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Geek Girl Authority
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL's Romy Weltman on Becoming Em and Working With Melanie Scrofano
One miraculous day in Wisconsin, the dead rise from their graves. The town of Wausau hurtles into chaos in the wake of 'Revival Day' as its residents attempt to adapt to this new normal. Among the Revived is Martha 'Em' Cypress (Romy Weltman), younger sister to Officer Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano), who scrambles to piece together the mystery surrounding her death, which now looks an awful lot like murder. Recently, I had the privilege of chatting with Romy about how she approached playing Em on Revival , what we can expect for the rest of the season, developing a sisterly bond with Melanie and more. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' Series This interview has been edited for clarity. Romy Weltman REVIVAL — 'Keeping Up Appearances' Season 1 Episode 2 — Pictured: (l-r) Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Melody McCune: I've been loving the show so far. At the start of all this, what would you say stood out to you about the source material? What drew you into this world? Romy Weltman: Oh my gosh. Honestly, I wish I had a clear answer for you, but it really was everything: the genre, the writing. I love an adaptation when done correctly. Just getting to be a part of a universe that already was preexisting, that's huge for me as well. MM: Besides diving into the comics, how did you approach Em? How did you prepare to play this character? RW: Everything happened pretty quickly with this for me. So, the preparation was also just trusting the process. A lot of what came from me was doing research on Em's backstory in terms of OI (Osteogenesis Imperfecta — also called brittle bone disease). Making sure I understood what OI was and how it impacts people's lives. Then, [the] same with drug addiction, given her addiction to oxycodone. I wanted to make sure I was representing everything correctly and was able to be part of this conversation. In terms of taking care of Em's backstory, that's really what I focused on. And growing with her [over the] course of the season was part of my preparation as well. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Working With Melanie MM: What was it like getting to develop that sisterly bond with Melanie, which I think is really the heart of this story? RW: Aw, thank you. That was just one of the coolest experiences ever. Mel is exactly who you'd expect her to be, but even better. When I met her, it was an instant connection, and [I loved] getting to work with her and learn from her as well. This was my first leading role on a series. MM: Congratulations. RW: Thank you so much. There's no lead like Melanie Scrofano. Having her hold my hand the entire way through was so special. I got to learn from a really strong, empowering woman. Through that, I hope that resonated on screen, that Em was starting to learn from Dana as well. Em's Journey on Revival REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: I'd say so. I think your close bond definitely resonates on screen. I'm going to get into spoiler territory here since episode three just aired. Em is starting to piece together the mystery of her murder, and as she's jumping off that bridge, she remembers Blaine (Steven Ogg) was there the night she died. What can we expect going forward from her story and the investigation as it unfolds? RW: The biggest thing you can expect is answers, but also potentially more confusion along the way. Something about Revival — without spoiling anything moving forward — is that everyone knows each other. That's a little teaser I'll give you. With Em's journey, we're going to find this young woman who's finally allowed to really explore herself and give herself permission to make mistakes and live a life she never got to live before. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 To Feel Alive MM: Piggybacking off that, she tells Rhodey (Kaleb Horn) in episode three that she had to die to really feel alive. What was it like getting to tap into that shift in Em as she steps outside her comfort zone? RW: That line is the most beautiful line ever. Our writers are incredible. Aaron [B. Koontz] and Luke [Boyce], our creators and showrunners, said early on [that] this line is really what Em's journey and story are built around. In that moment, she realizes it while sitting on the bridge next to this cute boy. The special thing about Rhodey is that he didn't know Em prior to Revival Day, so he never knew this version of her that she was so stuck in, based on other people's perspectives. Just sitting there and realizing, 'Life isn't scary anymore. It's not bad anymore. It's me against the world at this point, and potentially could be us against the world at this point.' We really did shoot that scene on a bridge. Kaleb Horn — he plays Rhodey — and I were both harnessed in. We did not actually jump into the water, though. MM: Oh, good. RW: I want to make that clear. But I was thinking, 'Wow, I'm really living my dream. And I feel like I'm just starting to live hers.' RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Lights, Camera, Action REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Nicky Guadagni as Arlene Stankiewiscz, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: You've had a couple of action sequences in these first few episodes, from wielding a scythe in the first episode to getting in a bar fight. What was it like getting to film those sequences? RW: I'm so happy you asked. Those are just the coolest things ever. To be transparent, I'm 5'1″. I'm quite petite. This is why Em is such a cool character. I got to play this physically strong character because the consequences aren't the same for her as they would be for Romy in real life. It was cool getting to learn about my own body through those sequences. Max White, our stunt coordinator, is incredible. He was so open to allowing me to do as much as possible, so I didn't have a stunt double for either of those scenes, which is cool. I do have a stunt [double] later on, which I want to make clear for certain things in this season, but for those specific scenes, they let me go for it. Through that, I got to learn so much. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland There was something so freeing about getting beaten up and not worrying. Obviously, I'm not really getting beaten up. The beautiful thing about that, too, is the partnership we were working with, and everyone I had the opportunity to work with has been so awesome. Character Similarities REVIVAL — 'Reality Check' Season 1 Episode 3 — Pictured: (l-r) Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress, Kaleb Horn as Rhodey Rasch — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) MM: Do you share any similarities with Em? RW: I'd say the biggest one is that I journal a lot, the same as Em. I don't journal as much as she does in the first season, but that's something I keep close to me. I'm also the youngest in my family. For so long, I've wanted people to see me as an adult. We tend to fall into how people make us feel. I can relate to Em feeling small sometimes, and not being sure why. Then, also getting to power through that and learn and grow through that is awesome, so those are big similarities as well. RELATED: Our 15 Favorite Wynonna Earp Moments My brother and I have a similar age gap to Em and Dana. Also, Em, similarly to me, probably more so when I was a bit younger, feels so much. I don't think she knows how to express it to the people she cares about. That is difficult to navigate growing up. She has all these people she could turn to, but she doesn't know how. That's the thing — just growing up in general. MM: Describe the rest of this season using three words. RW: Bloody. Heartfelt. Revived. What Romy Is Watching MM: Love it. All right, last question. I like to ask this question to everyone I interview. Are you watching anything interesting right now? RW: Well, I'm watching Revival . MM: Of course. RW: I'm also watching The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives . MM: I haven't seen that yet. RW: I am not a reality show girl, but I am obsessed. I also just started the show Paradise . You know what? I should give a shout-out to SurrealEstate . RELATED: Read our Revival recaps MM: I watched that as well. I covered it. RW: Please throw that in there because I am such a Tim Rozon fan, and I actually really love the show. Definitely one that I watch to get into the sci-fi genre a bit more. I get a kick out of the show. MM: It's a great gateway to sci-fi. I got to chat with Tim and Melanie last year for Wynonna Earp: Vengeance , and that was really fun. RW: They're both just the coolest people ever. I had the pleasure of meeting Tim on a film called Terror Train . Mel had actually seen my demo. Tim and I have a small two-second fling in that movie. She was like, 'Don't you dare touch my man.' It's really funny, and it turned into a cute full-circle moment. I'm a fan of both of them. Thank you, Romy, for chatting with GGA! Revival airs every Thursday at 10/9c on Syfy. 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for RESIDENT ALIEN Season 4 Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Geek Girl Authority
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
REVIVAL Series Premiere Recap: (S01E01) Don't Tell Dad
Revival Season 1 Episode 1, 'Don't Tell Dad,' is a solid series premiere. It's giving dark Wynonna Earp vibes meets Fargo . Melanie Scrofano is back on my screen in a Syfy show, and all is well with the world. 'Don't Tell Dad' deftly lays the groundwork for what's to come, and the overarching mystery is intriguing as all get-out. Society at large discriminating against Revivers also hits close to home, especially considering the state of our country. I hope the series finds thoughtful ways to explore that. RELATED: Revival : Co-Creators Aaron B. Koontz and Luke Boyce on Crafting 'Weird' New Series Revival, 'Don't Tell Dad' We open on Randy's Crematorium during the holiday season in Wausau, Wisconsin. May Tao (Katharine King So) films a segment about odd jobs in town. Here, she focuses on Randy (Graeme Barrett) and his cremation business. May helps Randy load a body into the cremation incinerator. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Brandon Oakes as Jesse Blackdear — (Photo by: Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Suddenly, the man inside starts pounding on the door after Randy turns on said incinerator. He's alive. After a few seconds of struggling, Randy opens the door. The man barrels into the room, now on fire. Then, May and Randy hear voices from the morgue as those within, who used to be dead, call out for help. One person bolts upright while inside a body bag. Revival Day is here. The Dead Are Back Meanwhile, Wayne Cypress (David James Elliott), the town sheriff, quarrels with his daughter, Dana (Scrofano). Dana is an officer at the local station, working under her dad. Dana is packing her and her son Cooper's (Hudson Wurster) belongings. She plans to move them to Chicago, where she has accepted a new job. Wayne tries to dissuade her from leaving. Dana gives her father her two-week notice. RELATED: Revival : Check Out 9 First-Look Photos From Melanie Scrofano-Led Series Then, Wayne gets a call about Randy, who's understandably panicking after the dead came back to life in his crematorium. He orders Dana to investigate. While en route to Randy, Dana stops in the middle of the road near the cemetery. She looks on in horror as the formerly deceased make their way toward her in a state of bewilderment. Why are they alive? Jordan (Flora McInroy), Cooper's classmate, approaches Dana, asking for her mother. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Fast forward 35 days. Quarantine is finally over, but Wausau officials — as sanctioned by Mayor Dillisch (Conrad Coates) — have ordered everyone not to leave town. CDC checkpoints are situated at various spots across town. We learn that at least 47 'Revivers,' as they're called, are in a registry. In addition, those who returned from the dead usually died between December 4 and December 18; the latter date is now known as Revival Day. Move On Meanwhile, Martha 'Em' Cypress (Romy Weltman), Dana's little sister, soaks in a bathtub. We're in her dorm room. Her roommate Kay (Maia Jae) returns from her extended stay at home during the quarantine. She encourages Em to help her clean the place. Classes are about to restart, after all. Life goes on. RELATED: Revival : The Dead Have Rejoined the Living in Official Trailer Elsewhere, Dana gets smoochy-smoochy with Ibrahim Ramin (Andy McQueen). They're about to get it on in Dana's vehicle when Wayne calls her about a dead horse. Someone's gotta be on dead animal duty. Dana politely gives Ibrahim the boot before driving away. This scene feels very Earp , and I love it. Later, Dana drives to the aforementioned dead horse in the middle of a road. She also discovers a dead coyote in an animal trap, a rather crudely made one at that, with railroad spikes. Strewn about the coyote and horse are human teeth. Yum. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: Melanie Scrofano as Dana Cypress — (Photo by: Mathieu Savidant/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) Is Wausau Safe? The following day, we see a 'For Lease' sign outside Dana's house. She sends Cooper off to school, although he's unsure about returning. On TV, Mayor Dillisch chats with a Reviver and reassures the townsfolk that, despite the extra precautions taken by the sheriff, with his registry and checkpoint zones, Wausau is safe. RELATED: TV Review: Resident Alien Season 4 At school, Cooper reunites with Jordan, expressing gratitude that she's back. However, kids can be cruel, and their classmates bully her for being a Reviver. Dana heads into the station to find a bevy of people complaining about Revivers. Well, except one. Opal Shaw (Jill Frappier) is desperately searching for her husband. He died the day before the two-week period prior to Revival Day. Deputy McCray (Nathan Dales) creepily asks Dana if she's found her horse guy yet. It's a Letterkenny reunion, my good buddies. Dana asks Deputy Brent Carlisle (Mark Little) if he was able to secure the registry for her. Unfortunately, the sheriff is restricting access to just the task force. The Registry After this, Dana eavesdrops on the sheriff and mayor's heated argument. Well, she's mostly curious about the cutie patootie the CDC has sent over. Inside Wayne's office, Wayne advocates for kicking the Revivers out of Wausau, while Dillisch believes they're not a threat. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 Then, after Dillisch storms out, Dana barges into her father's office. She realizes the new CDC liaison is none other than Ibrahim, her almost-sex buddy. Things get awkward. Ibrahim explains that they have zero evidence thus far to support that Revivers are dangerous. Once he departs, Wayne asks if Dana and Ibrahim have slept together. He also urges Dana to move quickly with the horse case. The station is stretched thin as it is. Before she leaves the office, Dana surreptitiously grabs the registry files. She looks through them at her desk. She notes that a few names, like Myles Miller, are 'Unascertained' Revivers. Myles also has a violent past. Next, Dana gets a call from Chicago, with, presumably, the woman who hired her on the other end informing her that they can no longer keep the job open for her. So, Dana's stuck in Wausau. Scout's Honor Randy pops up and tells Dana that the horse is gone. The CDC took the carcass. Meanwhile, Em pays Professor Aaron Weimer (Gianpaolo Venuta) a visit. It's abundantly clear they had some kind of romantic entanglement (with quite the imbalanced power dynamic). Em demands that Aaron meet her at their spot later. It's important. RELATED: 10 Predictions for The Ark Season 3 Later, Dana visits Ibrahim at the makeshift CDC headquarters inside a high school gymnasium. Dana wants to know why he took her horse. Ibrahim explains they found an anomaly inside said horse — human teeth. In fact, they're a match for the teeth Dana discovered near the dead coyote. Ibrahim decides to show Dana something incredible, but she can't tell anyone about it. 'Scout's honor,' Dana says while throwing up the Vulcan salute (nice nod to Scrofano's other job, writers). Ibrahim cuts through Reviver tissue. In an instant, the tissue stitches itself back together. That means Revivers boast self-healing abilities. Dana calls Lester (Peter Millard), who was with her when she discovered the teeth, to confirm what kind of truck he drives. She recalls the truck tracks she found at the scene. They don't belong to Lester. She tells Ibrahim that someone placed an already dead horse in the middle of the road. The Only Lead Dana also believes that someone out there is hiding a super-strong, animal-eating Reviver. This Reviver's teeth, in particular, can regrow, so while they might be strong enough to bite through a horse, the act might still destroy their teeth. RELATED: Read our Wynonna Earp recaps Dana decides to pursue her only lead — Myles Miller. She wonders how the police know they've tracked down all the Revivers when there are 45,000 people in the quarantine zone. Someone could've died in their sleep and not known it. Meanwhile, Em and Wayne chat on the phone. Em promises to be better at calling her dad on a more consistent basis. After they hang up, Em weeps, staring at the wedding band in her hand. Someone watches her from the shadows. Next, Dana finds Myles (Josh Cruddas), who's not exactly thrilled to see her. They get into a scuffle. Myles' arm winds up in one of his animal traps, so that's not fun for him. Dana notices his teeth aren't in great shape, but they're merely how they were before Myles came back from the dead. They're certainly not regrowing. Dana arrests Myles for, if anything, assaulting an officer. A Reunion The following day, Dana leaves to meet with a couple residing on the outskirts of the quarantine zone. They could have what she's looking for: answers. Wayne takes Cooper along to do a wellness check for Mrs. Shaw. While en route, Dana finds Em sleeping on a bench. She offers to give her little sister a ride home. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: SurrealEstate 's Susan Ireland Dana and Em reconnect. We learn that they used to be close, but time — and family issues — drove a wedge between them. They reminisce about old times and decide to plan a beach trip for when all the madness ends. We learn Em has an undisclosed medical condition, potentially pertaining to her bones. Em decides to ride along to keep Dana company while she works. Later, Dana arrives at the Dittmans — Bob (Derek McGrath) and Terry (Nora McLellan). As it turns out, they have the kind of truck Dana is looking for. There's also a bloody tarp in the truck bed. Dead giveaway. Elsewhere, Mrs. Shaw lets Wayne into her house. He discovers that she dug up her husband's corpse, and it's sitting at the kitchen table. The poor woman begs her husband to come back to life. Aw. Wayne departs while calling the coroner to pick up the body. Unfortunately, Cooper has fled Wayne's vehicle. REVIVAL — 'Don't Tell Dad' Season 1 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Nicky Guadagni as Arlene Stankiewiscz, Romy Weltman as Martha 'Em' Cypress — (Photo by: Naomi Peters/Lavivier Productions/SYFY) A Rogue Reviver Dana hears noises emanating from the Dittmans' barn. We learn that Terry's mother now lives there. She's the rogue Reviver who ate the horse and coyote. Dana watches as Arlene (Nicky Guadagni) pulls her teeth out. They grow back instantly. Arlene lunges at Dana. Terry tries to pacify her mother. Unfortunately, Arlene tosses Terry, whose head catches on a hook on the barn wall. She dies. RELATED: Read our SurrealEstate recaps Bob attacks his mother-in-law, but Arlene casts him aside with ease. Em, who Dana ordered to stay in the car, grabs a scythe. She attempts to stab Arlene with it. Suddenly, Arlene plunges the blade through Em's torso. Dana cries out and rushes to her sister's side. She whirls around and fires on Arlene, but the bullets do, well, nothing. After this, Arlene tries to choke the life out of Dana. Thankfully, Em slices the top of Arlene's head clean off with the scythe. Arlene collapses. A shocked Dana watches as the wound on Em's stomach heals. She's a Reviver. Em tearfully begs Dana not to tell their father. If I had a nickel for every time Melanie Scrofano's character has a little sister with special abilities, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice. RELATED: 36 Delicious Easter Eggs in Wynonna Earp: Vengeance Revival airs new episodes every Thursday at 10/9c, only on Syfy. Our 15 Favorite WYNONNA EARP Moments Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
New filmed in N.B. TV series premieres Thursday
The latest made in New Brunswick production will be hitting the television screens Thursday night. REVIVAL stars award winning Canadian actress, Melanie Scrofano, and is based on the graphic novel series of the same name. The series consists of ten hour-long episodes, all of which were filmed in southern New Brunswick. 'This has been a number of years leading up to this moment for us to have a TV series of this scale here in New Brunswick produced by our company,' says Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House Pictures. 'So, we're pretty thrilled.' Hemmings, who is also an executive producer of the show, says the series is a 'cult classic' and is based in a sleepy little town called Wausau, Wisconsin. Tensions and fear run high in the community when the recently deceased come back to life and return to town. Dana Cypress, played by Scrafano, stars as a police officer in the centre of the plot. She is tasked with solving a murder where both the living and revived are suspects. Fellow executive producer, Stephen Foster, who is also with Hemmings House Pictures, says Saint John works as a perfect backdrop for the setting. 'You just got to not point the cameras at the Bay of Fundy, that's the only trick,' Foster jokes. Southern New Brunswick viewers will likely recognized some locations with filming being done around uptown Saint John, and in neighbouring communities like Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, and Sussex, N.B. Filming for the series saw over 200 New Brunswickers find full-time work for the production and over 400 part-time workers, says Foster. There were also 51 people who experienced working in the industry for the first time during production. One of those was 9-year-old, Flora McInroy, from Saint John. McInroy plays the character named Jordan Borchardt. She is one of the youngest people to come back from the dead in town. She was one of over 100 girls to audition for the role in an open casting call, one she only found out about thanks to her mom being a hairstylist for production. She says being her first time acting, she never expected to get the part. 'I just can't believe it,' McInroy admits on the thought of starring in a TV series in her hometown. 'I'm very proud of myself for being able to do this, and I'm very thankful and grateful for just being able to do this, meeting other people, being able to share this experience and share the work that everyone has worked so hard on.' She, like Foster and Hemmings, hope REVIVAL is the first of many big productions to be filmed in the province in the months and years ahead. McInroy notes she may never have gotten the chance to act had it not been for the local production. 'These aren't just beer and pizza paying jobs,' points out Foster. 'These are union scale jobs. These are jobs that you can get a mortgage on and we're continuing to urge the government to continue to participate with us on this.' The show debuts Thursday at 11 p.m. Atlantic time on the CTV Sci-Fi Channel and is streaming the next day on Crave. A free community public screening of the first two episodes will be held in Saint John on Friday June 27. REVIVAL REVIVAL, a new TV series filmed in Saint John, N.B. premiers this Thursday. (CTV Atlantic/ Avery MacRae) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
