Vanessa Hudgens and Rosario Dawson on Harnessing the Power of Real Life to create ‘Gimme Shelter’

In this glittery age of endless celebrity coverage, from the red carpet to their private lives, the prospect of stars “getting down and dirty” with real folk would seemingly be limited to an Oscar-worthy performance clip. Not for Vanessa Hudgens and Rosario Dawson, whose striking turns in Ron Krauss’ “Gimme Shelter” shatter any preconceived notions derived by their glamorous alter egos.

Sitting down in mid- January with both actresses to discuss their work “Gimme Shelter” it was hard not to be taken aback from the striking differences between their media selves and their roles in the film. As a drug –addicted mother and her pregnant daughter in crisis, both proved forces of nature. And it was said force they offered their own insights being part of a project that gave them much to thankful for as artists.

Inspired by the empowering story of Kathy DiFiore, Krauss initially sought to create a documentary on DiFiore’s work with women in need. After her surviving her own challenging life experience being homeless, DiFiore in turn founded the Several Sources Shelters in New Jersey. This network, which continues to offer its resources to homeless women today, exposed Krauss to sizeable tapestry of stories during the research process. So much so, it prompted the acclaimed documentarian to reconceive the project.

“Homeless teens and crisis pregnancy are an unusual subject for a mainstream film,” Krauss said. “I wasn’t sure anyone would care. But, there was enormous interest. Many young actresses saw this as a showcase for their talent. Vanessa was a little different from anyone else. She was hungry for the transition.”

Hudgens, who has courted notoriety since her breakout performance in the wholesome “High School Musical” franchise, has surprised audiences of late by taking on image-shattering roles in such films as “Spring Breakers.” With “Gimme Shelter,” she’s all but recognizable as Apple, an immersive experience that allowed the actress to inhabit the role beyond stylist-controlled aesthetics.

“I love variety,” Hudgens said. “I always want to push myself. I think that when you’re young that’s the time to really put the work in and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. That’s the only way you’re going to grow. I’ve always loved the idea of a movie like this. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to come my way.”

Yet it was her intense research, one she deemed a “beautiful adventure,” for the role that proved essential to her ability to truly deliver an authentic performance. She would eventually move into one of the Several Sources Shelters, befriending many of the young women and children featured in the film in the process.

“It was amazing,” Hudgens said. “It really opened up my eyes to the reality of what’s going on in the world with teen pregnancy. I honestly had no idea. I’m so grateful that I had the time to be able to go and stay with them because it really made the script a reality for me rather than just a story.”

When it came to casting Apple’s monstrous mother June, Hudgens had but one request for the filmmakers: to cast Rosario Dawson.

Instinct proved correct as Dawson’s own well-documented struggle from poverty to stardom with such films as “Kids,” “Seven Pounds,” “Sin City” and the upcoming “Chavez,” offered plenty of artistic inspiration. More, it catered to her indefatigable efforts on behalf of national outreach programs, continuing an agenda of informing the public started at a young age.

“I’ve been walking in marches since Al Sharpton wore track suits,” Dawson said.
“When you have an opportunity to do a film like this that zeroes in on one person’s story, it shows how interconnected we all are. You don’t have to be a teenaged mom to connect to this. It’s about finding a space where you can have trust and faith and belief in yourself. It’s really a journey of discovery.”

The heartbreaking dance that is Apple and June’s relationship is often hard to watch because of its intensity in key scenes throughout the film. Dawson recognized early that Hudgens was not going to back away from the emotional and physical violence required for their scenes. To avoid being a “cartoon,” they had to be committed to the direction they would take their performances. It was Dawson’s hope that their combined reality would also illuminate the humanity in both characters that would also relate to members of the audience.

“We kind of ‘acted’ at each other,” Dawson said. “It wasn’t like we conspired like, ‘I’m going to do this, and you’re going to do this.’ We just saw each other on the day one and she went into it. And, I was like, ‘I’m there.’ If I’m not willing to get that ugly and be that much of a monster, then you have nothing to run from and we don’t get what you’re doing. We were really at each other. When you watch Apple’s transformation, you remember June was once Apple. Had maybe someone step in, that could have been her story of change. You recognize we all have a choice.”

If finding truth in her character required some heavy lifting on Hudgens’ behalf, then letting go of Apple would prove just as focused an effort.

“I was a mess,” Hudgens smiled. “Honestly, I was kind of a wreck after I did this movie. I stayed in character for the most part, while we were filming. When I work, I separate myself from my personal life and try to stay focused. I didn’t have anyone pulling me back to reality at the end of the day. It just made that transition so much harder. I would look in the mirror and still see my character. I had to take a lot of time to find myself again. But it was good because it just made me learn about who I am that much more.”

The outspoken Dawson has been quite adept in never catering to media perception with her choice of roles, even if sometimes the films do not come out the way she envisioned. She will “go there” because that is her own motivation as an actor. But she credits director Krauss and DiFiore for keeping the focus on what was true and human.

“The lucky thing is Ron spent a lot of time with Kathy,” Dawson said. “He comes from a documentary background so he is very sensitive in being able to be in that situation, to keep that rawness. Kathy was always there with us. We shot in the shelter, with the girls from the shelter. It was really amazing. We were all making the same movie. I can’t say that happens in every film. A lot of times I watch the movie later and I’m like, “Oh this was a comedy! Okay, sorry. You should have said something earlier!’ But on this one, we were all making the same movie.”

For Hudgens, seeing the final cut of “Gimme Shelter” ultimately proved a defining moment for her.

“I loved it,” Hudgens smiled. “I’ve never been more proud of something that I’ve done. It’s really interesting because I watch the movie and I don’t see myself. I can completely separate and watch it as an audience member and just be able to enjoy the story and take the message. Each time I see it, I get something new out of it in myself. It’s the hardest I ever worked.”

“Gimmer Shelter,” also starring James Earle Jones, Stephanie Szostak, Ann Dowd and Brendan Fraser, is now playing in select theaters.

“A teenager (VANESSA HUDGENS) runs away from her troubled mother (ROSARIO DAWSON) in search of her father she never met. Forced into the streets in a desperate journey of survival , she discovers a new meaning of family and life at a local teen shelter where she bonds with a group of girls just like herself. Based on a true story.”