Nyota Issue 18 by NYOTA Magazine

featuring

Asante Blackk Issue 18

CONTENTS

09 13 15

Music New Beginnings Playlist Sarah Silva Cloe Wilder Words of Wisdom: Carolyn Miller

07 09 13 15

Fashion Sasha Anne 19 Hannah Patten 23 Words of Wisdom: Drea Gunness Groeschel 27

Culture Asante Blackk Jahi Winston Kimmy Shields Jacob Hopkins Romaine Waite Chelsea Talmadge Eliza Pryor Anjelika Washington Jeremy Maguire

31 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 67

TJ Wright Mimi Harris Ethan William Childress Jaicy Elliot Nadia Gray Mollee Gray Quincy Fouse Words of Wisdom: Valery Ortiz

69 71 75 79 83 87 89 93

THE

TEAM

Editor in Chief Carol Wright is a Senior studying Journalism and Business Entertainment at American University. She realized at the age of eleven that photography was her passion and it was photography that ultimately led her to create Nyota Magazine. Carol is also passionate about public speaking and was given the chance to give a TEDx Talk at the age of seventeen where she talked about the lessons she learned from creating Nyota. Carol loves to create and hopes that wherever life takes her in the future, photography will be at the center.

Assistant Editor Arielle Ostry is a writer and dancer originally from Green Brook, New Jersey, studying dance as well as journalism and mass communication at The George Washington University. She has written reviews for danceviewtimes.com and DC Theatre Scene, covering dance performances in the DC Metro Area. She has also covered a variety of artistic and cultural events as a culture reporter for the GW Hatchet. This past spring, Arielle interned at the Kennedy Center in editorial communications and currently works at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. She is thrilled to be utilizing her knowledge of writing and style as assistant editor for Nyota Magazine. In addition to writing and dancing, Arielle is an avid knitter, aspiring yogi and is completely obsessed with coffee!

Art Director

Nicole Cox is currently a Senior, majoring in Graphic Design at American University. Starting at a young age, Nicole has always enjoyed creating art, whether it was writing stories or painting with watercolors, she always found a way to create, but she never expected the computer to be used as another medium for her creativity. Thanks to the help from her college professor, Kate Resnick, she was able to explore her interest in Graphic design and hopes to one day pursue a career in the field and become a User Interface Designer.

Writer

Alyssa is a first-year Film & Media Arts student at American University, originally from a small town in Massachusetts. She is passionate about visual storytelling and the power it holds. Alyssa is especially interested in telling the stories of others and using other peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique perspectives of the world to effect positive change. Besides working at Nyota, Alyssa can be found at the gym, watching Spike Jonze films, or on an adventure with her friends.

FEATURES Sarah Silva Cloe Wilder Carolyn Miller Sasha Anne Hannah Patten Natalia Spotts Drea Gunness Groeschel Asante Blackk Jahi Winston Kimmy Shields Jacob Hopkins Romaine Waite Chelsea Talmadge Eliza Pryor

Anjelika Washington Jeremy Maguire TJ Wright Mimi Harris Ethan William Childress Jaicy Elliot Nadia Gray Mollee Gray Quincy Fouse Valery Ortiz

CONTRIBUTORS Sophie Sachar

EDITOR’S LETTER December. A month that often brings about change or at least prepares you for changes that will be happening in the new year. This month, in particular, has been a busy one for me. Outside of working on the new issue of Nyota I’ve also been studying for finals, and trying to get all things post-grad in order as my college journey is soon coming to an end. It makes my head spin thinking about all the new things that have happened in 2019 especially knowing 2020 has much more in store. One thing I know I can always count on in December is a new issue of Nyota and I’m particularly excited about the talent we have featured in this one. I hope you take your time reading through and discover a new singer, business or actor along the way. See you all in the new year!

Carol Wright @_carol_wright

New Beginnings

Playlist Playlist curated by Sophie Sachar

#NYOTAmusic

Watch Me // Labi Siffre Stuck // Katie Dey Keep It Up // Hovvdy Basking in the glow // Oso Oso EOS // Rostam Hey, Ma // Bon Iver Mea Culpa // Caroline Says Something to Believe // Weyes Blood Pop Song // Perfume Genius The Big Ship // Brian Eno

#NYOTAmusic

Sarah Silva Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Kimberly Yatsko

When did you realize you wanted to be a singer? Music had always been very present in my life. When I first entered kindergarten, I learned my first song which was God Bless America and would sing it all day long. But my first performance was at a school talent show when I was around 8 years old, and there I realized how much I liked to sing and what really surprised me was that the audience reacted well to my performance. So, ever since I have dedicated my time to being a singer! What is your songwriting process? Songwriting is one of my favorite arts and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very intimate moment where I can express everything Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m feeling. I usually write my songs from personal experiences so when there is something that is happening in my life or something I just experienced, and I want to write about it I hide in my room for a couple of hours and come out with a new song. Or in other cases when I co-write with another songwriter, we get together and create a song from scratch. What did you learn from your time on La Academia Kids? I learned a lot during this time, especially when it came to performing, and my voice, I really developed as an artist on this show. Not only that but I also learned a lot about other cultural backgrounds and it was fun getting to know other kids my age that were from different countries. My Spanish was also kind of bad when I first got to the show but during this time it improved, and I was even taught how to read and write in Spanish. You had the opportunity to play a character in Miranda y Sus Dos Papas. Do you hope to do more musical theatre in the future? 10

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“I want people to know that it’s ok to be yourself, it’s amazing to be yourself and that they don’t need to be ashamed of their cultural backgrounds, skin color, hair, personality, or anything related.” It really was amazing being able to experience the art of small theater, being the lead character of the musical was challenging yet I discovered something I had never done before which was singing, acting, and dancing all at the same time. I fell in love with musical theater and I would definitely love to pursue this in the future. One of my life goals is to make it on Broadway.

I want to advocate people so that it is important to them as well because when you begin to accept yourself for who you are the game changes, and all those people who try to bring you down won’t be able to because you will be strong within.

How did you react when you got the chance to sign with Dubb Records?

I have been working on this EP for a couple of months now, it’s been a time of hard and diligent work but I have enjoyed the process so much because I have been able to create what I love which is music and that I wouldn’t change for anything. I’m very excited about this EP because it is a mix of many genres and I am hoping people enjoy it as much as I do. My favorite song on the EP, for now, would be “False Illusions,” which is the first single on the EP. It has a lot of that Latin vibe which I love because it really expresses my Latin roots.

I was happy and grateful that this opportunity stumbled my way and it has overall been astounding, being able to work with such talented people in songwriting, dancing, and producing it has really marked how I see the arts in an extraordinary way. I am very excited to continue to work with dubb Records and see what the future holds. Tell us a bit about your anti-bullying campaign and how that ties into your music. With my music and voice, I want people to know that it’s ok to be yourself it’s amazing to be yourself and that they don’t need to be ashamed of their cultural backgrounds, skin color, hair, personality, or anything related. Self-acceptance is so important to me and

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming EP? What’s your favorite single on the EP?

What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? I think the best advice I can give any artist is to stay motivated and honestly don’t give up because all the hard work has its compensation. Remaining true and humble is key. 12

Cloe Wilder Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Nathon Groff

You’re only 13, when did music go from a passion to something you wanted to turn into a career? Honestly, I don’t think there was an age or a moment of realization for me. I never questioned anything. I wanted that to be my life. I would say it’s mainly something that holds me back - if I were 20 and playing a label my music, I know that the response would be different. That’s okay, though, because I would much rather know what I want to do at 13 then just start figuring it out at 20.

What did you learn from working with Jayme David Silverstein? Jayme is my mentor. He’s a genius. I’m so lucky. He taught me what a song is.

Were you nervous to tell those close to you that you wanted to be a singer?

Were you involved in the creative process for the ‘Save Me’ music video? How did you feel when you saw the final product?

I was always so confident in my abilities. I’m not confident in much, but I always was in my music. I thought everyone would be proud of me... not everybody was. If they aren’t happy for you now, they are never going to be.

The lyrics didn’t have much to do with the visual, which I loved. I wanted a car. It’s a reckless song, almost immature. I try to be as involved as possible, because, I’ve learned, that I’m a control freak. I felt proud of this video.

Who are some musicians you look up to?

Can we expect an EP from you in the near future?

Lana Del Rey was the first artist I respected for more than her voice. I admired how healthy her music was. It wasn’t like she was telling people to be sad, she was telling them that she was too.

I already feel as though I’ve done so much, but in reality, this is barely the sunrise - that’s what I’ve been told. You can expect consistent singles and an eventual EP!!

What inspired the lyrics to your single ‘Save Me’? How long did it take you to write it?

What advice do you have for aspiring singers?

This song was listing reasons as to why I understand, but also why I’m okay. My family and friends had never known my music or expression to be that devastating, so as I began to write and release, they began to worry. This song is an acknowledgment of what’s 13

wrong, but also to what’s right. I told my producers, “I’ve tried to make myself feel better. I’ve tried to put this down on paper. It’s not working.” I think I needed people.

I want listeners to understand that songwriters don’t only write these songs for themselves, or because they hope it’ll result in fame… and that the majority hope to help you. I wouldn’t write these songs if I didn’t understand or feel them. I advise the same. It’s so personal. It’s yours!

#NYOTAmusic

Words of Wisdom

Carolyn Miller Interview by Alyssa Winn Photography by Rachel Deeb

Tell us about growing up in Long Island. How was music a part of your upbringing? As a kid, I always loved to sing and perform and you could not keep me away from a stage or microphone! Luckily where I’m from, there’s a lot of opportunities for kids to explore the arts - dozens of community theatres, countless dance studios, exceptional music and performing arts programs in the public school systems, and so much more. I was involved in all of it! Long Island is not what most think of when picturing where a country singer is from. How did you and country find each other in Long Island? Where were you initially exposed to it? Where I grew up, country music was never on the radio. Everyone, where I’m from, called it (and sometimes still calls it) “country-western” and automatically assumed it’s all traditional country instruments like banjos, fiddles, singers with thick accents, cowboy boots, and hats, etc. It’s just a genre that people aren’t really exposed to in my area, so there’s such a common misconception about what country music is today. My first real introduction to it came from Carrie Underwood on American Idol. I remember watching her season and loving every song she sang. Every artist she covered. Every group she collaborated with. That show ended up being really educational for me and helped me discover a genre I had never been exposed to before. The storytelling aspects, the

weight of the lyrics and melodies, the honesty and vulnerability the artists display - I’ve always loved and appreciated these qualities that carry such importance within the genre. Fast forward a few years to Berklee College of Music - how did you grow as a musician in college? Were these formative years for discovering your style? I actually went to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and studied musical theatre. As part of our training, we took classes in acting, improv, vocal technique, music theory, piano, dance, and so much more. I was really able to hone my skills as an artist and apply them to my solo career. It’s part of why I think I’m so comfortable on stage and love breaking the “4th wall” / bantering with the audience; improv classes definitely help you think on your feet! I have a lot of strength, flexibility, and control over my voice from all the years training and singing in a variety of styles (opera, Broadway, pop, etc). I think my college training has also given me the ability to be a bit directorial in my music and with my band. I love the process of coming up with musical transitions for the live show, arranging the setlists, transposing and figuring out what key things should be in, what the BPM is, etc. It’s a skill set that not every artist has and I’m so grateful for all the incredible teachers I had at the conservatory. How do you channel a background of acting into 16

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“I’m a big believer in knowing your selfworth. YOU are special, unique, important and everyone brings something different to the table.” your music and performances? Has acting aided in your ability to be a storyteller?

What emotions do you hope to invoke for your listeners with your music?

Totally! As an actor, you’re taught to be truthful, dig deep, and bring a piece of yourself into the work... be open, raw, honest, and vulnerable. I think those qualities are the same whether you express that truth through music and the lyrics you sing on stage or through the dialogue of the character you’re hired to play.

I’m a big believer in knowing your self-worth. YOU are special, unique, important and everyone brings something different to the table. I want my listeners to have a sense of confidence and self-empowerment and always feel welcomed/invited into my world. I want to be an artist that is always viewed as warm and approachable and hope my music always reflects that!

Your new single “Summer Time” is a nostalgic ode to those special summer nights. What inspired this song? This was written by my friends Lance Carpenter, Leah Turner, and Blake Bollinger. Lance texted me one day and was like, “check this out.” I heard the first 30 seconds and was hooked. I loved the storyline, could totally relate to it, and couldn’t get the melody out of my head!! It’s just a blast to perform live. This song is your ultimate summer jam that reflects back on that one summer romance you’ll never forget. We all have one - it doesn’t matter if it happened when you were 14, 22, 35, etc...no matter how much time goes by, you’ll always remember those days like it was yesterday! Where do you find inspiration for your music? Do you largely draw from your own life, or do you find yourself inspired by everything around you? It’s honestly a mix! All of my songs have different backstories. I love sharing my personal experiences, but I also love being a student of the universe and sharing what I see, as well as taking someone else’s words or melodies and putting a piece of myself into it.

As a listener, what other styles of music are your go to’s? What would a Spotify playlist created by you sound like? (Unless you’re an Apple Music person!) Pop and rock, for sure! Growing up in NY, those genres are everywhere (on the radios, at local festivals, cover bands, etc). That’s really the sound that I grew up on - so those sounds and stylings are definitely present in my music and something I still often enjoy listening to. What experience have you had in your music career that your child self would never have believed? April 25th when I opened for Chase Rice! I played to over 2000+ people and then spent the hour after my set signing autographs, taking pictures, meeting so many country music fans...and I sold out of all my merch! That was an incredible feeling. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? Treat everyone with kindness and respect. Never take anything for granted. And network, network, network! 18

#NYOTAfashion

Sasha Anne Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Katja Maas

Growing up were you a creative child? I was very creative as a little girl and still am today. When I wasn’t drawing or painting I was creating fantasy worlds with my dolls. I made up stories and skits, I was always in costume at home and tried not to leave home without wearing a costume or at least a tiara. When my friends came over for playdates. We played for hours in our make-believe world. We made tents and clubhouses. We played school and camp. We put on shows and read books. You’re attending FIT. What have you learned there so far that you’ve been able to apply to your business? At FIT -The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York I am studying advertising. marketing, and communications. There are so many ways that I apply what I learn in school to the outside world. For example, my Journalism course helps me become a better writer which is beneficial no matter what field you are in. My publicity workshop helps me focus closely on what publicity tactics and strategies work for organizations and individuals. My integrated research course teaches me how to research and analyze market trends and apply the knowledge to Teeny Wee Cosmetics, my lip gloss company. When did makeup become a passion of yours? Makeup became a passion of mine when I turned 13. I could recreate myself into an entirely different person with makeup. It was even better than costumes. It gave me the power to be whomever I wanted to be whenever I felt like it. Even a little bit of lip gloss made me feel different and special. What motivated you to start posting videos online? 20

“... do what you love and are passionate about or you will burn out quickly... stay focused, calm and organized. Work with people you can trust and rely on.” I was very shy. I’m still shy. But I had a lot to say. I discovered that I could talk to the world about my passions from my room. I felt I inspired other girls to speak up. When I realized that other girls my age and older were listening I decided to start teaching others how to apply makeup, how to navigate middle school and anything else I thought might be interesting. What was the hardest part of creating your company Teeny Wee? The most rewarding part of creating Teeny Wee Cosmetics is watching a dream I had come to life. My initial dream was to have a platform to enable me to speak to other young women about issues that they find challenging. Having a company helps me inspire others as well. Not only am I creating the perfect lip gloss. I am inspiring others to follow their dreams. What are you working on next? I am focusing on expanding my Teeny Wee Cosmetics brand. I want my lip gloss to be the one everyone reaches for. I’m working on my songs. I’m putting together an album. It’s a lot of work but I love to sing. I’m also working on my first book. The book will focus on my struggles with dyslexia and shyness and how I got through high school. What advice do you have for young entrepre21

neurs? My advice is to only do what you love and are passionate about or you will burn out quickly. It’s very hard work to start a company. You need to stay focused, calm and organized. Work with people you can trust and rely on. There are unexpected disappointments and expenses. But if you want it bad enough you can make it happen. Never be afraid to ask for help.

#NYOTAfashion

Hannah Patten Interview by Carol Wright Photography courtesy of Hannah’s Team

Before you created Hülya, what did you want to do as a career?

ed, confident, and bold. Our babes prefer saltwater, sand, and adventures.

I always find this to be a funny question as I am only 21 years old (almost 22). Growing up I spent most of my life in the barn or on a horse. If I wasn’t at the barn I was on a boat somewhere, preferably in the islands. Before Hülya, I did start an equestrian-based blog called The Patten Standard. I focused on being a voice for those who didn’t feel that they had a voice. It was such an incredible experience and I think it really set me up well for Hülya. I had so many different opportunities, a highlight being when I got to work with Alice & Oliva during New York Fashion Week. The blog really helped me to explore what kind of businesswoman I wanted to be. As I started to grow out of my life of being an equestrian, I also found that I grew out of The Patten Standard. I knew from that moment I wanted to be a self-employed businesswoman, but I never could have imagined the path I have been put on. It’s truly exciting.

It’s safe to say that Christina and I have deep roots in the Ocean, she grew up visiting Lyford Cay with her family and I grew up visiting the Abacos. Some of my earliest childhood memories included snorkeling with sea turtles in Marsh Harbor. So, it’s fitting that our passion and work have brought us back to where it all started. Christina and I wanted to create a product that was an everyday item but also did incredible things for our planet.

Tell our readers a bit about Hülya and how the idea for it came about. Hülya Swim stands for a new, innovative and eco-friendly swimwear brand. We use high-tech recycled fabric curated from recycled ghost nets and other ocean debris. My partner and I, Christina Firestone, have produced a high-quality swim product in an eco-conscious manner. The dream is a cleaner ocean, which derives directly from our name Hülya which means everlasting daydream. We developed this company for the explorer, the lover, the sophisticat-

You get to work with your friend Christina Firestone on Hülya. What have you learned about each other through creating this company? Having Christina as my partner is a dream come true. Being an entrepreneur is extremely difficult at times but she is always right by my side, motivating me and supporting me every step of the way. I think we have learned that we are capable of a lot more than we realized, and I think we also learned that through our motivation we will do nothing to stop at bettering the planet one bikini at a time. Has creating Hülya made you more conscious of the clothes you buy? I used to be a huge shopaholic; it was out of control. But since I stepped into these new shoes, my eyes have been opened to new and growing issues in the fashion industry. If I go shopping, I try and only shop if I absolutely need something. I have been trying 24

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“...never be afraid to ask for something. Send that ballsy email because it could be career-changing.” to get into second-hand shops but where I live for school we don’t have many good spots. Through Hülya you’re a partner with 1% For The Planet. How did that partnership come about? I have always admired 1% For The Planet and what they stand for. So, after launching the Hülya platform I put in an application to become a 1% partner. I honestly didn’t think they would accept a company as small as us, so when I got the email of acceptance I was ecstatic. It really says a lot about a company’s morals and mission if they are a 1% partner. You also have Hülya babes who are brand ambassadors. How can people become Hülya babes? We absolutely love our babes and we wouldn’t be growing at the rate we are if it wasn’t for them! If someone wants to become a babe, they just have to head to our Hülya Babe Section on our website and apply. Here. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned through creating Hülya? I think currently my biggest take away from Hülya Swim is that it is okay to make mistakes. People are a lot more understanding than I realized. I think social media shapes perceptions that make it hard to approach people as a young woman entrepreneur. What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? The best advice I have is to never be afraid to ask for something. Send that ballsy email because it could be career-changing. 26

#NYOTAfashion

Words of Wisdom

Drea Gunness Groeschel Interview by Carol Wright Photography courtesy of Drea Gunness Groeschel

Growing up did you hope to create your own company one day? I’ve always had the entrepreneurial bug. Even when I was little, I would pretend to have my own retail store. But I grew up in a family where just about everyone owned their own business, so for me, it was common ground. At a very young age, my sister and I were at the family dinner table listening to my parents talk about cash flow. At Thanksgiving, my extended family would talk about their businesses and the challenges, failures, and success that they were facing. It was always interesting to me. I knew I would have my own company one day. How did the idea for Beautiac come about? I was overseas sourcing product for other brands and found myself having small breakouts. I’ve always had decent skin so I couldn’t figure out what the breakouts were from. I thought maybe just the stress of my work, but a friend told me my makeup brushes were probably the issue… she was right! Once I bought new brushes, because I didn’t have time to clean mine, my skin started clearing up. It was completely due to the fact that my brushes were harboring bacteria and causing my skin to be unhealthy. But I didn’t often have time to clean my brushes since I’m on the go so much. So I invented the Beautiac brush system to be as easy as changing a razor blade on a handle. So I wouldn’t have to worry about it again! Can you walk us through the idea phase of Beautiac? How did you decide on making it subscription-based and what made you want to add the

sustainable aspect? The subscription base for the business made sense to me because I’m not great about re-ordering things I need. Especially for a product that I don’t really want to waste headspace on, I’d rather focus on more important things in my life. So, when a refill pack of brush heads arrive at my door, I know I need to change my brush heads and I don’t even have to think about it. The sustainable aspect is super important. In today’s market, we have so many consumables and often consumable aspects are valuable and important to the user. If this is the case, then the product should be designed with sustainability in mind. To not address sustainability today is to completely ignore what is important to our world and generations to come. It’s a challenge with plastic products, but we believe there can be a balance if plastic products are produced responsibly and have a full life cycle that doesn’t end in an ocean but instead ends in becoming a part of another object for a complete recyclable system. We are a part of the Terracycle Zero Waste Box program. This ensures that 100% of our brushes are recycled into other objects like park benches and planters. We know we can stand behind this element of our products and feel good about it. Nowadays people don’t realize the grit it takes to start a company because all they see is the end result. What were some of the obstacles you faced when you first started building Beautiac? Grit is a must. Having the stomach to make decisions and stick by them is one of the most difficult parts of any startup. There are so many decisions and so 28

#NYOTAfashion many different ways to do things, that being able to make decisions becomes a valuable skill set. People will also make judgments on how you are approaching the start-up, what vendors you’re using, where you are spending money, how much money you are spending, etc. I like to believe that if you have a concise plan and you can defend it with numbers and execution, let the naysayers be the naysayers and push forward with what you believe in. Your resolve will get you through. When you were first creating Beautiac was there anything about creating a company that surprised you? I was worried that being in the beauty space would mean that I would have to be a glam queen, someone who is a fanatic about beauty and cosmetics. Turns

Outside of the office, what do you do to decompress and relax? Tough question! I feel like I’m always on the go. I actually have a 7-month-old at home, so that has been a lot of added stress learning how to be a Mom and the juggle that comes with owning a business and having a new baby in the family. For me, being outside is a critical piece to my mindset of staying positive. It’s scientifically proven that nature helps to reduce stress. A long walk on a trail, sitting by a lake or stream, just being still and listening to the wind in the trees, might sound cliché, but it is exactly what I need to decompress and relax. What advice do you have for young women who want to start their own business?

“... it’s great to find a mentor that you can bounce your plan off of, let them ask questions and see if they can find holes that you may not have thought of.” out, most consumers are actually casual beauty consumers that wear makeup more moderately and don’t know how to use the latest tools or want to put on the seasonal purple eyeshadow to go to work. Most of us just want to look our best and be able to get out from in front of the mirror in 15 minutes or less. I felt instant comfort once I realized that many of our customers were actually more like me, and we could relate on the idea that being beautiful should be simple. What has been the most rewarding aspect of creating Beautiac? I think my favorite part of creating Beautiac has been the network of women that I’ve met. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to women about their lives, what they want and what they struggle with. Turns out so many of us share the same insecurities and desire to shed them. I love hearing stories of triumph from the women that I meet; it’s inspiring to me and keeps me going.

Plan! Don’t just come up with a “cool” idea and think that it is going to materialize. A lot of work goes into planning the execution of a company and the numbers that are involved in that plan. I can’t stress this enough. I often see people try to execute a start-up with no plan. They are surprised by the costs involved, how they will live in the meantime with no salary and what a cash flow might look like to self-sustain. So ultimately it’s great to find a mentor that you can bounce your plan off of, let them ask questions and see if they can find holes that you may not have thought of. Many heads are better than one. Always. Then get out there with every bit of determination you have and make it happen. Believe in yourself and your abilities. You are probably stronger and savvier than you know, and a start-up will test you in many ways, but you got this! Go get’em!

Asante Blackk Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Gilbert Sosa

When were you first bit by the acting bug? It was the second grade. My best friend’s mom was our teacher, but also our theatre director. Doing the play was kind of the cool thing to do, so literally, everyone in our class auditioned for the play. The first play I did was ‘The Jungle Book’ and I played Mowgli. I just remember having so much fun and not ever feeling like I was doing work. It truly hit though once I entered high school theatre as a freshman. That’s when I started to take the craft of acting a lot more seriously and dedicated almost all of my time to improving as an actor. When They See Us was your television debut. Were you intimidated your first day on set or were you feeling excited about the opportunity? I think it was a little bit of both. Being the only person on set who was making their debut made it feel like the first day at a new school almost. Not only that, but a lot of the people we were working with are pros, seasoned veterans even. So intimidated might be a bit of an understatement, but that was definitely balanced out by the excitement of finally getting to do what I loved for the world to see. Additionally, there was a fair amount of love that was radiated daily on-set. Ava made sure that everyone and I mean everyone felt safe, protected, and loved. I think that’s one of the reasons the project resonated the way that it did as well. You originally went for the role of Korey Wise before the opportunity to play Kevin Richardson came about. What about Kevin resonated with you and made you want to portray him in the show? Kevin’s level of vulnerability really spoke to me. It took me back to a place where I was in middle school. My experience back then made me relate to Kevin. Just being naive and wanting to go along with the cool kids. I also felt like Kevin and understood how innocent and young these guys were at the time. They were just kids being forced into adult circumstances that had nothing to do with them. At the end of the day, they all just wanted to go home and be with their families. 31

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You got the opportunity to actually meet Kevin Richardson and the rest of the “Exonerated Five”. Did Kevin give you any tips in terms of how to portray him? He just said to make sure that the innocence is captured well, and that his truth shines through. No matter what, don’t try to play it up or play it down for “dramatic purposes.” He wanted to make sure people see his truth. Through the process of working on When They See Us what did you learn about yourself as an actor? I learned that I know absolutely nothing about acting. No matter how many acting books I’ve read, performances I’ve studied, monologues I’ve practiced, I still know little to nothing when it comes to how much there is to know. That’s why this whole process is so exciting to me. There is so much more to learn when it comes to my craft and I enjoy knowing that I will probably never perfect it. That is what gives me something to go after because there is always something more to chase. There are so many ways to approach a character, a script, a scene, a line even, and I can’t wait to explore as many of those avenues as I possibly can in my lifetime. You were then nominated for an Emmy which I’m sure was a surreal experience because only a few months prior you had graduated from high school. Have a lot of things in your personal life changed since you became an Emmy nominated actor? Definitely. In the wise words of Drake, “Nothing Was The Same”. It’s been very interesting seeing how people come up to me in public because they recognize me. Many fans react differently depending on which show they recognize me from. The support from fans has been immense and wonderful. It has been nothing but love. I love interacting with people I’ve met on a day to day basis because it really shows how art has the ability to truly and deeply impact people. It has also changed the business side of things for me. Before When They See Us came out, it was difficult getting auditions, but now I am able to be involved in projects that I truly love being a part of. Lastly, I’ve met a lot of my idols in the business since the series came out. Some of my favorite actors and musicians have told me how much When They See Us has impacted them and their world. I would’ve never thought I would be in the same room with some of these people. I am so grateful and honored with how people express appreciation for my work in the project. Now you’re on This Is Us playing the love interest of Lyric Ross’s character Deja. Did you two do anything in particular, to build chemistry off of set that would translate on screen? No, actually. Lyric is really easy to get along with and from the very beginning, we had a lot of good chemistry. I felt it on set, where we would joke around and laugh during our takes. I would joke around with her every time I’ve caught her sleeping on set. It was great. Working with Lyric 34

has been nothing short of an outstanding experience because we just work very well off of each other. It is hard sometimes to find that kind of chemistry among co-stars especially love interests. I am glad that we have it so that we aren’t awkward around each other. Outside of being a teenage father, your character Malik is also dealing with the difficulties of growing up and falling in love. Can you relate to him in some ways? Of course! Falling in love is a strange game for anyone, but especially when you’re young. We are still trying to figure ourselves out. I can relate to Malik in the way that he lives in hope and not fear. Malik is not scared that he may break Deja’s heart or vice versa.

ing as This Is Us one day. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Stop focusing on where you could be with certain opportunities and focus on where you are now and where you can go with those opportunities. What does this mean? Before I landed my role in When They See Us, I didn’t have a single callback. Despite the fact, I never felt like I wasn’t an actor. I kept on working on my craft, always acting and learning. I read plenty of acting books, watched the greatest movies nonstop, and studied performances from some amazing actors. Like I would literally pause and rewind a movie multiple times just so I could take notes throughout. I would practice monologues like it was my home-

“Stop focusing on where you could be with certain opportunities and focus on where you are now and where you can go with those opportunities.” He lives in hope for everything that they could be, regardless of their own personal circumstances. I feel like I am that way with relationships as well. If I feel like someone is truly special, I will give them my all. Even though life has its ups and downs, there’s no point in trying to foresee all of that. You take the punches as they come and keep moving. While things are good, why not live a happy and abundant life? Operating out of fear of what could be is a no-no for me. One of my favorite things about This Is Us is how the writers manage to weave together multiple storylines and timelines within one episode. What has it been like working with Dan Fogelman and seeing this process play out? Dan Fogelman is a complete genius. Everybody in that writer’s room is. I’ve just been in complete awe hearing about his process with the other writers because they are very inspiring. As a fellow creative, I aspire to create something as fresh and groundbreak35

work. I would watch acting videos such as Variety’s ‘Actors on Actors’ series ALL THE TIME! I ate, slept and breathed acting. Acting was my job, even though I was frustrated by the process. Don’t wait until you land an amazing role to put in the work. You have to act as if you are already where you want to be, by consistently doing the work every day. Make acting your job, even if it technically isn’t yet. The only reason my work in When They See Us unfolded the way that it did for me was because I was prepared. I put in a lot of preparation and work before I landed that role. My advice is to do the work, take classes, and prepare beforehand.

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Jahi Winston Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Will Kennedy

You’ve been working a ton since we last interviewed you two years ago. How do you feel at this point in your career? At this point in my career, I think that I have accomplished a lot for the short amount of time that I’ve been doing this but at the same time, I feel like I have a lot further to go. I really don’t analyze my career too, too much from what I’ve done. I analyze it mostly from what I have left to do, which is a lot. So yea, I think I’m in a very promising place. How do you go about choosing projects? I try not to do anything that I don’t want to do. It’s not too deep. I mean of course, every project is different, there are individual reasons but I guess in general I don’t want to end up in a situation where I’m unhappy because I’m not being fulfilled artistically or creatively. If it doesn’t intrigue me, if it doesn’t excite me then I say no. It’s easier said than done because of course there’s a lot of different factors that go into the projects that I choose but when it boils down to it if I can’t see myself being on set and being happy then I don’t do it. Tell us a bit about Queen & Slim and your character Junior. Queen & Slim is a story about a black man and a black woman who are just driving from their first date and they get pulled over by the police for unlawful reasons and they end up getting into a very intense back and forth with the police officer, the police officer gets overly aggressive and they end up being forced to take his life and go on the run. It’s basically a black love story, we don’t want people comparing it to Bonnie & Clyde because they’re [Queen & Slim] not criminals, they’re just two individuals who go on this very powerful journey together. It’s really a story about love and where we are as a country socially and politically right now. I play Junior who is a young activist and a very passionate, fiery teenager who is really intrigued by and fascinated by Queen and Slim’s journey. It’s set up like most black individuals in America right now with the injustices and the marginalization that we’re forced to deal with on a day to day 38

basis and his story is really ignited by his run-in with Queen and Slim. What do you hope audiences take away from the film? I hope audiences take away the fact that it’s ok to have compassion for other people’s journeys outside of your own. I think that obviously, this is for us, by us and mostly for black people but I think Melina, our Director said it in another interview that we want everyone to see this film and really feel whatever they feel about it. Anger, sadness, discomfort, whatever that may be but also just for them to be able to have sympathy or empathy for the characters just individually in their journey; and to maybe, for an hour and a half, two hours see what it’s like to be a black person in this country. I know we could never completely depict that on-screen in two hours but it is necessary and it is important. Queen & Slim is led by two black actors. The movie was written by a black woman and directed by a black woman. What was the environment on set? How did it feel to work with so many black creatives in one space? It was amazing. I honestly felt really grateful and honored to have been chosen to do it. I really still can’t believe that they chose me. I typically don’t get chosen for these kinds of projects. Being around them on-set was really cool to see their dynamic. I mean I never saw them bicker one time. There’s usually an artistic back and forth but even then, they really, really, really respected each other and their visions and being able to see how their visions were aligned and how they matched each other in passion and compassion for these characters and for us as actors. When I was there we were filming in New Orleans, which is full of black history and music so the whole thing is really an experience full of culture, full of my culture and I really enjoyed that so much and I learned so much being apart of it. In your next project, Twelve you play the lead role. Did you feel any added pressure when it came to being the lead in the film? I don’t know if I felt pressure. I did feel a responsibility just to carry myself differently and to be more attentive and more tapped into the process. Carrying myself in a different way, not changing anything about 39

what I do or how I work but just to be more attentive and tuned into the process. It’s hard because we work very long hours as actors and the crew works even longer and actually being number one as an actor you have the most interaction with the crew so that was another thing. Always making sure to say hello to everyone, which is something that you should do anyway but your energy definitely makes a difference in your day and everybody else’s day so I had to keep that in mind as well. It was a great experience. Your character Mouse has to navigate growing up while also hoping to get into the Midnight Clique. Could you relate to any of Mouse’s struggles throughout the film? I think that I relate mostly to his persistence and his passion for the clique. I honestly think that it was really cool to be able to tap into his passion and his fire and his relentlessness for what he wanted. That was something that I really learned from him and I try to learn something from all of my characters but I think that was one of the things that I learned from him, persistence in what you want and not to settle for anything. Honestly, I don’t think that’s the biggest lesson that came from him wanting to be in the clique I think that the biggest lesson came from his emotional journey throughout the film. The things that honestly aren’t even in the script that I kind of had to do the research on before I did any of the camerawork or any of that. I just really had to go to that place for Mouse. It was fun, it was hard but I think that was the biggest thing that I learned. My time alone with Mouse was probably the biggest thing. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I would say probably the most important thing is for you to study. I think it’s important, probably one of the most important things that you can do. Especially if you’re a young actor just because there’s a lot more - there are distractions but there are also certain stigmas that come with being young in this industry, especially being a young person of color. No one expects you to do it - you walk into the room you can sort of feel the big elephant, question in the room of, why are you here? And what do you do and are you any good? When you feel those questions being asked you want to have answers. Yes, I’m here because I am good and you want to be definitive in that and so it’s important to do your research, hustle, as well as study. Study all the greats.

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Kimmy Shields Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Sela Shiloni

You started performing at age six. Do you have any vivid memories of your first performance? I don’t remember much from my first performance other than I loved it and couldn’t wait to go back and do more. In middle school, I always tried to show off when we were in dress rehearsals by showing up to class with leftover eyeliner or mic tape residue, when in reality that just meant I was being lazy and not washing my face thoroughly enough. Since you started so young, did you ever have a time when you wanted to switch career paths and explore something new? It may sound cheesy, but performing has always been the only thing I wanted to be good at. I love the opportunities it creates for people and the conversation a really well-told story can spark. I had pipe dreams of other hobbies like owning a vintage store or maybe going to school for special effects make-up, but in the end, it all boiled down to performing and doing it in as many different ways as possible. I plan on being alive for a while, so I won’t say never to those possibilities. Insatiable is not your typical teen drama. Was the unconventional nature of the show what drew you to it? My audition for Insatiable was as normal as any other audition I had been on, so I was only given the pilot script to read and a general idea of what the show was, but I was already on board with it from the beginning. Now that I am two seasons in, I could not be prouder to be on it. I have always rooted for underdogs, and I think our show does the same. It is the kind of show I would have loved to watch in high school when I know I needed it the most.

“I learned that if you just take care of yourself and show up willing to play and do a good job, there is absolutely nothing that can go wrong.” What do you like most about Nonnie? I love her heart. Even though her execution in friendships is not great and she could stand to learn a lot about boundaries, I love how unafraid she is to be honest about the ways Patty is being harmful to herself. She is the person you want in your corner, putting a hand on your shoulder and saying “Hey, that thing you’re doing is really unhealthy.” Insatiable manages to cover a wide range of topics whether it’s body image, identity or bullying. Is there anything that hasn’t been covered in the show that you hope to see covered in the future? I feel like we really have covered it all. I’m thankful that our show is made up of an ensemble so we have the room to introduce all these storylines and points of view. I am grateful to be part of a story about identity and sexuality because it is something I am constantly working on and learning about myself. You were in the movie Ad Astra, what did you learn from that experience? I learned that movie stars can be silly and kind just like your closest friends. I learned that any scary expectations I had of making movies was completely made up in my head. I learned that if you just take care of yourself and show up willing to play and do a good job, there is absolutely nothing that can go wrong. If you had the opportunity to explore space would you? I would take a hard pass on that one. I am too fidgety and need noise, both of which negate my eligibility for the position. But I wish all the luck to those brave 43

enough to go! I will happily watch the highlight reel on YouTube. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Be kind, trust yourself, and build a life that you love with people you love.

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Jacob Hopkins Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Amy Barnard

Growing up did you enjoy putting on performances? Oh, indubitably! I’ve always been very outgoing and talkative, and I’ve always wanted to portray characters ever since I was a kid (especially in cartoons). How did you react when you got cast as Gumball in The Amazing World of Gumball? What have you learned from working on the show? I will always consider Gumball to be my gateway into the world of voiceover. I was ecstatic when I landed the role, and I learned everything I know about voice acting from working on the show, from increasing my range of voices to all the technical details of being in a sound booth. Truly a blessing. Are you using different acting muscles when you do voice-over work versus face to face acting? In a word: yes. In voice-over, no one can see you, so (to quote Mark Hamill) you have to make choices that would never be made when you’re acting on camera. Let me explain: when doing a voice-over, you have to portray everything through your voice, even your body language. You have to physically act things out in the booth to really get the emotion across, and sometimes, you really have to exaggerate those actions. I remember one time during a Gumball session that Gumball’s mouth was stuffed with food and he was going off on a rant. So I wadded up some kleenex and stuck it in my mouth and gave the whole rant with it in my mouth! There were so many opportunities where Gumball had himself in peculiar situations and was a character within a character. I pulled my cheeks apart to act, stuck my tongue out, pulled my chin back to my throat, put my hands over my mouth, and many many other things. Lol— 46

it was a blast! Your newest project is Dragons: Rescue Riders, what drew you to that show? I grew up on the How to Train Your Dragon book series, so when I got the opportunity to become a part of that world, there was no way I was gonna miss out on that! Plus, dragons are rad! On the show, you’re playing Axel Finke. What do you do to get inside the head of Axel Finke? He’s kinda like the Loki of the show. He does some good, but he can’t help loving the bad. He’s mischievous, cunning, and has his own agenda… which you’ll find out soon enough. Honestly, voice acting rebellious characters has always come naturally to me. It’s

er. It seems like loads of fun! Mark Hamill has so much range and emotion in his roles, and he never ceases to amaze me. He makes all of his characters so memorable with his skills as a voice actor (I still say, “Silly me! I forgot the acid,” whenever I forget something). I hope that I get to meet him one day and gain some of his insight. Truly a legend. For live-action, actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Hugh Jackman inspire me. I am a huge Stanley Kubrick fan too. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? It’s really important to practice your craft, whether it’s live-action or voice acting. Being prepared for auditions and when you book the job is very important. It’s not enough just to know your lines, there are many things that go into creating a character. Listening, asking questions, trying new things, being open to

“It’s really important to practice your craft, whether it’s live-action or voice acting. ” so much fun! They don’t follow any rules, so I get to beat to my own drum and follow my instincts. You do a lot of comedy work. What’s your favorite part about working on a comedy? Being a comedic person, I always have the time of my life doing comedies. I love to laugh and make others laugh, so in the end, it’s a win-win! There is an honesty to comedy, so I always find the real even in the funny as well as the crazy. We all find ourselves in situations that are exaggerated or slightly not what we have in mind, and it gets to the point where you can even become slap-happy working your way through them. So there are always real moments and truth to be found in comedic situations which I think really is what makes it so funny and relatable. Who are some of your acting inspirations? I have way too many, so I’ll just pick my all-time favorite: Mark Hamill. I grew up on Batman: The Animated Series, and his Joker will always be a major part of why I became a voice actor. I dream of one day voice acting for a character as carefree and crazy as the Jok47

changes, being respectful of everyone that puts so much time and effort in an audition setting, a work setting as well as all the people who have supported you along the way. Research good acting classes and workshops to join. For voice acting, practicing every day. Jumping into singing classes also is great for a voice actor. Singing increases your vocal range, breathing techniques, as well as protecting your voice. Join voice acting classes to break out of your shell and learn the technical attributes of manning a booth and handling a microphone. Most importantly, persevere! Never let anyone get you down. A major part of being an actor is being confident in your abilities. Always go for what you think is right, and be willing to cooperate with others’ opinions. And remember folks, have fun!

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Romaine Waite Interview by Alyssa Winn Photography by Tianxiao Zhang

Having been born in Jamaica and then relocating to Canada as a child, where was your first exposure to acting? Was this something that was prevalent in your early life? If I recall correctly, the idea of being comfortable in front of an audience came from growing up in church. I would recite Bible scriptures, sing in the choir, and participate in short plays for the congregation. However, I think my understanding of acting and the film industry came much later. How has your Jamaican culture influenced you as a performer? I don’t think my culture has influenced me as a performer yet, or at least I haven’t noticed. If I were to take on a character from the Caribbean, then I would definitely have a good starting point. While doing drama in high school, was the thought that this could turn into a career on your mind at all? If not, what direction did you see yourself going in? Not at all. At the time, drama/improv was purely for fun. I remember feeling comfortable in that space. It was one of the few classes where I felt I was using the best parts of my personality. In terms of career options, I wanted to be a computer animator. I enjoyed visual arts, even now I still have an appreciation for aesthetic and good typography. Can you pinpoint an exact moment you were bitten by the acting bug? Of course, I remember like it was yesterday. It was a small indie film. At the time a close friend of mine had an uncle who would write and direct plays. One year he decided to make a film. He put out a casting call that made its way to my inbox. During this time, I wasn’t actively pursuing a career. I had taken drama in high school and done a few plays, but acting as a career had never crossed my mind. Needless to say, I went for the audition simply because it was a new experience for me. Little did I know 50

“The ultimate goal is to have my craft expose the truth and lead to honest conversation and healing.” this would be the catalyst for my journey. Moral of the story, always be open to new experiences. You never know where they’ll lead. What do you hope to accomplish with your craft? The ultimate goal is to have my craft expose the truth and lead to honest conversation and healing. It doesn’t always have to be truths about our world or social issues. It can be personal too, things that we may have a hard time discussing. I think cinema is a great medium for audiences to learn something new about one another, and hopefully bring us closer together. I admire the work of artists like Ava Duvernay, who are always pushing audiences to new levels of truth. Tell us about your role as Detective Winston Sams in the Hallmark Channel’s Crossword Mysteries. I play a rookie detective (Winston Sams), who is eager to prove himself to his partner Logan O’Connor. In the script, my character is really sharp. He’s focused on finding inconsistent elements in each case and making them available to his partner for further investigation. The series is grounded and somewhat gritty, different from what you might expect from Hallmark. So far it has been a fun experience playing this character. Also, having the opportunity to watch Brennan and Lacey work has been motivating. How did you prepare to play Detective Sams? I was given the freedom to bring Winston to life in my own way, which involved understanding all the unique tactics forensic investigators use to solve crimes. I watched a few different shows, like First 48, and Forensic Files to get comfortable with the terms that detectives use. I’m excited to see where this character goes.

In what ways do you relate to Winston? Is it important for you to have common ground with your characters, or do you hope to delve into something brand new? He’s focused and genuinely wants to do good work. I think these traits align with my personality. Having common ground with the character isn’t necessarily important to me. It can help, but I think it’s more intriguing to delve into new emotions and experiences. However, if I’ve done my work correctly, maybe I’ll discover something new about myself and develop similar attributes to the characters I play. What can fans expect from the Crossword Mysteries series? The series is grounded and somewhat gritty, different from what you might expect from Hallmark. I like what Hallmark Channel provides to its viewers. It’s clean family entertainment and it’s a great feeling to be a part of that. What can we expect to see from you in 2020? Early next year, I will be in a Lifetime channel movie. The film is about the prominent American gospel group, The Clark Sisters. I’ll be playing the husband of one of the sisters. In case people aren’t aware, I’ll give you a small idea of who they are. They have a catalogue of hits, won multiple Grammys, and worked with numerous artists across varied genres. Including artists like Missy Elliot and Snoop Dogg. You can even hear them sampled on the Jay-Z hit “Family Feud.” The film is executive produced by Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Missy Elliot, and directed by the lovely Cristine Swanson.

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Chelsea Talmadge Interview by Alyssa Winn Photographer: Ben Cope Stylist: Adena Rohatiner Hair: Emily Zempel Makeup: Tammy Yi

Tell us about how acting played a role in your childhood. Is this something you always knew was your passion? Growing up as a child, I remember conducting an entire classroom of make-believe students in my bedroom. I lived on a culdesac, so there weren’t a lot of kids in my neighborhood to play with. My mother always thought I would be a pediatrician because of my fascination with babies, but I think subconsciously I always knew I wanted to do something in the entertainment field. What was your first experience with performing? Was that a monumental moment for you? I grew up studying dance. So, I started performing at approximately six years old. My first dance recital was a tap number, “One” from the Broadway musical A Chorus Line. Shortly after, when I was still much too young, my mom caved and allowed me to watch the movie starring Michael Douglas. That movie changed things for me. I began singing and choreographing shows to perform for my family every night after supper. I was prepared to train endlessly, just as the cast members did in the flick. You play Deenie in the new film Doctor Sleep, based on Stephen King’s sequel to his international sensation The Shining. What was it like jumping into Stephen King’s universe? Thrilling and yet utterly terrifying! I happened to stumble into the horror genre by accident. I’m actually a huge fraidy-cat by nature, but after working on Stranger Things and following that with Doctor Sleep, 53

horror has oddly enough captivated my soul. I enjoy the nitty-gritty acting that comes with tackling these types of roles. Stephen King, in my opinion, has always done a phenomenal job at painting a picture of these beloved characters and their telekinetic abilities. I’m so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to originate and bring Deenie to life. Did you feel any added pressure knowing the film was being adapted from a novel? Anytime a novel is adapted to film; you always hear critique about how the book is better. I think because of that stigma, there is always a bit of pressure for the actors. So many readers have a preconceived idea of these characters in mind, and it’s our job as actors to live up to their expectations, all while embodying the author and director’s vision. It’s difficult to please everyone, but Doctor Sleep was an incredibly collaborative experience, and I’m personally very pleased with the finished product. Did you refer back to the novel when preparing to play Deenie? Yes, I had never actually read Doctor Sleep, although I was familiar with a lot of Stephen King’s past work. After receiving the offer, I purchased the softcover from my local bookstore—I’m a bit old school. I enjoy reading actual books. There is nothing better than flipping through the pages of an old favorite and coming across a watermark on a page that hits close to home. Let’s talk Stranger Things, which catapulted your career. What did you take away from the entire

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experience?

was probably thrilled about this newfound phobia.

Gratitude for one, lots of laughs, and unforgettable memories. Stranger Things was an incredible stepping stone. The Duffers and Shawn Levy taught me so much during the time I spent on set. I am forever thankful for that experience and those relationships.

What can we expect to see from you in 2020? I have a few exciting projects in the works, but I can’t let the cat out of the bag just yet.

How is it being on tour doing StrangerCon with some of your Stranger Things co-stars? Awful, kidding! So much fun. I can’t help but smile, thinking about what a reunion this tour has been for us. We started filming season one almost four years ago now, and everyone is beginning to branch off

“Singing has always been a part of me. In a perfect world, I would love to do a film or show where I can incorporate both acting and my passion for singing.” into other endeavors; it’s great to get together and be able to reconnect with the cast and the fans. You did a badass cameo with rock/metal band Ice Nine Kills—do you hope to pursue more musical ventures? Ha, thank you! Singing has always been a part of me. In a perfect world, I would love to do a film or show where I can incorporate both acting and my passion for singing. I don’t see myself branching off to work on a solo album quite yet, but music is definitely something I’d be interested in pursuing. Doctor Sleep, Stranger Things, a cameo in Ice Nine Kills horror epic; are you a big horror fan? You would think, huh? I definitely have a liking for drama. I was neurotic as a child. If I watched a scary movie before bed, immediately after, I would have to clean every inch of my room; otherwise, my mind would trick me into thinking a pile of laundry was an evil witch or scary monster. Looking back, my mother 55

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Eliza Pryor Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Gretchen Easton Photography

When did you realize you wanted to be an actress? When I was younger, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know much about the industry. I played soccer and rode horses and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know being an actress was even an option for me. Then my parents enrolled me in singing and stage presence classes, and once I stepped onto the stage to sing, I knew I wanted to be an entertainer. A lot of my singing friends also trained as actors and encouraged me to give it a shot. Things really took off after I submitted my first video on an acting app called Scenebot. Casting directors, agents, and managers see you act and then give you feedback. My first video did really well, and the next thing I knew, a manager reached out to me and encouraged me to head out to LA to give acting a serious try. After I booked my first job, I was hooked. Tell us a bit about Team Kaylie and how the opportunity to be on the show came about? Team Kaylie is a hilarious comedy about a Hollywood socialite who is court-ordered by a judge to lead a wilderness club at a middle school. The kids in the club have a Breakfast Club kind of feel, and when you mix their unique personalities with the crazy adventures you get some serious laugh out loud moments. In the end, even though they are all different, they find a way to pull together. My agent got me the audition with the casting director and I first auditioned for the role of Jackie. After a few callbacks, my manager reached out and asked if I would consider auditioning for the role of Valeria. They liked my work but already had some great people for Jackie. After studying Valeria, I was like, ok, this one is wacky and going to be really fun to play. 58

Can you relate to your character Valeria?

What other projects do you have coming out?

Valeria and I are completely different. We are both in middle school but most of us middle schoolers are at an awkward stage and can be insecure. Valeria owns who she is. My favorite thing about her is that people call her a weirdo and creepy and she says thank you. She is proud of who she is and doesn’t care what anyone else says about her.

Part 2 with the holiday episode of Team Kaylie will be released on December 2nd, so that’s really exciting! The show gets better and better so Team Kaylie fans should really love the new episodes. Currently, I am a member of a kid’s acapella group called Acapop!KIDS. The group was created by the founders of Pentatonix and we launched with Warner Records on Oct. 18th. The kids are all crazy talented and they mix different groups of us for each song. More videos will be released later this year and we continue to work on new ones too, so stay tuned!

What do you and the cast do to bond on and off of set? The chemistry of this cast is amazing. Being on set with them is so much fun. Everyone is such a professional but when the cameras were off, we danced and played around acting silly. We also spent a lot of time together outside of work, just hanging out, swimming or hiking or bowling. Everyone is amazingly talented and also a lot of fun. Through the show, you are poking fun at influencer

What advice do you have for aspiring actors? It can be a tough industry and you really have to love the work. Believe in yourself and have fun in the moment. You want to be confident, but it is ok to get nervous sometimes. Have fun with your friends in acting class, have fun in auditions, and really soak it in when you do get that job you really wanted.

“You want to be confident, but it is ok to get nervous sometimes.” culture. What do you hope audiences take away from the show? The show is hilarious and yes, we poke fun at Kaylie who is so self-absorbed when you first meet her. The show is a comedy but the overall message is a good one. If you take the time to care about others, you’ll be happier than if you just focus on yourself. Before you became an actress you were a singer. Do you hope to tie your singing and your acting together in the future? I love both singing and acting and will continue to pursue both career paths. It would be amazing, though, to be in a project like The Greatest Showman. I think it would be really cool to be able to sing, dance, and act in a role.

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Anjelika Washington Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Drea Nicole

You discovered your love for the arts during high school. What specific moment got you interested? I was watching Fiddler on The Roof my freshman year and I wasn’t in that musical I was just watching them and my high school has a phenomenal drama program. Our drama teacher there is really, really great at what she does and I was watching and I just literally kept thinking, ‘I have to do that. I have to try that’ and once I did do my first play which was a monologue actually, it was a Mandy Moore monologue from Because I Said So about her wearing a dress with a bunch of polka dots and my mom came and I remember doing that monologue on stage and I just was like, ‘oh I need to be doing this all the time’ and that was it. Your career started with The Legend of Master Legend. What did you learn from that first experience? I learned everything from that first experience. I learned from Dawnn Lewis who played my mom, who I watched because my mom put on re-runs of A Different World all the time so I knew exactly who she was so it was a dream that she was playing my mom. I learned so much just from watching her, her poise, her grace, how prepared she was just when she showed up to set. She gave me great advice about how to handle my money going forward with my career. Decisions that I should make about life things, like getting an accountant, making a life for myself, not building everything about my life only around my career but making sure that I travel. I have friends. I do other things that make me happy so I don’t get sick and tired of this industry. She taught me so many lessons and 62

she’s still a fairy godmother to me. I can text her or call her anytime and ask for career advice or just talk to her about life. So that was just a blessing meeting her and having that experience with her. It’s really helping guide me so I’m really grateful to her for all of that. In Tall Girl, Fareeda was the fearless, sassy best friend that Jodi needed. What did you do to prepare and step into Fareeda’s shoes? I’m pretty much Fareeda already. She’s a little bit more bold than I am, especially in her style sense but I’m definitely that friend anyway. I’m the friend who will check my friends and be like, ‘girl no’ or ‘girl yes!

who is watching at all times. She just wears what she wants, she says what she wants, she does what she wants. She’s a lot more unapologetic than I am which I think is really beautiful and also inspiring for me. To be able to play a character who really lives her life so unapologetically. Were you able to ad-lib any of your lines? Sam Wilson who wrote it is so great and a lot of that writing was already written and it felt as if it was written for me, it felt like it was written as if I would say that. I did ad-lib here and there. I think the only things that made it in the actual film were the first moment

“... get out there and take some classes. Make sure you love it and when you realize that you love it and you can’t do anything else, stick with it and keep going. Because there will be way more no’s than there could ever be yes’s...” have confidence, wear that dress. you better slay!’ but when it comes to this role just thinking about my own friendships and relationships and the friend that I am and how I would say that to my best friend if Jodi was my best friend, which Ava is one of my really good friends now. Just reminding myself in these moments, how would I think? What would I say? This is the situation that’s happening, which is acting in general but luckily I just got to be more free with Fareeda because I am definitely like that but I will say I have my moments of being a lot more reserved and Fareeda doesn’t have any of those. So it was really fun to just kind of live that free life at all times and not care 63

when we see Fareeda and the boy walks by and he says, ‘how’s the weather up there’ I turn around and I say ‘what’d you say to my best friend?’ that wasn’t written in there, but that’s something I would say. If someone walked by and said something crazy to my best friend I would turn around and be like, ‘what did you say to my best friend?’ and tell them real quick, no you’re not about to say that to my best friend. Then the other thing is me sitting there at the coffee shop with Dunkleman and I say, ‘man if only I could go to lunch with my friends and they could listen to me talk about my problems’ because that’s what she’s feeling in that moment. I think we’ve all been there

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where we’re just listening, listening, listening and we want to be a good friend and be a good listener but at the same time you’re like, but no one has asked me how I’m doing. I saw a quote on Instagram and it said ‘check on your strong friends’ which I think is so powerful because as much as we have that strong friend who is always there and always listening we still have to check on them because they’re human and they still have their own problems. But it only happened a little bit I only got a couple of sprinkles in there. Fareeda also had a unique sense of style that matched her personality. Did you have a lot of input when it came to the wardrobe? I had a little bit. I will say Nzingha and our main costume designer they went back and forth with Fareeda’s style so much. I mean probably the most just because we wanted it to feel really authentic. We wanted it to feel very - like a specific type of person. You know a person who is dressing like they’re walking down Melrose Avenue and they have pink hair and they’re just so unapologetic and so free with who they are. It’s a specific type of personality. So we played with it a little bit. We had a lot of different inspirations and they did ask me a lot. Like, did I feel like this was her? Did I feel like this is something that she would wear? Some things I definitely said no I don’t think this is it but most of the time yes. Our wardrobe department was phenomenal, they were shopping for Fareeda like every single day, going out and finding new pieces, getting a lot of vintage stuff as well. Finding a lot of second-hand items and then finding a lot of stuff that was specifically made for drag queens in the New Orleans area. A lot of the wardrobe was handmade by people, like the homecoming outfit that Fareeda wears was handmade at this amazing store in New Orleans that usually makes wardrobe for drag queens out there. So that was really cool, it was legit a custom piece. That’s why it’s so special and so beautiful. What do you hope audiences take away from the film after they watch Tall Girl? I really hope people take away self-love and just overall loving yourself but also loving others. I hope that they see that she really only comes into herself because she’s surrounded by so much love from people who already love and accept her. So I think the more that we love and accept others, people will realize it’s ok to be exactly who they are.

Do you have any upcoming projects you can share? I wrapped on a Facebook series that will be coming out I believe, February 2020. I’m in a DC comics series called Stargirl, playing a superhero that will also be out in 2020 I believe in April. Right now I am working on another Netflix film called Moxie that’s being directed by Amy Poehler. Which is so amazing, it’s an incredible experience. I’ve been so blessed to be directed by female directors this year and also this has been the only year I’ve ever worked with female directors so it’s so special and so inspiring. I’m so grateful and Amy Poehler, I’ve looked up to her and watched her comedies for years, she’s just a genius. To be able to be on set with her, to watch her work, to learn from her has been an incredible experience. I’m so grateful to Netflix for giving me this opportunity again. That film is very powerful, it’s based on the book “Moxie” and it’s gonna change things, it really is. It’s about a high school of girls who create a feminist revolution so it is really powerful and I’m so grateful to be apart of it. Outside of acting, you’re also passionate about child healthcare. Can you tell us a bit about the initiatives you work with at Children’s Hospital LA? I’ve been volunteering at the Children’s Hospital for four years. I am a host and an ambassador for the Elizabeth A. Mcdonald Foundation and we do so many different things for the kids there but the number one thing that I’m involved with is an event and party project called, Shine on Siblings. It is where we host events particularly for the siblings of the patients and that is because often siblings of the patients naturally are neglected. We totally get it, it makes sense, all the attention is on the child who is ill at the time, as it should be from parents and family members but because of that the siblings can often feel very forgotten about through that process and they’re also dealing with their own emotions. So we host events for them to just give them attention for an entire day, pour all of our love, all of our energy onto them and usually whatever type of event it is, it might be a dance show we put on, it could be a play we might do, some really fun arts and crafts. We might have a carnival for them, just all types of different things. Then their parents get to come and watch them either put on the show that we’ve done or just come and hang out and play with them for a while. Which is really, really great and you get to see 64

the kids just light up because for such a long time they don’t get attention in their lives. We are the only organization in Southern California that has that program which is why it’s so special and Elizabeth actually was one of my first acting coaches. So it’s even more special that I still get to confide in her that way and also get to help with her organization cause it’s so important to me and I love the work she does and it’s so inspiring that even though she’s an acting coach she also has a sweet spot for this job at the Children’s Hospital and I’m so proud of it and so proud to be able to volunteer for them. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I would say get out there and take some classes. Make sure you love it and when you realize that you love it and you can’t do anything else, stick with it and keep going. Because there will be way more no’s than there could ever be yes’s and that’s ok and all you can do is keep going. Literally, keep going because eventually, the time will be yours.

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Jeremy Maguire Interview by Alyssa Winn Photographer: Sara Pine

Being eight years old, you have been on Modern Family for half of your life! With the show coming to a close after a ten-year run, what will you miss most about playing Joe Pritchett? I’m going to miss my friends the most. I grew up seeing them and working with them every week. It’s going be tough not doing that anymore. Modern Family was your first big break. What have you learned about acting from working on the show? I’ve been very blessed to work with actors who are so good and who have been acting for a long time. They take the time to teach me timing and my lines. I also learned that everyone has a job on set to make the show, so everyone is important. In 2017, you did your first film playing the role of Trevor in I’m Not Here. How was it different shooting a film rather than a television show? The biggest difference between filming a show and a movie for me was the time. We have to move very fast on the show. A lot needs to be filmed in one week because we film an episode per week. For the movie, things moved a bit slower. It takes a few months to film one movie. Do you have a preference for film or television? Or do you enjoy doing both? I enjoy doing both because I love being on set, but so far, I love being on a show a bit more. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve made such good friends and love everyone or because it’s what I’ve been doing most of my life. What are your favorite activities to do while you are waiting around on set? I actually really like being in school because I love 67

learning new things. I do like going for walks on the lot when it’s a beautiful day, and I like to visit my friends that film different shows on our lot too! When you are not on set, what are your favorite hobbies? I love to read and draw! I also like to learn new things. I can spell the longest word in the dictionary, pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. My latest hobby is playing video games, Roblox and Minecraft. What has been the most exciting moment of your life so far? This past year I went to Hawaii. My family and I visited Kualoa Ranch on Oahu. It’s the place where they make all of the movies. It was amazing! We took a UTV tour and saw so many beautiful things. WHOA! What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up, I want to be a lot of things. I want to be a farmer and a marine biologist. That is on top of a director and an actor. What can we expect to see from you in 2020? Do you have any exciting plans you can tell us? I want to finish off Modern Family, making so many memories. After that, I want to keep acting. I would like to be on a show where other kids work. Last but not least, tell us about your collection of awesome capes that always steal the show on the red carpet. Why do you love wearing capes? Do you have a favorite? Capes are my thing! I love wearing capes because they make me look cool. No outfit is complete without a cape. I have capes for different occasions like playtime, award shows, and pretend. My favorite is the one I wore to my first Emmys. It’s red and shiny!

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TJ Wright Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Natalie Norfus

Tell us a bit about your new show Raising Dion. Raising Dion is a show about a single mother who lost her husband and has just figured out that her son has superpowers. She now has to protect her son from evil forces. I play Chris the leader of the skate crew. I bully the main character Dion because I don’t enjoy his presence. What about Raising Dion interested you? The plot of Raising Dion interested me because I wanted to see what would happen to Dion and his mom. I also was interested in playing this role because I have never played a bully before and it is the polar opposite from my actual personality. You play Chris who is the resident “cool kid”. What did you do to get into character? I think of myself as a cool kid so it was easy turning that on, but I have never been one to be a bully or to like bullying. I had to really tap into a deep deep place in my heart and my brain so I could be able to play the part of a bully.

If you could have any superpower what would it be? If I could have any superpower it would be telekinesis because it could be helpful for many things. In one of the trailers, the main character, Dion, was using his powers to lift some cereal and I would love to be able to get food with my powers. Do you hope to get involved in other areas of the entertainment industry such as directing, writing or producing? I definitely want to continue to write and direct. It allows me to put my creativity to work when I am doing both of these things. I also have many ideas for plots and regularly write short stories so it would be an interesting thing to do. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? My advice for up and coming actors is to never give up and do it if you love it. You should always push yourself when you love something. When I first started It took a long time until I booked my first movie but it was a fun and long journey along the way. 70

Mimi Harris Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Deidrha Photography

When did you know you wanted to become an actress? Funny thing is, I don’t think I “knew.” It was just something that happened and when it did, it was “what I wanted” and I haven’t stopped wanting it. What I have figured out is that I want more than just acting, I also want to direct and produce. You’re only seven years old but have been in some great shows. How do you go about choosing roles? Well, that’s funny. I don’t really have anything to do with that LOL. That’s all my mommy and team. BUT, I do tell her roles that I DON’T want to play and she listens to me. What about Mixed-ish interested you? I really like the role of Santamonica. First, I liked her name. I thought it was really cool. But, when I got to know “Santi” (as we call her) I REALLY liked her and wanted to play the role for sure. Can you relate to your character Santamonica Johnson? I really can relate to Santamonica because she is five and going to kindergarten for the first time. I remember when I went to kindergarten for the first time. It was a little hard, but then I made friends and it was so much fun. Although, I did experience a few “mean girls” and my mommy had to help me figure out how to handle them. And boy did I. I hope other kids my age can see Santi deal with some kid things and help them too.

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“I would definitely say go for your dreams no matter how far away they seem. If you work hard and keep dreaming along with faith…it will become true!” How do you prepare for the role of Santamonica? Well, we are both just kids so I just bring Mykal-Michelle to Santi with a whole lot more sass. LOL! You acted in dramas before making the jump to comedy. Were you nervous to work on a comedy? Not at all. Because I have auditioned for so many different kinds of roles this was just another role that I tried to get right. When I heard the casting directors, executive producers, and others laugh during my many auditions for Mixed-ish, it felt so good and I knew I was on the right track. Can you tell us about any other projects you have on the horizon? Well, I have about three other projects that I’m working on. It’s a very busy schedule with shooting 5 days a week, so we try to keep it all straight. What advice do you have for aspiring young actors? I would definitely say go for your dreams no matter how far away they seem. If you work hard and keep dreaming along with faith…it will become true!

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Ethan William Childress Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Paul Gregory

You credit your time in a charter school for the arts as the beginning of your love for acting. What did you do in school that led to you finding your passion? Our grade level put on a play to teach people about desert animals, which was fun. I was a Scorpion. Also, my GATE class did a shadow puppet show, where we had to read a book and put on a play with the different characters after we made the shadow puppets. How did the opportunity to be in Mixed-ish come about? My agent submitted me for the role. What was the audition process like? It started out like any other audition. I went in for the first read and then two days later I had the callback. The next day my mom got a call saying that the network wanted me to come in and test for the role, which I had never done before so I didn’t know what to expect. I just knew I really wanted the role because I liked how the character was written. What do you enjoy most about playing your character, Johan? That I still get to be myself because the character is so much like me. He’s adventurous, he’s willing to try just about anything once, and he is just overall fun-loving. He just accepts everything and everyone for who they are. Do Tika Sumpter and Mark-Paul Gosselaar ever give you advice on set? Yes. I am really grateful to Mark-Paul. He’s such an amazing role model for me. He’s always helping me out when I need it, making sure I understand what is being asked of me so I can deliver my line or act in the scene the way they want and need me to. Also, he is so knowledgeable and I just watch him a lot when we are rehearsing. What have you and your co-stars Arica Himmel and Mykal-Michelle Harris done to create a real sibling bond? 76

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We honestly just hit it off from day one and we are close on and off set. We go to dinner, we hang out at each other’s houses. When we have downtime on set, we’re always joking and laughing together. And because we all get along so well, it makes our jobs that much more fun. What is it like working with Kenya Barris and being apart of the Black-ish TV universe? I love it and I felt very welcome. I think Kenya is a great guy and just brilliant. I don’t get a lot of interaction with him, but the man is a genius. I was so welcomed into the “ish-universe” and I still go over to

“... never stop auditioning and working on your craft. It’s not always going to be easy and there will be disappointments.” the Black-ish set to say hello to everyone. I have even visited the Grown-ish set a few times as they too have an amazing and welcoming group of people working on that show. It really is like having a huge family all in one place. I am really blessed. Outside of acting what do you do for fun? I play video games mostly when I can. I used to play soccer and flag football and I like to go hang out with my friends. I also like going to see movies and doing fun stuff with my friends and family. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? The main thing is just to never stop auditioning and working on your craft. It’s not always going to be easy and there will be disappointments. But it’s not personal, so don’t ever believe it is. You never know going into an audition what they are looking for. Just be the best you that you can be and keep shining.

Jaicy Elliot Interview by Mckenziee Belton Photographer: Michael Anaya Hair & Make-Up: Allison Noelle Stylist: Brooke Sheperd

Have you always wanted to be an actress? I started acting when I was fifteen and it was a real discovery. Not only did it give me something to be passionate about and pour all my creativity into, but it also gave me a community of people that I became really close with and accepted me. I’ve wanted to be an actress since then. It wasn’t really a choice but it was more like the only thing that made sense for me to do. I felt like I could do it forever and never grow tired of the work. It’s only after starting on Grey’s Anatomy though that I’ve seriously considered becoming a TV actress. When you live anywhere other than California, or even the United States, it’s hard to imagine being a part of Hollywood. It’s a distant dream. You grew up in Grenoble, France and went to Cours Florent in Paris, what was it like to grow up there and attend such a prestigious school? France is my first home. Growing up in Grenoble was kind of the perfect scenario for me. My mother is from Grenoble and so the town is full of her very big, loud, but most of all loving, family, so it felt safe. It is also small enough of a place that my friends and I were free to run around and lead our independent lives at a young age. Grenoble is also known for its outdoor activities so we were always outside experiencing the world and it felt like it belonged to us. I then moved to Paris after graduating from high school and it was the first best decision of my life. I moved after I was accepted at the Cours Florent, where I went through classical training as a theatre actor. The school’s program was full and they offered many interesting classes, but what was most influential for me was the people I met there. We created a very solid group of writers, directors, and actors. For five years we fed off of each other’s thirst for creativity. It was magical. We founded theatre companies, did plays everywhere and anywhere they would have us, and even won some awards for them! I learned so much in that time, about myself, the work and what it means to be an actress. I will always remember Paris as my most formative years, I love it there and always look forward to visiting. 79

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Were you a fan of Grey’s Anatomy before you started working on it? Yes absolutely! Like most people of my generation I think! I would watch the show religiously with my friend and it’s become part of our culture. It’s pretty surreal to be on it now, it almost feels like a continuation, as if I had been preparing to be on the show for all these years. Of course I never even dreamt of actually being part of it. It didn’t even occur to me that it could be an option. I’m going through a very interesting time in my life now as I’m regularly being reminded of moments of my childhood when I lived in Grenoble and was dreaming of being in Los Ange-

Anatomy news that finding out about the nomination while we were there, roaming the streets of Paris, was unbelievable. We had to sit at a cafe and seriously discuss it to realize that it was actually happening. I remember all of it like a dream, then again, I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking since I’ve started season 14! What has been the best part of playing Dr. Tayrn Helm and what can we expect from her during the second half of the season when Grey’s returns in January? I think this season she is trying to define herself a little more. Starting at Grey Sloan Memorial was intimidat-

“I would say that you shouldn’t be afraid of giving it your all and really go for it. Just make sure that when you do, you get educated about it.” les. It’s a good retrospective that makes me feel very grateful today. You were a part of the iconic Emmy Nominated Grey’s Anatomy: B-Team shorts that premiered online back in the 14th season where you were directed by the fabulous Sarah Drew. What was that experience like, how was it working with Sarah as a director, and how did it feel to be Emmy Nominated? B-Team was such a great experience! It was Sarah Drew’s directing debut and she was so eager to make it a good time for everyone and we could all feel it! It was so much fun shooting with all the interns, we hadn’t had much time just us all together so it felt very special. It was also a great bonding moment and we all got some good insight into our characters. I honestly only have fond memories about shooting that show. I remember finding out about the nomination with Jake Borelli while we were spending some time in Paris that summer. It was already such a sort of hero moment for me to go back home with this Grey’s 81

ing for all the characters, of all generations I’m sure, but this is a new year and with that comes new resolutions. Or at least I’m going to try and help her find some sort of peace, whether it’s in her professional or personal life. I would be very excited to see her do more surgeries and unleash her talent! Playing Taryn has been a lot of things. I feel very close to her, she has a lot of questions and worries and sometimes I want to pat her back and tell her to not be so hard on herself. Ironically enough I think she would want the same for me. She’s also super compassionate and I get very touched by her, whether it’s about her patients, her friends, or Meredith Grey. She cares and it always comes out one way or another, sometimes maybe not in the best way. I want to talk a bit about that iconic episode of Grey’s, “Silent All These Years.” That episode is so brilliant, raw, real, and timely. What was it like preparing for that episode? The wall of women is one of the most beautiful and cinematic scenes I have ever seen, what was it like being a part of

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that scene? That episode was definitely iconic. From the moment we read it we all knew it was going to be important. You could feel a very strong connection between us the day we shot that ‘wall of women.’ It was a sense of support, privilege, and also hope. There was a feeling of joy of suddenly making this about US, the women, plural. We are all in this together and we wanted to spread that message, let it be known that we will be there for each other and if you fall we will pick you up. I am still moved by talking about it. When we get to use our platform to spread such messages, I feel it gives purpose to everything I work for. I believe as artists we should strive to give hope, perspective, and maybe create change in our societies. I’m very proud of that moment, we all are.

important to be surrounded by your peers and other creatives that can inspire and challenge you. Finally, I would say to be sure to stay yourself. Never try to change to fit into anything that isn’t you, it would be a disservice to everyone including yourself. You’re the only person who sees the world as you do, use that!

Being on a medical show, not only do you have to act, but you also have to learn medical terms and how to do certain medical procedures. Can you walk us through that process a bit? For example, how often are you learning new procedures, how long does it typically take, and what types of training do you go through? We do go through a lot of training. Thank god for all the medical staff we have with us, they are the backbone to it all. Anytime we have a scene that has any sort of procedure, we go through the motions with a professional. From learning how to hold a scalpel to finessing a surgical knot, they are behind watching and teaching us. If you hear us use any kind of technical jargon you can be sure that someone on set is there explaining what that means and how it affects our patients. The toughest part is the surgeries, they can take up a whole day to shoot because they are so precise in the technique, it’s nice. I really admire the determination they have to respect the work. Somehow I am convinced I could do a suture if I needed to, but I definitely wouldn’t want to have to find out if I actually can, ever. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I would say that you shouldn’t be afraid of giving it your all and really go for it. Just make sure that when you do, you get educated about it. Take a class, read plays, discover the different ways to do this, and then find your own way of doing it. There is no guide book, you’re just going to have to create that for yourself. And also go out there and meet people. It’s so 82

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Nadia Gray Interview by Alyssa Winn Photography by Lesley Bryce

How was performing a part of your childhood growing up in Florida?

Where was your head at in your late teenage years when you were considering LA?

Oh man, I’ve always been a little self-proclaimed weirdo! My childhood best friend and I would put on skits and plays for our friends, families, and neighbors that we’d try to sell tickets for. We thought we were hilarious running errands with our parents, walking up and down aisles of grocery stores in different accents with entire backstories for our bits. And that’s the tip of the iceberg! I also did competitive gymnastics for many years when I was young, so that scratched my itch for a while.

I wasn’t really happy with my life in my adolescence. High school was tough for me and I would spend so much time fantasizing about what my life could look like one day. Wanting to pursue acting in LA felt like this big secret too because I felt embarrassed for wanting it. Almost like, “why would I think that I could even do something that farfetched?” It took me years to learn self-esteem and realize having a dream or goal for myself of any kind wasn’t stupid.

You moved out to LA at age 20. What was that like? What emotions did you feel when you arrived? When I think back on that time, I just have to laugh. I feel all old and crotchety now so I look back and think, “how did I have the energy to deal?!” It was a huge transition to go from my little Florida beach town to the enormity of LA, but I really was just so happy to be here. I didn’t ever question my decision or get so overwhelmed that I considered moving back home. It was stressful, yes, but every arduous moment I had I knew it was better than any other alternative. I had this blind happiness that gave me enthusiasm tackling hurdles. I actually still get that feeling when I’m having a bad day. I take in my surroundings and perpetually feel so fortunate that I get to live this lifestyle here, chasing after my dreams

You started out modeling, and eventually transitioned into acting. How did you get your start in modeling? What drew you to it? I submitted myself to local agencies, got some headshots done and blindly went after it. I had no idea what I was doing! I’m someone who still feels self-conscious pulling out my camera to take a photo of myself so I always knew I wouldn’t make a great model. I did have the foresight, however, to realize it could be a stepping stone toward my passion, acting. Tell us about All Rise. What made you want to be involved in the project? All Rise is a drama on CBS that examines the lives of judges, prosecutors, clerks, and cops all fighting through a flawed legal system, trying to get justice for the people of Los Angeles. Right away I was so psyched that it was a female lead show. Not only is 84

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“... it’s paramount to know when to walk away from something if it’s not the right fit for you. Another job will come, it wasn’t meant to be and it is certainly not the end of the world.” it female-driven, but also incredibly diverse and spot on with their casting that made me feel like this show could be special. Can you relate to your character Ria? For sure. I think Ria is someone who’s super into her man and wanting to be upfront and honest about it, and I appreciate that kind of directness. Regardless of how things pan out, I see her as someone who told the whole truth about her feelings along the way. You got to have respect for that. Favorite experience in your career thus far? That’s an impossible question! I’m such a nerd at heart so every moment has been one fangirling experience after another. I guess I think that having done a film with Will Smith and David Ayer where I got to be an evil, wand-wielding elf and do my own stunts was pretty unbelievable. If you could tell every young aspiring female actor one thing—what would it be? Understand your non-negotiables. You have to make guidelines for yourself because as young performers starting out you really have no control over projects. Whether it’s the character type, nudity, or the dialogue in the script. You are at the mercy of casting, producers, writers, directors; you can feel powerless in the process. Because of that, I feel it’s paramount to know when to walk away from something if it’s not the right fit for you. Another job will come, it wasn’t meant to be and it is certainly not the end of the world. 86

Mollee Gray Interview by Carol Wright Photo by Deidhra Fahey

You started out as a dancer before transitioning to acting. What made you want to try your hand at acting? I’ve always wanted to be an actress, it just so happened my dance career started first! Once I booked my first major role when I was 18, I knew that’s what I wanted to be doing my whole life. Tell us about The Reliant. Why did you want to be involved? The Reliant is an action/faith-based film with an intense and extremely relatable storyline with what’s going on in our world today. When I read the script, I was captivated within the first couple pages. I fell in love with the story and especially with my character, Sophie, and just had to get on the project! In the film, you play a character with hoplophobia (an extreme aversion to weapons) who has to navigate the world at a time with extreme social unrest. What did you do to get in the mindset of your character? I am not sure it was a mindset I needed to get into rather than understanding the reasoning of each thought and action she does. She never led with selfishness or arrogance. Sophie saw fear in a lot of situa87

tions but always needed to be strong for her siblings, whilst staying true to her faith. Learning those reasons made it easy to have sympathy for her and believe in her process, which then resonated on camera and to the audience viewing her. Your character Sophie is left to take care of her siblings. What did you and your co-stars do to build a familial bond? We all clicked the first day we met! It was a very instantaneous bond. We did hang out every day, and on days off would go to amusement parks or dinners! Do you hope to do more action movies after working on The Reliant? Absolutely! I love to put my athleticism to use. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Trust the struggle and enjoy the process. Don’t get discouraged at any point, refuel that energy into positive manifestation!

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Quincy Fouse Interview by Carol Wright Photography by Ryan West

You sing and act. Was there a specific moment in your childhood when you remember wanting to become a performer? My parents were big performers, from music to dancing to just being silly, so I always had the bug honestly! What was the audition process like for Legacies? It was really fun, I actually auditioned to be Landon first, imagine how different THAT show would be haha. But Julie kept me in mind for MG and the whole process has been VERY rewarding! Can you relate to your character Milton at all? I can relate to MG a lot! My high school experience and his are very similar...unrequited loves, being underestimated, unrequited loves...I’m not crying you are. Legacies is part of The Vampire Diaries/The Originals’ legacy. Did you feel any pressure when you first started working on the show? Most definitely, when I learned of the fandom and studied the show, I knew I was gonna have to practice up on my smolder. Do you have a favorite storyline that has been done in the show so far? I think the writers did a phenomenal job with MG’s arc with his parents, I would cry reading the script and was immediately excited to give my craft to the writer’s story.

“Your path will be more direct and intentional when you set specific goals. Where can you hone your craft to be a quality product for the market you’ve chosen? Thinking in this manner of setting specific goals brings you to a place of efficient and pliable efforts.” You wrote and executive produced a Miles Morales short film that put you on Marvel’s radar. After that experience do you hope to write and produce more often? Not only do I hope to but I am haha. The next projects will definitely take a lot more time, but they’ll definitely be worth it. You’re also a musician. Do you have any new music coming out? Yeah! I’m currently working on my next project ‘Son of the Ronin’ but in the meantime, you can check all my music out on my website at QuincyFouse.com What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Your path will be more direct and intentional when you set specific goals. Where do you want to act(tv/ film, theater)? Where can you hone your craft to be a quality product for the market you’ve chosen? Thinking in this manner of setting specific goals brings you to a place of efficient and pliable efforts, seeking 91

knowledge on new solutions for new problems that will bring you to new goals. In my path, I wanted to be a TV and film actor after finding a credible acting camp (LA Kids Acting Camp by director Greg James) that showcased me to talent agents and managers (LA has acting schools that do these same showcases, all Googlable) that were based in LA. Next was making the plan to sustain myself while in LA hitting my goals, so along with my mother’s support, I picked up 3 jobs and saved money to fly out and stay with my cousin that lived in South Central. I made sure that I knew the transit system enough to get around to meetings with different agents and managers and then after choosing a team that I knew shared my goal-oriented drive and vision for my career, I started auditioning. Your path could be similar or very different, consistently giving efficient and pliable efforts will always be the common denominator.

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Words of Wisdom

Valery Ortiz Interview by Alyssa Winn Photography by Storm Santos

What age did you move from Puerto Rico to Orlando? How does your Puerto Rican culture influence you as a performer? My family first moved to Miami, Fl. when I was 3 years old. We lived in Miami for a few years and then drove up North to Orlando where we stayed. My culture influences me every day! As a performer, the influence has made a huge difference more in the size of my fight and want. Because of where I come from and all the sacrifices my parents made to give my brother and me the life we had, I have such a huge, “why”. They worked so hard and never gave up. I can’t either! You originally started out as a dancer. What encouraged you to start making the switch over to acting? My older brother Hector! He was a straight-up genius. Before the ‘How To’ YouTube videos were so readily available, my brother taught himself how to edit with two VCRs. That incredible piece of knowledge inspired him to come up with a lot of home movie concepts. Being that he was obviously producing and directing, I was the only one available for the on-camera responsibilities. Haha! That’s where it all started! In high school, you studied performing arts. Can you remember any formative performances you were in that solidified this was your path? Hmm, great question! I think both playing Helena in A Midsummers Nights Dream and Maria in Westside Story at Dr. Phillips Theatre Magnet really prepped me for overcoming my own self-doubt. I had never done Shakespeare or been in a musical, but my teacher Ms. Rugerio believed I could be one of the leads in both shows. She knew I could before I did. That propelled me to start seeing myself in that light too. That’s special. Theatre is unreal!! That connection with your cast and the energy from the audience in that very moment, night after night, with nothing ever happening exactly the same way—it’s magical. I miss it. After your initial move to LA from Florida, how did you feel? 93

Well, I first came to LA on a road trip so there weren’t any nerves or doubt in the beginning. I was just on vacation after a show I did called SPLAT! ended. When I got to LA, one of my best friends, Ben, introduced me to my now manager of 15 years. I got an agent, started doing extra work and decided to stay. My parents drove my little two-door Mazda Miata convertible across the country and here I am! After my parents left that trip, that’s when it all hit me. I cried so much. Haha!!! That’s when that self-doubt, “I’m here alone, is it really gonna happen for me?” started. What advice would you give someone moving out there?

Disney! I was also impressed by the witty writing. The overall tone was different from the Disney I used to watch on TV. I loved that! Add a strong female lead, a Hispanic family, cool visual effects, and a talented supporting cast and there was no doubt I wanted to be a part of this special show. What are your goals for 2020? In 2020, I will release the second book in my bilingual children’s book series Hola! Hello! called Coqui in the City. We will finish Season 2 of Gabby Duran & the Unsittables, and physically I want to be able to do a pull-up and a handstand in Crossfit! Haha! And

“Don’t give up! It’s not easy and there is a lot of rejection, but it’s so worth it! Also! Do NOT compare your journey to anyone else’s!” If I’m going to keep it real for you, I’d highly recommend saving a good 5 or 6 months rent before coming out...and then just do it! I had all my money saved from SPLAT!, so my move was a lot smoother. I didn’t have that anxiety about finding a job the second we got here. That helps! And if it’s in your heart, you have to at least Try. Be prepared to get into classes, be told you need new photos, meet a lot of people who look just like you with the same eager eyes and hungry heart. Be prepared for constant rejection, but get excited for possibly one of the most fulfilling things you’ll ever do for yourself! Tell us about Gabby Duran and the Unsittables. Why did you want to be involved? Gabby Duran and the Unsittables is about a young girl, Gabby, who moves to a new town because her mom, Dina (who I play) gets a new job as an on-air news reporter. Gabby isn’t adjusting well to the move until she lands a job as a babysitter. Little does Dina know, Gabby is babysitting aliens! I got involved in the show because I love kids, I love aliens, and I love 95

I’m just going to put it out there because it’s a big dream, I would looove to be on Dancing With The Stars! Eeeek! What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Don’t give up! It’s not easy and there is a lot of rejection, but it’s so worth it! Also! Do NOT compare your journey to anyone else’s! That is a rabbit hole a lot of us can fall into, especially nowadays with social media. My mom always told me, “Lo que es pa’, es pa’ ti!” Translation: “What’s for you, is for you!” Truly believing that has helped me let go of all of the opportunities I didn’t get and wholeheartedly embrace all of the ones I have.

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