If the term "Renaissance Woman" can be applied to any one on this planet, it is Jillian Hodges. Co-starring in Mike Prosser's and David Walker's The Dividing Hour, Jillian worked weekends on the film from 1994 to 1995, and the film is only now seeing a wide release. The Dividing Hour is Jillian's first major credit. "The Dividing Hour is my only film credit," she clarifies. "To date anyway. I have worked on some commercial projects and done lots of theatre. Acting has taken a back seat in my life as I pursue other interests, although I'm always considering a move back towards it. I miss it."

Jillian makes her home with her husband on a houseboat on the Columbia River in Portland, Oregon, "right out in the center of the river at the end of the dock." In her real life, she works a nine-to-five as a data analyst for an investment consultant. After the five-o'clock whistle, however, she has no struggle to fill her time. "Besides lazing around on the dock, boating and fishing, I have a ton of hobbies! (And I swear all this is true -- I live a bizarre life) I am an avid martial artist, training in kung fu at least three or four days a week. The training and discipline are vital to my physical and mental well-being, but it's also fun to think I can kick peoples' butts. My husband and I love to dance -- we spend lots of time doing Lindy-hop (jitterbug and swing) and Latin salsa dancing. Occasionally, we teach workshops in local community centers. I devour books like a maniac, and occasionally, I have been known to pick up a pen and paper, either to write or draw. [Aside from my full-time job] on the side, I have a doctoral degree in clinical hypnotherapy, so I practice occasionally out of my home. I work with all kinds of issues; one of the most rewarding is helping people quit smoking (I smoked for ten years); it is also one of the most dramatic and quick changes that you see. I am most interested in finding ways to develop human potential- hence the name of my business, Human Potential Hypnosis. It's a great tool. Anyway, do you get the idea that I want to experience as much as possible in my life? The list goes on: I love going to the movies, renting movies, all kinds- I watch maybe three or four every week, at least. I like humor and collect funny books and things- I try to go see live comedy as often as possible. And of course, I love the theatre- I go often and read plays."

Which makes one wonder how she found the time to work on The Dividing Hour in the first place. But here's her story: "I went to [Southern Oregon University] with Mike Prosser -- we both studied in the theatre department -- we had worked together on a number of projects there. Anyway, when I graduated, I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to go -- but I was ready to act! Mike had moved up to Portland, Oregon a little earlier and I got a call from him that summer, as I was trying to figure out what to do. He wanted me to take a look at this script and see if it was something I would be interested in doing. I was absolutely interested, but the logistics of the shoot were going to be difficult. It would mean I would have to commute up to Portland, a five hour trip, every weekend, which were the only times we could shoot, since everyone worked. But I was up for it and we got started by the end of the summer."

The Dividing Hour is another indie low-budget miracle, telling the story of a group of successful crooks who are forced to hole up in an isolated farm house inhabited by a young woman and her mysterious father, and the group is soon beset by dark forces. According to press releases, it was shot for the magic "Robert Rodriguez" sum of $7,000, and boasts high-quality effects, photography and (gee!) a real story. But like most miracles, it was a hard-fought triumph.

"Sound was a big issue in this film," says Jillian. "The house where we shot the outdoor locations was located out in the middle of nowhere, literally -- it's on a back road in the middle of farm country in Forest Grove, Oregon. It was perfect -- isolated and quiet -- or so we thought. As we started to shoot, the neighboring farmer turned on his plow and began to till his fields. Here we were trying to shoot scenes in which the bewildered boys find themselves cut off from civilization, and there's the sound of a great big plow in the background. Pleading with him didn't help -- we actually waited, hanging around the set, until he was done- a couple of hours, if I recall. Finally, he was done and we could get started. However, we then discovered that if we turned on our generator close enough to stay plugged into the equipment for which it was generating electricity, it too made a sound that completely drowned out the actors' voices and everything else. Another hour or so for our handy d.p., Jeff Yarnall, to rig up some sort of system so that we could shoot undisturbed by the obnoxious hum. Then, we discovered that this back road happened to also be a scenic route, popular on weekend afternoons for touring. There was nothing we could do but hold up the shoot every time a car went by. Getting a whole scene was torturous -- the scene in which Dawn is talking to Zack and he tells her about the bank robbery took maybe twenty takes to shoot- just to get through it without stopping! And we ended up dubbing it anyway!!"

In the independent world these are stories to laugh about later. Much later. While they occur, it's as if the wrath of the gods are raining down upon the production. Jillian, however, didn't let it get to her. He attitude about the whole production remained positive. "We had a lot of fun -- the camaraderie was great. Everyone was dedicated to the project and really involved in what they were doing, not to mention willing and ready to help out everywhere. We had parties at the end of the day and, I think, really enjoyed each other and the process of filmmaking. However, it was also pretty trying at times- it was a first time experience filmmaking for most of the cast and crew and low budget movie making is always frustrating. You never have everything that you need- people are working on short fuses because they are up all night building sets and painting- everyone's doing three jobs... There were some temper flare ups and compromises. Overall, though, I'd say we learned a lot- we certainly came away from it with a better understanding of what it takes to make a movie."

And now that it is over and the hard work has finally yielded the finished product, what does Ms. Hodges feel about the world of low-budget horror movies? "It is a deep, dark well of turbulent, exciting and torrid emotion." I wait for her to continue. "No, seriously, there are a number of really talented, dedicated people out there who will do anything to express themselves in the medium of film. And that's what it takes in low budget filmmaking -- you have to give it everything and be so dedicated and so persistent that you will finish it no matter what. There is nothing easy or simple or cheap about making a movie -- if you're going to do it on a shoestring budget, you better really want to do it. This means that there is also a wonderful, rich world of low budget films- the people involved are usually highly creative, interesting and often surprisingly clever. It is a wonderful forum for budding filmmakers to get started- although it's more of a long shot- you have to produce something pretty spectacular and then have it seen at the right place and the right time-working your way up as a production assistant in Hollywood can be demoralizing and exhausting. I myself am a huge fan of low budget horror movies. They are full of interesting devices, astonishingly creative monsters, makeup and characters, and lots of humor! (always go for the tongue in cheek if you don't have the money for the special effects) I particularly like Full Moon pictures (not low, low budget)- my favorite is The Pit and the Pendulum."

As stated before, The Dividing Hour is Jillian Hodges first film, and to date, it is her only film. With everything else that she does with her life, what is the ultimate goal? What does Jillian Hodges want to be the sum of her life? "Mostly my goal is to live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment, taking it as it comes. In terms of acting, I'm not really sure -- I would like to pursue the theatre again. I also have a couple of books I'm working on, although, when I say "working on," I mean that in the loosest sense. My main goals involve exploring and educating people about human potential."