Orlando Central - Issue #8 (October 2022)

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OFM_INTERVIEW_MarciaGayHarden_1022_V2FINAL.qxp_DEPT 9 / 21 / 22 4 : 50 PM Page 2 MARCIA GAY HARDEN Margaret in your new TV show , So Help Me Todd ? In So Help Me Todd my character has to learn Marcia Gay Harden as Claire Gibson how to work with her son and her daughter . First and Charlie Rowe of all , no matter what you do there are going to as her son , Nate Gibson in be similarities to you and you’re going to find Gigi & Nate . things you relate to . I relate to the fact that she wants the best for her kids , but she’s probably a little bit strident at times . I am definitely a “ momma bear ” when it comes to my children . I also relate to the fact that she’s completely inept when it comes to technology . My 18 - year - old son was visiting me in Vancouver and he got up at 6 : 15 a.m . to come to this hotel to help me with my Zoom calls . He set up the camera because he knows it is not my world . On a personal note , what is your happy place akin to the lake house where the family spends its time Gigi & Nate ? Literally , I have a lake house . Yes , I moved up years ago to the Catskills after my ex - husband and I bought some land and we built on that land . I was in a tent when I was five months preg - nant because we were weed - whacking to clear beginning , she didn’t quite know what to do , but your children , because that’s love . Also , the movie space on this land . We built a very beautiful , by the end of the filming , she fully knew how to highlights the values of friendship and kindness . happy place . We kayak down to the marsh . There act . She would come to the set and look through There’s a sweet little scene where Jim Belushi’s are bald eagles , otters and beavers . It’s about water the camera for her close - up . She was better lit character , who plays my husband , is trying to and the healing aspect of water , so you go there and she had more screen time than any of the rent a car because his son is on his deathbed in because it’s away from the grind of life . rest of us . I loved her . She was just completely the hospital and there are no available flights . The emotional and empathic . These animals are in guy behind him finally says , “ You can take my Can you talk about the importance that family the moment , and you have to be in the moment car , sir . ” There’s the aspect of the kindness of plays in your life ? with them . strangers that makes such a huge difference in I think both of my recent projects are about con - our lives . nection and family . They are both about people Have you had much interaction with animals that we recognize and about the value of love within before on film or TV ? To what do you attribute the longevity , richness a family . We can be incredibly separated . People I’ve worked with dogs and horses like that before , and diversity of your career ? move all over America , families can be very distant . so I know it’s similar to working with babies . I’ve always worked , and I’m blessed to always Families are also troubled . They are about people . What was interesting about Allie is how intelligent have work . I’ve got three kids and I pretty much you don’t necessarily want for a Thanksgiving meal ions she is and how sentient she is . If you were feeling take care of them . I’m happy working . When I every Thanksgiving , but you do . ract sad , she would sort of nuzzle you to make you haven’t been working , I’ll turn to writing or I think I would say to my kids , “ Listen , AttI e feel better . It was astonishing to see the level of working on other projects . don’t care if you fall in love with a giraffe , just sid cognition and connection up close because we bring that giraffe home for RoadThanksgiving . usually don’t get to be that close to them . So , you’ve been playing several moms [ Laughs ] . That’s all I care about . I just want all of of us to be ytogether . ” lately . How did you get into the headspace of rtes What were the life lessons that you took away cou from this movie ? ight Marcia Gay There were many . First of all , to remember how Harden rwith p Skylar Astin in o precious the people we love are and that we tneed So Help Me to to be grateful for the lives that we have . I Phothink Todd . . the spirit of Nate , Claire and this family is about BS never surrendering . It’s about asking Courselves , of “ In the worst possible situations , what do rtesypeople do ? ” I believe that’s what character is all about ; I cou think it’s about looking on the positive side . Claire ight is all about recovery and helping her son find r m something meaningful in his life after ottotragedy upended bit . and eft Why do you recommend this movie ? l at I think Gigi & Nate is about wanting to move hoto heaven and earth for your loved ones , especially P ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM ? october 2022 ORLANDO FAMILY 55

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OFM_CommunityDept_Super Kids_1022FINAL.qxp_DEPT 9 / 21 / 22 4 : 43 PM Page 1 of the National Achievers Society . The National Achievers Society is a prestigious organization that recognizes students across the country for their aca - C O M M U N I T Y demic and cultural accomplishments . Courtney is active with the National Honor Society , BETA Club , Code Orlando 2019 and par - C ticipates in various academic groups . Her goal is to help people by becoming a forensic scientist and working as a crime scene investigator . Wise Beyond Adam Mendelsohn Their Years Our annual crop of Super Kids is doing its part to make Central Florida a better place . by Amy Kodrich here is no question that our children have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years , from remote school to canceled activities . The fact that they have still managed T to thrive is nothing short of remarkable , and many are even finding ways to go above and beyond by volunteering at local charities or starting their own initiatives to help others . Orlando Family Magazine is proud to shed a light on a few of those impactful youngsters with our annual list of Super Kids . Cassie and Sabrina Glow Between direct donations , pro - bono voiceover work and hosting virtual food drives , they have Mendelsohn , a student at Edgewater High School , generated support for over 35,000 meals . “ Part - volunteers as a Special Olympics Unified Partner nering with an organization like Second Harvest and also gives his time at Camp Shriver , a summer inspires me to give back even more because I know camp designed for young individuals with intellectual they can amplify my support to create an even disabilities that provides an inclusive environment . greater impact in the community than I could do Unified Partners are people without intellectual alone , ” Sabrina says . disabilities who practice and play on teams along - side Special Olympics athletes . The goal of the Destini Courtney Unified program is to bring people with and Courtney , a dual enrollment junior at Apopka High without disabilities together to help dispel miscon - School , volunteered as a Summer Camp Youth ceptions and prejudices against people with intel - Professional voiceover artists and sisters Cassie ( 15 ) Counselor at The Orange County History Center lectual disabilities . and Sabrina ( 14 ) first learned about Second Harvest this past summer . In As a Unified Partner at Camp Shriver , Mendel - Food Bank after the onset of the pandemic . “ The just two months , she sohn assisted athletes with social , motor , art and longer the pandemic drew on , the more we became completed over 70 physical skills . “ We played basketball , did numerous aware of how COVID was impacting others not as hours of community art projects and even swam . But , honestly most fortunate , especially right in our community . We service . She assisted important of all is allowing the athletes to feel like came across a news story about the work Second with programs such as they belong . My main goal was to allow them to Harvest Food Bank was doing in the community “ Fossil Finding , ” “ No feel comfortable and express themselves without and it prompted us to get involved , ” they say . Paintbrush Painting ” judgment , ” he says . They decided then to find a way to use their ( layering paint on Camp members describe Mendelsohn as a voices — literally — to give back . The sisters record canvas in beautiful friendly young man who always has a smile on his voiceovers for Second Harvest’s marketing team to patterns ) , “ Roller - face and makes everyone around him feel included . use in commercials , digital ads , radio ads and social coaster Build ” and During his time at Camp Shriver , he was a big media promos on a pro - bono basis . They created a ecosystem drawings . help to the coaching staff by taking on various tasks , virtual food drive called “ Sister vs . Sister ” to see One of her favorite activities was leading museum and he was instrumental in building camaraderie who could raise more , and this friendly “ competi - scavenger hunts . among the athletes . tion ” ended up boosting their donations even more . “ Her positivity , kindness and helpfulness made Because the “ Glow Girls ” brand is well known her a great asset to our camp team , ” Diane Masciale , Chelsea “ Shealanin ” Mendes throughout the voiceover industry , it allows them museum services coordinator , says . A senior at Dr . Phillips High School , Mendes to reach a wide community and spread awareness Courtney’s service to the community includes recently started her own podcast , Mental Break - when they are hosting a virtual food drive . “ Anyone three years of additional volunteering at Dream down , focusing on a variety of topics ranging from can make a difference , no matter how big or small . Lake Elementary and participating in the Martin voter suppression to mental health , sustainability Every act of kindness matters , ” Cassie says . Luther King Jr . parade and Salvation Army as part and more . 56 ORLANDO FAMILY october 2022 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM

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