April 16, 2025 • 21 mins
She’s smart, sharp, and stylish—and in The Recruit, Kaylah Xander Nuñez keeps Noah Centineo from totally unraveling.
On this episode of Pride, host Caitlynn McDaniel sits down with Kaylah to talk about her role as CIA lawyer Amelia Salazar in the hit Netflix series The Recruit. They chat about chosen family on set, Latine representation in Hollywood, and the kind of roles Kaylah’s ready to say “no” to now.
Plus, she shares details about her upcoming passion projects—including a short film about estranged sisters, and her very first solo film about Vancouver’s beloved last video store, Black Dog Video.
Whether you're here for CIA drama, Shania Twain dreams, or just missing the days of picking out VHS tapes with your family—this one’s for you.
What do you think season three of The Recruit should look like—and should Kaylah play Shania Twain next? Let us know by tagging @pride on social.
On this episode of Pride, host Caitlynn McDaniel sits down with Kaylah to talk about her role as CIA lawyer Amelia Salazar in the hit Netflix series The Recruit. They chat about chosen family on set, Latine representation in Hollywood, and the kind of roles Kaylah’s ready to say “no” to now.
Plus, she shares details about her upcoming passion projects—including a short film about estranged sisters, and her very first solo film about Vancouver’s beloved last video store, Black Dog Video.
Whether you're here for CIA drama, Shania Twain dreams, or just missing the days of picking out VHS tapes with your family—this one’s for you.
What do you think season three of The Recruit should look like—and should Kaylah play Shania Twain next? Let us know by tagging @pride on social.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Straut Media. And then I'm also working on a memoir,
a short memoir film that's mine, my very first project
that will be all my own about working at Black
Dog Video, which was the last video store standing in
Vancouver before we all went under and streamers took over.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is that just like a personal passion of yours video stores?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, I wish. I wish that they had survived for
just like a few more years.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I feel like I was like one of the last
generations who got to go to the video store and
pick out movies with their family for a weekly And
that's crazy that people don't do that.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, though, I know it's sad because I think there's
actually a lot of films that got lost in that
transition to online streaming. So there was like rare films
that we had at that video store that well, maybe
they'll never be seen again.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Welcome back to the Pride Podcast, the show where we
dive into the stories, voices, and vibes behind the queer
talent lighting up your screen. I'm Kaitlin McDaniel and I've
got to be honest, I'm still emotionally recovering from the
end of The Recruit Season two on Netflix. But lucky
for me and for you, today's guest might be the
only person who could help me through it. I got
(01:20):
to sit down with Kayla Xander Nunez, who plays Amelia Salazar,
the very smart, very stylish CIA lawyer who keeps Noah
Centineo's character from totally spiraling out of control at least most.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Of the time.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
We talked about her work on The Recruit, building chosen
family on set, LATINX representation in Hollywood, her dream of
playing Shania Twain which same, and even the tragic death
of video stores. So let's get into it now. If
(02:02):
you're not familiar with The Recruit, it's a wild spy
meets legal comedy meets action show, So think CIA, but
with hr nightmares and very rogue agents. I'm looking at you,
Noah Centinao, he plays Owen Hendrix, a babyface lawyer navigating
this chaotic workplace, and Kayla's character, Emilia, is the season
(02:23):
lawyer who tries to help him survive. She's sharp, she's direct,
and she's just a little bit weird, but in the
very best way.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm excited to just talk about everything Hollywood representation, just
anything that's really important to you. Now I am just
starting out. I know you've been a part of Oh Hi,
I know you've been a part of a lot of
fun projects, Supernatural, Chilling Adventures of Sprina and now The Recruit.
Can you just talk a little bit about really what's
(02:55):
been like the most surreal thing about this job?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Ooh surreal, so many surreal moments. I mean, I think
I don't know if it's surreal, but I just I
feel like what was so fantastic about The Recruit that
I was kind of too green to really understand in
season one was that it's so special and kind of
(03:19):
rare to have a task that gets along so well
and we support each other, and you know, we have
this ongoing group chat that we've had for years now,
and to have so many incredible directors and to have
the producers be so respectful, to just like have such
a fantastic group of people that respect each other so
(03:42):
much has been really really incredible. And I think I
didn't realize that that's not the case for every show,
but it's something that I've had on the Recruit now
and that I'm going to look for forever. So yeah,
that surreal. I don't know if that's real, but.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I love that and I love hearing that those kind
of stories about really just finding like like a chosen
family in a show which is always so so fun.
Could you talk to us a little bit more about
working with this cast, ending these stories you have from
behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Oh well, I mean season one we shot in Montreal.
We started in the fall, and then we were there
all winter, and because of Omicron, we had to shut
down our production for a little while, and so we
ended up being there for over six months. But I
think I was only on set for like eleven days
and everything was closed. You couldn't go to like a movie,
(04:39):
you couldn't go to like a restaurant for a while.
So so all of us had been transferred to Montreal,
and we were all just kind of sitting around being like, well,
I guess we just have each other. We just had
like dinners all the time. Every week. We were like
going out and doing fun stuff and the snow like
whatever we could. That's I I think those are a
(05:01):
lot of the memories that I have is just us
keeping each other entertained when it was negative twenty eight
outside and you weren't allowed to do anything.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
And for anyone that doesn't know, could you talk about
your character Amelia just kind of what the show is about.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean the show is a kind of comedy
action drama that is about lawyers working for the CIA
and a newbie lawyer who comes on and is kind
of learning the ropes and it's a strange, kind of
(05:40):
cowardly bureaucratic workplace. And my character is Amelia, So she's
been there for a couple of years. She's I think
about ten years older than Evan or sorry than Owen,
and she kind of guides him, helps him out. He
has a lot of questions and she's kind of a
(06:02):
well of knowledge for him as he kind of fumbles
his way through some adventures.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I have to ask, like, I know, being an actor
is you have to like pretend to be you know,
have these different jobs and you have to know all
this like jargon and like everything like that. Has that
been challenging at all? Especially when you're saying you have
feel like this voice of reason? But obviously I don't
know how much you knew beforehand.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
About CIA lawyers almost nothing being a lawyer CIA. I
did some research. I read some books I read, like
a short book you know that was like History of
the CIA, which is pretty dark, to be honest. But yeah,
being a lawyer, I don't think that will. I think
(06:46):
there's there's an attention to detail and a meticulousness that
I don't have as Kayla that I think would make
it hard for me to be a lawyer in real life.
So yeah, that's uh. But I mean I loved my character.
She's funny, she's weird, she's very direct, she's strong, she's smart,
(07:08):
she's a total freak, and I loved I loved how
they wrote Emilia.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
What do you look for when you're taking on a role, Like,
do you have anything that you're specific about before you're
accepting something or is it just you know it's a job.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, a few years ago, when I booked the Recruit,
I wasn't really in the position to say no. I mean,
you can still say no if something's truly offensive, but no,
I was just grateful that someone wanted to pay me
to be on a show episode after episode. To me,
that was just wild. And now I feel like, yeah,
(07:49):
I am starting to enter this this point in my
career where I can be a little bit more picky,
and so what do I look for in a role.
I think I think it's important to me that if
the character is going to be Latina, that there's some
nuance to that rather than just being the kind of
like sex spot or whatever. I think that there's certain
(08:14):
things politically that don't align with me that I would
be a little bit more picky about now that I
just felt like I didn't have I didn't. It's funny,
I felt like I didn't in the beginning, that I
didn't have a right to say no, or I just
wanted to act. I just wanted to act, and so
I was willing to do, you know, any role that
came my way, because you can't be picky in the beginning.
(08:35):
But yeah, like I'm I'm tired of playing cops. I
don't want to play cops or be in movies that
are about cops, especially when the cops are the hero.
This is really not my jam personally. So now I
actually get to kind of steer away from that and
then just a really good like a good script, something
(08:58):
with like the arc.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
You know, I agree, I mean absolutely, I can see that.
You know, when you're first starting, you're just like everything
you know, yeah, let me in whatever it takes. But
then yeah, like I love asking people kind of what
they what they hope for and like seeing how their
career goes forward. So do you is there a dream
role for you that you'd want to play going forward?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Ooh? I mean for some reason, I have it in
my mind that someone somewhere is working on a Shnaio
Twain Shania Twain biopic right now, and I love to
be in that movie. I love Shnaia Twain. I just
I just feel in my bone so that is coming.
Uh yeah, I don't know. I I would love to
(09:44):
do something like whatever the roles that Share got, I
want all of those roles. I love Share. I actually
think she's a great actor, and I all the roles
that Share got, those would all be a dream, I understand.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I always tell people I love Nicholas Cage and one
of my favorite movies is Moonstruck with both of them,
and people don't get it. They think that they're bad
actors in that movie. And I was like, that's just
not true. You're not paying attention.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, no, I love him in that movie.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
He's like it's amazing, Like.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I was, like, he he does have like you know,
he sticks with what he's good at, but that it's okay,
that's what works for him.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, this kind of like muted, mumbly hyper realism that's
really popular right now. I'm not into it, Like.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Yeah, performance absolutely. I mean, on that kind of note,
like what projects in Hollywood are you excited about, even
outside of your own that you've just been kind of
seeing and that you love the direction that it's going in.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Hmm, that's a good question. You know what it was
like cheap Tuesday at Cineplex for the last couple of weeks,
and so I saw a lot of movies and I
was pretty like mm about a lot of them. What
am I excited about? I mean, Sean Baker's film and
(11:18):
Noura was very cool, just so fun. I loved that.
What else have I seen recently that I was really
excited about? I don't know. I think it's hard. I've
always been really drawn to more independent films, Like I
(11:39):
have a hard time getting excited about superhero movies or
that kind of stuff. So and that's been really challenging.
I think indie films have really they're really up against
a lot right now, just the way that the industry
has changed and the way that you know, the theater economy.
(12:02):
So it's been tricky. Let me get back to you.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
No, I get it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I
totally understand. It's like people are often like, what's your
favorite movie, and I'm like, oh, man, I have so many,
and as soon as we hang up, I'm gonna think
of them all.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Oh yeah, No, I could never do the like Letterbox
to give me the top four right now. I'm like,
I have it changes, I'll say something stupid, so I
won't make you do that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Don't worry.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Just in terms of representation in Hollywood, we're obviously seeing,
you know, it keeps getting better, like throughout the years,
but there's always move for improvement. So like, what is
your you know, perspective on representation in Hollywood at this moment, Like,
where do you see it going? What's something that gives
you hope?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, it's interesting. Me and my actor friends talk about
this a lot. I mean, I think it's come a
really long way. I think representation has come a really
long way, and I think obviously that it's very very important.
And I also think that for the most part, it's
(13:21):
accepted when it's profitable. But I think there I see
a disconnect between putting minority performers on screen but kind
of over sanitizing their stories their histories, Like there are
(13:43):
certain how do I put it, like to want people
of color and to want gender diverse people to perform
on screen, but to kind of but then the reality
of the world is that those those people and their
families are still very much persecuted, especially in this moment,
(14:07):
you know. So it feels a little bit jarring sometimes
to see the way that the industry has gone, but
the real life reality economically and socially hasn't really been
keeping up, I think, And I think that's the problem
sometimes when within capitalism, you know, as long as it's profitable,
(14:32):
people will do it. But the hard work of kind
of coming to terms with our histories of colonialism or
imperialism and racism like that work. I think there's still
so much to be done there.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
What have you done kind of to seek out more representation.
I don't know how much you would really have of
control of that, but just in terms of like looking
into roles and like what peers you hang out with,
like what has been like kind of behind the scenes
of your experience with that.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Sometimes you see a character or a role and you
know that it was not written by someone who is
LATINX for example. You can just tell by the way
that it's written. And sometimes if if the creators are
open you, there's an opportunity there to add some nuance
or to add some authenticity to that character if they
(15:29):
are willing to kind of work with the performer. And
that's my favorite. That feels like a real collaboration, and
that's what I think think things get. Yeah, there's just
an authenticity that can happen there sometimes, but sometimes the
creators aren't interested in that and they are kind of
just ticking boxes and they don't care or they don't
(15:52):
have the time to care. And then that's always a
little bit disappointing. And then you can, you know, you
can turn down that role or you just kind of
you have to go along with it. There's only so
much you can do. You know, me and my friends
we do talk.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
About that and just going forward, Do you have any
other exciting projects that you're working.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
On that you can talk to us about? Yes? Right now?
I mean, I really am very grateful to Netflix because
I feel like doing those sort of those bigger streamer
shows has allowed me to then take on these passion
projects that maybe don't pay as well, and to kind
(16:35):
of go back and forth between those two categories has
been such a blessing. So right now I am working
on a short film about two estranged sisters who come
back together for a trip on one of the islands
here on the West Coast. And yeah, it's really interesting.
It's going to be mostly improvised, and I think we're
(16:58):
gonna shoot it in a really interesting way, and I'm
super stoked about that. I get to work with my
friend Alexandra km Andselmo, and yeah, I'm very excited about that.
I think that'll be like a I think that'll be
a short film, probably fifteen minutes, but yeah, I'm stoked
about that. And then I'm also working on a memoir,
(17:19):
a short memoir film that's mine, my very first project
that will be all my own, about working at Black
Dog Video, which was the last video store standing in
Vancouver before they all went under and streamers took over.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Is that just like a personal passion of yours video stores?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, I wish, I wish that they had survived for
just like a few more years.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, I feel like I was like one of the
last generations who got to go to the video store
and pick out movies with their family for a week totally,
and that's crazy that people don't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, So I know it's sad because I think there's
actually a lot of pill that got lost in that
transition to online streaming. So there was like rare films
that we had at that video store that well, maybe
they'll never be seen again.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
And I had to ask just going back, you said, like,
your last project is going to be completely improvised, So
do you prefer improvising overscripted? Is that something that you
like enjoy or is that a challenge.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
It's a challenge. I've never done like a fully improvised
project before ever. I think it's very rare. So yeah,
we're gonna have a couple of rehearsals, and we have
this great cinematographer who kind of does like a gorilla
filmmaking style, so he'll just stay with us, stay with
the performers as we go through it. We're gonna go
through it kind of like chronologically, not it's not like
(18:46):
not like a one er or anything. But maybe kind
of similar, Like we're going to perform each scene in
chronological order a couple of times. I've never worked like
that before. I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That sounds so great. I can't wait to check those out. Honest,
that really sounds like so much fun. Is there anything
else that you want to share with us?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
A lot of us have our fingers crossed that there
will be an announcement soon about season three of The Recruits,
so we're all very excited. We're in the group chat
being like, oh my gosh. So yeah, I think it'll
be really interesting if it does happen, because Owen has
sort of he's gone rogue. He doesn't really work for
(19:27):
the CIA anymore and is not being protected by the
CIA CIA. So I think the show could go in
a really different, interesting direction. And I'm really curious to
see what the creators have in store. I know that
they have a season three thought out, so yeah, just
waiting for that. I'm excited to see if that happens.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I mean, the cliffhangers on that show are intense. I
hate cliffhangers, and they always this one's always leaving me
in anxiety, especially the end of season two. Like I
like shut it off.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I was like, go away.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
But that leaves a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yeah, a lot of fun room for season three.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
All right, well I'm so excited. Thank you so much
for chatting with me today. This was so great.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, it was really fun.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's it for today's episode. Huge thanks to Kayla Xander
Nunez for such a thoughtful, funny, and real conversation. Go
stream The Recruit season two on Netflix if you haven't yet,
and if you have, just know that we're all screaming
into the same Netflix void waiting for season three. If
you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe anywhere you
watch or listen to podcasts, and follow us at Pride
(20:44):
on social media to stay in touch until next time.
Stay loud, stay proud, and please bring back video stores please.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Okay bye? Do you get to give it
Straut Media. And then I'm also working on a memoir,
a short memoir film that's mine, my very first project
that will be all my own about working at Black
Dog Video, which was the last video store standing in
Vancouver before we all went under and streamers took over.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Is that just like a personal passion of yours video stores?
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, I wish. I wish that they had survived for
just like a few more years.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I feel like I was like one of the last
generations who got to go to the video store and
pick out movies with their family for a weekly And
that's crazy that people don't do that.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Yeah, though, I know it's sad because I think there's
actually a lot of films that got lost in that
transition to online streaming. So there was like rare films
that we had at that video store that well, maybe
they'll never be seen again.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Welcome back to the Pride Podcast, the show where we
dive into the stories, voices, and vibes behind the queer
talent lighting up your screen. I'm Kaitlin McDaniel and I've
got to be honest, I'm still emotionally recovering from the
end of The Recruit Season two on Netflix. But lucky
for me and for you, today's guest might be the
only person who could help me through it. I got
(01:20):
to sit down with Kayla Xander Nunez, who plays Amelia Salazar,
the very smart, very stylish CIA lawyer who keeps Noah
Centineo's character from totally spiraling out of control at least most.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Of the time.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
We talked about her work on The Recruit, building chosen
family on set, LATINX representation in Hollywood, her dream of
playing Shania Twain which same, and even the tragic death
of video stores. So let's get into it now. If
(02:02):
you're not familiar with The Recruit, it's a wild spy
meets legal comedy meets action show, So think CIA, but
with hr nightmares and very rogue agents. I'm looking at you,
Noah Centinao, he plays Owen Hendrix, a babyface lawyer navigating
this chaotic workplace, and Kayla's character, Emilia, is the season
(02:23):
lawyer who tries to help him survive. She's sharp, she's direct,
and she's just a little bit weird, but in the
very best way.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I'm excited to just talk about everything Hollywood representation, just
anything that's really important to you. Now I am just
starting out. I know you've been a part of Oh Hi,
I know you've been a part of a lot of
fun projects, Supernatural, Chilling Adventures of Sprina and now The Recruit.
Can you just talk a little bit about really what's
(02:55):
been like the most surreal thing about this job?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Ooh surreal, so many surreal moments. I mean, I think
I don't know if it's surreal, but I just I
feel like what was so fantastic about The Recruit that
I was kind of too green to really understand in
season one was that it's so special and kind of
(03:19):
rare to have a task that gets along so well
and we support each other, and you know, we have
this ongoing group chat that we've had for years now,
and to have so many incredible directors and to have
the producers be so respectful, to just like have such
a fantastic group of people that respect each other so
(03:42):
much has been really really incredible. And I think I
didn't realize that that's not the case for every show,
but it's something that I've had on the Recruit now
and that I'm going to look for forever. So yeah,
that surreal. I don't know if that's real, but.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I love that and I love hearing that those kind
of stories about really just finding like like a chosen
family in a show which is always so so fun.
Could you talk to us a little bit more about
working with this cast, ending these stories you have from
behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Oh well, I mean season one we shot in Montreal.
We started in the fall, and then we were there
all winter, and because of Omicron, we had to shut
down our production for a little while, and so we
ended up being there for over six months. But I
think I was only on set for like eleven days
and everything was closed. You couldn't go to like a movie,
(04:39):
you couldn't go to like a restaurant for a while.
So so all of us had been transferred to Montreal,
and we were all just kind of sitting around being like, well,
I guess we just have each other. We just had
like dinners all the time. Every week. We were like
going out and doing fun stuff and the snow like
whatever we could. That's I I think those are a
(05:01):
lot of the memories that I have is just us
keeping each other entertained when it was negative twenty eight
outside and you weren't allowed to do anything.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
And for anyone that doesn't know, could you talk about
your character Amelia just kind of what the show is about.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I mean the show is a kind of comedy
action drama that is about lawyers working for the CIA
and a newbie lawyer who comes on and is kind
of learning the ropes and it's a strange, kind of
(05:40):
cowardly bureaucratic workplace. And my character is Amelia, So she's
been there for a couple of years. She's I think
about ten years older than Evan or sorry than Owen,
and she kind of guides him, helps him out. He
has a lot of questions and she's kind of a
(06:02):
well of knowledge for him as he kind of fumbles
his way through some adventures.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I have to ask, like, I know, being an actor
is you have to like pretend to be you know,
have these different jobs and you have to know all
this like jargon and like everything like that. Has that
been challenging at all? Especially when you're saying you have
feel like this voice of reason? But obviously I don't
know how much you knew beforehand.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
About CIA lawyers almost nothing being a lawyer CIA. I
did some research. I read some books I read, like
a short book you know that was like History of
the CIA, which is pretty dark, to be honest. But yeah,
being a lawyer, I don't think that will. I think
(06:46):
there's there's an attention to detail and a meticulousness that
I don't have as Kayla that I think would make
it hard for me to be a lawyer in real life.
So yeah, that's uh. But I mean I loved my character.
She's funny, she's weird, she's very direct, she's strong, she's smart,
(07:08):
she's a total freak, and I loved I loved how
they wrote Emilia.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
What do you look for when you're taking on a role, Like,
do you have anything that you're specific about before you're
accepting something or is it just you know it's a job.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, a few years ago, when I booked the Recruit,
I wasn't really in the position to say no. I mean,
you can still say no if something's truly offensive, but no,
I was just grateful that someone wanted to pay me
to be on a show episode after episode. To me,
that was just wild. And now I feel like, yeah,
(07:49):
I am starting to enter this this point in my
career where I can be a little bit more picky,
and so what do I look for in a role.
I think I think it's important to me that if
the character is going to be Latina, that there's some
nuance to that rather than just being the kind of
like sex spot or whatever. I think that there's certain
(08:14):
things politically that don't align with me that I would
be a little bit more picky about now that I
just felt like I didn't have I didn't. It's funny,
I felt like I didn't in the beginning, that I
didn't have a right to say no, or I just
wanted to act. I just wanted to act, and so
I was willing to do, you know, any role that
came my way, because you can't be picky in the beginning.
(08:35):
But yeah, like I'm I'm tired of playing cops. I
don't want to play cops or be in movies that
are about cops, especially when the cops are the hero.
This is really not my jam personally. So now I
actually get to kind of steer away from that and
then just a really good like a good script, something
(08:58):
with like the arc.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
You know, I agree, I mean absolutely, I can see that.
You know, when you're first starting, you're just like everything
you know, yeah, let me in whatever it takes. But
then yeah, like I love asking people kind of what
they what they hope for and like seeing how their
career goes forward. So do you is there a dream
role for you that you'd want to play going forward?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Ooh? I mean for some reason, I have it in
my mind that someone somewhere is working on a Shnaio
Twain Shania Twain biopic right now, and I love to
be in that movie. I love Shnaia Twain. I just
I just feel in my bone so that is coming.
Uh yeah, I don't know. I I would love to
(09:44):
do something like whatever the roles that Share got, I
want all of those roles. I love Share. I actually
think she's a great actor, and I all the roles
that Share got, those would all be a dream, I understand.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
I always tell people I love Nicholas Cage and one
of my favorite movies is Moonstruck with both of them,
and people don't get it. They think that they're bad
actors in that movie. And I was like, that's just
not true. You're not paying attention.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, no, I love him in that movie.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
He's like it's amazing, Like.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
I was, like, he he does have like you know,
he sticks with what he's good at, but that it's okay,
that's what works for him.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
Yeah, this kind of like muted, mumbly hyper realism that's
really popular right now. I'm not into it, Like.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
Yeah, performance absolutely. I mean, on that kind of note,
like what projects in Hollywood are you excited about, even
outside of your own that you've just been kind of
seeing and that you love the direction that it's going in.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Hmm, that's a good question. You know what it was
like cheap Tuesday at Cineplex for the last couple of weeks,
and so I saw a lot of movies and I
was pretty like mm about a lot of them. What
am I excited about? I mean, Sean Baker's film and
(11:18):
Noura was very cool, just so fun. I loved that.
What else have I seen recently that I was really
excited about? I don't know. I think it's hard. I've
always been really drawn to more independent films, Like I
(11:39):
have a hard time getting excited about superhero movies or
that kind of stuff. So and that's been really challenging.
I think indie films have really they're really up against
a lot right now, just the way that the industry
has changed and the way that you know, the theater economy.
(12:02):
So it's been tricky. Let me get back to you.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
No, I get it.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I
totally understand. It's like people are often like, what's your
favorite movie, and I'm like, oh, man, I have so many,
and as soon as we hang up, I'm gonna think
of them all.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Oh yeah, No, I could never do the like Letterbox
to give me the top four right now. I'm like,
I have it changes, I'll say something stupid, so I
won't make you do that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Don't worry.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Just in terms of representation in Hollywood, we're obviously seeing,
you know, it keeps getting better, like throughout the years,
but there's always move for improvement. So like, what is
your you know, perspective on representation in Hollywood at this moment, Like,
where do you see it going? What's something that gives
you hope?
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yeah, it's interesting. Me and my actor friends talk about
this a lot. I mean, I think it's come a
really long way. I think representation has come a really
long way, and I think obviously that it's very very important.
And I also think that for the most part, it's
(13:21):
accepted when it's profitable. But I think there I see
a disconnect between putting minority performers on screen but kind
of over sanitizing their stories their histories, Like there are
(13:43):
certain how do I put it, like to want people
of color and to want gender diverse people to perform
on screen, but to kind of but then the reality
of the world is that those those people and their
families are still very much persecuted, especially in this moment,
(14:07):
you know. So it feels a little bit jarring sometimes
to see the way that the industry has gone, but
the real life reality economically and socially hasn't really been
keeping up, I think, And I think that's the problem
sometimes when within capitalism, you know, as long as it's profitable,
(14:32):
people will do it. But the hard work of kind
of coming to terms with our histories of colonialism or
imperialism and racism like that work. I think there's still
so much to be done there.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
What have you done kind of to seek out more representation.
I don't know how much you would really have of
control of that, but just in terms of like looking
into roles and like what peers you hang out with,
like what has been like kind of behind the scenes
of your experience with that.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Sometimes you see a character or a role and you
know that it was not written by someone who is
LATINX for example. You can just tell by the way
that it's written. And sometimes if if the creators are
open you, there's an opportunity there to add some nuance
or to add some authenticity to that character if they
(15:29):
are willing to kind of work with the performer. And
that's my favorite. That feels like a real collaboration, and
that's what I think think things get. Yeah, there's just
an authenticity that can happen there sometimes, but sometimes the
creators aren't interested in that and they are kind of
just ticking boxes and they don't care or they don't
(15:52):
have the time to care. And then that's always a
little bit disappointing. And then you can, you know, you
can turn down that role or you just kind of
you have to go along with it. There's only so
much you can do. You know, me and my friends
we do talk.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
About that and just going forward, Do you have any
other exciting projects that you're working.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
On that you can talk to us about? Yes? Right now?
I mean, I really am very grateful to Netflix because
I feel like doing those sort of those bigger streamer
shows has allowed me to then take on these passion
projects that maybe don't pay as well, and to kind
(16:35):
of go back and forth between those two categories has
been such a blessing. So right now I am working
on a short film about two estranged sisters who come
back together for a trip on one of the islands
here on the West Coast. And yeah, it's really interesting.
It's going to be mostly improvised, and I think we're
(16:58):
gonna shoot it in a really interesting way, and I'm
super stoked about that. I get to work with my
friend Alexandra km Andselmo, and yeah, I'm very excited about that.
I think that'll be like a I think that'll be
a short film, probably fifteen minutes, but yeah, I'm stoked
about that. And then I'm also working on a memoir,
(17:19):
a short memoir film that's mine, my very first project
that will be all my own, about working at Black
Dog Video, which was the last video store standing in
Vancouver before they all went under and streamers took over.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Is that just like a personal passion of yours video stores?
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Yeah, I wish, I wish that they had survived for
just like a few more years.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, I feel like I was like one of the
last generations who got to go to the video store
and pick out movies with their family for a week totally,
and that's crazy that people don't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
Yeah, So I know it's sad because I think there's
actually a lot of pill that got lost in that
transition to online streaming. So there was like rare films
that we had at that video store that well, maybe
they'll never be seen again.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
And I had to ask just going back, you said, like,
your last project is going to be completely improvised, So
do you prefer improvising overscripted? Is that something that you
like enjoy or is that a challenge.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
It's a challenge. I've never done like a fully improvised
project before ever. I think it's very rare. So yeah,
we're gonna have a couple of rehearsals, and we have
this great cinematographer who kind of does like a gorilla
filmmaking style, so he'll just stay with us, stay with
the performers as we go through it. We're gonna go
through it kind of like chronologically, not it's not like
(18:46):
not like a one er or anything. But maybe kind
of similar, Like we're going to perform each scene in
chronological order a couple of times. I've never worked like
that before. I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
That sounds so great. I can't wait to check those out. Honest,
that really sounds like so much fun. Is there anything
else that you want to share with us?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
A lot of us have our fingers crossed that there
will be an announcement soon about season three of The Recruits,
so we're all very excited. We're in the group chat
being like, oh my gosh. So yeah, I think it'll
be really interesting if it does happen, because Owen has
sort of he's gone rogue. He doesn't really work for
(19:27):
the CIA anymore and is not being protected by the
CIA CIA. So I think the show could go in
a really different, interesting direction. And I'm really curious to
see what the creators have in store. I know that
they have a season three thought out, so yeah, just
waiting for that. I'm excited to see if that happens.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I mean, the cliffhangers on that show are intense. I
hate cliffhangers, and they always this one's always leaving me
in anxiety, especially the end of season two. Like I
like shut it off.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
I was like, go away.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
But that leaves a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Yeah, a lot of fun room for season three.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
All right, well I'm so excited. Thank you so much
for chatting with me today. This was so great.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Yeah, it was really fun.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
That's it for today's episode. Huge thanks to Kayla Xander
Nunez for such a thoughtful, funny, and real conversation. Go
stream The Recruit season two on Netflix if you haven't yet,
and if you have, just know that we're all screaming
into the same Netflix void waiting for season three. If
you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe anywhere you
watch or listen to podcasts, and follow us at Pride
(20:44):
on social media to stay in touch until next time.
Stay loud, stay proud, and please bring back video stores please.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Okay bye? Do you get to give it
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