Photographer: Brandon Walden
What drew you to the role of Julian Cashel in the upcoming film Hauntology?
What drew me to Julian was the idea of getting to finally look like what you’ve always
dreamed of and having to accept that certain people can’t be in the evolved chapter of your
life. We all wish we could have the dream body, perfect partner, and stack of bricks to call
home. However, I think playing Julian was an opportunity for me to symbolically accept that
you can’t make something, or someone, fit into your life if it’s at the cost of your well-being
even if having that part would grant the illusion of fulfillment.
Hauntology is an anthology, following 2 siblings who share spine chilling tales about
their hometown. Did you have a favorite story that resonated with you personally?
I think all of the segments were fantastic. I loved Sam Robinson in her segment, she’s an
absolute legend. The siblings – played by Jaidyn Triplett and Samantha Russell - were so
present and really stole the show. At last, I must say “Witchcraft becomes her” really
resonates with me on so many levels, beyond even the trans aspect of it. I just cannot be
more grateful to watch something that I can so personally relate to and have the honor to
say I acted in.
What challenges did you face while preparing for your role?
The universe always likes to prep me for the roles I play. The universe helped me this time
by preparing me a year in advance from filming the role by pushing me to go through my
own physical transformation due to issues with mobility and depression. I started
exercising, released so much weight, and gained tons of endorphins by the time I got
casted. Not only that but the universe also blessed me with a mildly threatening stalker
situation a few weeks before filming the segment.
Were there any particular scenes or moments in the script that you found especially
challenging or rewarding to film?
I think the most rewarding scene I got to film was running in terror from Julian’s front door to
the couch. I’ve always wanted to play a damsel in distress. So much so that I had pitched
SLAY to Rob Jarosinski, our lovely producer, a day before we filmed that scene. When we
were done filming the shot he said “I just know you’re going to have so much fun screaming
on set when we make Slay happen.” He was right.
Did you draw inspiration from any real-life relationships or experiences to shape your
character’s journey?
The universe gave me so much material to draw from, so yes! 1000% yes.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the film?
I really hope audiences take whatever resonates with them and implements it into their lives
to create positive change. At the very least I hope they have a good time with the film.
Aside from Hauntology, you also star in the upcoming film Slay. Is there
anything you can tell us about this project?
Absolutely! I’ve been working on SLAY since the moment I was born. I created Slay
to be an adaptation of my teen years set amongst a horror backdrop. For years my
story has been under control, this is my way to set the story straight and honor the
complexity of it all. I made this for the girl I was when I needed to contextualize
what I had been going through so that my pain meant something beyond over kept
baggage.
What lesson did you learn from filming Hauntology that you carried over to
your role in Slay?
I learned that screaming in horror movies is what I was born to do.
If your character from Hauntology and your character from Slay were in the
same horror film, who would die first and who would be the “final girl”?
Julian and Chloe both love to scream, I don’t think they’d be quiet enough to make
it to the end honestly.