Tulsa Actress Aila Grey Makes Big Screen Debut in “Twisters”

The storm disaster film, Twisters, hit theaters in July, swirling action and romance together to create a summer blockbuster. Scientist and storm chaser Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar-Jones) crosses paths with social media storm chaser Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) in tornado-plagued central Oklahoma. The film, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, provides high velocity action, romance and intense special effects thanks to wind-producing FX fans, a rain machine and plastic glass that mimics shattered windows. Semi-trucks tumble, people and animals are sucked into the air and debris swirls around towns- people trying to escape the mega storms.Caught in a motel in the middle of intersecting tornadoes, a small girl (Aila Grey) makes a run for it through an empty swimming pool into some pipes to escape the storms.

As the child in the film, Aila Grey, age 7, endured late-night shoots, cold weather, shattered glass and a pause in production due to the writer’s strike. Aila and her mom, actress Hannah Reese, came to the TulsaKids office to talk about Aila’s experience in Twisters.

Q: What did you do to audition for the role of the small child in Twisters?

Aila: I sat in a swing set at my house. I was holding a popsicle, I was licking it, and I pretended I saw a guy.

Q: What do you do in the film?

Aila: I run. I go out of a motel and run toward an empty pool and go down a ladder to exposed piping with my movie mom, Samantha Ireland.

Q: It looks like you’re running through high winds. How did they do that?

Aila: There are these giant fans all around the pool. They’re huge. And they used smoke machines.

Q: What was your favorite part about being involved in the movie?

Aila: It was seeing a stunt guy going up into a tornado on a string. I kind of wished I could do that. I also like the other actors. Most of them, especially Glen and Daisy and Jeff (Swearingen), were my friends. Jeff was the one who went up in the tornado. Geoff Haley (Fast and Furious) let me operate the techno crane – it was fun!

I would also say that the best part was staying in a nice hotel (in Oklahoma City). And the food was good on set. They had very sweet watermelon and good burritos. We had lunch at night (because of late-night shoots).

Q: How many days did you film?

Aila: About nine days. When I left the set, they had a dummy. It was kind of scary. It’s not even as tall as me. It had hair like me.

Q: What was the hardest part about filming the movie?

Aila: All the emotions you have to do. To do the emotions, I think of something scary and put on a face.

Hannah, Aila’s mom, says that the first part of shooting was in July, but it had to stop during the strike. By the time shooting resumed, it was winter. Aila had lost four front teeth, and her clothing and shoe sizes had grown. Aila also had to tough out the cold Oklahoma winter. Each time the director called “cut,” they came running with a coat for her.

Q: What did you think when you saw the whole film?

Aila: I thought it was really scary at the end with the tornado around the fire. I don’t really understand why everyone is so excited. I’ve never been in a big movie before. I don’t like seeing myself (on screen), but I was happy with my work.

Q: What advice do you have for kids who want to become actors?

Aila: Get an agent. (Aila is represented by Magna Talent in Oklahoma City.)

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Tulsa?

Aila: I like to go to Philbrook, Gathering Place and Discovery Lab. My favorite restaurant is Sushi Hana. I get teriyaki chicken. Every time I’ve been there, we sit by the fish. And I like chopsticks.

Q: What else do you like to do besides acting?

Aila: I like singing. And I auditioned for a new movie. I had to be scared and scream!