Families|May 20, 2015 05:20 EDT
Hollywood Actress Shunned & Embraced By Amish Community? ’Love Finds You In Charm’ Star Learns First Hand Her Character's Struggles [INTERVIEW]
Hollywood actress Danielle Chuchran takes us on an insightful journey of her experience in the Amish culture while filming the UP's new movie 'Love Finds You In Charm.' She shared what learned about the secluded community, the contrast from Hollywood, and how she was both shunned and embraced.
Building on the success of last year's UP original film, 'Love Finds You in Sugarcreek', the new original UP premiere movie is 'Love Finds You In Charm.' Chuchran (Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, Little House on the Prairie) is the inspiring film's lead actress and plays a beautiful, young Amish woman, who seemingly has it all. Looking for more in life she jumps at the chance to spend autumn in scenic Charm, Ohio with relatives and finds herself pulled between two worlds, the Amish and Englischers (non-amish) and between two men.
'Love Finds You In Charm' is gearing up for its movie premiere on Sunday, June 7 at 7 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT. It is the second in UP's "Love Finds You" movie franchise.
When asked if it was her first time being exposed to the Amish culture she admitted that 'Love Finds You In Charm' is actually not her first role as an Amish girl. "I did a film when I was about 14 called 'Saving Sarah Cain' and I also played a young Amish women but that was the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, so this was is a little different," she said.
Chuchran, raised as a Mormon of Latter Day Saints (LDS), because she grew up in Utah, says that the LDS community also has high standards.
"Obviously the Amish faith is a lot more sheltered. It's all about keeping things very private not drawing attention to yourself and it's always very strict in the law of God," she stated, "LDS people are not as strict we have high morals and high standards and we believe in God and Jesus Christ but certainly not sheltered."
She said she learned a lot this time around about the Amish culture concerning their stance on vanity. "They don't wear make up, they don't dress in a way that draws attention," Chuchran explained, "It was so interesting because we filmed at Sugar Creek Ohio and [there were] buggy's going down the street. I got lost the few weeks I was there because it was such a beautiful simple life."
The Amish people are known for simple living, dressing plainly, and their reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology; no television, cell phones, cars and electricity.
For an inside look into the Amish community watch the video below:
'Love Finds You In Charm' took the cast of the film to Charm, and Sugarcreek. Chuchran, the now Los Angeles resident shared with BREATHEcast her experience of living among the Amish while filming. "All of the markets are all produce and all the dairies from local Amish places," she shared, "It was so fun to be there and kinda get thrown into their culture. It's such a different way of living."
"It's such a beautiful concept because there are no distractions. They don't put the TVs on at night, they don't have. You certainly have a stronger connection with having to communicate and interact with the people around you," she continued, "It's a lot of work. The women and men both have there share of chores that they have to do and things that they have to get done throughout the day. It's a lot harder because they don't use the type of equipment and the things that we have the luxury of using."
In 'Love Finds You In Charm' Chuchran plays Emma Miller a beautiful Amish girl with a loving family and community but she has a drive for life that leaves her craving more. When asked if she could see herself living like the Amish permanently, the actress said, "Even though it seems like you just have these perfect lives where you don't have all these complications you still crave that sense of wanting to know, 'What's out there?'" She admitted that her short time there had her feeling a lot like her character.
"Even though I was there for two weeks, and those two weeks were fantastic and I hope to get back to there, even if it's just for vacation, I still was getting ready to say 'okay I'm ready to go see what else is out there,'" Chuchran said.
"I honestly have so much admiration for the Amish culture and those that stick with it but I honestly don't think I could," she confessed, "I love the simple life and I love being out in the middle of nowhere on a ranch with my horses but at the same time I'm like 'alright I gotta get outta here.'"
Because Chuchran grew up in the church of LDS, she maintained that she identified with her character not wanting to just follow suit with everyone else in her community.
"One of the parallels I had in relating to my character, you know I grew up in Utah and every one kinda grows up there, gets married young. I always been kind of a wild card where I'm like 'this is great but I'm totally outta here,'" the spirited young actress stated, "I have these big dreams and all these things that I want to accomplish and I'm constantly daydreaming, so it was easy for me to relate to Emma. I think having your own individual thoughts, and feelings, and wants that is so important. That's what make you unique and that's what makes you, you."
The 21-year-old offered advice to those out there with high standards. Urging people not to conform to this word and its standards similar to how her character did.
"We live in a world where standards and morals are kinda going out the door a little bit. Especially in this business it's very hard to find people who will respect your morals and I don't think you should ever settle," she advised, "There is somebody out there for everybody that will believe in you that will respect you."
She went on to say that the strong relationships she has seen in her life from her parents to her siblings and their spouses has shown her to "never sacrifice what you want and what you believe in, to be the person for somebody else."
Although Chuchran has a strong admiration for the Amish people she did say there were some things about their teachings that were disheartening. Her character Emma was discouraged from associating with people who were not Amish, people better known by the Amish as Englischers.
"I'm just speaking for me, but honestly it breaks my heart when people discourage other people from associating with different beliefs," she passionately said, "If maybe given a different chance and grew up in a different community they would have maybe had your beliefs. We are all people. I have many friends that I love with all of my heart. We have very different views on things but I still love them as a person. So I think it's so sad when you're discouraged to disassociate from people that don't have the same beliefs."
Chuchran shared that while filming in Ohio she and the rest of the cast and crew were the "englischers." She shared a story about one time being in a grocery store, dressed in her everyday clothes and holding her cell phone. She said although many of the Amish were kind and would smile, others wanted no association with her.
"There was this one time in particular that I smiled at this little girl, she was maybe six or seven and she smiled and wanted to wave back and her dad immediately pulled her away and kinda scolded her a little bit and took her down the aisle and I felt horrible," Chuchran disclosed.
"It broke my heart and made me feel like oh my gosh am I a bad person? I saw how that little instance affected me and it totally made me feel sad and I never want to do that to anybody. I never want to make them feel like they are below me or anything because there not, we're all equal," She sustained.
'Love Finds You In Charm' is a romantic drama tastefully written and performed while touching on real life struggles and culture. Based on the popular novel by best-selling author Annalisa Daughety Chuchran assures that there is something in it for everyone.
"I think that this is such a great film, it something that you can sit down with your whole family, any age and watch it and there's literally something in this film for everybody," she concluded.
For more information follow the cast and talent from the film at www.UPtv.com
