St. John, who has a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from George Mason University and is a ballet teacher at Joy of Motion Dance Center in Northwest D.C., will premiere her first full-length movie — “Conquering the Rose” — at Fairfax’s Cinema Arts Theatre (cinemaartstheatre.com) Sunday evening. She not only wrote and co-produced the movie, which was originally a novel she wrote as her master’s thesis, but she also has a role — the deceased dancer in other characters’ flashbacks — in the dark drama, which was filmed in Northern Virginia and Maryland. From dancing to acting, I get it. But why screenwriting?
It comes naturally. I’m used to seeing stories in that format. I did theater growing up and my childhood hobby never really stopped. I started filming professionally in 2008 with my first film role in “Zombthology” and then “Boxing Day.”
And then”
Everything snowballed after “Zombthology.” I never really went through going to 100 auditions and never getting cast.
Let’s avoid spoilers, but what happens in “Conquering the Rose?”
It’s about a promising dance student who commits suicide and that gets buzz around town. A set of characters who knew her differently have memories about her over the course of a summer that reflect their lives.
A dancer who commits suicide. … Is this “Black Swan”-inspired?
I wrote the storyline long before “Black Swan,” which is more of a dance film and a thriller. Mine’s a straight drama. You can’t compare the two, though I wouldn’t mind being compared to Darren Aronofsky.
How long did it take to produce?
Almost two years, not including the writing process.
Can you balance being a dancer, an actress and a screenwriter?
Right now I’m able to, but I might have to choose soon.
Is the film for all ages?
Not kids. If there were a rating, it’d be R. There’s curse words, a sex scene.
Natalie Plumb
