A Chat with the Actresses in the ABC Family Channel Movie Cyberbully

Emily Osment and Kay Panabaker Photo by: Tiffany

The ABC Family Channel movie Cyberbully, airing on Sunday, July 17 at 8 PM, follows Taylor Hillridge (Emily Osment), a teenage girl who falls victim to online bullying, and the cost it takes on her as well as her friends and family.

The official breakdown of the movie is as follows: “Taylor is a pretty seventeen-year-old student dealing with her parents’ recent divorce and painfully aware of her lower social status in high school. When her mom gives her a computer for her birthday, Taylor is excited by the prospect of going online to meet new friends without her mother always looking over her shoulder. However, Taylor soon finds herself the victim of betrayal and bullying while visiting a popular social website. Obsessed with the damaging posts, she begins to withdraw from her family and friends, including her life-long best friend, Samantha Caldone (Kay Panabaker). Tormented and afraid to face her peers at school, Taylor is pushed to an extreme breaking point. It is only after this life-changing event that Taylor learns that she is not alone – meeting other teens, including a classmate, who have had similar experiences. Taylor’s mom, Kris (Kelly Rowan), reels from the incident and takes on the school system and state legislation to help prevent others from going through the same harrowing ordeal as her daughter.”

Not that long ago, NiceGirlsTV had the opportunity to talk with actresses Emily Osment and Kay Panabaker about their experience working on the film and more. The following is an excerpt of that interview:

What is Cyberbully?

Emily: The movie focuses on my character, Taylor, and her battle with bullying and cyberbullying. It follows her into the home. It follows her at school. Her best friend Samantha tries to help her, but doesn’t really know how and struggles with it. It’s basically her story, her insecurity and the way that she handles it.

It’s a cautionary tale?

Emily: It is. It’s not based on a true story, but it very easily could be. It’s extremely relatable especially with all the press about cyberbullying (such as the) Michelle Obama campaign and the Seventeen Magazine campaign. They are making it a big deal for the cause. It’s a huge problem and the more we bring attention to it, hopefully it will help.

How (did you get) involved in the project?

Kay: I was going through a transition period and was asked to audition, but I was out of town and couldn’t do it. (So) the part was cast by someone else and then at the last minute (the other actress) couldn’t travel because of an illness so I was called (at the) last minute. (So) on 5:30 on Tuesday they said I was going to have to fly at 11 AM the next morning and I got thrown into it but I was thrilled to be a part of it because I knew that Emily was signed on when I signed on. I have known Emily for many years and I liked the role because she’s such a dramatic character. The movie focuses on Taylor’s journey, but it’s also the journey of her best friend and the bullies and her mom and how they all cope with this whole subject matter and how it affects all of them.

How tragic does it get?

Emily: We play it very realistic. Everything in the movie is extremely dramatic, it’s heartbreaking. You completely believe in these characters.

Kay: It’s an emotional journey.

Emily: It’s about seeing where my character starts and where she finishes.

Cyberbully

How do you relate real life to the lives of these characters?

Kay: As public figures, we ask for the public’s involvement in our lives through Twitter or MySpace; and I think that people take it upon themselves, now that they have a direct line to you, that they can give career advice, character advice and there is no longer that sense of boundary with public figures. My mother has always taught me that you should conduct yourself privately as you would publicly so if you wouldn’t say certain things to the person’s face don’t say them online; and if you can’t withhold yourself from doing that, then take yourself offline and figure out a better outlet with whatever you’re dealing with.

Emily: It’s hard to say that I can truly relate to my character because her experience is so traumatic and I’ve never really dealt with anything that is that emotionally strenuous; but my mom is a teacher and I hear stories about bullying all the time. (So) it’s easy for me to sit down and talk to her about it to get a full grasp of what she hears about bullying and what she sees at school and the toll it takes on kids. I really wanted to get a full opinion of what it’s like to be bullied.

(Have either of you) ever been tempted online to say certain things because you can?

Kay: No, it just feeds the people who are looking for that sort of thing. It doesn’t warrant a response. Ignoring them is the best solution. And, if you can’t do that, then find some other way to vent about it. Don’t vent to that person; don’t give into them.

How do you make typing cinematic?

Emily: It’s difficult because a lot of times it’s sitting, but they did a lot of it by handheld cameras. The crew wanted to make it look beautiful, but there weren’t a lot of outdoor scenes because it’s inside, in a bedroom looking at a computer. How do you make that pretty? They focused on reactions rather than just the screen the whole time. It was hard character-wise to go from “everything is good” to sobbing, (that) instant click of emotional change. I cried every single day.

Kay: There were a lot of scenes where Emily was crying every single day and then at the end of the day instead of being depressed she got herself happy again.

What was it like working with Kelly Rowan?

Emily: I love her. She got me on the healthy kick. I’m completely 100% raw vegan now because of Kelly. She’s just the sweetest person and she did this fantastic job of giving excellent advice, but not like in a motherly way but in a very friendly sort of way. She is very real and extremely down to earth; very funny. We got along really well.

To see how cyberbullying can really affect one individual, their friends and family and how you can make a difference, make sure to tune in to ABC Family Channel on July 18 at 8 PM for the TV debut of the movie Cyberbully.