Beautiful Fools

> How did you guys get involved in the project?

Sean: Well I’ve known Steven for five years now and we’ve been friends and we work on a lot of things together and... he just asked me [laughs]

Jessie: Yea! Uhh.... how did I meet Steven? I got him to shoot one of my films... that I wrote and my friend Natalie [Shepherd] directed and I guess he saw me in that and he had me in mind for this project.

>What was it like meeting each other and working with each other?

Jessie: It was horrible! [laughs]

Sean: It was so bad! [laughs]

Jessie: Ok. Honestly? When I met you at the table read I was very nervous because I hadn’t really acted that much.

Sean: No.

Jessie: No! I really was but once we went through it, I thought, ok, maybe we can do this. I felt more confident after that table read.

Sean: Well, you know Steven told me about you already and he was saying stuff like “She’s great! She’s perfect!”

Jessie: He talked me up!

Sean: He talked you up! So I thought “Great!” I was excited to work with you because I heard you were a talented actress.

Jessie: And in working together I learned a lot. I learned a lot from you. I had a lot of fun.

Sean: I had a lot of fun too. It was really easy. I’d do it again.

Jessie: Well, it’d have to be something else because you’re... you know...[motions]

Sean: I’m dead. Spoiler alert!

Jessie: Spoiler alert!

>What was the best part of shooting?

Sean: I enjoyed .... uhh...

Jessie: Kissing my face!

Sean: Well, I spent the night at the Biltmore.

Jessie: That was the best part?

Sean: I liked it, yeah. [laughs]

Jessie: The hotel might have been the best part.

Sean: Yeah, for part 1 the hotel.. I thought... . well, this is kind of nice. Then I woke up the next morning and went to the farmer’s market.

Jessie: You were kind of living as “Charlie”.

Sean: How about you?

Jessie: I think being on set and just being part of something. It’s better than being in a class. Because I’m still new to this, you know?

>What was the worst part of shooting?

Sean: Maybe it was the fact that in part two there was no privacy. The bathroom was part of the room.

Jessie: Yeah. I agree with that. That was weird. Yeah, the close quarters of the second hotel room was a little too comfy. Too intimate.

Sean: Yeah.

Jessie: And then we got too intimate.

>How are the characters similar to your real lives?

Sean: I guess being a photographer and being an actor is kind of similar. The way success and fame can look.

Jessie: [nods] Like a similar world.

Sean: Yeah, as far as look and aesthetic go but I’d like to think that I’m a little bit more even and little more sane than Charlie.

Jessie: You’re not a screamer?

Sean: I don’t really scream in my girlfriend’s face and I’m not an angry drinker or anything. I think I’m a little happier. Lighter.

Jessie: Alana Jordan’s a model, way more successful than I am in real life but I feel like- I wouldn’t say it was that far of  stretch for me.

Sean: Yeah, I think he mentioned that he wrote the characters with us in mind.

Jessie: Yeah.

>How are they different?

Jessie: I hate these questions.

Sean: Well, I’ll go back to that last question. It was hard to do the accent. I had done some work on it but then the shoot got postponed and then I had to work on it again-

Jessie: Yeah, that was a lot. I can see that being really hard.

Sean: Yeah, and then it was supposed to be half-fake and in between and then we dropped it completely for the second one but that’s how the character’s not like me because I don’t have an accent obviously.

Jessie: Well, I’ve never experienced that kind of loss...at the end...that was different for me.

Sean: You guys shot that already?

Jessie: Yeah. [laughs] It was tough to experience that.

>What does Alana bring to Charlie’s life?

Jessie: That’s a question for you.

Sean: That’s a question for me. I think she brings him love and the life he was after. It’s like the dream girl.  Yeah, I think he feels like she makes him feel like a success and a man and also inspires him.

Jessie: I think Alana brought him a lot of stress too or he sees it that way.

Sean: Well it’s hard because they’re almost in competition with each other because their lives became so intwined that it was hard to separate the personal and professional.

Jessie: Or it was like an ownership kind of thing maybe? Possessiveness.

Sean: Absolutely, yeah.

Jessie: Those are kind of the ugly things that come out of relationships sometimes. Especially one that’s so involved. One’s that are career and ambition driven.

>What does Charlie represent in Alana’s life?

Jessie: [sighs] I think that with anyone you ... fall (for lack of a better word) ... you kind of think they’re “it”, you know? You kind of invest so much into that relationship and you build a life and I think that for her Charlie was a new adventure. A new life.

>Can you talk briefly about having to navigate the accent?

Sean: I already answered that.

Jessie: Can you talk briefly in  your British accent?

Sean: No. But I had [Dominic Best] read the lines and I recorded them and then I just listened to them for a while and then watched some of the videos and stuff.

>What were the differences in working on the first part and second part?

Sean: The hotel was so much smaller on the second part.

Jessie: In the 2nd part I was more comfortable obviously because we’d already worked together but in the first part it was great because I really was meeting you for the first time. So I used that.

Sean: Yea. I’d say I was way more comfortable doing the first part because you’re just flirting and having fun.

Jessie: Yeah, it was easier and we were just getting to know each other.

Sean: The second part was much harder because it was more serious. We really had to put in some work. Especially because of the emotion that was required...and you know...it’s hard to [gesture]

Jessie: Be mean to me?

Sean: Yeah!

Jessie: You were a jerk.

[both laugh]

>What was it like working with director’s Anthony Trujillo and Steven A. Soria

Jessie: Who’s Anthony?

Sean: Yeah, who’s that guy?

[both laugh]

Jessie: We’re supposed to say it was “fabulous” right?

Sean: But I did enjoy.

Jessie: No, me too! I was just kidding. I really did like how low-key... There was no stress and no pressure and they allowed us to play and explore the characters and go anywhere we wanted to go or need to go.

Sean: It made you feel more like a collaborator.

Jessie: There wasn’t ever any tension. I think they’re good at giving direction and help you get there.

Sean: They’re good at creating a comfortable atmosphere.

>What do you think Charlie and Alana’s story adds to the mythology of Beautiful Fools?

Sean: I mean, it’s a pretty pivotal back-story. It’s used to kind of justify Peter’s actions throughout the series because he’s so self-destructive and destructive towards others and ruining all his relationships and I think it was important to learn that it was from losing a family member. Our story ends up being important for that story because [Peter] does feel guilty because he does sort of let his brother down.

Jessie: Yeah, it’s like a piece of the puzzle. Another layer that people can take.

Sean: Yeah a big piece of baggage in Peter’s story.

What was it like working with Alejandro?

Sean: He was the sweetest so nice.

Jessie: He was great!

Sean: He was perfect.

Jessie: He made a good dick.

>The movie is also supposed to be a look into hotel culture. Do you guys like hotels?

Sean: I love hotels. Hotels are my favorite.

Jessie: I like room service. I like having your room turned down. I mean, like traveling right? It’s connected that way right?

>What can we expect to see you guys in next?

Sean: I’ll be reappearing in “My Crazy Ex” on lifetime. That reenactment show.

Jessie: Shut up, are you serious?

Sean: Yeah.

Jessie: That’s awesome. Well and then we have Steven and Anthony’s new feature.

Sean: Yeah. That crazy thing they want to shoot in, like, six days. That actually might be what’s next.

Jessie: They said they wrote us into that.

>Do you guys eat popsicles?

Sean: No.

Jessie: No comment.

>How did you get involved in the project?

I got involved with the project from having worked with the Creator and Director of "Beautiful Fools" (Steven Soria) on previous projects.  Steven basically told me that he thought I would be great for the part of "Knox", the Zany yet somewhat grounded best friend of "Peter" played by Dominic Best the star of the show.

>Who is Knox?

Knox is a compassionate and loyal friend who lives a happy go lucky optimistic life.  A bad day for Knox is not getting the toy he desired out of the Cap'n Crunch Cereal Box😞😫.

>In terms of Rio and Shea and Peter is Knox a lover or a fighter?

Knox is a lover.

>What other projects are you working on?

I'm also working on a pilot presentation right now called "K Great Thanks".  Which is about the  story of two actors journey through Hollywood who end up becoming better people and find happiness in different professions outside the entertainment industry.

>Would you return for a season 2?        

Wait?  There isn't going to be a season 2?  This interview is over..

Six Questions for David Lim (”George”)

>How did you get involved with Beautiful Fools?

I've worked with Steven on previous projects. He asked me to come on board. I like the guy, so I said yes. Not to mention, he's pretty damn talented.

>Who is George?

George is Vivienne's boyfriend. He's also a bit of a womanizer. He's charming and a seemingly good guy, but don't let the exterior fool you.

>What do you think women initially see in George and what is the reality?

Probably Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall... minus the horse and long flowing hair. Kidding. I think women initially see a nice guy, someone who's much better for Vivienne than Peter. The reality is, while George might not be a belligerent drunk, he's got his own agenda.

>What is it like filming the fight scenes?

Awesome. I grew up watching Bruce Lee movies and idolizing him. Heard they had to slow down his fight scenes because he moved too fast. I think they'll have to do the opposite for me, but it was a blast nonetheless and I think viewers will dig it. Of course, all the credit goes to our badass fight choreographer, Shea Vanderpoort. That was my favorite day on set.

>What other projects are you working on?

I have a cool sci-fi film called "5th Passenger" coming out at the end of the year, with some great Trek actors. A teaser trailer just dropped and it's pretty killer. Check it out on   www.5thpassenger.com.

>Would you return for a season 2?

Unless I'm filming a remake of Enter the Dragon, then absolutely!

>Who is Paulina?

Paulina is Peter’s fun-loving, well-meaning (maybe a bit overbearing…) big sister.   She’s a bossy, loving, hot mess who will one day declare she has her ten year plan figured out, and will stumble home at 4 AM the next morning wasted off her ass and missing a shoe.

>What are the differences between Paulina and Peter?

Peter and Paulina are really different on the outside, but completely alike on the inside.  Paulina’s way better than Peter at putting on a happy face and getting by(ish) in the world, but I think deep down their feelings about people and life are quite similar.  

>Can you tell us a little bit about Paulina and Peter and Charlie and their family life?

Paulina’s definitely the head of the family.  Paulina, Peter, and Charlie had a lot of losses as kids, including both their parents by the time they were teenagers/young adults, and it forced them to function as a tight little “us against the world” family unit.  Kind of like “The Boxcar Children” (but with more drugs.)

Peter, at least in Paulina’s eyes, is the wayward son… he’s always been surlier and had more of a wall up. Charlie, on the other hand, was just a bright and beaming kind of kid, with a huge heart and a promising future.  His energy was the glue that kept their little family together.

>You’ve played Dominic Best’s girlfriend in the past, what was it like playing his sister?

Wonderful!  I always love working with Dom; we have a great time together no matter what the relationship.   I think we both come at our work as actors in similar ways, and are looking for similar things from ourselves in terms of exploration of character, so we had a blast figuring out the nutty relationship between these two siblings.  Learning his accent was also a lot of fun… I always want to imitate my British friends when I’m around them, so this gave me a really excellent excuse to do it constantly.

>What was it like working with show creator Steven A. Soria?

Steve is a mad genius.  Don’t be fooled by his humility and self-deprecating humor.  Steve has incredibly high standards and this wonderful creative mind.  I loved getting to work with him— overhearing his and Bob’s conversations about what inspired their visual style, watching the very organic way the series developed. Steve manages to both have exacting standards and leave a lot of room for creativity and flexibility. It’s great.

>What was it like working with director Bob Salzano? Bob has a really intuitive gift for working with actors.  I knew his background was in post-production and more technical elements, and he gave great visual direction—I loved how he chose to introduce Paulina in a shrouded/mysterious way, it feels like an ominous thundercloud rolling in… But I was excited that he also has this very deep understanding of character. Dom and Bob and me had a lot of long conversations about who and what this family was, and how they had become that way.  And that was very freeing for me, because I knew he understood these people and would ensure that the integrity of the characters was upheld.

>Would you return for a season 2? Duhhhhhhhhh.

*see more of Kate in this spot for The Technology Credit Union : https://vimeo.com/138773988

9 Questions with Heather Higginbotham 

>How did you get involved with the project? The show's creator, Steven Soria, and I have been friends and collaborators for a number of years now, and had always talked about developing a web series. We even had a couple of attempts in the past that never got off the ground. I remember he was re-reading "The Great Gatsby" when he came up with the idea for "Beautiful Fools". From there, he approached me with the role, which I took without hesitation. I always immediately fall in love with Steve's projects because he always has creative integrity. Having produced for Steve in the past, I think I fell into my role as a producer organically once I accepted the role.

>How did you balance acting and producing? This would not have been possible without the competence and general amazingness of our other head producer, Benita Robledo, who also plays Jenny. She always had my back and shared the weight, making independently producing an ambitious web series actually possible.

>Who is Scotty? Scotty is a person who proudly thinks she has things figured out, but doesn't realize how immature she actually is. That's largely because rather than focusing on herself, she places her attention on the people she loves. She's always trying to help "guide" them, and / or at least be a source of compassion and understanding. She loves Peter. In her eyes, he is her brother. She doesn't realize that what she actually does, is enable him. She's always been there for him, but to apply bandaids to his wounds, rather than get him to stop hurting himself, and that's because she can't...especially because she doesn't even realize that she doesn't know how to take care of herself. She's like an edgy/contemporary Emma Woodhouse...except also not at all.

>What do you think she brings to Peter’s life? Oh boy, well like I said, she, and really I think they both feel like they're friends who support and love each other...and they do,  but in reality they enable each other and you see the culmination of that in this first season.  

>What was it like working with director Herbert Russell? Working with Herbert was an awesome experience. I've seen his work as an actor and honestly hoped that I would one day have the opportunity to work with him closely at some capacity. SO when I found out he was interested in directing one of the episodes I had my fingers crossed that Steve would assign him an episode I was in, and he did! It was a fantastic learning experience for me. We had a lot of rehearsals, which I still appreciate. I felt incredibly supported by his confidence and commitment to bringing the episode to life.    

>What was it like working with creator Steven A. Soria? I always love working with Steve. He casts who he casts because he knows that they will bring what is necessary to his vision for the role, and that they will work well with the other people on set. Steve is the director I've worked with the most, and he's been a huge part of how I've evolved as an actor. With each new project I have grown more confident largely due to his belief in me. I trust him, his opinion, his taste, so, thank you, Steeb. Lab you.    

>You have an improv background, how did that play into the production? Performing improv always continues to improve my ability to listen and have fun, which are extremely important for an actor. A specific scene that comes to mind is *spoiler if you haven't watched it yet* the car accident in episode 2. Steve had the beats he wanted to hit, but not a written draft he was sold on. So Dom and I improvised, which was really a lot of fun. Arguing with Peter (Dom) has been a great release for me because I'm really just yelling at Steve (Steve you can delete this part).  

>What is your favorite cocktail? Honestly if they put bourbon in it I'm probably definitely down. I also like moscow mules, mojitos (thats the Miami in me, plus they're objectively good), mimosas/bellinis, I'll drink vodka sodas with lime when I'm being "healthy", wine and beer are good too but I guess that's not technically a cocktail...HONESTLY, if it's a drink I'm probably definitely down, but you know, responsibilities and stuff so I keep it to weekends...what was the questions again? Well made whiskey cocktails that are just a touch sweet...all well made cocktails...nevermind.  

>What other projects are you working on? I've recently been cast in two horror shorts, "The Sick" and "The Shed", which I'm very excited about. I am also 1/2 of a comedy duo called, "John Baxter". My other 1/2 is "Beautiful Fools" writer/producer, Anna Salinas! We are working on tons of new content so be sure to find us on facebook to get details for live shows and check our youtube for new digital sketches!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC6ae9IfUjMg9AZjvTUrmIQ/feed

Oh, oh my god, I've also been working super hard at getting caught up on Rick and Morty which is such a fucking good show oh my god. Anyway, I'm caught up now so I guess I'm not working on it again until Sunday. GAH! Thank God, "Beautiful Fools", releases new eps on Tuesday, which is before Sunday from my perspective.

>Would you return for a season 2? DUH. Why is this question even here? You-you know the answer to this already.

8 questions with Anna Salinas

>How did you get involved in the process? I got involved in the process because Steven brought me on as a producer, initially just to consult on story. Shortly after that, he invited me to co-write a few of the episodes, starting with Jenny, and eventually I became story editor. By now, I feel incredibly close to and invested in the story of Beautiful Fools; it's as if the world of BFS has taken on a life of its own.

>What was the difference between being a writer and story editor? I think the main thing is that as a writer, I'm focused on my story, and as story editor I try to think a little more broadly about what makes sense in terms of the show as a whole.

>Who is Jenny? I initially wrote Jenny as a pretty heavy handed version of myself. She was a kindergarten teacher, like I was at the time. She doodles, like I do, loves her students, even loves teaching, but still feels trapped in a life that isn't completely hers. Over time, I started developing Jenny beyond myself; she took on a life of her own, particularly when Benita signed onto the role. Jenny tends toward order--and the ways you see that play out on screen are in part a product of conversations I had with Benita. Of course, for Jenny, throughout the course of the series, that order is disrupted. It's scary for her, but it isn't something she fights. Maybe that's what draws her to Peter; his fearlessness in the face of total chaos.

>What role does Jenny play in Peter’s life? Peter sees Jenny as a fresh start. She's unconnected to the shit he's been dealing with, and the bridges he's been burning. When we fall for someone, we see them in a rosy glow. That's how Jenny sees Peter. For his part, I think he's still a little too broken by everything to match her feelings, but he enjoys her company. For now, it's light. It's simple.

>What was it like working with actress Benita Robledo when she portrayed such a personal character? Working with Benita was amazing. She's a pro. She dove head first into the character, examined every piece of the scripts I'd written to understand Jenny better. Without Benita, I don't think Jenny would have been the same person. Benita has such a natural talent for comedy; she could take what I'd written and breathe so much life and humor to each  and every scene.

>How did you convince singer/songwriter Kaela Sinclair to get involved Kaela is a good friend and from my hometown in Florida. I've always been a big fan of her music; in fact, she even once performed a few jazz standards at my parents' house while we were home from college. I'd been following her new music (her latest album Sun & Mirror is so beautiful and great) and when I imagined Jenny's tone in the series, Kaela immediately came to mind. She agreed to collaborate and wrote an absolutely perfect composition for the episode, It Was Just a Dream, which she actually just released as a single. I think if my life had a sountrack, it would be a Kaela Sinclair original score.

>Can you talk briefly about the animated sequence in the finale and what it was like to work with animation producer/animator Will Feng? Working with Will, like working with Benita, was a complete treat. I'd always dreamed of seeing my comics animated, and Will did that and so much more. He helped flesh out the ideas, worked tirelessly to make sure his animation fit the designs I'd developed, and the end product is absolutely lovely thanks to him.

>What other projects are you working on? I write comedy sketches with (BFS producer and star) Heather Higginbotham as the duo "John Baxter." We've got a Youtube channel and several new sketches due out soon. We also perform improv and sketch at comedy theaters around town, including UCB, iO West, and the Clubhouse. In addition, I I make a daily webcomic called Badcomixbyanna, which you can find on Tumblr and Instagram. I'm working on a few projects that will expand Badcomix into more than what you've seen, so I'm excited to start rolling that out.

>Would you return for a season 2? Of course! I'm already working on scripts for season 2 and excited to see our characters go on new adventures.

Check out Heather and Anna as they perform as the comedy duo “John Baxter” tonight in Los Angeles at “Church Improv” at the Clubhouse 1607 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027

>How did you get involved with the project? I worked with Steven A. Soria on a previous film project and he approached me to play the role of Rio. Once I read the script and got a feel for her character, I immediately wanted to join the cast. It also helped that Steven is beyond talented, so I knew I would be working with people I can learn from.

>Who is Rio? Rio is Knox's love interest/dream girl/most legendary fuck of his life. She a very smart, intuitive, and strong female character who doesn't take crap from anyone. She's the kind of person who tends to lead with her head instead of her heart, but she has a soft spot for Knox.

>What do you think she sees in Knox? I think Rio sees potential in Knox to be the kind of guy she can be in a genuine relationship with, not just a hook up. She secretly enjoys teaching Knox how to be a better man. Although Knox has his quirks, at the end of the day, Rio finds him to be a kind, caring, and sincere person who she can just be herself with. He's lovable asshole if you will. Obviously marriage material.

>Do you really enjoy dick-punching? More than I'd like to admit. I think more men deserve a good ole punch in the dick.

>What was it like working with director Bob Salzano? Bob's a very sweet and easy person to work with. He's one of those secret genius quiet types.  

>What was it like working with director Noboru Ito? Working with Noboru was such an incredible experience as an actor. The cast had such support and creative freedom while filming that it allowed us to showcase our best work. We did a lot of rehearsing, which I love. Noboru's confidence in me and advice certainly brought out the best in my performance. I always felt better having him on set when I was filming because I knew he would keep my performance consistent and truthful.

>What was it like working with your co-star Zach Baz? Kind of a nightmare. Just kidding...Zach is something else. His energy is contagious, not to mention he's naturally hilarious. It was always difficult for me to keep a straight face doing any kind of scene with him, dramatic or comedic. The best part was when we would bounce off of each other and improvise between takes. I'd kill to see our B-roll...He also taught me things like the need for crotch pillows during sex scenes--super informative/helpful. And he reaffirmed my rule that learning one's lines and reading the scenes before you film is VERY IMPORTANT.

>What do you think Rio represents in Knox’s life? Rio represents a goal Knox works toward achieving as a man, friend, and lover. Rio slowly but surely helps Knox transition (or at least attempt) to be the best kind of boyfriend/sex partner/love muffin he can be.

>Do you think they can have a happy ending? I think each of them will find happiness in their own way. I like to think of them as the Ross and Rachel of the group. Fingers crossed Knox matures emotionally, psychologically, and sexually to catch up with Rio so they live happily ever after. That's realistic, right?

>What is your favorite level of drunkeness? I prefer L4, Perfect Drunk. Doesn't get any better than that.

>Would you return for a season 2? Hell no. I mean, fuck yes.  

producer Benita Robledo as “Jenny”

> How did you get involved with the project?

I don’t really remember, actually. I’d known Steven for a few years and we’d just finished working on a short we’d written together, And After. We were in a very collaborative place and I think at one point he said “Hey have this new idea and this is you’re character”. It was a given I’d love to be a part of it.

> How did you balance between being an actress & a producer? With a lot of help from my fellow producer Heather. Since I wasn’t in every episode it was easy for me to stay in producer mode as long as I wasn’t acting. When it came time to shoot though, Heather would take over my duties, and I could just focus on being Jenny. There’s no way I could’ve done that if I was worrying about getting everyone lunch.

> Who is Jenny? She was the girl who ate lunch in the library. Now that she’s grown up though she’s not so sure playing it safe was worth it.

> What was it like working with director Steven A. Soria? The best part about working with Steven is his willingness to see what you come up with on your own. He trusts his actors. It’s incredibly freeing.

> What was it like working with writer/director Anna Salinas? Anna’s such a thoughtful director. You can tell that she’s thought about what’s happening and her choices for the piece deeply. But she’s not married to them either. She genuinely loves the characters and is excited to see how they blossom.

> What was it like working with actor Dominic Best? He’s always present when you’re working, he’s with you every beat. It makes for a lot of fun on set!

> What do you think Jenny represents in Peter’s life? His lost innocence and hope. For as uptight as Jenny is she still knows how to play. That’s something Peter’s forgotten.

> What do you think Peter represents in Jenny’s life? Everyone has a darkness in them, but Jenny spends her life trying to ignore hers. Peter is that darkness for her. A way to touch the bruised and neglected parts of herself.

> Do you get day drunk? Only by accident. I get drunk on one beer, so it’s happened once or twice at a BBQ.

> Do you think people like Peter can have happy endings? I think everyone can have happy endings, if they’re willing to face their problems and deal with them. What a Jenny answer!

> What else are you working on? I currently play Deputy Clark  on MTV’s Teen Wolf. I also recently wrapped a short film based on Jim Mahfood’s Grrl Scouts where I play a 90’s drug-dealing katana wielding badass. I regularly work in voice overs and just got back from the Ojai Playwright’s Conference.  I like to stay as busy as possible.