Kaitlyn plays "Mallory Hamlin" on Palmetto

1) What was the attraction of doing this series?

I was attracted to Palmetto because unlike many shows that are currently available, this series is focused on portraying real teenagers and the circumstances that actual high school students face. It also promotes good moral values without ignoring the pressures of high school. I really wanted to be a part of a series that does not ignore the actual tough situations that kids in any town will face and which shows both the consequences of poor decision making and a proper way of handling events, which we all can relate to, learn from, and understand.

2) What makes PALMETTO different from any other teen drama you’ve seen?

Palmetto is different than other teen dramas in that the characters are real people from a small town. The events of their lives are ones that we may have faced ourselves. These are not rich California kids or spoiled teens, but children from average families, which makes it easier for me and I believe the audience, to relate to them and sympathize with both their delights and dilemmas.

3) What are the challenges of playing a character coming from a small town?

A lot has to be considered when playing a character from a small town. I grew up in Orlando, which is very different from Palmetto, Fl. I have to consider what after school activities are available to Mallory and understand that she has a little different mind set than I have since she is in a town where everyone knows everyone and where most events for a teen focus around school or the beach. I had to ask my director, who is from Palmetto, what homecoming is like there to figure out how Mallory would dress. It is fun to enter this other world and figure out how she would handle situations because of her background and home. Her environment is a very important thing that I have to consider when making any decisions for her and I am actually planning on going to visit the town to really get a feel for what it is like to grow up in Palmetto.

4) Without giving too much away, can you talk about your character?

Mallory is an amazing character. She is the sweet girl next door who is always trying to please and to keep everyone happy. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is the peacemaker of the group. She loves to party and be social and to spend time at the beach. She plays volleyball and dances and has the biggest heart anyone can imagine. She is also very indecisive, which is both her strength and her weakness. Her longing to satisfy everyone is one of her best qualities, but it is also her greatest flaw, as it can be miss read as being two-faced or fake. She is a loving and hopeful girl, who makes a great friend and person.

5) How do you prepare for your scenes? What do you do to get “into character?”

As soon as I get my script I go through and highlight my lines and any actions placed in the text. I then write my adjectives, emotions, and any helpful phrases or subtext out to the side. Before we actually film I generally have to separate myself from the cast for a moment and get into character by taking the time to think about where I am coming from, what event precedes the current scene, and where I am emotionally. I then enter the set completely as Mallory, fired-up and ready to go.

6) Without giving too much away, what has been your favorite scene to shoot?

There have been so many great scenes, but I have two favorites. The first is the opening scene of the show, the classroom scene. It was the first scene I filmed and it was also the first time I worked with Luis and Charlie. We were all pretty nervous for the first take, but afterward we started to become familiar with each other and began to joke around a bit. I don’t think that I will ever forget that first scene and I think it was a great starting point, which set us up for continued success and paved the way for us to become more than co-workers, we’ve become a family. My other favorite is one that I filmed with Anthony. It was an emotional scene that took place at night. The cast consisted of just the two of us and there were only three crew members plus our director Chris Morgan. It was nice to have such a small and personal experience and we discovered a few amazing lighting and camera tricks that we did not expect. We were able to watch the footage afterward and I think everyone present was in shock at how beautiful and exquisite the acting, lighting, and camera work were. We left very proud and excited.

7) Is there any advice, wisdom, or comments your character would like to give the fans?

She would tell them to take the time to hope for the best in people. There is a lot of negativity in the world and it is up to the youth to change that. Believe in the people around you and realize that people can and do change and that there is a lot of beauty and positivism in the world. She would not want the fans to be ignorant or gullible, but she would want them to love and hope and believe that anything is possible if you want it and that you can find the goodness in people if you give them a chance to shine.

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