Exclusive Interview: Amy Rider Discusses “The Monogamy Experiment”

I was given the chance to sit down with Amy Rider (Alice on The Secret Life of the American Teenage) to discuss her new web series The Monogamy Experiment and her views on life, love and working in television.

Amy created The Monogamy Experiment with her friends as a way to express her frustration with the types of relationships we see on TV and in movies. She also wanted to explore the idea that maybe people weren’t meant to be monogamous. The series is presented as mockumentary webisodes (that could potentially turn into a film) which Amy films with a group of her friends out in LA.

Do you feel you will be able to convey a more realistic type of relationship to viewers than what they see on TV and in the movies?
Well the mockumentary is a comedy. Its often either one or the other, very happy or something depressing like “Blue Valentine” I wanted to make something that encompassed all that stuff. Also, I think something that hasn’t been portrayed a lot is the open relationship versus a monogamous one.

Many people think instead of “the love of your life” you could find the “love of right now.” What do you think about this comparison?
I think it’s the whole nature versus nurture thing. A lot of our environment really guides us in our life cultures: who we get jealous of and who we don’t. Our society is ok with getting married and then getting divorced, where as a long time ago people didn’t do that. People stayed together for so long maybe even if they weren’t in love.

The reaction you had to the proposal was great, especially when talking about getting married so young. Do you feel that working on a show that discusses teenage marriage has skewed the way you personally feel about relationships?
“The Secret Life” definitely covers the theme of doing things too early and then dealing with the consequences. Working on the show definitely makes you think about that all the time…thinking what are these characters doing. But that’s life and in many ways it’s realistic. We all know people who have done things too early and paid the price, but some are really happy.

What has it been like filming your web series?
It’s been completely guerilla. We just go and steal shots, especially if we’re on location. It’s been really fun in a naughty sort of way.

Who would you most want to have come onto your show?
Jane Lynch would be really funny. I saw her in the mall one time and my heart literally exploded.

Do you like working on the entire process more than just acting in front of the camera? Or are directing and producing potentially the next steps in your career?
Absolutely. It’s funny because I do like to do all of it, when I am just producing or directing I don’t know if I’d been 100% fulfilled. But just acting I’m not 100% fulfilled. I love to be apart of the whole creative process.

Have you enjoyed working on a consistent TV show for so many seasons or do you ever feel constricted to one character?
The nice thing about Alice is she’s grown up and is going through life changes that are interesting to explore. The same character for years can become the same if you let it, but you need to find new things about the character to inspire you and get excited. Working on the show’s amazing because everybody loves each other so much and it’s amazing. Everybody is just cracking jokes all the time.

Do you feel that you’ve evolved a lot as a person along side Alice? Perhaps any major changes in your life since the show began?
I think that I have. I think that whenever the writers write something that forces you to stretch a little as an actor you have to grow to be able to do that. Even little things cumulatively build up. I see things a little differently after playing Alice.

This past week of the Secret Life was an emotional episode for you. Can you tell us anything about the upcoming episode in regards to Alice and Henry’s relationship?
It’s a great relationship, and in a weird way I think it works because she’s so obviously the dominant the one, but he’s okay with that. There are moments when he’s not, and by the same token she really needs his love. Maybe right now more than he needs her. The power balances off really well. People respond well to their relationship because they’re really good together and have great chemistry. I don’t know what the writers have planned for Alice and Henry but I do know there’s a surprise coming up in the season finale.

What do you foresee for the characters?
We’re all wondering what’s going to happen. Will Alice and Ben hookup? I think that would be interesting. As far as where we’re going to go for college I have no idea, the writers are good at keeping everything “hush hush”

Do you hope the show will continue on for a for more years, or with college approaching do you see an end to The Secret Life?
I think I’m the kind of person that always wants to expand but on the same token I love everybody on “The Secret Life” and it’s been such a dream job for me. I would definitely cry if that happened. I don’t think I’m ready for it to end.

I was very excited about this interview (seeing as how it was my first) and Amy was the perfect subject. She’s extremely funny and smart, two attributes that she conveys well in her new web series. Each episode is only about five minutes long but they’ll have you laughing the entire time!

Check out The Monogamy Experiment online at www.themonogamyexperiment.com.