do a fair amount of editing and augmenting of the writing as a director—as well as revising—but it is ‘his-story’ the writers. In our films I thoroughly enjoy creating the through line of what the story is about and unearthing the psychology and drama via the characters, visuals, sound and music as a director, but through a return to music I found a place to write some of my own stories from the ground up.
So to answer your question, it just chose me as a healthy evolution and an appreciated parallel track to filmmaking.”
Out of your three new releases, which one is your favorite and why?
A: “Oh wow…they all came from such distinct places—they’re like 3 ‘fav’ but different friends…
The Pitch allowed me to have a dose of healthy sarcasm, leveling the ‘field’ and rejoice in what can’t always be said in the chorus!
Don’t Wake Me is just a calming, kind of grounded – sort of oasis from life…
Closets, inspired by a close friend saying “the closets are taken”, was a terribly fun response to familiar toxicity!“
Does your filmmaking background help you in crafting your music?
A: “When I’m writing lyrics and music I’m telling stories often from a visual or emotional place. I’m finding where the music and voice differ and change, where it escalates or not… I’m seeing where the story takes me, searching for its arc and what is revealed that I haven’t before. I listen to what my ear wants or needs to hear… I’m looking for the surprises in the details – this is part of the process when I’m directing a film.”
Tell us more about your new film ‘The Arrival’. What can viewers expect from it?
A: “I’m very excited that it was released September 17th, by Gravitas Venutres on Amazon, Apple, GooglePlay, On Demand and, available now on iTunes until then!
It’s a mystery and a psychological journey for a group of people who have had their boundaries crossed, and how to the best of their abilities they are grappling with it, metabolizing it, coming to terms with it and making the best of it. ‘Working it out”. Much like the music, it’s a different mode of storytelling that takes on life challenges and hopefully through it’s specificity shares some light and form with audiences who enjoy a psychological mystery.
I love working with actors and helping them free their ‘instruments’ to unleash deeply personal, honest and surprising moments to help us also experience something difficult but enriching via the stories. The actors in The Arrival are exquisite in this film and the story is ultimately uplifting.”
What has been the most validating moment in your career thus far?
A: “When I made the “Anymore” album and the songs were listened to, on playlists – and had some really cool reviews like “Pinch That Vein is like movie you want to see” – it felt like the work and process came full circle.
When the feature film I directed “The Pack” starring Lucie Arnaz, Elizabeth Moss, and Zach Galligan was accepted into the Tribeca Film Festival, when it was released in theaters and then online – which was a difficult film to make and get funding for about personal responsibility in an opened up “Twelve Angry Men” style film – it meant a lot that I was able to do it and get it out there for people to see and think about and continue to see on Amazon, Tubi et al…”
From directing to releasing incredible music, is there another field within the entertainment industry that you want to pursue?
A: “For now I’m thrilled with film and music and I can explore through it… My partner and husband, Gary O. Bennett, and I began a long journey of collaborating in different ways – he’s a writer, and now in music as well in something he started called The Yesters, which is primarily his writing – so I help collaborate and channel the characters in the songs – which is a lot of fun and different than creating songs myself.”
What is your best piece of advice for women who aspire to pursue a career in entertainment?
A: “Just do it. Don’t wait for permission and work with people who get you and have faith in what you are doing and know how to support, challenge and collaborate without taking over what is uniquely your voice.”
Where can we follow your amazing journey?
A: “Thanks for asking! Wherever you listen to music, Spotify, Apple, ITunes, Amazon etc… I have film & music updates, releases, when I play live on my website alyssarallobennett.com – it’s a good portal to find the films & music that are out there. Join Stonestreet Studios’ mailing list here which announces the music and films!”
Make sure to stream Alyssa’s new songs, available now on all music platforms!
Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.