Trace Lysette tells THR on the red carpet of the Spirit Awards that she has received endless messages from trans women for her film 'Monica,' saying it's meant the most for her throughout this entire process.
00:00I was just talking to these guys and I was asking them what performance they wanted to shout out.
00:04Noah Galvin said yours. That's got to feel good.
00:07I mean, you probably have heard that from a lot of your peers over the past year.
00:10There's been a lot of votes of confidence since Venice, you know, for the last two years.
00:18And that feels really good on a personal level.
00:22And so I'm just grateful that Film Independent decided to honor this movie.
00:27We got nominated for cinematography, too.
00:30And, yeah, they keep indie film alive.
00:34And I know you have said this a couple of times just about, like, the reception has been so great since Venice, but the offers didn't roll in.
00:42Has the work, has that changed?
00:46There's a couple of things on the table, but I think it's still trickling in.
00:51So we'll see. I'm hopeful. Yeah.
00:54And there's been also a lot of other headlines about just how hard it is to be an actor right now.
00:59Because things have not fully geared up yet.
01:02How hard is it?
01:05Well, acting is, it's just a lot of rejection.
01:09And you have to just weather the storm for most working actors, unless you've got some kind of a connection in the industry.
01:17But I think for the ones that work our way up, got it out the mud, it's just a different journey.
01:25And I'm constantly wondering when you get to that level where you feel safe.
01:30I mean, that's what I've been chasing.
01:32And for me, it's just about not having to wonder, you know, where the next gig is and, like, being able to, like, pick which role and financial security.
01:46It's all tied into survival.
01:48So, it's tough.
01:51It's been a tough year.
01:53It's also been a great year for just to, it's been a tough year.
01:57Yeah.
01:58Strike, there's a lot of stuff that's happened.
02:00And the Spirit Awards seem like a particularly great place for you and this movie.
02:06You know, they have long supported independent film and storytelling in such a way that, like, shouting out people, you know, and lifting up performances, which you have been lifted up this year through a lot of places.
02:19I know that you deserve a little bit more.
02:21But how are you feeling now that you're kind of, like, coming to the end of this, the road for this movie?
02:28What has been, like, the, I guess, the most impactful moment of this ride, this Monica ride for you?
02:39Was it Venice?
02:40Was it, you know, maybe a Q&A?
02:43Was it a DM from a peer?
02:46Probably just the endless messages I get from trans women telling me how much this film means to them because an award is nice, a nomination is nice.
02:57But if it's something, if it's a piece of art that lives on through generations of trans women, that is priceless.
03:05So it's been the response from my peers that means the most to me.
03:11Yes, that was a good answer.
03:13And sorry, it kind of took me a minute to get there.
03:15I feel like I have so much I want to ask you, I always end up tripping over my words.
03:18But it's true because you set an example for trans performers.
03:23And I know, and by the way, congratulations on your HRC award.
03:26What was that like?
03:27Oh, it was beautiful.
03:29Yeah, being a trailblazer is hard.
03:33But it felt good to be recognized.
03:35And I don't know.
03:36I'm just trying to look towards the future and the next chapter as a leading lady now.
03:42And, you know, I'm excited for that.
03:43And tell me how you envision that next chapter.
03:47Oh, just abundance.
03:49Abundance and collaboration with people that I've watched for years.
03:52That would be amazing for me.
03:55And one of the great things about the Spirit Awards, like I said, is lifting up other performances.
03:59Whose performance did you love this year or a film that meant a lot to you?
04:04Well, I loved Coleman Domingo in Ruston.
04:07And I need to do some catching up on the performances this year.
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