Recently I spoke with Jacqueline Piñol about her career and he work on the new Quantum Break video game. Jacqueline is a actress on the rise and she shared details about her time in the game, her career, and the live action series.
What can you tell us about the character you play in Quantum Break?
Well, I can tell you this: Sofia Amaral is a young scientist who is fragile, sexy and highly intelligent. She’s torn between loyalty and conscience. Unfortunately, telling you much more about her position would reveal plot points that would lead to a pretty big spoiler in the game. LOL.
What can you tell us about how the character evolved and the recording process, did you have to do any motion capture for it?
Our Director Stobe Harju was very involved in helping us actors create our characters. Since completing a video game takes many months, we had the luxury of creating a very in depth character. We had a chance to rehearse and make changes where necessary in order to bring Sofia Amaral to life in a way that is very realistic. And yes I got to do motion capture! It was so much fun and so hard. This game required hours and hours of motion capture! They had cameras and sensors on practically every inch of my body. Some of the process is grueling, but the overall experience is amazing. Once they have all the filming and footage they need, the engineers start working their magic. And it is indeed magic that Remedy has created with this game.
How would you compare working on a video game to a movie? I have done a lot of work as an actor.
I would say with Quantum Break, it was my first time in the science fiction realm. The live action portion of the game was very much like shooting a film. The video game part of Quantum Break was quite different because we shot the motion capture on a stage in front of a green screen. The voice over was done in a sound studio. The facial capture was done at Remedy Games in Finland. It felt fragmented while shooting each part. It was important to remain consistent with my character so that when all the parts got put together you’d have a real human being portrayed. Being a part of Quantum Break was like stepping on to a sci-fi set. I really felt transported to another universe. I now feel like I was made for this genre and I hope to do more work in it in the future.
Are you a gamer yourself and what are some of your favorite titles and what are you looking forward to the most?
I am not a gamer…until now. I just got my XboxOne! I am getting ready to start playing Quantum Break myself. Along with my Xbox I got Alan Wake and Tomb Raider…this girl will have her weekends filled for a while I am sure! What am I looking forward to the most? Selfishly speaking, I am looking forward to watching my scenes as a video game character! It’s almost like being a superhero and come on who wouldn’t want to be a superhero?
How did you get into acting and what was your big break?
Mary Poppins got me into acting. I must have seen that movie a hundred times and in 6th grade I was cast as “Mrs. Banks” in the school play. It was then that the acting bug took me and has never left. My first big break role was on General Hospital playing Ricky Martin’s younger sister! Yes, THE Ricky Martin. That experience solidified me as a working actor. Not long after I Ianded a role on a series called “Ponderosa” and then on the Showtime series “Resurrection Boulevard”. On a side note, one thing I’ve learned as a working actor is that every role is a “big break” role. Every role I’ve been lucky enough to get has often led to the next one. I’m not a household name, but I am very fortunate to be an actor who gets to make a good living doing what I love to do.
What can you tell us about the Quantum Break TV series and what fans can expect?
This is not your typical TV Series. It is a live action series embedded in the game that directly coincides with gameplay. What you watch on the show is only going to be seen according to the choices a player makes in the game. It’s a brilliant format.
Any plans to do more episodes of Bordertown in the near future?
We have finished recording all of season one. Fans are liking it and depending on how we do in the ratings, we will hopefully have a Season 2!
So watch Bordertown on FOX! NOW! hee hee.
If you had carte blanche, what type of role would you like to create for yourself, who would direct, and who would star with you in the project?
Oooh, I like this question. It would absolutely be a sci-fi film. My dream role would be to play a female version of a character like Vin Diesel’s Riddick in Pitch Black. I’m a tough chick when I need to be! Either that or the captain of a star ship like Nate Fillion played in Serenity! I am already casting Sam Rockwell to star alongside me and I’ll go for Kevin Smith or Tim Burton to direct… how about that! Let’s do it!
When you consider a script or a potential TV or film project, what elements do you look for in the story and character and what types of projects would you like to do in the future?
To be honest, you can’t be too picky these days. Unless you’re Jennifer Lawrence, you’re not really picking your projects anymore. Ideally though, I look for good writing, and the good thing is, there is a lot of great content being written these days. The tough part is that the competition is more fierce than ever. Movie stars are taking TV roles, so it’s difficult to turn down any work that comes my way. When it comes down to it, as an actor I believe you should be down to play anything. I always consider it my job to take material, good or bad, and spin it into gold!
When you’re not filming, what do you like to do? Travel.
I love traveling to different countries and exotic places. I have visited around 30 countries or so. I love downloading new sights, sounds and scents into my own personal matrix. Next on the list will be Greece, Scotland and Iceland.
What else do you have upcoming?
Season 2 of Bosch has just been released on Amazon. I’m recurring as a detective this season. They just got green lit for Season 3, so hopefully I’m in it! I’m also in a feature film that is making the festival rounds right now, titled “Is That A Gun In Your Pocket” starring Matt Passmore. It’s a romantic comedy that also tackles the subject of gun control in America. It’s getting great reviews so far and it has a stellar cast!
