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By Suzanne

Interview with Bree Williamson of "Haven" on Syfy 9/25/12

NBC UNIVERSAL
Moderator: Stephen Cox
September 25, 2012
12:00 pm CT

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to The Haven conference call. During the presentation all participants are in a listen-only mode. Afterward we will conduct a question-and-answer session.

Please feel free to press 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone at any time during the conference. And if you need to reach an operator please press star-0.

As a reminder, this conference is being recorded today, September 25, 2012. I would like now to turn the conference over to Mr. Stephen Cox. Please go ahead, sir.

Stephen Cox: Hello everyone, thank you for joining us today. We’re very excited to have Bree Williamson on the line to answer your questions. Bree is joining the cast of Haven this season with her premier episode airing this Friday, 10:00 pm on Syfy and without further adieu we’ll hand it over to your questions. Thanks for joining us this morning, Bree.

Bree Williamson: And thank you for having me. This is fun.

Operator: And once again, we’d like to remind everyone 1-4 if you wish to register for a question. And our first question comes from the line of (Jamie Ruby). Please proceed.

Jamie Ruby: Hi, thanks so much for doing the call.

Bree Williamson: You’re welcome, thank you.

Jamie Ruby: So I really enjoyed the episode, I did get to see it. I was curious, can you talk about kind of how you’re going to - your role is going to be like after this episode? I mean are you going to continue to help the troubled? And are we going to see more of that?

Bree Williamson: After what episode, like after my...

Jamie Ruby: After the one that airs, yes, the new one, after the new one.

Bree Williamson: Well, the one that just aired this last Friday, my premier episode hasn’t aired yet.

Jamie Ruby: Right, yours is this Friday.

Bree Williamson: Yes.

Jamie Ruby: Right, no, I see - that’s what I said, can you talk about kind of - like the rest of the season after that? Like, are you going to be appearing a lot?

Bree Williamson: I mean my - yes, I’ll be appearing for pretty much every other episode throughout the season except the last one. But I - my main role on this show is mainly - you know, to be a sounding board for Audrey and to kind of, like, help Audrey deal with, you know, her role in helping the troubled and also help her kind of navigate through all of this new information that she’s got.

Because as we saw on the premier episode, you know, she was trapped in that house with that guy asking her who the Colorado kid is and where he is and everything.

So she’s - you know, struggling with who she is and, you know, what’s going in her life. So I’m going to be both - you know, as Audrey and I deal with each case that comes up through each episode of troubled people I’m also going to be dealing with her, you know, personal life.

Jamie Ruby: All right, okay, great. That’s exactly what I wanted to - so thanks. Also the second question I wanted to ask, how was it kind of joining this already established cast?

Bree Williamson: It was awesome, it was still great. I really - Lucas, Emily, and Eric, I couldn’t have asked for better people to work with. They were so nice and we had a blast. It was sad to leave even though my husband was in California, it was bittersweet to leave. I mean I love them, they’re so great.

And I made a whole other group of friends there in Nova Scotia. They were great. They’re so welcoming and just - because it’s a small town up there and there’s - you know, when you’re not working there’s not a lot to do and you can kind of feel disconnected and a bit lonely. And they knew that and they just - you know, picked up the slack and we hung out. It was awesome.

Jamie Ruby: Great, okay, thank you so much.

Bree Williamson: You’re welcome.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Karen Willard) from (SfyMafia.com). Please proceed.

Karen Willard: Hi Bree, congratulations on your role on my favorite Syfy show.

Bree Williamson: Well, thank you. It was a great time.

Karen Willard: I’ve seen your first episode as well and I loved it. You were terrific in it and you fit in perfectly, which is always nerve-wracking I’m sure not only for you as you were saying but, you know, for the audience. You know, when you’re a long time fan you always get nervous when they bring in characters and I thought it was wonderful. You really did a terrific job.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

Karen Willard: My pleasure. How did you happen to come to this role?

Bree Williamson: I auditioned for it. There was a call for it and I went in for it. And this audition - you know, I even had to pre-read with the casting director which - you know, if you know a lot about the audition process that’s very, very early in the audition process.

So - and then I read for the producers once and I went for a callback again. You always know if you get the job that it’s going to be a fun job if the audition’s fun. And we laughed a lot in the audition. I had a really fun time with the character, even like, preparing for the audition.

I had a really, really fun time and I really wanted the job. And I got it. And it was a great. It was an awesome, wonderful surprise and worked out really, really well.

Karen Willard: That’s so great. And have you found that it’s much different playing syfy roles versus non-syfy roles?

Bree Williamson: Yes, there’s - I mean there was a lot of special effects. There was - I mean there’s - even the story, you know, it’s scary and there was a lot of - I mean on the soap opera there was obviously some drama and some scary stuff that I played but this was a bit different. So yes, but it was great.

Karen Willard: Well, great, thanks so much.

Bree Williamson: You’re welcome, thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Rex Steton), please proceed.

Rex Steton: Hi Bree, thanks for taking the call.

Bree Williamson: Yes, no problem.

Rex Steton: Can you talk a bit about how Dr. Callahan views Audrey? Is she is skeptical or is she more open? How would you say it?

Bree Williamson: The doctor is - or Dr. Callahan is extremely open. She thinks Audrey is great, almost like - even like the audition, she was almost like a super fan of Audrey. She knew who Audrey was and she knows exactly what she does and she’s there to help her and - like, is not skeptical at all, understands the troubles, understands Audrey’s role.

But also understands that Audrey needs - you know, another party to kind of, you know, bounce ideas from and kind of - you know, to make sure that Audrey’s taken care of herself.

Rex Steton: Well, ironically...

Bree Williamson: Did I answer the question?

Rex Steton: For sure, for sure. Well, ironically I’m from Nova Scotia so I was wondering what it was like for you to film there. Have you been there before?

Bree Williamson: No, I’m from Toronto originally and I’d always wanted to see the Maritime providences and it was a great. It’s actually funny, the whole story of sending me because I assumed when they said Nova Scotia I just assumed they would be in Halifax.

So I have a two-year-old son and I was like, as I (unintelligible) have the job I was Googling, you know, things to do in Halifax with a two-year-old and maybe where we were staying and what not.

And then when I had a call with the costume department I was like, so where exactly in Halifax are you? And then he laughed and he’s like, we’re in Chester. We’re not in Halifax at all. And Chester is - you know, I’m sure you know Chester if you’re from Nova Scotia.

Rex Steton: Yes.

Bree Williamson: This tiny, charming, little town but there’s a huge moose. The costume guy was like, do you like Starbucks? I’m like, oh my God, I love Starbucks. He’s like, well, drink a lot before you get here. There’s no Starbucks or anything.

But it was great. I mean, like, it was an experience and it was really, really great.

Rex Steton: Great, good luck with the show.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Kristen Clark). Please proceed.

Kristen Clark: Hi, thank you so much for talking to us today.

Bree Williamson: Thank you for calling in.

Kristen Clark: So, you know, as you take on the role of Dr. Claire Callahan, did you do any kind of special research or preparations for it?

Bree Williamson: You know what’s funny, I played a crazy person on another show that I did for a while so I - no, I didn’t really have to do much research. I mean apart from watching other episodes of Haven to kind of get the vibe of this show and, like, you know, the timing and kind of what they were looking for to kind of blend in with the other characters. I didn’t really - you know, no, I didn’t think that I had.

I mean I did the research in finding out what was going on on Haven. And I had done research because I had had to play multiple personalities on another show. Yes, that was a lot of research that I had to do for that.

Kristen Clark: I’m sure. So, you know, in your opinion, what do you feel it is about a show like Haven that seems to resonate well with viewers?

Bree Williamson: I think the way that they set up the casting and the characters is really great. You know, you have Audrey who is, you know, the lead and the heroine of the show, is a really strong, relatable female character.

Then you have Nathan who is like - almost a one-type of romantic hero, the kind of dark and brooding police officer. And then you have Eric who’s kind of like the rebel - or sorry, Duke who’s kind of like the rebel, funny guy. And I feel like that combination is really great.

And then you add in Vince and Dave who play these brothers, it’s just really cool. And it’s a serialized, you know, drama which I think - I love serialized drama, I think they’re great.

But it also - it brings in, you know, a lot of character development. It’s not just - it’s not just circumstance, I think that it’s also extremely character driven. The show - they - I think they really try to keep, you know, the plot character driven as well, which is hard in a serialized show.

Kristen Clark: Absolutely, thank you so much.

Bree Williamson: No worries, thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Tony Talago). Please proceed.

Tony Talago: Hi Bree, it's great to have you on Haven. It’s going to be really cool to see what you do. As far as Dr. Callahan, what kind of jumped at you about her when you were first - when you first read the scripts for the first few programs?

Bree Williamson: Well, she namely jumped out at me during the audition piece that I had to audition for. She was kind of ballsy and really smart and witty and quick and that’s really what jumped out at me.

And she just said what she means to say without any - you know, filter or mainly regards to what the other person felt because it was the truth and it had to be said, which is always really, really fun to play that character. She’s really fun and it's a little quirk in her which is really great. And yes - so it was good.

Tony Talago: Are you going to get a chance to interact with Dorian Missick and also new character - another, Ms. Kelton’s character as well during the course of the series this season?

Bree Williamson: I - I’m in a few scenes with Dorian and even future with Kate. But - if I interact at all it’s mainly a - it’s me and Dorian a little bit, Dorian and I. But very little, most of my interactions are with Audrey and a little bit with Nathan.

Tony Talago: And I know that you also worked on Earth: Final Conflict and Mutant X and Odyssey 5 so you had a chance to kind of be exposed to syfy although this show is definitely kind of its own thing. Did they help you at all, those kind of shows?

Bree Williamson: I mean - yes, I guess so, a little. I think Haven is just its own kind of entity. Like it’s syfy but it’s also Stephen King, you know, which, you know, syfy with a little bit of quirk to it and I - that’s why I thought it was great, think it’s a great show.

Tony Talago: All right, well, thanks, looking forward to see what you do with her.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Elise Amura). Please proceed.

Elise Amura:Hi, I just wanted to ask a little bit about - if you can kind of elaborate a bit on her friendship with the - your character friendship with Audrey? Is it kind of more of a therapist relationship or do they actually become friends and hang out and talk about things not related to the troubled?

Bree Williamson: That’s - I think that’s the whole thing with Claire. Claire wants to be her friend but Audrey is, you know, a very guarded person.

So especially as things - as more things unfold to her this coming season she gets more guarded and Claire is an extremely open person so it would only be natural for her to - because their relationship is - and because Haven is kind of unconventional she would - Claire is open to a friendship and, you know, and also patient-therapist relationship. So yes, it does get personal.

Elise Amura:Okay.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Diane Morasco). Please proceed.

Diane Morasco:Hi Bree, what an honor it is to speak with you today, thank you. I have to ask, how do you like playing a psychiatrist especially when Jess and Tess needed one so often?

Bree Williamson: Yes, I know, that was the thing - it was great, it was really, really fun. I mean there’s also a little bit of a crazy in the psychiatrist I think whether it’s, you know, knowing what crazy is or being on all - you know, off kind of yourself. So yes, it was really great.

It was kind of - it was great to be, you know, the kind of rock in that kind of a relationship or the grounding in that - in the therapist-patient kind of relationship. But it was great, really fun.

Diane Morasco:What are you find most exciting about being able to profile a villain?

Bree Williamson: I’m sorry, ask that again?

Diane Morasco:I said, what do you find most exciting about being able to profile villains with your character?

Bree Williamson: I’m sorry - I’m so sorry, I kind of - what do I find most exciting about...

Diane Morasco:Being able to profile villains in this role?

Bree Williamson: Being able to profile villains, is that what you said?

Diane Morasco:Yes, it is.

Bree Williamson: Okay, I’m sorry. Wha do I think there are people with - yes, we are profiling one big villain as the series unfolds, which is really exciting and fun to kind of, like - it’s kind of like as an actor you’re keeping it together, like, the audience is going to get a big, you know, villains in this one, which is - I mean it was - even during table readings we’d all be like, this is going to be exciting, everybody’s going to freak out.

So yes, that part was really fun. I mean it’s always fun to have a secret end, you know, that everybody’s going to freak out about or the fans, you know, that are really attached to the show are going to freak out about when it happens. And there’s going to be a lot of freak outs this coming season. It’s really great.

Diane Morasco:And how are you a different woman today than when you first hit the acting screen, Bree?

Bree Williamson: I am - I mean there has been so many things that have made me a different woman. I’m a mom now. I’m married. I mean it’s not just acting that’s changed me but, you know, it’s a whole bunch of things. I mean mainly I guess I’ve - you know, I’m at a point where I’ve fully committed to being an actor.

You know, there are times when I was like, I could always go back and, you know, finish my psychology degree, which I did finish. Or I could always go back and do this. But I am - you know, I’m in it. I’m an actor. I go to the gym everyday to keep fit and, you know, I audition and I - so that’s I guess a big change if that answers your question.

Diane Morasco:Thank you so much, I wish you the best of luck.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Jamie Ruby). Please proceed.

Jamie Ruby: Hi again, so what’s been your favorite moment so far this season if you can think of one?

Bree Williamson: My favorite moment so far this season, there’s something called the Bottle episode coming up and Jason Priestly directed it. And I don’t know if that’s the moment - I actually don’t even think I can get specific in this moment because I don’t want to spoil anything but there were a lot of fun times in there.

I bet another - like, could be - you know, non-specific but give you something would - Claire gets to be a little bit funny, which is those are always fun moments when I was able to inject some humor into Haven even though I do things, there are other people that get to be funny as well. But it was great to play a character that was free enough to add some humor in if that answers your question.

Jamie Ruby: Yes, what did you find the most challenging?

Bree Williamson: What did I find most challenging? The weather is challenging there. The weather was very, very challenging to kind of keep focused when you’re cold and it’s raining was challenging.

But other than that I didn’t really - you know what, because the weather was either freezing at the beginning or, you know, nearing the end it was boiling in the studio, which is, you know, kind of this charming studio that they had there that was just awesome.

So that is challenging. And, you know, living in Nova Scotia away from my home was also, you know, with a two-year-old. So - and most of the staff also (unintelligible) that don’t - that’s not acting because I think that is really, it’s like boot camp, you know, for how to get through challenges on a show. So yes.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great, thanks so much.

Bree Williamson: No, thank you.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of (Sheldon Waby). Please proceed.

Sheldon Waby: Hi, thanks so much for doing this. In your first appearance as Claire we get a bit of background on her. She’s dealt with trouble before and she’s a Haven psychiatrist, not a psychiatrist who’s come to Haven. So she’s familiar with everything that goes on in the same sort of general sense that everyone in the town would be.

So I’m just wondering, would we learn more about her back story and will we learn more abut how she’s worked with the troubled in the past and will that be of help to Audrey?

Bree Williamson: I mean, you know, she kind of says a lot in her first episode about, you know, what her role is and what she’s done and even - like, she’s - you learn a little bit more about her back story but not that much more.

I mean her story is she’s just a psychiatrist in Haven that, you know, has not been seen up until this point because it seems like she you know, Nathan, Audrey, and Duke have, like dealt with the troubled and been like, okay, bye. And the okay, bye lead to Claire where she would, you know, help people work through the aftermath of what had happened to them.

So yes, that’s the only way I know how to answer that question. I mean I don’t know if that’s a full answer but there you go, that’s what I got.

Sheldon Waby: Will she have any interaction with the Teague brothers by any chance?

Bree Williamson: A little, not as much as I’d hoped but yes, a little. Like, she knows them and they know of her. So they have - you know, they have a relationship. So yes.

Sheldon Waby: Cool, all right. Thanks.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of - it’s a follow up question from (Diane Morasco). Please proceed.

Bree Williamson: Great.

Diane Morasco:Great, thanks for - what was your prayer or mindset the night you found out you were cast in the role of Dr. Claire Callahan?

Bree Williamson: What was my mindset when I found out I was cast in the role of Dr. Claire Callahan? That I had to move. We agreed to move to LA - you know, my husband and my son and I had just moved to LA in January and it was pilot season, which if you know anything about being an actor, pilot season is just a blur.

And then I got the role on Haven so I was like, oh my goodness, I haven’t really had a chance to even live in LA and now I’m moving to Nova Scotia.

So I mean obviously I was so excited and the opportunity to go and everything. And - you know, really excited because I mean it’s one thing to get a role but it’s another thing to, like - to get up and go and that was great.

And also worked out - the timing worked out really well for me because I’m also doing another show in New York, or I was doing a pilot for this show Infamous, and it just happened that that pilot was shooting and then, like, the next day I had to go to Halifax to shoot Haven. So it all worked out time zone wise.

((Crosstalk))

Bree Williamson: ...when you have a two-year-old, so yes.

Diane Morasco:So with your demanding schedule, how do you carve out time for fun? And what is Bree’s definition of fun?

Bree Williamson: My definition of fun is a day with myself, my husband, and my son. Because my husband and I both have extremely demanding schedules and it’s such an awesome treat when the two of us have more than a couple hours to actually, like, do an activity with our son. And that is fun.

I mean we - both my husband and I have had a little bit of downtime together recently and we’ve been so much fun. So yes, that’s what I would call fun. And my son just runs along the beach while my husband and I take turns surfing. So it’s great.

Diane Morasco:That’s fun, that’s fun. Now if you were to go back in time, Bree, to have a dinner party with anyone who would it be and what would you be talking about?

Bree Williamson: Go back in time to have a dinner party with anyone, oh my God, I wasn’t prepared, I hate these questions. It’s like two hours from now I’m going to be like, why did I say that, I know what I want.

You know what, I’m going to say - and I'm probably going to change, but I remember doing - even before I knew that I was going to be an actor, that being an actor was ever a possibility, in my early - like, maybe my first year at the university - no, no, it was my last year in high school.

I wrote a big paper on Mary Pickford and Mary Pickford would be one really cool to go out to dinner with and just talk about what it was like - what the struggles are about being a female actress like wanting to have a baby to, like, you know, to being like, you know, she was America’s little sweetheart even though she was Canadian. So yes, it would be cool to kind of talk to her.

Diane Morasco:That’s amazing, thank you so much, Bree.

Bree Williamson: No, thank you.

Operator: And our next question is, once again, a follow up question from (Tony Talago). Please proceed.

Tony Talago: Hello again, Bree. I’m just wondering, I haven’t seen the episode but how does Dr. Callahan end up in Haven? How does she come? Does she open a practice there or just end up there like circumstances as Audrey does?

Bree Williamson: Well, she’s always been there. Like, I mean the way - and was explained to me and the way that I have known it is that she - you know, she grew up in Haven and then she went away to do her schooling and then she came back and opened up her practice.

So even in Season 1 we didn’t see Claire but she was there, you know, working with the troubled after - like, during the aftermath. And maybe even if, you know, there was other people there that Nathan and Audrey and Duke didn’t meet she was, you know, working with them along the side as well.

Tony Talago: Interesting.

Bree Williamson: So she just - was brought into light into, like, their inner circle because Audrey needs help after, you know, what we saw her go through in the first episode.

Tony Talago: Yes, that was quite a lot. Can you tell us a little bit about your role in Infamous? You mentioned that as a pilot that’s coming out.

Bree Williamson: Well, I don’t know if you’re familiar with the show but it’s about socialite - the pilot episode is about a socialite who gets killed. And then this show is - Meagan Good’s character, Joanna, she kind of gets pulled into it because the socialite Vivian and Joanna were best friends growing up. And she gets pulled into it because they were best friends.

And Joanna happens to be a police officer so she kind of goes undercover into her family’s home to figure out who killed her. And I’m the girl who gets killed. So there you go.

I appear mostly in the pilot episode and I appear later on in flashbacks, for how long I don’t know, but yes, that’s mainly my role, which is awesome because - you know, I get to play this really crazy drug addict socialite who’s - you know, a really fun broken character, which is always better to play those ones than the other ones. So yes, it was a great role. And it is still a great role.

Tony Talago: Sounds like a potential patient for Dr. Callahan.

Bree Williamson: I mean yes, she definitely is one.

Tony Talago: And would you - have you maybe thought about the nice problem, if it gets picked up, that you end up having to do both shows?

Bree Williamson: Well, actually Infamous did get picked up and - yes, so yes. I mean it’s an awesome problem. And yes, I thought about it. And it’s great. And the timing so that works out perfect so yes.

Tony Talago: Very cool. Well, hopefully that will work out for you too.

Bree Williamson: I hope so as well.

Tony Talago: All right, thank you.

Stephen Cox: This will be our last question.

Operator: And our next question is from the line of (Jamie Ruby). Please proceed.

Jamie Ruby: Hi, so now that you’re part of the syfy family, I know you were talking about Infamous, but now that you’re part of the syfy family, if there was another one of their shows you could guest star in which one would you pick?

Bree Williamson: I don’t know. I mean Alpha seems pretty cool. But I’m pretty happy with my choice of Haven, pretty great show. But Alpha seems like a pretty great show as well.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. Thanks so much.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

Operator: And our last question comes from the line of (Monique Jones). Please proceed.

Monique Jones:Hi, how are you today?

Bree Williamson: Hi, I’m great.

Monique Jones:That’s great, I read that your character will help (RJ Parker) profile potential bad guys. Does this mean that you’ll come into contact with the guard any time soon on the show?

Bree Williamson: Yes, I will.

Monique Jones:Okay, and how does - go ahead.

Bree Williamson: No, no, that’s it. I mean I don’t know what else to say about that.

Monique Jones:I was just going to say, how does - in what ways does Claire help Audrey find out who could be a bad guy? What methods does she use?

Bree Williamson: Well, I mean it’s mostly her and Audrey working together, you know. There’s - what methods? I mean, you know, they kind of work together on both finding out, you know - because Audrey’s past and what’s happening in Haven with the bad guy are really connected.

So the more Audrey finds out about herself the more we will - the more that will help us to figure out what’s going on in Haven. So that’s kind of my role to kind of connect the two if that makes sense.

Monique Jones:Yes, thanks.

Bree Williamson: No problem.

Stephen Cox: Thank you all very much for joining us today. A special thank you to Bree herself. Her premier episode of Haven airs this Friday at 10:00 pm on Syfy.

Have a great day everyone.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude the conference call for today. We thank you all for your participation and please disconnect your line. Have a great day everybody.

Bree Williamson: Thank you.

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