Just over a year ago, Elizabeth Olsen came to the Sundance Film Festival as a buzzed-about newcomer and wowed both critics and audiences with MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE. Now she is set to take us on yet another thrilling adventure in SILENT HOUSE, a remake of LA CASA MUDA, Uruguay's 2010 Oscar nominee for foreign language film. SILENT HOUSE surpasses its source thanks to Elizabeth Olsen's powerful performance. Olsen is the sole person on the screen for much of the film shot in real time and in one continuous take.

We recently sat with Elizabeth during the roundtable interviews at the press day for the film where she talked about her college life, the challenges she faced while shooting, and what’s next for this rising star.

Olsen confides the movie is actually comprised of 13 shots, cleverly edited together so you can't see the seams.

Can you talk about the process of doing this film?

 “It was difficult because we would choose to do chunks at a time so we did I think it was about average 12 minutes a take and so we would rehearse it, run through the choreography and then immediately start recording so the DP could do playback and watch and see what he wanted to change. You need everything to work.”  

Were you a fan of horror films before you did this?  If so, can you name a few?

“Yes. I’ve been a fan of horror movies since I started watching movies because I am the youngest of four kids and my brother, who is the oldest, loves scary movies. ‘Arachnophobia’ was one of the first movies I grew up on. My favorite most recent horror movie is the French film ‘Them’. I really love that movie.” 

Do you talk to the screen when watching films?

“My friends don’t like seeing movies with me because I am the loudest one in the audience” she laughs. “I am a very vocal audience member.”  

SILENT HOUSE is the third collaboration for the filmmaking team of CHRIS KENTIS and LAURA LAU. Kentis and Lau's second film, OPEN WATER, told the true life tale of a vacationing couple on a dive excursion who are accidentally left behind in shark infested waters.

Have you seen Open Water?

“I won’t see ‘Open Water’ actually. I knew about it but I am terrified of the ocean and sharks. There are just some movies that you really don’t want to put yourself into seeing. I know from so many people that it’s a terrifying film.”  

What do you think helped you get this role?

“I don’t know why I was cast. I auditioned a couple times and it was my third movie I got to do. Becoming scared isn’t the hardest thing for me to do. It’s much harder in my mind to do something comedic timing wise. I find that to be a huge talent.” 

Her sisters, twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, have been in the spotlight from a very young age.

Did your sisters give you advice on how to do comedy or drama?

“I don’t actually talk that much with my sisters about work. I feel like when you’re with family you talk about family things and friends and stuff like that.”   

There is a lot of buzz surrounding you and your work. Are you more selective in the roles you pick?  

“I did not think that after a year trying to work I’d be in a position where I got to choose things. I’m in this very excited happy place where I get to choose things based on character, people involved, director and things that will challenge me.” 

Olsen is not only a vivacious and engaging young actress, but she is also a full time student at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts.

“I’ve never filmed a movie while in school. I did press for ‘Martha’ while in school in the fall. It was very difficult. I never told my teachers that I was working. I just try to keep up as much as possible and somehow I get A's. I work really hard.”  

Olsen also had two films premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The first film was RED LIGHTS in which she stars opposite Robert De Niro, Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver. The second was LIBERAL ARTS where she stars as ‘Zibby’ opposite Josh Radnor, John Magaro, Zac Efron and Richard Jenkins. This spring, Olsen will start filming THERESE RAQUIN opposite Glenn Close. She will also start filming VERY GOOD GIRLS opposite Dakota Fanning.

Silent House opens in theaters this Friday, March 9th.

PHOTOS OF 'SILENT HOUSE' (Courtesy of: OPENROAD)