Versher advises to go outside comfort zone while traveling
Writer, filmmaker and actor Ashley Versher has tackled many interesting jobs in the past. But working with Jennifer Lopez on the Amazon original film “This is Me … Now” remains a highlight.
“I think my favorite scene was the intervention scene, which we shot in a beautiful Bel Air mansion,” said Versher, who splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City. “Jennifer is quite funny, so it was very cool to play off whatever she would throw at us. You never knew what she was going to say, so it kept you on your toes in the best way. I play the role of the Idealist, and this scene really challenges that persona because she is a romantic and wants to believe in happily ever after.”
This interview with Versher has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Of all the characters you’ve played, which one was the most like you and why? A:
Honestly, I don’t think I am very much like any of the characters I’ve played. I am naturally quirky and some would say funny. So I haven’t quite had the opportunity to express that in a big way. But there are bits of me in every role.
Q: Where are some places that you’ve filmed your various projects? A:
I have filmed most in New York. The good is that New York is really its own character, and that can change the shape of a project in such a beautiful way. But as for the bad, I mean it’s New York, so wild things can happen at any moment of the day. I’d also say if you are shooting an indie film with few to no licenses, guerrilla style, the challenge is real. People are always trying to get where they are going in New York, so accommodating others is not a strong suit of the city.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination? A:
My all-time favorite is Paris. It is just a magical city. The food is incroyable! The fashion is effortless and there are an endless number of things to do and see. You can have a magical moment just sitting outside a local coffee shop.
Q: What untapped destination should people know about? A:
There is a small surfer village in Mexico called Sayulita. It is lovely. There is a sprawling beachfront and loads of local artist shops and restaurants.
Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out? A:
I love to travel. It’s my favorite thing to do, so I’ve never met a trip I did not enjoy. When I was quite young, my entire family took a trip across the United States from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Atlanta to New Orleans to Chicago and then back to Los Angeles and finally back home to San Francisco — all on a train. It was incredible! I love my family more than anything, so the memories of that trip hold a special place in my heart.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels? A:
Well, two things ... make sure you travel with people who travel the way you like to travel, otherwise things can get awkward and difficult fast, and stay open to new foods, new language, new culture, new anything and everything. Traveling is all about learning and experiencing something different than what I am used to, different from what I know. You’ve got to get outside of your comfort zone and have fun.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways? A:
I love to go to Napa and Idyllwild (California) and Vegas, baby.
Q: What are your five favorite cities? A:
Paris, New York, London, Florence, New Orleans.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before? A:
Africa and Japan are at the very top of my list.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road? A:
A crisp glass of champagne, a delectable cheese and charcuterie board, and all the shopping a girl can handle.