OBSESSED is the story of a successful asset manager who, having just received a huge promotion, is blissfully happy in his career and in his marriage.
But when a temp worker starts stalking him, all the things he’s worked so hard for are placed in jeopardy.
Director Steve Shill and actress and singer Beyoncé Knowles talk about their experiences of the film.
What did you think when you first saw the script for Obsessed?
Steve: It interested me because it’s a psychodrama, which implies genre, camera work and music – all the hallmarks of a great, edge-of-your-seat thriller. And my particular interest was to go deep with the actors into the psychodrama of it all. Plus, Beyoncé was already attached – it was pretty hard to refuse.
Do you feel that this film marks a new direction for you as a performer?
Beyoncé: This was definitely different for me. This is a psychological thriller, but it’s not just any thriller; it’s very smart and not typical. This is the deepest I have ever gone to be prepared for a film. It is not about anything but the emotion and psychology of the relationship between Derek and Sharon.
What is it that made Beyoncé the perfect actress to portray Sharon?
Steve: I knew that she was ambitious for it. I knew she wanted to do it, and it was nothing but a pleasure to sit there and watch her. She fell on it like a tiger. She brings all her energy to this that she brings to her stage performances, plus a freshness and authenticity – it’s absolutely breathtaking. She bought all the skill of someone who’s been doing it for 20 years.
What is it that attracted you to the character of Sharon?
Beyoncé: Usually in a movie like this, the man in the end comes and saves the day. What I loved was how Sharon handles herself. She gets that out of body strength we have when we have to protect people we love – and she saves the day. Sharon is a mother and wife, but she used to be her husband’s assistant, which is really interesting. They became best friends and she knows him as well as he knows himself. All the little games he would play with the other women [in the office], she was right there. So when something strange happens with the temp, Lisa, she has the intuition. He plays it off, but when she finds out the relationship is a little different from what she said, she gets very suspicious. She knows her man. They have an ultimate trust, so when that trust is betrayed, that is the turning point for Sharon in the film.
What do you interpret the meaning to be behind Obsessed?
Beyoncé: For me, Obsessed is about a woman’s fight for her family. A woman who is willing to sacrifice and take care of her son while her husband gets his promotion, but who is also very strong and wise and street smart and knows when something is not right – a woman strong enough to take control.
How did you prepare for the role?
Beyoncé: I wanted to make sure each scene had a purpose, a conflict. I didn’t want it to be typical; I wanted it to stand out. I worked closely with the film-makers, dissecting and understanding the meaning and the purpose of each scene.
How did you deal with the film’s strenuous fight scenes, i.e .Sharon’s crowd-rousing showdown with Lisa?
Beyoncé: I did a lot of stunt work, I was covered in bruises. It is similar to choreography, you still have to be in the scene and have your performance as an actor.
What did you think of your co-star Ali Larter (Lisa)?
Beyoncé: Ali was incredible. Such a smart woman, very articulate – a great actress. And during the fight scenes she gave me so much to work with. We just had fun. It’s great when you are on a film and you can just really go for it. I trusted her and she trusted me, and I think that’s why the fight scene is so great
http://www.getreading.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_cinema/s/2052331_beyonc_and_director_on_becoming_obsessed