Nyota Issue 28 by NYOTA Magazine

CONTENTS Music The Art is Life Playlist

Culture 07

Layke 09

Maanasa Manikandan

Hanne Mjøen 13

Madeleine McGraw 31

payton 17

Caitlin Shorey 35

WOW: Francisco J. Núñez

Bailey Spinn

Maggie Adhami-Boynton

Ekow Quartey 41

Fashion

Inde Navarrette 25

Justiin Davis 45 21

WOW: Vincent Vermignon

THE

TEAM

Editor in Chief Carol Wright is a graduate of American University. At a young age, she became interested in telling stories through photography which eventually led her down the path of creating NYOTA. Now, her passion for storytelling has given her the opportunity to pick the brains of musicians, actors, and influencers across the world.

Art Director Nicole Cox is a American University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She has always enjoyed the arts, from making pottery to painting and sketching in her free time. Thanks to her wonderful professors at school, she was able to explore her passion for the arts and further implement her skills in her professional career and hobbies.

FEATURES Layke

Caitlin Shorey

Hanne Mjøen

Bailey Spinn

payton

Ekow Quartey

Francisco J. Núñez

Justiin Davis

Maggie Adhami-Boynton

Vincent Vermignon

Inde Navarrette Maanasa Manikandan Madeleine McGraw

CONTRIBUTORS Maanasa Manikandan Sophie Sachar

EDITOR’S LETTER “One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship

There’s not much to say this time around, so I’ll keep it short and sweet. I hope you enjoy the issue and that it inspires you to get your creative juices flowing. (Also, make sure to take Johann’s advice). With Love, Carol Wright Editor in Chief @_carol_wright

Satellites // Ravyn Lenae Ruby // Hovvdy

Purple Hearts // Kendrick Lamar

The Art is Life Playlist Curated by Sophie Sachar 7

#NYOTAmusic

Spring // Saint Etienne

Miles // SZA

Die / Cry // Indigo De Souza

Lullaby // Grace Ives

Still // Saba (feat. 6LACK and Smino)

Out Loud // Remember Sports

Teeth Marks // S.G. Goodman

Layke Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Quinn Tucker

Electro-pop singer/songwriter, Layke found solace in self-expression through dance, musical theater, and writing while growing up in a conservative environment. So it is no surprise that she packed her bags and headed to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. Layke talked to NYOTA about the catharsis of writing new songs, her musical inspirations, and her EP Frequency.

How did artistic expression play a large role in your life growing up? Artistic expression played a huge role in my life growing up. Growing up in a very conservative area in Texas, individual ideas and forms of expression were not really encouraged and I was lucky that my parents encouraged my artistic side. I started in dance at a very very young age, barely 3, and that ultimately led me into singing and music. I think really having to fight for that artistic expression and being able to have that really made me that much more connected to who I was as an artist. Which is why a lot of what I write is so personal to me because it’s always been so personal. Your music is often personal and vulnerable. Is it cathartic to work on new songs? It is definitely cathartic to work on new songs because a lot of my music is very personal to me. I write from personal experience. Things that I’ve gone through with myself, with other individuals, and experiences I’ve had in life. For me, it’s really important to be very upfront and I feel like with this new EP I’m being much more vulnerable than I have before because I’m writing a lot about my personal mental health struggles with anxiety. And while that was a struggle in itself, it was ultimately very cathartic and it has been very cathartic to dig into that and really expose that side of myself. Tell our readers about “No One Can Stop Us.” What inspired the lyrics? “No One Can Stop Us” is a total vibe. It’s inspired by that moment when you walk into the club, you feel the bass, hit the dance floor, and just go off. You’re in the moment feeling everything and everyone and no one can stop you. No one can stop anything, it’s just happening and it’s everything. That energy, that feeling inspired this song. It’s about being in the moment in that world, in that moment, and we really put in a total 90s throwback feel into the track and into the beat, so it really takes you there. How involved were you in the creative process for the “Help Me Out” and “No One Can Stop Us” music videos? I am always extremely involved in all of the creative processes from infancy to execution. I’ve been really lucky to be working with an amazing team on these two videos with Marissa Eisa producing and Quinn Tucker directing. And it’s been 9

#NYOTAmusic

#NYOTAmusic extremely collaborative between all of us which is exciting because it’s made me think in ways I wouldn’t have before and taken me to places I wouldn’t have taken myself which is everything you want as an artist. You always want to be evolving otherwise you just get stagnant and what’s the point? I always wanna be challenging myself. Learning. Growing. And we’ve been having a really amazing experience through this entire process and we’re going to keep it going into the next single and the EP release. “Help Me Out” and “No One Can Stop Us” are the latest singles from your new EP, Frequency. When listening to the EP in full, what do you hope listeners take away from the project? When listening to the EP in full I hope that listeners really feel it and enjoy it and connect to it. I hope they feel the vulnerability and understand that there is such a dichotomy to life. We have these moments where we go through these really serious things, things that are hard to deal with, and then we have these other moments that in turn provide some of the best moments of our lives and make the memories we will never forget and cherish forever. And maybe that’s life - the great duality and the multitude of lived experiences that we go through and for all that they’re worth. Who are some of your musical inspirations? I have always been extremely influenced by Freddie Mercury, not only for his talent but as a bisexual/pansexual individual I really can identify with him. And also I’m very influenced by Blondie. Debbie Harry is just iconic and effortlessly amazing. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Some advice I have for aspiring musicians is to do everything, try everything, and take every opportunity you can. You never know what’s going to lead where and some of the opportunities and things that I have experienced that I never thought would turn into things have turned out to be the most valuable. There is so much value in so many things so just try to learn and create as much as possible. Never stop creating and never limit yourself.

#NYOTAmusic

Hanne Mjøen Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Fabian Fjeldvik

Hanne Mjøen is a Norwegian alt/pop artist who creates music that makes you want to dance, with lyrics that make you want to cry. Her intoxicating sound is coated in a dark, raw edge, providing a comforting reminder that it’s ok to be flawed, while her lyrics pull the trigger for an outlet of pent-up emotions. Mjøen talked to NYOTA about her song “Bad for My Health,” artists she admires and growing as a musician since releasing her EP Emotional Fever. What initially sparked your interest in songwriting? I’ve been interested in singing since I was little, but what initially sparked my interest in songwriting was when I turned 18 and moved to Oslo and met people that wanted to write with me. I think I needed the confirmation that my ideas for lyrics were good enough to get the spark I needed to pursue songwriting. Growing up, who were some musicians you often listened to or admired? I have been a big fan of pop music since I was little, and I remember me and my mom listened a lot to Katie Melua’s second album Piece by Piece. I really liked the way she mixed metaphors and pretty words with relatable themes, and that is still something I really appreciate in songs. Even though your parents don’t work in the music industry or in the arts, were they supportive of you when it came to pursuing music professionally? My parents were very supportive when I started doing music, and they also allowed me to move away from home to go to a music school at the age of 15, which really spiked my interest to continue with music. Since releasing your EP Emotional Fever do you feel that you’ve grown as an artist? I definitely feel like I have grown as an artist after releasing my debut EP, to be able to release a full-length story felt really good, and right after only releasing bits and pieces before. To really craft a longer story of my emotional travel from being scared of committing to being dependent on it. Tell our readers about “Bad for My Health.” What story are you trying to tell through the song? “Bad For My Health” is my way of describing the ups and downs of a relationship, the time period before you trust each other fully, and how it feels to be in that stadium of a relationship. It can be so hard when you’re too honest with each other, fighting over the little things, not knowing if you should take a break or break up and if you would survive the breakup if it ever happens. 14

Where did you look for inspiration when it came to how the song would sound? For me, the lyrics almost always come first, and also with this song it started with a note on my phone with the lyrics “You’re bad for my health but you’re good for my heart.” This was something I really wanted to write about, and my amazing co-writers Cassandra Casso, Fanny Hultman, and Liz Rose also liked the idea, and then we just started rambling down words while Fanny played out some chords and started the production of it. It kinda felt like a song that needed a big chorus and build, with simple and empty verses focusing on the lyrics, and building up on the feeling of being uncertain about what to feel or do. “Is this a break, or a breakup?” Do you often pull from personal experiences to write lyrics? I often write down lyrics and poems and words and expressions I come up with in a document on my phone, and this is almost always what I use during writing sessions. It can also be taken from movies and series and conversations I have that inspire me to write about it. The ideas themselves don’t always have to come from a personal experience or place, but I always connect them to something personal, either for me or someone close to me. It wouldn’t feel natural for me to write a story I have no personal connection with, it would just feel weird and “fake” in a way. I mainly started writing as some sort of selftherapy, and especially for my own artist project, personal lyrics and stories are what I’m going to continue to write. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? I will say as I always say, and this is my best advice: Follow your gut and instinct, do what YOU want, don’t think too much about other people’s opinions, no matter who they are, and do what fits you and what you like.

#NYOTAmusic

payton Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Jack Dytrych

When it comes to making music with a massive impact, less is more for 18-year-old viral hitmaker payton. The Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter has shown his supreme talent for drawing immense emotion from the most minimal of elements. Since the arrival of his soul-baring debut single “Love Letter”—an April 2020 release that racked up more than 1.5 million Spotify streams in just a week. He talked to NYOTA about how social media helps him connect with fans and his song “All Wrong.” Did you start playing instruments and exploring your passion for music at a young age?

Do you have a particular songwriting process or do you tend to write when inspiration hits?

I started playing guitar when I was 9 or 10, I was really interested in electric guitar so I picked it up as a hobby and just kept practicing. Writing and production came further down the line but that’s where it stemmed from.

It’s honestly a little bit of both, sometimes I go into the studio and my goal is to make a new song and I kinda center myself on the inspiration as the song develops, but I also get randomly inspired at random times and just sit down at my laptop and create.

Who are some musicians you listened to for inspiration as you started to create your own music? When I first started creating I would get a lot of inspiration from Post Malone. The phase of music I’m in right now is very experimental so I’m really enjoying just taking in as much music as possible and trying to incorporate components I like, not really a specific artist as of right now.

I love writing about my past relationships so I wanted to tell a story of a one-sided relationship, doing everything you think is right, putting in so much effort just to have it not be enough. Living in that situation puts you in a very toxic mentality and I wanted to get that point across.

Social media has proven that it can be an incredible tool for artists and you’re very active online, specifically on TikTok. Have you found that connecting with listeners on social media can lead to more genuine interactions with fans?

“All Wrong” has a different feel from some of your past songs like “Drive Away.” Do you often experiment with your sound?

Of course. I’ve been building relationships and connecting with my fans for years because of social media. I can easily see what they’re wanting from me, music and content-wise and I can deliver a lot easier. It is a MUST in my opinion. Have you ever had collaborations or opportunities come from social media? Yes! a lot of opportunities from social media, and a lot of my greatest friendships have started through social media. 17

Tell our readers about your song “All Wrong.” What story are you telling through the song?

I’m always experimenting. I’ve found something great recently and I’ll be showing the world very soon. Thank you for noticing. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Confidence is everything. No one’s vision is better than your own. Your project is your project and no one can take that from you, do it how you want to do it.

#NYOTAmusic

Words of Wisdom

Francisco J. Núñez, MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year, is a composer, conductor, visionary, leading figure in music education, and the artistic director/founder of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC). Núñez talked to NYOTA about what led him to music education, creating the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and teaching children how music can impact their communities. Growing up did you always see yourself working in a creative field? Not at all – I didn’t know what I was going to do. I always had music in my life and was told to go into science because that’s the way to make a difference in society. I knew I’d work in some way with community, and people. Because I was passionate about the arts, I thought I’d become a singing doctor or dancing engineer or something. There are so many different paths music can take you. How did you find your way to music education and how has it been working with the youth, especially during these past couple of years? When I was a teenager, I started working in church with a choir in Washington Heights, and I saw the impact the choir director had on the community. He did everything from writing the music to preparing the plays. I got his job as choir director when I was 15 years old, and that was my introduction to leading music. I never thought I’d actually follow that path. I was in college when I started working with kids, and I noticed it was much more special for me to reach children. The idea of bringing young people together was much more heartfelt to me, and I like bringing children from different backgrounds together. Children don’t know they can’t do something. Now, the past few years have been difficult. We had to reinvent everything we did, and the means by which I reached them changed completely. I believe we lost so much – breath, community, confidence – and only this month am I seeing that the children are coming back and starting to feel their confidence again. They 19

are feeling new and different. At first, they lost their sense of self, and their feelings and emotions. It became all about them and their feelings, and they forgot to think about the community. Now that they’re back together in a room, they’re starting to see that, yes, they’re important, but those around them are important, too. What motivated you to create the Young People’s Chorus of New York City? Basically, growing up in a bicultural family I knew the importance of bringing diverse kids together, and I wanted a way to fight poverty early on. It’s about using music early in life to fight some of the biggest ills of society. The YPC has led to great opportunities for the young people involved. Is there one moment from the past few years that you’ve found the most rewarding? There’s no such thing as one moment – it is continuously rewarding. What makes it the most special is the feeling a young child has when they first start to understand they can have an influence on audiences and can affect adults with their voices, and that feeling never ends. I know it makes a difference in a child’s psyche when they go sing to an audience and receive a standing ovation, and they experience a feeling they’ve never felt before. Once a child starts thinking, “If I work really hard at something and believe it’s good, others will believe it’s good, too,” it starts to transfer to other parts of their lives. Whether they become an artist or a bus driver, they’ll be the

#NYOTAmusic best at what they do because they approach things at a much stronger and higher level. I think that’s the thing I never stop seeing. Do you think you have grown as a musician since creating YPC and interacting with burgeoning musicians every day? I am still in touch with the group that started with me when I was 21 years old, and I call them my teachers. They’re constantly keeping me on my toes. The young children coming through the program now are also my teachers. I get less nervous now with concerts, but I don’t get less excited. I still get a feeling of euphoria knowing we’re creating an atmosphere that will transform the audience. For every concert we sing, we have to create special music for that space and time, and that is a constant growth, and you have to understand where you’re growing. Nothing is stale. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians? Patience and practice. Some people are born with gifts, but they don’t necessarily do anything with them. Others must work harder, but they excel because they work so hard. It really is about putting in the time. You must arrive at practice before anyone else and stay after everyone leaves. Making music is hard work, creating diversity is hard work, and creating community is hard work. It’s not just about the notes that you sing, it’s about the shape of the music and how it makes everyone feel. That feeling can turn a community into love, and the only way for that to happen is by working hard.

#NYOTAfashion

Maggie Adhami-Boynton Interview by Carol Wright Images Courtesy of ShopThing

Maggie Adhami-Boynton is a 15-year startup veteran and CEO and Founder of ShopThing, one of North America’s first live video commerce platforms. At ShopThing she is focused on creating a culture of diversity and inclusion and is disrupting the industry one day at a time. Adhami-Boynton talked to NYOTA about changing the way consumers shop in North America and what she has learned about herself through creating ShopThing. As a kid were you always drawn to more creative fields? Yes, very much so! I was always very curious and ambitious and my love for fashion constantly had me drawn to more creative fields. Fashion can be a difficult industry to break into. Did you have any internships or jobs early on that helped you get your foot in the door? I actually had a fashion blog (twice in fact!) and an Instagram page as a microinfluencer, where I shared my love of fashion. This is also where I piloted the concept of live shopping for ShopThing. What led you to create ShopThing? What did you think was missing from current shopping experiences? I’ve always had a love for fashion and an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to find a way to combine my 15 years of tech expertise with fashion. While I didn’t see a gap in the market for this service, I did see a massive opportunity to change the way consumers shop and sell through live video. I loved the live shopping format in Asia and wanted to bring that over to North America, but for it to be more curated in a way that would resonate with this market. During the pandemic, people were definitely missing the human interaction and experience of in-store shopping, and truthfully, just life in general. At that time, live shopping was a great respite from online shopping when we weren’t able to head into stores, and ShopThing allowed our audiences to feel like they were shopping with their friends. Now that the world is opening up again, our customers continue shopping with us in this way because of some of the other benefits, like the convenience and the ability to ask specific questions about each piece from a trusted source. How do you go about choosing the different brands that shoppers can buy items from on ShopThing? It’s really a two-pronged approach. First, we have a close relationship with our customers where we know the brands they want to buy from because we are talking to them daily. It is this communication that has curated our offering and driven so much of our success. Second, we want to ensure that our influencers have input 22

into the brands that resonate with them, making our experience an engaging, authentic one. Oftentimes, our influencers will introduce new brands into our marketplace based on what they are currently loving, and that has been a huge hit with our audience. When starting a company there can be many ups and downs. Did you learn a lot about yourself and your leadership style through creating ShopThing? Being an entrepreneur is a very lonely job that most people in your life can’t relate to. I never realized how much I love collaborating with my team and taking input from so many different departments and groups of people, no matter how junior they may be. I have consciously surrounded myself with a brilliant team that pushes me and the company forward every single day. ShopThing is composed of many competitive individuals working together in a collaborative environment. We bring out each other’s best every single day! Fashion has a lot of work to do in order for it to become a more inclusive industry. How are you creating an inclusive work environment through ShopThing? For us, diversity and inclusion starts right at the top and we are proud to say that our senior leadership team is 75% women and 100% persons of colour. Our company as a whole is 70% female and 56% persons of colour, in an industry (tech) where only 36% of the workforce is made up of females. We’re incredibly proud of the team we are creating. How do you see ShopThing changing and evolving over the next few years? We’re so excited for the months and years ahead. Of what I can share (wink wink), you’ll see ShopThing expanding into new markets and diversifying into various product categories (mens, beauty, home decor, etc.). What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? 1. If it were easy, everyone would do it. 2. Fail fast and fail often, but make sure you are learning from the failures. 3. Test as much as you can! If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again. 4. Carve out time to rest and recharge. If you don’t, you will absolutely burn out! 23

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Inde Navarrette Interview by Carol Wright Cover Photo by: Franz Steiner Photographer for Inside Feature: Yarden Lior

Inde Navarrette is a breakout actress who has proven her notable versatility in film and television. After acting in projects like 13 Reasons Why and Wander Darkly, Navarette is now playing Sarah Cushing in the hit CW series Superman & Lois. She talked to NYOTA about stepping into Sarah’s shoes each episode, acting alongside Emmanuelle Chriqui, and being a part of the Superman legacy. What initially sparked your interest in acting? Was it a certain television show or movie? I would say I’m fortunate enough to where I never really saw myself doing anything else. I had a young mother and so the movies that she enjoyed watching were the ones that I grew up on. So, my favorite movie as a kid was Gladiator with Russell Crowe. That, and films like that, where it gave you this sensation of ‘oh, shit, like, I can do this’ it kind of sparked an inspiration. Then, as a young kid, a lot of people would compare me, looks-wise, to Natalie Portman, so I started watching a lot of her films like Léon: The Professional. I just really tapped into the fact that kids can do this, and they can do this well. So it’s something that I really enjoyed doing but unfortunately, wasn’t able to really tap into until I was about 13. 16 is kind of where I got my first job and then from there, I just fell in love. You can currently be seen in Superman & Lois on the CW. There have been many iterations of superman but he’s not often shown with family and Smallville community members in this way. How does it feel to be a part of the Superman legacy through this project? I didn’t realize how important it would be to me until I got to see how much it meant to other people. I didn’t grow up around comics so seeing how much Superman means to people is new for me. For example …we just did PaleyFest and I really got to see it in person, like, the shirts I mean. I’ll drive around Vancouver with Alex (who plays Jordan on the show) – and we’ll just see people wearing Superman shirts, or people who get really excited about The Boys and the lore that has to do with that. And Tyler, I mean, 25

how much he has on his shoulders to really play the character and play it correctly, and Bitsie who plays Lois, they’re nailing it in every way that they possibly can with everything that they’re given. So, for me playing a character that’s never been seen before, I kind of get this freedom to do what I want. However, at the same time, playing it true to what a kid would be like in that world is difficult, because I don’t live in Smallville. I don’t live in a world where aliens could attack, and Superman could fly in. So, it’s definitely where you have to take imagination by the piggy tails and kind of just, go. Sarah is a character with a lot of layers and along with being a young woman who is finding herself, her character has touched on mental health and has pulled herself out of a very dark place. What do you do to step into her shoes when filming? I just thought it was really important to have moments where you play truth to the ugliness of what it’s like to grow up. There’s a moment where Sarah cheats on Jordan and to her, she doesn’t see it as cheating. She doesn’t understand why going to camp and kissing somebody else who is a girl is an issue because to Sarah it doesn’t mean what it means to Jordan. Then slowly, she has to figure that out and take it as a lesson. Oftentimes, as a young girl, you can learn a lesson in not-the-best way, and you can have the not-correct support system, and it becomes trauma, it becomes shame, it becomes all of these really negative things. So, what was beautiful for Sarah, she does have her mom and her dad to lean on. She has her sister, she, at times, will have Jordan not obviously in that particular sense, but it’s just figuring out how to truthfully tell the world what it’s like to be 15 in kind of an ugly way sometimes, which is the truth.

#NYOTAculture

You and Emmanuelle Chriqui (Lana Lang) have a special on-screen bond as mother and daughter. Is there anything, in particular, you do off-set to create a genuine bond that shows up on-screen? I think we’re really blessed with the fact that we have such a phenomenal cast on-screen, and off-screen. I do credit a lot of the scenes that Emmanuelle and I have together to who Emmanuelle and I are off-screen, and how much we’re willing to give. Sometimes you can be paired with an actor or an actress where there’s no chemistry, and that doesn’t necessarily mean you know, sexual chemistry or anything, or attraction, it’s just chemistry. Emmanuelle is such a grounded performer, to where you can have those moments and really go deep and feel safe enough to play a mother-daughter relationship so truthfully, and all of the scenes that Sarah and Lana have are because we both feel incredibly safe enough to have those conversations, and to really ‘go there.’ In particular, in season one, episode three, there’s a moment where Lana asks, ‘Why did you do that? I just need to know why you felt the need that you didn’t want to be here anymore?’ and that’s such a deep subject to talk about, and to play it truthfully, as a vulnerable moment. I remember on the day specifically, there were moments where Greg Smith who was directing the episode, kind of was like, I really want Sarah to let go and there are times where as a person, you want to hold things in, you don’t want to go there, it’s really, really, really difficult but in order to do my job in a way that I want to, I want there to be an area of truth. There was a moment where, I think we were on the third take, and he came over and said, ‘Inde, I really want you to go there,’ and we started the scene, and I just didn’t feel that connection. Then, I think Emmanuelle put her hand on the bed, and all of a sudden, she gave me this look, as I looked up in the take, and everything just came down.

It’s in moments like that, where you can capture it on screen, where you just suddenly see a person falling apart. To have Greg and Emmanuelle and the team that we do, you’re just able to capture those moments in such a really beautiful way. So I do, I credit a lot of the scenes that we get, to the atmosphere that everybody creates on set.

#NYOTAculture The episode with Sarah’s Quinceañera had a lot of ups and downs but it did shine a light on Latinx culture. Do you feel as though moments like this in Superman & Lois help to push diverse stories into the spotlight? Yeah, cause I never had a Quinceañera. I moved around a lot and so, I wasn’t in the area and I grew up with a single mom whose culture didn’t have Quinceañeras. I mean, my mom’s Australian so, she didn’t have that. I grew up with Mexican culture on my Dad’s side of the family, I don’t want to say that I didn’t at all, but I unfortunately never had a Quinceañera. So, when it got to the point of season one going in, me and Todd Helbing (who is the show creator), were having conversations and I said, ‘how old is Sarah?’ and he goes, ‘14’ and I said, ‘Is she going to be turning 15 on the show?’ and he said, ‘yes,’ and I said, ‘well, in my culture, we have a Quinceañera.’ Then we never talked about it again. Season two comes around and I’m still new to the industry, I don’t ever want to step on people’s toes, plus, there’s this culture on set whenever you’re like, ‘I really want to be here, I really want to stay here. I don’t want to push the boundaries too much. I don’t want to ask for too much. I don’t want to be that person on set that’s trying to make it all about them in that sense.’ So, I humbly went to Todd and was like, ‘I really don’t want to act like I’m begging to have this whole episode be about me, or be about the Cushing’s like whatever you want to do with Superman is what we’re going to do but-’ He stopped me in the middle of that sentence and he said ‘the Cushing’s are such a pivotal and important part of the story and it’s already in the storyboard of what we want season two to be, it’s already in there.’

over and you just see my dress smoking a little bit. We had to back away from the heaters. But that aside, the episode was really important for Sarah, because that’s such a traumatic moment to find out that your dad cheated, specifically at the time where you’re supposed to become a woman. Like, that’s what a Quinceañera is, it’s your family and your culture and your neighborhood and everybody recognizing you as a woman, and to have that taken away from you, that’s really detrimental. So, it’s important to tell diverse stories, but it’s also really important to tell them in a manner that’s true, and not just slapped with the sticker that’s like this is a diverse moment. You actually get to see it from the inside out rather than the outside. Something Superman & Lois does well is letting the teenage characters, like Sarah, make mistakes and wrong decisions and learn from those situations. Do you feel that in season two Sarah has grown as a character and is coming into her own? I think she’s the kind of person who has to make the mistake to learn the lesson and we see that when she isn’t empathetic to Jordan about Aubrey. But it’s through situations like that where a person decides who they want to be, do they want to stick with hurting the other because of what they believe themselves or can they put themselves aside? I am curious to see what Season 3 brings. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Never give up and surround yourself with things that inspire you.

I was like, wow, this is a person who really cares. I mean, whenever we were filming the episode, I had two of the writers zooming me on a constant basis, being like, ‘Is this correct? Is this correct? Is this what the dress should look like? Is this what should be said? What song would you like?’ It was such a collaborative experience and it was really meaningful to see Sarah get to be a girl for a sense and kind of just put on the dress and wear the dress, that I almost caught on fire. It was so cold, I was sitting down, and I had like eight kidney wraps, which is where they wrap stuff around your body to really keep you warm and insulated. And my dress was obviously very big and it’s next to five different heaters. So all of a sudden, me and the costume team are like, ‘we smell something burning.’ So, we look 28

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Maanasa Manikandan Interview by Carol Wright Photo Courtesy of Maanasa Manikandan

Maanasa Manikandan is a graphic designer based in Bangalore, India who loves constantly creating things, and exploring new spaces. She is extremely passionate about using art and design to change the world. Manikandan talked to NYOTA about social media being a useful tool, her advice for aspiring graphic designers, and being a designer in a male-dominated space. Did you grow up in an artistic family? I’ve always been an orange under an apple tree. Growing up, my parents constantly encouraged me to be creative and I made sure to explore everything-from painting to doodling to collage, to music and dance. My family has always been super supportive of my whimsical, creative energy and it’s always been about seeing the art in little things!

Graphic Designers have such different styles. Did you have a lot of moments of trial and error when it came to finding your design style? Of course! I think, if I were to look back on how it all started, I’d say we’ve come a long way and the process has definitely been a learning curve for me. When it comes to me, I don’t like to put myself in a box and I love exploring new things, every day. If I were to describe my work genre in a word, it would be ‘pop.’ I absolutely love a dash of color. Graphic design and the very concept of visual culture excites me. As a 21-yearold, I can say that I haven’t put a pin on my design style yet. More than anything, I love to give myself the freedom to explore new oceans, get inspired, and create new stuff! Most of my learning happens while creating actual stuff!

You’re based in Bangalore, India. Are there artists and creatives in India that keep you inspired? I get inspired by the most mundane things, ahaha! Sometimes it’s people I meet, music I listen to, or maybe even a movie I watched. So, coming back to what you asked, I do get inspired by tons of other artists and creatives out here in India. At my workspaces, I work with some really creative people and it’s so warming and fun! To be honest, being a designer in India, which is rich in many cultures and people is quite a different feeling, I must say!

Has social media been a helpful tool for you as a young artist? Are there connections you’ve made online that might not have been made otherwise? Definitely! Social media has been a catalyst in this process of networking for me! I think more than anything, it’s been this giant bubble that’s exposed all of us to different kinds of creativity and the world has some very creative people, I love to see new stuff! In the last year, I’ve made so many connections with so many different creatives and designers from across the world, it really is so inspiring to watch some work hot off the press!

Between branding, animation, and social media graphics you have dipped your toe in a lot of different areas. Is there one medium you gravitate to the most? I love everything about design, to be honest. I come from a background in communication design, which has, in a way provided me with a well-rounded approach to branding, animation, and social media graphics. The way I see it, they’re all very different areas that require their own specific set of skillsets but at the end of the day, it’s about learning and growing as a designer. As I previously mentioned, I don’t like to put myself in a box! From what I’ve observed, the design industry is primarily male-dominated, and I hope to pave my own way in the industry! Someday, I’d like to design for Harry Styles, maybe do some branding+animation work perhaps!

What advice do you have for aspiring graphic designers? How can young people work to get their foot in the door? Just be yourself and as cliche as it sounds, never stop creating! If you’re really passionate about design, go for it! Write those cold emails, document how you feel about things around you, surround yourself with diversity, and allow yourself to feel, and be vulnerable. It’s really the baby steps but we’re good to go!

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Madeleine McGraw Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Ben Cope

Madeleine McGraw has quickly made a name for herself as one of the mostwatched young stars in the entertainment industry today with roles in projects like Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, Disney’s Secrets of Sulphur Springs, and Blumhouse thriller The Black Phone. McGraw talked to NYOTA about what initially got her interested in acting, the similarities between her characters, and her advice for aspiring actors. What initially sparked your interest in acting? Well, I started out doing some modeling and commercials when I was 5. I loved being on set. So my manager at the time started sending me out on film and TV auditions. I loved auditioning. I thought it was so much fun getting to learn lines and go to the studio lots. When I booked American Sniper and got to be on set and watch how everything worked, I was hooked! It was magical. And it didn’t hurt that I got to work with Bradley Cooper, Clint Eastwood and Sienna Miller for my first go on a movie set. You can currently be seen in the Disney series Secrets of Sulphur Springs. Tell our readers about the series and what led you to audition. Secrets of Sulphur Springs is about Griffen Campbell, a 12-year-old boy who moves to the old Tremont hotel with his mom, dad, and twin siblings, Wyatt and Zoey. The entire town believes the hotel is haunted by the ghost of a girl named Savannah. It’s a fun ghost-hunting, mystery-solving, and time-traveling series. I initially read for the role of Harper, Griffen’s new best friend in town and although the producers loved my audition, they said they were thinking of going a bit older for the role, but would love for me to come back and read for the role of Zoey. Weeks went by and I didn’t hear anything, so I just figured that was that and moved on. Then out of the blue, I received a call from my manager that Disney wanted me to go to producers for Zoey. I was so excited when I read Zoey’s character. Can you relate to your character Zoey? I can relate to Zoey in a lot of ways. First of all, Zoey has an older brother and also has a twin brother. I have an older brother and a twin brother in real life. I also have a younger sister and if I didn’t mention that I would never hear the end of it. Zoey and her twin are always doing everything together. My family is like that in real life. Family time is our number one priority. I am also the type of person that likes to always know what’s going on, so I ask a lot of questions. I feel like Zoey is like that too. We both probably have a bad case of FOMO (fear of missing out). 32

Do you have a favorite episode you’ve worked on so far or a favorite on-set moment?

The Black Phone also stars Ethan Hawke. Did you learn a lot through working with him?

I would say my favorite episode is season two, episode 8 because so much gets revealed. Every time I work is a favorite moment on set. I have the best time with our cast and crew. Landon Gordon, who plays Wyatt (my twin), and I are always having fun. I laugh so hard every day. It’s such a happy place to be. All the cast get along so well. I am always very grateful to be there.

Sadly, I didn’t work with Ethan. But honestly, after seeing him as The Grabber I’m kinda glad. He was 100 percent committed to that role and he was terrifying. Just being on the basement set sent shivers down my spine.

The Black Phone is your next project, in it your character Gwen is working to find her older brother. What did you do to step into Gwen’s shoes while filming? When I first read the script for The Black Phone, I immediately felt a connection to Gwen. I could tell she was fearless and that her brother was everything to her. My family, especially my siblings, are everything to me. I would do just about anything to protect them. I also play club soccer and I am very competitive. My team is like my family. If you mess with one of our players, watch out, because I will be on you. I am very protective of the people I love. Gwen is the same way. You mess with her brother Finney, watch out. She will find you and do whatever it takes to send the message to leave her brother alone. Gwen has a pretty foul mouth. That’s where we are different. I may think those words every now and again, especially on the soccer field, but my mom would probably wash my mouth out with soap if I said them in real life. During our table read for The Black Phone, Scott Derrickson (my director) asked me if I wanted to change the curse words because in my audition I used alternative words, but I said no way. Gwen would definitely use those words. I think she needs those words to help protect her from falling apart. They keep her tough and protect her venerability. Although The Black Phone is definitely darker than Secrets of Sulphur Springs your character in both projects is working to uncover a mystery. Do you think Zoey and Gwen have any similar personality traits? I think Zoey and Gwen share their love for their family and I think they are both curious. But that’s where the similarities end in my opinion. Gwen is very mature for her age and has a ton of responsibility. She has had to deal with her broken family whereas Zoey gets to play all day with her twin brother and live a very loved and normal life. Their lives couldn’t be more opposite. 33

What advice do you have for aspiring actors? The best advice I would give is to work hard and be yourself. I think being yourself is the most important. There isn’t another you and that’s what makes what you bring to a role special. I also would refrain from comparing myself to others. I think it’s great to have a role model and someone you look up to but remember, everyone’s journey is completely different. Lastly, the business is very tough. You will hear a lot of no’s. But if acting is truly your passion, definitely stick with it because there is nothing more magical than hearing that yes.

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Caitlin Shorey Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Jonathan Pushnik

Caitlin Shorey is positioning herself as an up-and-coming actress to watch in 2022 due to exciting projects like The Time Traveler’s Wife and Mr. Harrigan’s Phone. Shorey talked to NYOTA about her advice for aspiring actors, playing Clare in The Time Traveler’s Wife, and what initially motivated her to start acting.

Did a certain movie or television show motivate you to start acting?

This is your television debut. What initially drew you to the project?

I first thought acting might be fun when I would watch shows with my older brothers such as iCarly and Drake & Josh. My main motivation to become an actor was more on stage acting after seeing Wicked on Broadway.

I really enjoyed the sides I got to audition with and I felt Clare Abshire and myself had a lot of similarities. My mother’s love for the book also made me very interested in the project.

The Time Traveler’s Wife is such a beloved book. Did you read the book and try to soak up any knowledge of the story you could to prepare for the role?

In 2022 you will also be seen in Mr. Harrigan’s Phone which has an incredible cast. Did you learn a lot from your co-stars on that project?

I did not read the book as it is a little too adult-themed for me, but my mother had read it and helped explain Clare’s character and personality.

I try to learn as much as I can with all the actors I work with. On Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, I learned how to face my fear of heights while filming on a very high edge and John Lee Hancock helped keep me focused on the scene and not the height.

Did you work with Rose Leslie to build out Clare as a character?

Do you feel that you’ve grown as an actress after working on these projects?

Rose and I had a few conversations on set about giving depth to Clare’s character. I also paid really close attention to how Rose read Clare’s part during the table reads and tried to add that to my performance.

I feel like I have grown a lot as an actor from these two projects. I had the privilege of working with the amazing David Nutter and Theo James in The Time Traveler’s Wife. It made me a better actor just being on set with them. I also got to work with another great director John Lee Hancock on Mr. Harrigan’s Phone. I have learned a lot from these incredible directors.

With adaptations, there is always room for new ways to interpret the material. How do you think the show pays homage to the book while still keeping the story fresh? Adapted by Steven Moffat, I feel he tried to keep the story as close to the book as he could while making a few changes to make it work better for television.

What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I would say just go out and do it! It is a cool time to be an actor because you can do it from anywhere. You can find great teachers online and can self-tape from home. I would also say don’t get discouraged when you don’t get a part, but to keep working and auditioning and your part will come. 36

Bailey Spinn Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Dylan Lujano @dylanlujano Hair: Kyle Hennessy @kylehennessyhair Makeup: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup Stylist: Mariposa @mariposabih

When the viral POV (Point of View) trend took the TikTok world by storm, Bailey Spinn was inspired to embark on her own content creation journey. Now, she is known for the viral videos she creates across platforms that can reach up to 1 million views or more. Spinn talked to NYOTA about not scripting her content and using music to de-stress. What motivated you to start posting on TikTok and creating your POV videos? I had always used the app in my free time, but never seriously. I was on TikTok before it even came out, using Musical.ly all throughout middle school and into high school. Once the app started to take off, there were very few creators making POVs, but I saw this as my chance. One day, a POV came up on my For You page and it sparked an idea in my mind. I was bored during quarantine and I thought it would be good to try something new to express myself. I posted that POV and it was my first video to ever reach 1 million views. Once I saw the views continuing, my creativity was practically endless. I have been posting them every day since! Do you take time to plan out your POV videos or content for the week? Usually, my POV videos are totally unscripted. I just sit down behind my phone with an idea and let whatever plot line I want to follow come out. I find that when I write out a script for the videos, they don’t do as well, but my natural humor always prevails! I usually write down what videos I’m going to film the next day which makes the process so much easier. I’ll find the audios I want to use and write down a basis for how the video is going to go! I always believe that content should be naturally you and showcase your creativity. If it’s totally planned out sometimes it doesn’t come off as well! 37

You also started posting on YouTube and Instagram. Do you often have to study the trends on each platform to know what photos and videos are best to share? I study the trends almost every day! Most of my free time is spent scrolling through social media feeds, finding new audios or ideas that I could use. It’s important to follow what is popular at the moment on that particular platform because it highly increases engagement. Some videos would do well on TikTok, but they may not perform the same way on YouTube or Snapchat. Each platform has a different algorithm with unique trends, so it can get confusing at times. I like to keep a note in my phone with the platforms and what content I’m going to create for the next day! Creating content for social media is not an easy gig even though people often think it is. What tips do you have for others who want to be content creators? Take it one day at a time! It can get extremely overwhelming having to post day in and day out, so it’s absolutely okay to take a break sometimes. It may feel like you’ll lose followers or engagement for taking a break, but it’s always important to put your mental health first. You can’t force creativity, it has to come naturally, and some days it’s okay to be in a rut! This was a lesson I had to teach myself because pushing yourself to post when you don’t feel okay is never the answer.

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You have been able to collaborate with brands such as Aeropostale and Steve Madden. Could you ever see yourself creating your own line of clothing? Yes! This has actually been a dream of mine for a long time. I have a notebook of clothing sketches in my nightstand. I have a unique style and recently I haven’t been able to find clothes that are exactly what I want. I would love to create a brand that caters to people with the same style as me, and it’s also been a dream of mine to be totally size-inclusive. Inclusivity for all body types and shapes is something I want to push for, so if I ever did create a line I would make sure everyone gets included. Creating content can lead to so many opportunities. Has there been one moment that was particularly rewarding? One moment that was very rewarding for me was when I got to attend the 2022 Billboard Music Awards! It was a shocking opportunity, to say the least, and we found out we were going two days beforehand. We sat in floor seats to watch the show, and while I was in awe the entire time. I saw so many of my favorite celebrities up close that night, and it helped me to picture what I want to do with my career. This was a once-in-alifetime chance, and I still can’t believe that I ended up attending. The whole day was a blur, and I had the most fun I’ve ever had! Hopefully one day I’ll get to attend as a musician myself. Through your social media work, you also spread awareness about eating disorders and anti-bullying efforts. Are there resources you could share with our readers? Definitely! One source for eating disorder awareness and help is the NEDA hotline. You can receive help instantly from one of their representatives and they’ll be able to talk you through whatever is going on. The number is 1-800-931-2237 and it’s available from 9 am to 5 pm! There’s also an organization called The Crisis Hotline where you can receive comfort or advice from an operator. You can do this by texting HOME to 741741. In terms of suicide prevention, you can call 800-273-8255 for immediate help as the line is available 24/7. There are many other hotlines that can also provide the same support, all it takes is a simple Google search. It can be hard to find resources or ask for help at times, but if you are struggling and need someone to talk to, these will not let you down. Outside of your content creation you also enjoy singing and playing the guitar. Is music your way to de-stress and unplug from social media? Absolutely! Every night, I end up putting down my phone and playing the guitar for up to an hour. I love to see progression in my skills, plus it helps me to get out any anxiety. Music has always been a huge passion of mine, and if I’m not playing the guitar, then I’m definitely songwriting. My neighbors aren’t my biggest fans because I’m always singing very loudly from my apartment!

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Ekow Quartey Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Eddie Blagbrough Stylist: Ben Browne Grooming: Nadia Altinbas

Ekow Quartey started acting as a child and has since gone on to grace television screens and the stage in projects like Call The Midwife and plays like Macbeth and People, Places & Things. He talked to NYOTA about his latest project, Becoming Elizabeth, which is available to watch on StarzPlay and Amazon Prime, stepping into his character Pedros’ shoes, and of course, his iconic Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban lines. As a kid, was there a particular television show or movie that sparked your interest in acting? As a kid I LOVED cartoons. Tom & Jerry, Dexter’s Laboratory, Dragon Ball Z, and Looney Tunes, just to name a few. I think the imagination that goes into animation, especially the size of storytelling is what really got me interested in just creating worlds, fun scenarios, and epic tales in my head. I also had and still have a love for comedy. I was definitely not old enough but I remember we had a VHS of Def Jam Comedy that I would watch on repeat and try and learn all the jokes verbatim. The icing on the cake was the family’s prized possession. Three VHS Music video films/ movies of Lionel Ritchie, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston, and thus the actor was born! Your latest project is Becoming Elizabeth. Did you do a deep dive on the time period and the ins and outs of young Elizabeth’s life prior to filming? The deep dive definitely consisted of the time period and a bid to understand the context in which these people were making decisions and living their life. It was a dangerous time of several opposing beliefs and a constant battle for yours to be the prevailing one! Personally, I also leaned on Miranda Kaufman’s Black Tudors and a scholarly essay about the real historical Pedro. In Becoming Elizabeth you play Pedro. What did you do to step into Pedros’ shoes while filming? Playing Pedro demanded I become the most convincing Spanish-sounding and best horse riding version of myself. Two things I’d never attempted. Penny Dyer on dialect and The devil’s horsemen on riding helped me beyond belief! Both parties are so talented and so patient and I hope the final result does them justice!

How do you think Becoming Elizabeth sets itself apart from other historical dramas about the royal family? Becoming Elizabeth is a complex story of a young woman navigating political chess, love, gossip, and a cutthroat world where one move or positioning can cost you everything. It is a story about family, power struggles, desire, powerful women, and survival. When working on Becoming Elizabeth do you think that your theatre background came in handy? I absolutely do! Anya Reiss’s writing has an epic feel to it that my theatre background, I believe, helped me get a handle of. I also think patience might be one of the most unsung attributes you can learn working in theatre and nothing is more transferable to a set. There are so many important cogs that go into creating a show like Becoming Elizabeth and sometimes it’s important to take time to get those cogs right before you get your chance to perform and when that time comes it’s important to be ready. I think I would be doing our readers a disservice if I didn’t ask. Your character Bem had two iconic lines in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Do you have a favorite between the two? I’d have to say it’s “Not the Grin, you idiot. The Grim. “Taking the form…” This was the first line I recorded whilst filming. I wasn’t contracted to speak but I remember that morning I had a highlighted script in my trailer, that’s never happened before, and they wanted me to see Alfonso Cuarón for a chat. Now, I first thought I was being sacked, I was a very energetic child and at that moment loving life, I was a wizard in Hogwarts after all! Though from time to time my constant play and excitement could have been deemed disruptive, obviously never my intention. However, Alfonso wanted to see me for something completely different, he wanted me to read those lines in Professor Trelawney’s classroom. That day was so exciting, being mic’d up, rehearsing lines with the rest of the cast, and having a camera set up purely to catch my singular performance was unreal! What advice do you have for aspiring actors? I sometimes find this hard to answer as a generalized statement but if this is what you love and there’s a fire that burns inside of you for this industry never let anyone else put it out for you. Prepare to be patient, to not always be satisfied but to fall in love with the journey! 43

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Justiin Davis Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Hosea Johnson

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Justiin Davis showed an appreciation for the arts, theater, and performing at an early age. After booking commercials and performing in small productions in the New York area, he entered a Professional Performing Arts School and became serious about his craft. Davis talked to NYOTA about exploring other sides of the industry, working on The Boys, and creating opportunities for young people through his art program. After elementary school, you attended the Professional Performing Arts School. Did that time open your eyes to all the different paths acting could take you? It definitely opened my eyes to all the different paths acting could take me. It was amazing to see other kids my age at the height of their careers — and we were only teenagers at the time. Seeing their drive and focus definitely inspired me to do the same thing. They worked, and when they worked they worked BIG. Beyond actors, there were singers, dancers, instrumentalists and so many other different types of artists that I was always inspired by. PPAS was one of the most magical times in my life. I loved those years… Did you ever have a time when you wanted to explore other sides of the industry such as writing or directing? Yes, of course, I would love to explore writing and directing. I already am now, actually. The writing part at least. Sometimes it ends up being treatments that I dream up and have to write down before I forget and other times it actually develops a bit more and some dialogue gets written. I love directing. I’d love to do it professionally. I took a semester of directing during my undergrad which is just skimming the surface, I know. I think it’s important for directors to take an acting class and vice versa. It always helps the process when a director understands the mindset of an actor and equally I feel it’s important for actors to understand directors. That relationship is essential when it comes down to all sides of this industry and to understand and bridge the two mindsets together — when that happens is when the best filmmaking is made. How did you go about getting into the mind of Stan Edgar when it came to playing the younger version of him in season three of The Boys?

Now that it’s out we can actually talk about it. I was raised in the theatre so everything comes back to theatrical character breakdown and development. Understanding who someone is and what makes them tick and move is where every process begins for me. After that, it was about really studying the work that Giancarlo had already done, and who doesn’t love that kinda homework? I got to binge hours of his work and really got into what made Stan Edgar move. You can also see the environment helped a lot. Without giving anything away, for those who haven’t seen it yet, everything around me supported building this character.

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#NYOTAculture Were you able to work with Giancarlo Esposito on the character to make sure certain personality traits carried over? Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to due to scheduling conflicts but that team gave me everything I could possibly use to bring the younger him to life. There are a few key things that always stood out to me when it came to current Stan and I wanted to make sure they definitely carried over. His cadence, demeanor, and control over the situation were at the top of my list. While I touched on these I also wanted him to play a bit younger. That way there’s still room to grow into the mega powerhouse we all know him to be now. After playing the younger version of Stan Edgar did you find that Stan is a more complicated character than people realize? What Giancarlo does is not easy, in any way. Figuring out a middle ground to play isn’t easy either. At the same time, the beauty behind Stan Edgar is his ability to stay cool, calm, and collected no matter what — which is easier to play than “playing Stan Edgar.” Like he says in an earlier season “I can’t lash out like some entitled raging maniac.” So you do the homework, keep it calm and move as though you have a secret that no one will ever know. That’s where the power lies, in his grounded demeanor. Instead of being boxed in you have had roles in many different types of shows. How do you go about choosing projects and making sure you don’t get typecast?

You do a lot of work in your community and part of that is creating opportunities for those in the inner city to have access to the arts. Tell our readers about the art program you’re currently building. I actually started on this years ago when I was on Boardwalk Empire. It was with a program called Minisink Townhouse which catered to assisting kids and families in New York City. The art program I began was started in order to bring art programs back to kids whose schools had done away with them because of education budget cuts. Taking the arts away from kids is like robbing them of their imagination and creativity. We were able to have acting classes where I tried to bring in some of what I’d learned while getting my undergrad as well as in the field. There were also dance classes and Kym Hampton, former WNBA NY Liberty player, even came in and mentored young ball players. Give kids the opportunity and they’ll literally change the world! Take it away and we’ve lost before we’ve even begun. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Never give up and enjoy the journey! Enjoy every part of this process, the ups, and the sometimes difficult downs. And NEVER stop learning. Train, train, train! Dancers, instrumentalists, vocalists, and all other artists are always working on their craft. Actors should be as well. Lastly, know that a “No” is not the end of the road. This isn’t an overnight career, so build, keep pushing and allow the process to take place. It will happen if you just stick with it!

Well, for one I have a great team that knows my vision, my heart, and where I want to go. When you have a team that really gets you, you have to trust a little bit. Trust that they’ll point you in the right direction and have your best interests at heart. I’m also a loyalist. Show me you’ve got my back and I’ll stay by your side forever. Much of my team I’ve been with for over a decade or more and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It also has a lot to do with passion, story, and love for the project. Something like The Boys you jump on quicker than A-train and other projects sometimes takes a bit more love. Ultimately follow your heart when it comes down to it. If you have the opportunity and love it then DO IT. If you feel like it’s not for you that is more than okay too. The heart knows…

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Words of Wisdom

Vincent Vermignon Interview by Carol Wright Photographer: Nadia Krawiecka

Vincent Vermignon worked as a realtor before getting the itch to pursue his other passion, acting. After working on numerous French shorts and projects like BBC’s Luther, Vermignon is now in the HBO Max series The Staircase. He talked to NYOTA about playing Jean-Xavier de Lestrade and starting his career later in life. Although you started acting professionally later in life - when was your passion for acting initially sparked? I’ve always wanted to be an actor. Even though Martinique is a French territory, when I was younger I watched a lot of American shows and got deeply inspired by actors such as Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes. My dream was then to be on set one day with them. I hadn’t allowed myself to pursue that ambition for a while. It was only at 28 when my mother pushed me to do some theater on an amateur level. I guess she didn’t think that it would awaken the fiery passion I have always had for acting. Very quickly I got successfully cast on major French shows, fueling my desire for more ambitious projects. Do you think starting your acting career later in life had certain advantages, specifically since we hear so much about young people getting taken advantage of in the industry? Yes. I think it gave me a sensible approach to the entertainment industry. I don’t regret it at all to have started that late. I had experienced a “normal and corporate” life before and it has strongly helped me to ground and create believable characters. I always try to bring a naturalism to my performance and my past experiences are priceless material for that. With so much material out there about the Kathleen Peterson case. Where did you start when it came to digging into the story and learning more about the details of the case? The first thing that I had to do was to watch The Staircase documentary to fully understand what was at stake. I actually watched it many times to be fully immersed in such a particular atmosphere. Then, I felt it was time to start talking with JeanXavier de Lestrade, the documentarian who shot that very documentary. We spent hours on the phone, and he generously shared facts of course, but also how he had felt during the entire trial proceeding. Before being in touch with him, I hardly realized how much time he had spent on that case. He had made more than 50 return trips between France and North Carolina to cover the entire story. He has never felt the same after and I needed to understand why. The last thing that I felt was important to do was to watch and listen to a lot of Jean-Xavier’s interviews to capture his mannerisms, overall demeanor, and language rhythm in order to create a believable character in the show. 50

Was it intimidating in any way to play Jean-Xavier de Lestrade in The Staircase? Or did you see it as a welcome challenge to portray a real person vs. a fictional character? It was! Playing an existing person is so different from a fictional character and even more if that person is still alive. You’ve got so much material out there, available, and if that person willingly gives you access to extra and sometimes intimate information it is enticing stuff for any actor. However, you’re not as free and creative as when you create a fictional character from scratch. My duty was to ask Jean-Xavier de Lestrade what were the key things I had to stick to and respect when portraying him for him not to feel betrayed in any way. I am talking about the man’s values, morals, ethics…It is an immense chance to portray somebody else and the best way to be grateful is to respect that very person. Through preparing for the role did you learn anything new about the case or Lestrade? Yes. When we watch the documentary and the drama show we don’t realize that the documentary crew spent several years shooting the Peterson family. Jean-Xavier made more than 50 return trips between Paris and Durham and that had a significant impact on his personal life. Also, the documentary crew was very bounded. They used to share an apartment when they were shooting in Durham and every evening, after a day shooting at the Peterson’s, they debated for hours and hours about how guilty Michael was. Every evening! The sound guy, the DOP, and JeanXavier himself, all of them had different views about what happened to Kathleen Peterson. Did you have to find ways to leave the material behind after filming episodes of The Staircase due to the dark subject matter? Not really as my character had a certain distance from Kathleen Peterson’s tragedy. I had a harder time having a real cut from the show though as we had shot for more than seven months in Atlanta. It was a long time, and I got used to a certain rhythm or atmosphere. I moved just after on another project in Greece and it took me longer than usual to adapt to a different team and overall scenery.

Outside of The Staircase, you have been involved in projects like Cut, Maybe Another Time, and Luther all of which are very different. When you audition for projects what are you looking for in a role? I love playing “grey” characters. I don’t like simple heroes who are one-hundred percent good. I like playing guys who have a dark side but a good side as well, who are as human as possible. In The Staircase, I’m not saying Jean Xavier has a dark side, but it’s about compromise. It’s about the decisions he makes. Real-life is rarely black or white, and the grey areas are the most fascinating. Jean-Xavier had to stay objective during the entire project. As I said earlier, he spent two years with the family, and at some point, as a human being, you’re going to feel attached to the people you’re with. I love the complexity and the range of emotions that come with being human and expressing them on screen. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Nothing really sexy I am afraid. Just try to have a balanced life. It is just so important to last in the industry. The highs are so high and the lows…well you name it. So, being grounded and sticking to values and morals are for me the key to a lasting career. As an actor, you can only control so much, so the personal aspect of your life must be cherished and fueled to protect you from such extreme streams of wins and losses.

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