Makena Taylor comes from a diverse ethnic background with Hungarian, Lithuanian, and Eastern European ancestry. Sweet but also strong.

With an artistic career that began at the age of 17, Makena has kept on growing with many different roles both in and off camera. Today we talk to her about her most recent film, "Last the Night", in which she plays Sadie, a high school student who alongside other friends undermines and disrespects teacher John Dunbar (Brian Austin Green). Green, their already distressed teacher, finds out about their teenage rebellion plans and decides to plot an act of diabolical revenge.

According to the Community Health Network, one in five adults in the United States suffers from a mental illness in their lifetime. Right now, nearly 10 million Americans are living with a serious mental disorder that includes anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The film exposes this serious problem and Makena raises her voice to remind the importance of this that has been called the silent pandemic.

The Makena of 6 or 7 years dreamed of being an actress and the Makena of today has fulfilled that dream. What do you say to that girl with aspirations and to all girls with aspirations?

I would say, only start if you have the strength to keep going no matter what. It’s not for everyone, but if it’s your dream, then it’s absolutely possible.

If you had to make an assessment of your career right now, what would it be like?

Though this movie is my second lead role in a feature, “Last the Night” is my first movie to release in theaters and on major streaming platforms. I feel like the movie is getting some really great exposure and I am as excited as I am grateful for what this will all lead to.

Let's talk about “Last the night”. How did you get to this role? How was the process?

The director of Last The Night, Nick Leisure, was a producer on my first feature film, One and The Same. While shooting in Mexico, we really hit it off and became great friends. Tom Chilcoat, the writer of Last The Night, told me about the role of Sadie. I then approached Nick and asked for an audition. After sending in a self-tape, and a lot of persistence, I booked the role!

The process was such a great experience being a part of this story and working with such amazing people. It was surreal working with such a talented actor, Brian Austin Green. I prepared with an acting coach, Rebecca Kitt. She’s amazing. I rehearsed all my scenes with her as well as my co-stars, throwing myself into the character and story.

This is a film that touches on a very sensitive situation in American society which is violence in school. How did it feel in personal and professional terms to be in the middle of scenarios that have caused such real pain to so many families?

I feel the movie is about the dangers of mental health. The film happens to take place at a school, but it’s about a group of four friends in quarantine and their teacher, a man at the end of his rope, struggling with the hardships of his reality. I think mental health is a major issue in our country today that many people can relate to. Hopefully, the film will cause awareness for mental health and gun violence across the board.

Teasing, bullying and rejection are part of the elements that Brian Austin Green's character suffers from in the movie. Seen from that perspective, what message does the film intend to give?

I think there are several messages in this film in regards to mass shootings, but rather quarantine, isolation, drastic change in society, and the effects they have on people. Brian’s character was recently divorced, living alone, unhappy with work, and struggling with alcoholism. I think the small remarks the students made about Brian’s character in the film were simply the spark that lit an emotional powder keg that had been building for years. I feel the real intent of the film was to show the dangers that can happen to a person when they’re forced to deal with serious issues completely alone.

What other topics are you interested in exposing through your acting and your films?

I’m interested in exposing topics that are real and relevant such as mental health, addiction, and depression. I want to be a part of stories that can really touch people, hopefully helping them.

We know that you have been working on a project about your father's experiences with addictions. How is that project going and what inspired you to develop it?

It’s going well and I’m finishing the pilot with my best friend, Gabrielle Walsh. We’re creating the pitch book currently. My father inspired me to create it because I watched him turn his life around and help people every day who struggle with addiction. I want to tell his story to show people that anything is possible, and you can do anything if you set your mind to it. He’s a walking legacy.

If you had a day off to do whatever you wanted, what would be your plan?

I’d go to an airport with no plan and see where it takes me. I love adventure!

Makena Taylor & the importance of mental health with her film “Last the night”

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