July 8, 2025 • 43 mins
This week, Tommy is joined by David Iacono, who is currently starring in “Jurassic World Rebirth.” The film has become one of the biggest movie releases of the year. When he’s not dodging terrifying dinosaurs, you may have seen David in "Dead Boy Detectives," "Fear Street: Prom Queen" and the fan-favorite series, “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” Today, David opens up about never-before-told stories from his time filming the latest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise (like that random FaceTime from Steven Spielberg while on set in Thailand), having to drown in one of his most heart-racing scenes, and what filming with dinosaurs - what he calls “tennis balls on sticks” - is really like. We also celebrate his character Cam on “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and find out if he is Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, what he has learned about himself through playing Cam, and that epic cast group chat. And David shares so much more that you won’t hear anywhere else, including something powerful that he has never said before.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey guys, welcome to I've never said this before with
me Tommy Di dario Q, that iconic Jurassic Park theme song,
one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever made.
Thanks to John Williams the King, because today my guest
is taking us to the Land of Dinosaurs. David Aicano
(00:21):
stars in Jurassic World Rebirth, one of the most highly
anticipated films of the summer, which is out right now.
You also know and love David from dead Boy, Detectives,
Fear Street, prom Queen, and the fan favorite series The
Summer I Turn Pretty, which is wrapping up its final
season when it premieres July sixteenth. I am so impressed
by not only the immense talent that David has, but
(00:43):
by what a grounded and kind and thoughtful person he is.
His answer to what he has never said before, it's
something that we can all apply and really take to heart.
And in this conversation we really get a behind the
scenes look into some of his beloved roles and you'll
find out what happened on that surprise FaceTime with Steven
Spielberg one night during filming Jurassic World. Oh, and Summer
(01:06):
I Turn Pretty fans, is he team Conrad or Team Jeremiah.
So let's see if we can get David to say
something that he has never said before. David, my friend,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
I am fantastic. It's nice to see you in a
temperature controlled room.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh, we got some comfy chairs in air conditioning.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
There we go. We met obviously at the premiere for
Jurassic World. We were sweating our butts off, indeed, So
I'm happy to be here with you and not suffering.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Dude, mind, my budd is still in Texas.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, good, happy to know that, Happy to know that.
Thank you so much. Well, well, welcome. I am super
psyched for you you have. I mean, what a moment
it is for you. Man. You were in two of
the hottest projects of the summer, right, obviously, Jurassic World Rebirth,
which is out now, and the Summer I Turn Pretty,
which is coming out. So I mean, have you slept?
Do you need a vacation? Do you want me to
(01:59):
like cook you chicken cut? Let's say you can relax
and enjoy, like, are you okay if.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You're open to cooking me chicken cut? It's I'm so down? Okay, good,
let's exchange information like a time and place and I'm
down Chicken Coultors in a while. Yeah, I'm okay, I'm
sleeping as much as possible. I'm just trying to keep breathing,
and I'm trying to be as present as possible and
like soak it all in for what it is, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's a lot right now for you.
But all good, It's great.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
No, I'm so grateful. Man. It's like, especially Jurassic I
just feel like I've I don't know, it's just such
a beautiful, like legacy to have joined, you know what
I mean. It's like film history. It's it's Bielberg in
the nineties. Like, yeah, you can't answer anymore.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So, well, what's cool about you is you're in two
projects that have these kind of built in fandoms, right,
obviously Jurassic Park and the summer I Turn Pretty was
based off a very successful book series. So do you
just have no fear stepping into work now, like, cause
you're you're going to these jobs that you know, people
are very passionate about the medium, and they they have
opinions already and and here you are now stepping into them.
(03:02):
Do you just not have any kind of concerns or
anxieties anymore because you've done it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I have all of the anxiety and concerns in the world.
So it's a good question, though, I feel like, nah,
that's a great question. I did this movie called Cinnamon
like a couple of years ago, and that was like
the first thing in a really long time that didn't
have a fan base to like step into and for
you know, a huge audience to feel like I had
to do justice too and make proud. It's a really
(03:28):
good question. I think I've taken it for granted a
little bit, like I don't know. I think with Jurassic
it didn't feel that way as much as like it
did for the Summer I Turned Pretty, because the fans
of the Summer I Turn Pretty are so invested and
so dedicated to, you know, seeing their expectations come to
life on screen. But with this new Jurassic World, it
(03:50):
feels like such a return to form and it's still
its very own original story and plot, so it felt
like we had a little more freedom. I didn't feel like,
you know, nobody knows who Exavier is yet, you know,
So that's why it felt like I was excited to
show people who he was as opposed to feeling like
I had to impress or live up to a certain expectation.
(04:12):
I am looking forward to doing a project where I
feel like there is no expectation whatsoever and just kind
of building it from the ground up. But I felt
that way for Jurassic.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Well, yeah, because it is an original character, Yeah, which
is pretty cool. So for that project, you get this call,
you have an audition. What is auditioning for a dinosaur
themed project? Like, do you like fake that there's a
dinosaur on screen with you?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yeah? I had a friend of mine come in and like,
do like a velocirate? Like it was. I think the
best thing about Jurassic the Originals and this New One
Rebirth is that they make you care a lot about
the people in it and not just the dinosaurs. I
think that's a really hard task to accomplish, especially because
you know people are coming for the dinosaurs, but hopefully
(04:56):
when they leave, they leave come for the dinosaurs, stay
for the characters and their relationships. So that being said,
the audition it was just you know, it was it
was like just a quick scene that I have with
Manuel's character Rubin, who plays my girlfriend's dad in the movie.
I think it was that scene. I think both of
my audition scenes were with his character, and that's the
(05:18):
meat of who Xavier is and what his arc in
the movie is. You know, they're definitely running from dinosaurs
the entire time, and survival is a priority, but at
the same time, this family is actually dealing with regular,
regular family stuff, you know, and Xavier is dealing with
his own insecurity and his relationship with Teresa, and he's
(05:39):
not really sure why she's with him, and he loves
her so much. So Yeah, the audition itself was just that.
It was just, you know, kind of meat and potatoes.
I'm putting all my attention on my scene partner and
not worrying about the dinosaurs, and then when I showed up,
that was a whole other adventure that as an actor,
I went on.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Yeah, and did you know what a big part you
were going to be in this film prior to nailing
the role or was that kind of a surprise.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thank you? I think it was a little bit of
a surprise. I wanted Exavier to feel like a breath
of fresh air for people because the stakes are so
high the whole time. Obviously you're running from this huge,
majestic imminent threat. And also Scarlet's character and Myhrschel's character,
and Johnny's character, and even Rupert's character that whole side
(06:28):
of the movie, they are all dealing with their own
painful stakes in their own lives respectively, in addition to
the dinosaurs. I think it's really it's a really interesting
approach that David Kep had to the characters in this movie,
where those guys are all kind of at the end
of their their rope when it comes to their own
personal lives. Like Johnny's character, Henry Loomis, Scarlet's character says
(06:53):
it in the movie, He's like specializing in in this
study that nobody really cares about in this universe anymore.
People are kind of sick of Diynash at the beginning
of this movie, and then Scarlet's character has her own
grievances with her job, and so does Mahershela. So that
being said, I wanted Xavier to every time he was
on screen for people to laugh and to feel some
(07:15):
type of levity, and I think I accomplished that. And
so while we were on set, I was trying to
improve as much as possible. Gareth was so open to, like,
you know, just keeping Exaviers anytime Exavier's on screen to
make it feel alive and bubbly and sarcastic and witty
and dry. And he was so open to it. He
(07:36):
was like, you know, fool around and if it doesn't work,
we'll cut it. Yeah, and if you're doing too much,
I'll pull you back. So yeah. So I was happy
with how how much Gareth trusted me and how much
of that actually ended up making it in the movie.
I didn't think it would. Wow, it's a pleasant surprise.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, Oh that's awesome. We'll testament to the work you did. Obviously,
if it was garbage, it'd be like cut you know
what I mean. So I guess you're pretty good at
what you do. Well, we'll say that. Do you think
this installment is the scariest in the entire franchise? How
would you rank that?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh? Man, I think I don't want to be disrespectful
to the original because I love it so much and
it's so beloved and it is so scary. I think
rebirths I'll say it's just as scary as Jurassic Park one.
I genuinely believe that I think, especially because the past
couple Jurassic Worlds kind of focused, they just had a
(08:29):
different approach to I think dinosaurs in this universe, Yeah,
you know, they're in captivity. There is a Jurassic World
that the theme park is successful, whereas in the original
it wasn't, And now in this one there is no
theme park. It is just the wild. So I just
think circumstantially, the stakes and the situations that our characters
(08:50):
are put in this one are horrifying. And it's fight
or flight, and that was the case in the original
as well. And it's a small group of people. It's
not like you know, you have this, you know in
the Jurassic World trilogy before this, there's kids running around,
There's there's nannies running around, there's parents running around. This
is just a small group of people. And even and
(09:12):
even within that the Delgado family and Xavier or even
smaller group of people that are really not supposed to
be there, yeah, and just end up there by circumstance
and by coincidence. So because of that, I think the
stakes are way higher and I think it's genuinely, genuinely
a terrifying movie. So I'll say it's as scary as
Jurassic Park.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
It does feel like a return to the original. I
have to say, out of all of them, I feel like,
and this is the seventh film, it does feel the
most like the original.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Good. I'm glad. Yeah, that was very intentional, and they
brought David Kep back. Yeah, and Gareth is such like
a Spielberg fan, I think so. I think he'd be
very happy to hear you say that.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
So what was the most exciting part for you in
filming this movie, Like, was there a scene or a
moment where you kind of shot it and then afterwards
were like, I cannot believe I'm here doing a Jurassic
Park film. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Man, I had a couple of those moments. I think
the one that comes to mind is there's this scene
in the movie where I'm trapped inside of this cabin
in the boat and the door won't open, and there's
a Mozzel sore right around literally right outside of the door,
and there's spiney saurs. And we really did it practically
(10:18):
like they threw me in the It was on a
tank in Malta and it was very secure and safe.
We had a great stunt team, great marine team with
us like the whole time, but they really put me
in the cabin. They had water filling up while I
was in there, and it was so cluster phobia. It
was a really small space, and there was all these
props floating around in there with me, and it was
just me, the cameraman and a marine or I don't
(10:41):
know if he's an actual marine, but he had marine training.
And I was in there and it was filling, feeling filling,
and then it filled all the way to the top
and I was underwater and I literally had to move
over to the door and kick my way out.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I have such anxiety hearing you talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
It was terrifying, but it was so I was like,
I can't believe that I actually feel safe right now,
Like I'm on a set where they have so much
money and they have so much effort being poured into
every single detail that I actually feel okay. My heart
was racing for the sake of the scene, and you know,
I knew that if anything went wrong, I had this
(11:15):
scuba diver right next to me, and I could take
his scuba tank and breathe underwater if I had to.
But it was in that moment where I just felt like,
I can't believe I have the luxury of practically almost drowning, right,
And I think in the movie you feel that sense
of claustrophobia. So that was probably the first moment where
(11:35):
I was like, Wow, man, I'm really I'm really here
right now.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
My god, you just describe my worst nightmare. I am
so claustrophobic. I don't know how you do it, but
I guess it helps the scene, too, right. I mean,
it's obviously your acting, but it doesn't hurt to be
in these high circumstances where you really have to sink
or swim.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
No, I mean really, yeah, that's what I'm just That's
what I'm saying. It was like such a luxury to
just be able to focus on, like this work, as
opposed to being like, Okay, I'm drowning. Let me imagine
that I'm drowning. How would I feel because you're pouring
water into this cabin while I was there.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
That's wild. That's wild is filming with dinosaurs in whatever
form that they are in, as you're filming as weird
and wild as I may think it seems because they're
not there obviously, unless there's a secret you want to
share today. But you know, I would assume, what is it?
Like a stick with tennis balls or.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
On it?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
And you just have to seem terrified.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
So what do you think of when you're looking at
two tennis balls on a stick?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I mean, I guess I felt like it's funny you ask.
I remember being very jarred by that at first, because
my first day, I don't know it was my first
scene or my second scene. Was my first day on
the job, I had to interact with a mutadon, which
is like this hybrid gross cross breed of a velociraptor
and a pterodactyl, and it was not there. It was
(13:00):
a tennis ball on a stick. And I was very
thrown thrown by just it seemed like such a difficult task.
But in the moment, my saving grace was that I
used to have this dream where I was swimming in
the water in like a lake somewhere and snakes and
eels were like pulling at my feet recurring nightmare I had.
(13:21):
And I also had this other dream where I was
like locked in a cage with a tiger, and so
I literally I tried to just tap into that feeling
that innate. I think it's a very human feeling. It's
a very fight or flight feeling of being trapped in
a corner and your instincts kick in. So I just
tried to tap into that, you know. I tried to
(13:42):
tap into these like crazy nightmares that I would have
about animals. And yeah, I also think it's a lot
about like breath work. Like I feel like, once you
really get the lungs going in those moments, it kind
of triggers that same fight or flight feeling, and the
rest is just up to the camera work, you know.
And and the writing really served me very well. But yeah,
(14:06):
at the end of the day, it is just a
tennis ball and a stick. And if somebody, like if
an alien came then didn't know what acting was or
what films were, they'd be like, yo, what are you? Like?
Are you okay? That is a ball? See that's probably
a site for sore eyes. But I loved it.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
That's incredible. That's incredible. One of my favorite things up
to this point of this interview, by the way, is
hearing you say every single dinosaur name and how you
pronounce it, Like, how in the world you nailed that.
If I was given all these names, I'd be a mess.
I can barely say my own name. How do you
do that?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I take a lot of pride hit the.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Chlorosaurus, like all the things you're saying, Oh, that's not
one I tried. I tried. Did it take a while
for you to learn all of that?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
You just hear it once you're like, got it?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Bro Definitely not, definitely not. I read the script more
than once, and I think I really wanted to familiarize
myself with that as much as possible, because that's that's
the bread and butter of the movie. We obviously that
people are coming to see the dinosaurs, and I don't know,
I feel like when I was a kid, like I
loved I feel like we all loved Dinaosta when we
were younger. But I don't know. I'm kind of a
(15:09):
know it all in in in my every day so
I feel like it's important to me to get them
right or my pride and ego will be bruised. And
also I'm reading the book right now, and I think
that's also like something that's have you read it?
Speaker 1 (15:23):
It's like off and on. I need to like really
debt a kid to it. I mean it's a big,
fat but yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Dude, no, totally. It is intense. It's it's gritty and
it's horrific, even compared to the original, which is gritty,
and but yeah, seeing it on the page is like
way easier to like get it in my brain.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Did you get to meet Spielberg?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Not in person, but there was there was one night
where we were in Thailand, which is our first location
that we were filming in. Uh, it was a long
night shoot. We were all exhausted. We were on this
doc like right at the edge of this jungle and
it had to be maybe three four in the morning.
And Frank Marshall, who's an executive producer on the movie,
and he's worked with Spielberg like pretty much since I
(16:12):
feel like the eighties or the seventies, on like almost
every movie he's worked on. Frank was the best. He
was on set every day with us. Spielberg's obviously a
producer on the movie, but I you know, you know,
he's got a bunch of his ow stuff going on.
He felt very involved and Garrett's choices felt very inspired
by him. But I never met him in person until
this one night we were all exhausted, and Frank just
came up out of nowhere. I think he could kind
(16:33):
of tell that, like the vibes were really lethargic and
like just kind of trudging along. And so he's like, Hey,
I have somebody that wants to say hi to you.
And then it's Stephen on the phone and FaceTime, like
right in my face, and I was like, oh, I
felt like naked. I was like, hey, how are you.
What's up man? And he was like, I saw your
I saw your audition, I saw your test. Great job.
And I was like, I don't know why I didn't
(16:53):
put two and two together. He's just like this legend.
He's like this myth of a filmmaker. So I dip beforehand.
I didn't feel like he actually saw me or like
had to say yes to me. So in that moment,
I was like, Wow, I got the stamp of approval
from spielwork and he just said it to me in
my face. And that's a moment. I in the moment,
it happened so fast and I was like, oh, yeah,
(17:14):
it's just Stephen. But the next day I was like,
did that was that a dream? Did that really happen?
And it did, and he seems so lovely and involved. Yeah,
there's nuts.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Did the theme song to Jurassic Park just start playing
in your head? Like, did you feel like it was
surrounding you? John Williams just popped up and you heard
this the orchestra?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah. I thinks Silberg kind of just plays it with
him wherever he goes, Like I think he keeps a
speaker in his pocket and naturally like letting it run.
So I don't know if it was real or fake,
but it totally did.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
That's amazing. That's amazing. I love hearing that. And you're right,
he chose you, like Steven Spielberg chose you. Let that
sink in for the rest of your life.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, right, true, it will never make sense to me.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
That's so Badass's bass, that's so bad ass. Well, the
movie is out and I assume a lot of people
listening have seen the movie. So my last question around
Jurassic World Rebirth, which is out now, is what for
you is one of your favorite scenes of yours or
not yours in the entire movie? That might be a spoiler.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah, I mean, I don't want to give a good
answer because I know a lot of people are anticipating
the t Rex River ref scene because that was in
the original book, and people are very excited about it.
That's probably one of my favorite scenes in the movie.
But I want to say something better. There's a moment
where there's a moment on the boat where like the
(18:36):
Special Ops team, like Scarlett, Johnny, Oursal, all of them,
they pick us up, they rescue us from being attacked
by mosesar on our sailboat. We're all on the boat together,
and then the boat gets attacked again by Malssor and
I can spoil it right.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
It's yeah, yeah, spoiler alert everybody.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Spoiler alert please, It's like my favorite part of the movie.
But my girlfriend played by Luna Blaze, her name is
Teresa in the movie, she falls overboard and my character
actually gets to like jump off the boat after her,
and it's the first up until that point, you're not
really sure about this guy. He's very annoying and like sarcastic,
and her father doesn't get along with him at all,
(19:14):
and he's funny, but you're not really sure about his intentions.
And I feel like a lot of people are probably like,
this is the dude that's gonna get eat first, like,
for sure, right, But I think Xavier exceeds a lot
of people's expectations. He exceeded my expectations, he exceeds Reuben's
expectations in the movie, and he jumps off after And
I remember reading it in the script because, like I said,
Exavier's character is so chatty and so mouthy for a
(19:36):
majority of his time on screen. But I remember reading
that moment in script and I wanted him to say
nothing because I think originally he just yells like Teresa
and then jumps off after her. But I wanted this
moment in the movie to be the only movie or
the only moment where he doesn't say anything because it
felt so special and she's so important to him, and
this is the first it's almost his most vulnerable moment
(19:57):
because this person that he cares about, maybe more then
he cares about himself, is in danger. So it's a
it's a split second decision. He's like, no question, I'm
jumping in after her. And that's why I just felt
like a heroic moment and I love that stuff. And
it got a really big cheer when we watched it
in New York in London. Uh, I just think you know,
the Brits are a little more timid and reserve right
(20:19):
to Larry ecss, But in New York they cheered so
loud when he when my character dives off, and it
was so rewarding and like cathartic, and I dreamed about
having moments like that when I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Your big hero moment. Yeah, your big hero moment.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Look at that.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That's that's amazing. Well, you are killing it in one
of the hottest blockbusters of the entire summer, which is
just so damn cool, and people have been waiting for
this movie to come out. They're also waiting for the summer.
I turned pretty final season was that weird wrapping up
a part of your life that's that's just been there
for so long. Like, do you grieve when something like
that ends, Stuart? Do you just kind of move on?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
That was an interesting experience for me because, you know,
Can as a character resonated with so many people in
a way that surprised me, And I think that surprised
Jenny Hahn, the creator of the show. I wasn't even
really meant. I don't think initially she intended me to
be even in the second season, because in the books.
(21:16):
My character's only in the first book, and then he's
like mentioned in the second book, and like not at
all in the third book. So I fa thought I
was even in season two felt like a bonus experience,
Like it almost felt like I wasn't supposed to be
but because everyone loved him so much, I was happy
to be there. So it didn't really feel like grief,
to be honest with you, I felt like maybe I
(21:38):
grief the experience. I grieve the experience, and I made
like the best friends that some of the best friends
that I have right now are because of that show.
My roommate is because of that show. I went to
high school with some people in that show, and you know,
it just felt like really serendipitous. So if there's any
grief involved, it is that of just not being able
(22:01):
to go to set with those guys every day. Yeah,
God willing I do it again with them on a
different project. But it's just such a special time capsule
in my life.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's so cool that you're also tight, right, And yeah,
you went to high school with.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Lola and Sean as well, who plays her brother. Oh
no way, Yeah, he was two years older than us.
In New York Gardia, okay, which is right across the
street from Lincoln Center, which is where we work for
the Jurassic premiere the other day.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Such a full circle.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
And your roommates with Chris No, no, Sean, Oh, with Sean.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
I don't know if I should say that. Nobody's gonna like.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
No, we don't know where. It's fine, It's fine. That's
really cool. I love hearing that because when you see
such a tight knit group on screen, you hope that
that translates to off screen, and it doesn't always, as
you know, and as I know, you know, it's work
and you hope that you are cool with your colleagues.
But when you really have that bond, I imagine it
just makes the process so much better totally, especially working
long hours and doing all of that.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Absolutely Yeah, being able to like goofle off in between
takes and or even not talk to each other in
between takes. Like I know, person sometimes I feel like, I,
you know, if I'm if I'm at work and we're
in between setups or something, I need to like still
be entertaining, Yeah, still be on. But it's really nice
when you're close with people to know that you don't
have to and they don't care. Yeah, and I don't
(23:12):
care and we can just chill on the best Yeah,
I mean just be on our phone.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
So that's a sign of a true friendship. So yeah,
when you don't have to be on totally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, Like moments of silence are not awkward with any.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Of those Yeah. So oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Well.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Cam is a fan favorite. He's you know, he's he's
sweet and endearing and just a good guy. Like he's
just a good guy. Right, So from season one to now,
what would you say you learned about yourself through playing Cam.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It's a great question. I've always said that I admire
even from the first season. He's kind of like a
character in that show that I think is an anchor
for a lot of people. He's he goes through changes,
of course, but I think he's the most constant out
of anybody in the show. And so he's always been
even in season one when he was like seventeen sixteen seventeen,
(23:57):
he was confident in his works and his awkward nature
and his his mess ups, and I think that's why
people kind of fell in love with him. I think
he's very relatable to a lot of fans, and if anything,
I feel as if that's taught me to be the
same way. You know, I'm a very heavy person. I'm
very in my head a lot, and he is too,
(24:19):
but he's proud of it and he uses it to
his advantage. And I think it's why Belly takes a
liking to him in the first season and he sticks
around in the second season and hangs out with everybody
still because he's just relatable. So yeah, I think, if anything,
just to let your freak flag fly and be proud
of it.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
You know, do you know people still there? There is
a group of people who still were hoping you and
Belly would have worked out, like they exist, Like, yeah,
people are Team Jeremiah and so you can comrade, but
there are people who are, like, oh, Team Cam would
have been great, right, That must feel cool?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Feels great? Man, I don't know if I like what
people root for characters that I play.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, that's great. Well, that begs the question Team Jeremiah
or a Team Conrad. Man, you're trying to get me
in some terrible I don't know what's say.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I'll say team Cama. It has to be Team Camp.
I will never jump off of that boat. I love
both of those guys so much. They're both like such
good friends of mine. They would both be very upset
with me if I said want it not.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So you're saying season three, the plot twist is it's
team Cam.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
It's team Cam Cam Mary's belly. They ride off into
the sunset on a horse.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Can you imagine it? Can you imagine that build up?
And then that happens.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Yeah, he's so many, I think, very small people that
were like yes, and then ninety percent of the orders
to be like are we serious? Is that really ending?
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah? All right, well, stranger things have happened. We'll see
never say never. So what are you most excited for
people to see regarding your character?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
I don't know, man, I don't want to. I don't
I really don't want to give too much away. Okay,
all right, it's it's people will be excited nonetheless, And
I think Jenny did a really good job of like
putting a bowl on everything.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Well that's what I was gonna say without saying anything.
Do you think people will be happy with how it ends?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I think so?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I think I think everybody on that show treats it
with like a lot of respect, and they care about
their characters, and Jenny cares like this shows her baby,
you know, she cares so much about it. So regardless
of like what team anybody is on or anything like that,
I think everyone will be very satisfied where each character
ends up for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Would you say this project is the one that kind
of changed your life the most?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Totally?
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Absolutely. I mean I owe so much to that show.
Like I just told you, I have so many you
know what I feel like, are lifelong friends from it.
It gave me like a really really wonderful following and
so nice to be like walking down the street and
for people to be like, hey, man, what's up. I
love your work? You know that? That is so you know,
(26:47):
as an actor, it's it's great to get validation like that,
you know. It's I think it's most important to feel
confident in your own work and feel validated, you know,
by yourself. But it's definitely a plus to be it's
my home, it's my home city, it's my hometown. To
be just walking down the street and people, I really,
I really what you did really resonate with me. That's
all that matters. So yeah, I mean it put me
(27:11):
on the map, I think, and I learned a lot. Yeah,
I love that show and other of those people.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Well, and what's so cool is, and I was kind
of alluding to this earlier, is you're you stepped into
a very popular franchise that has it built in fandom,
and you brought this character to life in a way
that makes those original fans and an entire new fan
base love your work, which isn't always easy to do,
Like when people have an idea of what a character
should be or who they are, it could be a
(27:35):
lot of pressure, right, and and I feel like everyone
in this cast has really kind of rose to that
occasion and created something that everybody's so happy with. Yeah
it's not easy.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
No, no, it's not. And I think it's just a
testament to you know, Jenny's like love for the show
and also also the every actor and it loves their
character so much. It's definitely something to be proud of.
And it feels kind of like, I don't know, like
I remember like Alson's Creek was on TV, or like
Gossip Girl, like you know what I mean. I feel
(28:04):
like you were too young for those absolutely too young
for those I did not watch them. But that being said,
that's kind of what I'm alluding to now. I feel like,
looking back on them, there's such classics, and yeah, I
don't want to you know, toot the show's own horn
too much, but I feel like, you know, in that space,
it's definitely a very beautiful addition to that genre. And
I think in years from now, it'll be really nice
to see people like looking back fondly on it.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Oh hundred percent. I mean people are literally heartbroken there's
no season for it. I Like I'm already seeing comments
all over social media like maybe just maybe there's a way,
and I'm like, I think the story is kind of
wrapped up in the three seasons.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, I think there's something really respectable too about you know,
not doing anymore than is necessary and like just serving
the characters in this story in a you know, respectful way.
I crazy reference right now, but I liked that they
did that with Breaking Bad, Like that's one of my
favorite time and like when they ended it, they didn't
(28:59):
have to, but it felt really right for the story.
And as an artist, I think that is a very
just humble and grounded way of approaching concluding a series.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Have you had an epic wrap party. Yet with the cast,
have you all celebrated?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
We see each other a lot, Yeah, like we just
hang there was I don't think there was any like
specific time where we all did that, but we hang
out a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
That must be a really fun group chat.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's a cool group.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I'm not big on group chats myself, but that must
be a fun one fun with.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
They're all idiots, like everybody just says the dumbest thing.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Is do you have to hit the mute button sometimes?
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Absolutely each other by being stupid?
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Oh that's amazing. Season three is out July sixteenth, Yes,
sorry July sixteenth. Man, Like I said, busy and book?
Do you ever just stop sometimes and think that, like
my god, I've accomplished so much at such a young age,
Like where do I go next? Like have you ever
dreamed you'd be right here in this moment in time?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I mean, I think it'd be arrogant to say, yes,
I do think that. You know, this is all I
ever saw myself doing. I never, really, you know, never
wanted to be like a lawyer or a doctor or
anything like that, far more respectable jobs than what I do.
But now I never saw myself doing anything else. So
(30:18):
the fact that it's happening, it feels right. You know,
I'm happy to have arrived here so quickly, Like you know,
I've been working for a long time, but I'm twenty
three years old, so you know, I hopefully God willn't
have a long career ahead of me. But there's definitely
a lot of pinch me moments, man, and the pinching
never works. I never wake up, which is a welcome surprise,
(30:40):
and especially with your esset coming out, like just to
like I said earlier, be a part of something that
has left such a lasting impression on film lovers and
movie watchers and just even not sentophiles. It's such a
like it could even just be a casual movie watcher.
Everybody loves Jurassic Pork. So the fact that in this
timeline I am a part of that franchise, it doesn't
(31:03):
make any sense to me, but I'm endlessly grateful.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Well that gratitude will carry you through an entire you know,
four more decades of doing this right, like it really will.
And you're great at what you do, and it's awesome
that you're building such a name for yourself in ways
that people dream of man, I mean, people dream about it,
so it's awesome. Do you think there's room for another
Jurassic movie? I? Oh, man, ude, have you heard any rumblings?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
I know, like not really. I mean they don't, you know,
I don't think. I'm not sure if they know. To
be honest with you, I mean, I'm sure somebody knows.
But I spoke to David Kept, the writer at the
premiere the other night, and he's just really really happy
to be back working for this franchise specifically. He didn't
say anything about, you know, any potential movies, but it
(31:51):
does seem like he's very, very happy to be home
because he was so young when he wrote the first
one and then it took all for him. So I
can only imagine how he feels like coming back to
this place that you know, launch padded his career into stardom.
So if that's any you know, representation of where it
could go, I think he's excited. I'm put me in
(32:13):
four more of these, Dude. I had so much fun,
so I would love to.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
All Right, anything can happen, right, Yeah, anything can happen.
What also strikes me at your point in your career
and where you are in life? Is that? Like I said,
I joked earlier when we sat down, like are you okay?
But genuinely, because it's a lot, right, and you're balancing
(32:38):
such a heavy work cycle and career and life right
and friendship and all the things that come with being
a human being, how do you kind of protect your piece?
Like how do you really recenter and tune out noise?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Yes, it's really really good question. I'm still trying to
figure it out. I think what I have learned is
that I think for a while getting kind of vulnerable here.
But for a while, I my family just growing up
was so important to me, Like that's and they still are.
But for a while, like when I was a teenager,
in a very kind of teen angsty way, you feel like,
(33:15):
because they're such a big part of who you are,
you need to like escape that a little bit, and
you feel like you can't, or at least I felt
like I couldn't be who I wanted to be or
who I was because they were such a big part
of me. And as I you know, do this huge
big project in the summer, I turn pretty and everything
(33:36):
that I've worked on, I have stumbled upon the realization
that you are I am who I am because of them,
I can still absolutely be my own individual person. You know,
a plant doesn't need to look like the seed, you
know what I mean. So yeah, So that being said,
I lean on them a lot. I love I try
(33:58):
and make as much time as possible them, And they
all live in New York, so it's not too hard.
But just to be able to like hang out and
go eat with them and just turn my brain off
it is such a like cleansing cleansing feeling. So I'd
say family is really important to me. Exercise, of course,
it's like kind of a boring answer, but and I
(34:18):
don't be in the gym, but I love like playing
sports and playing basketball with my friends, and you know,
riding my bike as much as I possibly can. Again,
just anything that like feels like a cleanse and takes
me out of my head and puts me in my body,
that is I think that is really valuable and important.
I'm trying to start meditating to a good friend of mine,
Brian Ultimus, who's also an actor. Him and his girlfriend Gabsafa,
(34:40):
they just started like leading these meditations every every week.
Go check them out. By the way, they're so good
at their job. You can find them on Instagram. So
I'm definitely like interested in starting to work with them
a little bit. They're just good friends of mine. But yeah,
meditation I think is something very interested in as well.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
That's cool that you're really prioritizing your health and your
mental health and your well being, right, because I think
we all have to do that, and it's easy to
lose sight of that. Yeah, especially with these Right, I'm
grabbing my phone, Like, to just not be suctioned to
your phone all the time is a taily battle. It's like,
all right, time to put it down. I'm watching a
show and i don't need to look at my phone
and I'm watching a show like enough, right, And it's
(35:17):
just like we're so programmed to do that. So just
being in your body is so important.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Absolutely, Yeah, and other I think mental stimulants hope as well.
Like I'm reading, like I said, I'm reading the Jurassic
port Book right now, and that alone, just reading, I
think is also something that just to keep me like
intellectually stimulated and like keep my attention span from being
you know, the scroll and kills me. Yeah, it kills me.
So yeah, I totally agree. Keeping Sometimes I try and
(35:42):
leave the house without it and it's like it's hard,
but it feels really rewarding by the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah. Yeah, well I like that you're reading too. I
try to do that. Do you'd like a hard copy
book or a kindle?
Speaker 2 (35:51):
I do? I love a hard copy.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
I know nothing bevizza, you.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
Know what I mean. I totally get the appeal of
a kindle. Yeah, it's easier to carry around.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
It has it's time and place.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Absolutely, I love a good hard book. I know it's
the best. It's the best. It's the best. Well, David,
we are at that portion of the interview where I
wrap up the show with the same question that I
ask everybody, and it's based off the title of the show,
which is called I've Never said this before, And I
created this show name because, as you remember from the premiere,
(36:20):
when I'm doing red carpets or junkets, you get three minutes,
four minutes, five minutes with somebody if you're lucky, and
it just leaves a very little room for genuine real conversation, right,
Like we're trying to get in your bites about the movie,
and we're and it's a lot of the same questions
every outlet wants, right, So I like to bring us
on who feel like they can share something they don't
always get to say whatever that means to you. So,
(36:42):
is there anything you can think of today that you've
never said before that you want to shout out?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah? For sure, Man. I feel like it's a little
bit cliche, but I feel like I've never really said
publicly that I'm proud of my work.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
I mean, I feel like in retrospect when I look
back on stuff like this Somewhere I Turn Pretty and
Dead Boy Detectives and all the other stuff that I've done,
I feel proud looking back on it. But it's really
really difficult for me. I struggle with anxiety and OCD,
so it's really hard for me to I probably never
said that before either, I struggle with anxiety and OCD.
(37:19):
But it's really hard for me to stay as present
as possible and really like appreciate the work that I'm
doing while it's coming out and while it's being perceived.
Because I think as an actor in an industry where
so much of what you do is based upon how
it's received by others, and the validation that others give you.
(37:41):
It can be really hard to not be wired that
way and like to behave and act for the perception
of others and for the approval of others. So I'm trying.
I'm working on it lately, especially with Tressa coming out.
I'm really really trying to not not lean on others
(38:02):
approval of my work so much and and and seek
validation from the audience. It feels nice, and it's it's
a like I said earlier, it's a bonus and it's
a plus. But I think a lot of actors deal
with this. I don't think it's a It's a very
uncommon experience because of the way the industry is built.
So uh yeah, I'm really working on just being proud
(38:23):
of myself for myself, and you know, not relying so
heavily and equating my own value to how others are
valuing me as an actor.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
It's hard to do, right, I mean, especially those little
I can say it's my show. There's little bitches anxiety
and OCD when they want to creep in. I mean,
it just tells you a completely different story than what's
actually real, right, I Mean, how do you kind of
push through that and not let that just cripple you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
I think for a while I was trying so hard
to ignore it and run away from it and do
things that would just wrack myself from it. But you know,
through therapy and and through just experience, I've learned that
the more kind of healthy way to approach that is
just sitting with it. And you know, so what if
(39:14):
it's true? You know, so what if these lies that
I'm telling myself for true? So what if I if
I'm telling myself that I'm nothing without people's and audience
watching me. Okay, so what if that's true? Then what
And you sit with it? And I think that makes
it way less scary of a monster to tackle, because
eventually your brain's just gonna get bored of it and
be like, Okay, foe, this isn't working, you know what
(39:36):
I mean, he's not believing it or he is believing
it and and and nothing's happening. So let's move on.
You know. I think that's a that's just a way
that I have. It's hard, Don't get me wrong, I
don't do it well every day. But that's another thing
I think I've learned is that it's it's not. It
doesn't have to be linear, right, every day can be
different and that's okay. You don't have to be on
(39:56):
all the time and and uh breaking with that all
the time, and that's okay. So yeah, just being able
to sit with it and knowing that it's a shared
experience and being able to talk to you about it,
I think makes me feel really good. And I think
I have felt good in the past because I've heard
other people talk about it. So I think just being
as open as possible and vulnerable and the whole, you know,
(40:19):
crux of your show, I think is really respectable and
I think it's you know, I think it's important.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
So thank you, man, I appreciate it. It's truly. I believe
we have so much more in common than we let on,
and I think a lot of that is due to
social media. I love me some social media, but like
we all put up the highlight reels, right, and we
all go through a lot more than just that. So
I like bringing people on who whatever that question means
to them, they can share something that they feel like
(40:43):
they've never said, or they want to help or pay
it forward or whatever. So I think that's back to you,
a very respectable thing for you to bring up and share,
because I know a lot of people listening are going
to say, oh my god, I go through that And
look at David. He looks like he's the king of
the world right now, but he also goes through this shit.
So that's I think one of the most human, beautiful
things that we can talk about. So I really love that.
(41:05):
And the last thing I'll say about that, too is
I think a lot of us struggle with saying we're
proud of the work we do. I guarantee everyone in
this room has had moments of that what I started
doing not too long ago. With certain friends who are
maybe like a little more woo wooy like I am.
We'll just like randomly text each other throughout the course
of the year and be like, you know what, I'm
really proud of myself because of X, Y and Z,
and I just want to text you telling you that
(41:26):
I am so proud of myself and it really makes
you feel good. And then like I'll get that from
a friend three months later and it's just like, oh Okay,
it's like a good reminder to stop and take notice
and give yourself props and not rely on other people
all the time, right, totally.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
No. I love that. I thought you were gonna say,
which is also valid. But I thought you were going
to say, you guys text each other, how proud of
each other you are, which again that's so important to
like have it. Yeah, that too, but it doesn't do
it for me. Yeah, because in my brain, I'm like,
they're lying, you know what I mean? Yeaheah, you know,
so I really really I'm gonna start doing that.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Start doing it. Yeah, And even if you don't fully
believe it, just put it out there and then you'll
trick yourself and believe it, you know. Like it's like
you said, you kind of just quiet that voice, which
I think is so cool. Oh man, I don't want
this to end. This is too much fun. This is
too much fun. I will say it again. I feel
like we just met. But I love seeing, you know,
artists like yourself who are at the top of their game,
(42:18):
just crushing it and not only doing great work that
I know people love and respond to, but who have
such a good head on their shoulders, and you know,
to see you at this point of your life and
your career with that mentality and mindset makes me know
for sure that you will literally have decades and decades
and decades of work ahead of you in this business.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I appreciate that more than you.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Yeah, I mean it, so thank you for hanging out.
Of course, little bumdy to bring a dinosaur today, but
we'll talk about that later.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
They're too late. Actually, is there one in Rockefeller Center?
Speaker 1 (42:46):
There is? Yeah, there's a massive one. That's true. That's true.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
All right, cool, we'll do take a line easy, we
work together really well.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
Yn't wait, I'll go see later. Jurassic World Rebirth out
now the summer. I turn pretty out July sixteenth until
we meet again, my man, Thank.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
You so much.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
I've Never said this Before is hosted by Me Tommy Dedario.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio
and by Me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've
Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis Duran
podcast network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(43:24):
tell your friends. Until next time. I'm Tommy de Dario
Hey guys, welcome to I've never said this before with
me Tommy Di dario Q, that iconic Jurassic Park theme song,
one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever made.
Thanks to John Williams the King, because today my guest
is taking us to the Land of Dinosaurs. David Aicano
(00:21):
stars in Jurassic World Rebirth, one of the most highly
anticipated films of the summer, which is out right now.
You also know and love David from dead Boy, Detectives,
Fear Street, prom Queen, and the fan favorite series The
Summer I Turn Pretty, which is wrapping up its final
season when it premieres July sixteenth. I am so impressed
by not only the immense talent that David has, but
(00:43):
by what a grounded and kind and thoughtful person he is.
His answer to what he has never said before, it's
something that we can all apply and really take to heart.
And in this conversation we really get a behind the
scenes look into some of his beloved roles and you'll
find out what happened on that surprise FaceTime with Steven
Spielberg one night during filming Jurassic World. Oh, and Summer
(01:06):
I Turn Pretty fans, is he team Conrad or Team Jeremiah.
So let's see if we can get David to say
something that he has never said before. David, my friend,
how you doing today?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
I am fantastic. It's nice to see you in a
temperature controlled room.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh, we got some comfy chairs in air conditioning.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
There we go. We met obviously at the premiere for
Jurassic World. We were sweating our butts off, indeed, So
I'm happy to be here with you and not suffering.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Dude, mind, my budd is still in Texas.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Okay, good, happy to know that, Happy to know that.
Thank you so much. Well, well, welcome. I am super
psyched for you you have. I mean, what a moment
it is for you. Man. You were in two of
the hottest projects of the summer, right, obviously, Jurassic World Rebirth,
which is out now, and the Summer I Turn Pretty,
which is coming out. So I mean, have you slept?
Do you need a vacation? Do you want me to
(01:59):
like cook you chicken cut? Let's say you can relax
and enjoy, like, are you okay if.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
You're open to cooking me chicken cut? It's I'm so down? Okay, good,
let's exchange information like a time and place and I'm
down Chicken Coultors in a while. Yeah, I'm okay, I'm
sleeping as much as possible. I'm just trying to keep breathing,
and I'm trying to be as present as possible and
like soak it all in for what it is, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah, yeah, I mean it's a lot right now for you.
But all good, It's great.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
No, I'm so grateful. Man. It's like, especially Jurassic I
just feel like I've I don't know, it's just such
a beautiful, like legacy to have joined, you know what
I mean. It's like film history. It's it's Bielberg in
the nineties. Like, yeah, you can't answer anymore.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
So, well, what's cool about you is you're in two
projects that have these kind of built in fandoms, right,
obviously Jurassic Park and the summer I Turn Pretty was
based off a very successful book series. So do you
just have no fear stepping into work now, like, cause
you're you're going to these jobs that you know, people
are very passionate about the medium, and they they have
opinions already and and here you are now stepping into them.
(03:02):
Do you just not have any kind of concerns or
anxieties anymore because you've done it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I have all of the anxiety and concerns in the world.
So it's a good question, though, I feel like, nah,
that's a great question. I did this movie called Cinnamon
like a couple of years ago, and that was like
the first thing in a really long time that didn't
have a fan base to like step into and for
you know, a huge audience to feel like I had
to do justice too and make proud. It's a really
(03:28):
good question. I think I've taken it for granted a
little bit, like I don't know. I think with Jurassic
it didn't feel that way as much as like it
did for the Summer I Turned Pretty, because the fans
of the Summer I Turn Pretty are so invested and
so dedicated to, you know, seeing their expectations come to
life on screen. But with this new Jurassic World, it
(03:50):
feels like such a return to form and it's still
its very own original story and plot, so it felt
like we had a little more freedom. I didn't feel like,
you know, nobody knows who Exavier is yet, you know,
So that's why it felt like I was excited to
show people who he was as opposed to feeling like
I had to impress or live up to a certain expectation.
(04:12):
I am looking forward to doing a project where I
feel like there is no expectation whatsoever and just kind
of building it from the ground up. But I felt
that way for Jurassic.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Well, yeah, because it is an original character, Yeah, which
is pretty cool. So for that project, you get this call,
you have an audition. What is auditioning for a dinosaur
themed project? Like, do you like fake that there's a
dinosaur on screen with you?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Yeah? I had a friend of mine come in and like,
do like a velocirate? Like it was. I think the
best thing about Jurassic the Originals and this New One
Rebirth is that they make you care a lot about
the people in it and not just the dinosaurs. I
think that's a really hard task to accomplish, especially because
you know people are coming for the dinosaurs, but hopefully
(04:56):
when they leave, they leave come for the dinosaurs, stay
for the characters and their relationships. So that being said,
the audition it was just you know, it was it
was like just a quick scene that I have with
Manuel's character Rubin, who plays my girlfriend's dad in the movie.
I think it was that scene. I think both of
my audition scenes were with his character, and that's the
(05:18):
meat of who Xavier is and what his arc in
the movie is. You know, they're definitely running from dinosaurs
the entire time, and survival is a priority, but at
the same time, this family is actually dealing with regular,
regular family stuff, you know, and Xavier is dealing with
his own insecurity and his relationship with Teresa, and he's
(05:39):
not really sure why she's with him, and he loves
her so much. So Yeah, the audition itself was just that.
It was just, you know, kind of meat and potatoes.
I'm putting all my attention on my scene partner and
not worrying about the dinosaurs, and then when I showed up,
that was a whole other adventure that as an actor,
I went on.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Yeah, and did you know what a big part you
were going to be in this film prior to nailing
the role or was that kind of a surprise.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Thank you? I think it was a little bit of
a surprise. I wanted Exavier to feel like a breath
of fresh air for people because the stakes are so
high the whole time. Obviously you're running from this huge,
majestic imminent threat. And also Scarlet's character and Myhrschel's character,
and Johnny's character, and even Rupert's character that whole side
(06:28):
of the movie, they are all dealing with their own
painful stakes in their own lives respectively, in addition to
the dinosaurs. I think it's really it's a really interesting
approach that David Kep had to the characters in this movie,
where those guys are all kind of at the end
of their their rope when it comes to their own
personal lives. Like Johnny's character, Henry Loomis, Scarlet's character says
(06:53):
it in the movie, He's like specializing in in this
study that nobody really cares about in this universe anymore.
People are kind of sick of Diynash at the beginning
of this movie, and then Scarlet's character has her own
grievances with her job, and so does Mahershela. So that
being said, I wanted Xavier to every time he was
on screen for people to laugh and to feel some
(07:15):
type of levity, and I think I accomplished that. And
so while we were on set, I was trying to
improve as much as possible. Gareth was so open to, like,
you know, just keeping Exaviers anytime Exavier's on screen to
make it feel alive and bubbly and sarcastic and witty
and dry. And he was so open to it. He
(07:36):
was like, you know, fool around and if it doesn't work,
we'll cut it. Yeah, and if you're doing too much,
I'll pull you back. So yeah. So I was happy
with how how much Gareth trusted me and how much
of that actually ended up making it in the movie.
I didn't think it would. Wow, it's a pleasant surprise.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah, Oh that's awesome. We'll testament to the work you did. Obviously,
if it was garbage, it'd be like cut you know
what I mean. So I guess you're pretty good at
what you do. Well, we'll say that. Do you think
this installment is the scariest in the entire franchise? How
would you rank that?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Oh? Man, I think I don't want to be disrespectful
to the original because I love it so much and
it's so beloved and it is so scary. I think
rebirths I'll say it's just as scary as Jurassic Park one.
I genuinely believe that I think, especially because the past
couple Jurassic Worlds kind of focused, they just had a
(08:29):
different approach to I think dinosaurs in this universe, Yeah,
you know, they're in captivity. There is a Jurassic World
that the theme park is successful, whereas in the original
it wasn't, And now in this one there is no
theme park. It is just the wild. So I just
think circumstantially, the stakes and the situations that our characters
(08:50):
are put in this one are horrifying. And it's fight
or flight, and that was the case in the original
as well. And it's a small group of people. It's
not like you know, you have this, you know in
the Jurassic World trilogy before this, there's kids running around,
There's there's nannies running around, there's parents running around. This
is just a small group of people. And even and
(09:12):
even within that the Delgado family and Xavier or even
smaller group of people that are really not supposed to
be there, yeah, and just end up there by circumstance
and by coincidence. So because of that, I think the
stakes are way higher and I think it's genuinely, genuinely
a terrifying movie. So I'll say it's as scary as
Jurassic Park.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
It does feel like a return to the original. I
have to say, out of all of them, I feel like,
and this is the seventh film, it does feel the
most like the original.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Good. I'm glad. Yeah, that was very intentional, and they
brought David Kep back. Yeah, and Gareth is such like
a Spielberg fan, I think so. I think he'd be
very happy to hear you say that.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
So what was the most exciting part for you in
filming this movie, Like, was there a scene or a
moment where you kind of shot it and then afterwards
were like, I cannot believe I'm here doing a Jurassic
Park film. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Man, I had a couple of those moments. I think
the one that comes to mind is there's this scene
in the movie where I'm trapped inside of this cabin
in the boat and the door won't open, and there's
a Mozzel sore right around literally right outside of the door,
and there's spiney saurs. And we really did it practically
(10:18):
like they threw me in the It was on a
tank in Malta and it was very secure and safe.
We had a great stunt team, great marine team with
us like the whole time, but they really put me
in the cabin. They had water filling up while I
was in there, and it was so cluster phobia. It
was a really small space, and there was all these
props floating around in there with me, and it was
just me, the cameraman and a marine or I don't
(10:41):
know if he's an actual marine, but he had marine training.
And I was in there and it was filling, feeling filling,
and then it filled all the way to the top
and I was underwater and I literally had to move
over to the door and kick my way out.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I have such anxiety hearing you talk about that.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
It was terrifying, but it was so I was like,
I can't believe that I actually feel safe right now,
Like I'm on a set where they have so much
money and they have so much effort being poured into
every single detail that I actually feel okay. My heart
was racing for the sake of the scene, and you know,
I knew that if anything went wrong, I had this
(11:15):
scuba diver right next to me, and I could take
his scuba tank and breathe underwater if I had to.
But it was in that moment where I just felt like,
I can't believe I have the luxury of practically almost drowning, right,
And I think in the movie you feel that sense
of claustrophobia. So that was probably the first moment where
(11:35):
I was like, Wow, man, I'm really I'm really here
right now.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
My god, you just describe my worst nightmare. I am
so claustrophobic. I don't know how you do it, but
I guess it helps the scene, too, right. I mean,
it's obviously your acting, but it doesn't hurt to be
in these high circumstances where you really have to sink
or swim.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
No, I mean really, yeah, that's what I'm just That's
what I'm saying. It was like such a luxury to
just be able to focus on, like this work, as
opposed to being like, Okay, I'm drowning. Let me imagine
that I'm drowning. How would I feel because you're pouring
water into this cabin while I was there.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
That's wild. That's wild is filming with dinosaurs in whatever
form that they are in, as you're filming as weird
and wild as I may think it seems because they're
not there obviously, unless there's a secret you want to
share today. But you know, I would assume, what is it?
Like a stick with tennis balls or.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
On it?
Speaker 1 (12:30):
And you just have to seem terrified.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
So what do you think of when you're looking at
two tennis balls on a stick?
Speaker 2 (12:37):
I mean, I guess I felt like it's funny you ask.
I remember being very jarred by that at first, because
my first day, I don't know it was my first
scene or my second scene. Was my first day on
the job, I had to interact with a mutadon, which
is like this hybrid gross cross breed of a velociraptor
and a pterodactyl, and it was not there. It was
(13:00):
a tennis ball on a stick. And I was very
thrown thrown by just it seemed like such a difficult task.
But in the moment, my saving grace was that I
used to have this dream where I was swimming in
the water in like a lake somewhere and snakes and
eels were like pulling at my feet recurring nightmare I had.
(13:21):
And I also had this other dream where I was
like locked in a cage with a tiger, and so
I literally I tried to just tap into that feeling
that innate. I think it's a very human feeling. It's
a very fight or flight feeling of being trapped in
a corner and your instincts kick in. So I just
tried to tap into that, you know. I tried to
(13:42):
tap into these like crazy nightmares that I would have
about animals. And yeah, I also think it's a lot
about like breath work. Like I feel like, once you
really get the lungs going in those moments, it kind
of triggers that same fight or flight feeling, and the
rest is just up to the camera work, you know.
And and the writing really served me very well. But yeah,
(14:06):
at the end of the day, it is just a
tennis ball and a stick. And if somebody, like if
an alien came then didn't know what acting was or
what films were, they'd be like, yo, what are you? Like?
Are you okay? That is a ball? See that's probably
a site for sore eyes. But I loved it.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
That's incredible. That's incredible. One of my favorite things up
to this point of this interview, by the way, is
hearing you say every single dinosaur name and how you
pronounce it, Like, how in the world you nailed that.
If I was given all these names, I'd be a mess.
I can barely say my own name. How do you
do that?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I take a lot of pride hit the.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Chlorosaurus, like all the things you're saying, Oh, that's not
one I tried. I tried. Did it take a while
for you to learn all of that?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
You just hear it once you're like, got it?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Bro Definitely not, definitely not. I read the script more
than once, and I think I really wanted to familiarize
myself with that as much as possible, because that's that's
the bread and butter of the movie. We obviously that
people are coming to see the dinosaurs, and I don't know,
I feel like when I was a kid, like I
loved I feel like we all loved Dinaosta when we
were younger. But I don't know. I'm kind of a
(15:09):
know it all in in in my every day so
I feel like it's important to me to get them
right or my pride and ego will be bruised. And
also I'm reading the book right now, and I think
that's also like something that's have you read it?
Speaker 1 (15:23):
It's like off and on. I need to like really
debt a kid to it. I mean it's a big,
fat but yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Dude, no, totally. It is intense. It's it's gritty and
it's horrific, even compared to the original, which is gritty,
and but yeah, seeing it on the page is like
way easier to like get it in my brain.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Did you get to meet Spielberg?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Not in person, but there was there was one night
where we were in Thailand, which is our first location
that we were filming in. Uh, it was a long
night shoot. We were all exhausted. We were on this
doc like right at the edge of this jungle and
it had to be maybe three four in the morning.
And Frank Marshall, who's an executive producer on the movie,
and he's worked with Spielberg like pretty much since I
(16:12):
feel like the eighties or the seventies, on like almost
every movie he's worked on. Frank was the best. He
was on set every day with us. Spielberg's obviously a
producer on the movie, but I you know, you know,
he's got a bunch of his ow stuff going on.
He felt very involved and Garrett's choices felt very inspired
by him. But I never met him in person until
this one night we were all exhausted, and Frank just
came up out of nowhere. I think he could kind
(16:33):
of tell that, like the vibes were really lethargic and
like just kind of trudging along. And so he's like, Hey,
I have somebody that wants to say hi to you.
And then it's Stephen on the phone and FaceTime, like
right in my face, and I was like, oh, I
felt like naked. I was like, hey, how are you.
What's up man? And he was like, I saw your
I saw your audition, I saw your test. Great job.
And I was like, I don't know why I didn't
(16:53):
put two and two together. He's just like this legend.
He's like this myth of a filmmaker. So I dip beforehand.
I didn't feel like he actually saw me or like
had to say yes to me. So in that moment,
I was like, Wow, I got the stamp of approval
from spielwork and he just said it to me in
my face. And that's a moment. I in the moment,
it happened so fast and I was like, oh, yeah,
(17:14):
it's just Stephen. But the next day I was like,
did that was that a dream? Did that really happen?
And it did, and he seems so lovely and involved. Yeah,
there's nuts.
Speaker 1 (17:23):
Did the theme song to Jurassic Park just start playing
in your head? Like, did you feel like it was
surrounding you? John Williams just popped up and you heard
this the orchestra?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah. I thinks Silberg kind of just plays it with
him wherever he goes, Like I think he keeps a
speaker in his pocket and naturally like letting it run.
So I don't know if it was real or fake,
but it totally did.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
That's amazing. That's amazing. I love hearing that. And you're right,
he chose you, like Steven Spielberg chose you. Let that
sink in for the rest of your life.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, right, true, it will never make sense to me.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
That's so Badass's bass, that's so bad ass. Well, the
movie is out and I assume a lot of people
listening have seen the movie. So my last question around
Jurassic World Rebirth, which is out now, is what for
you is one of your favorite scenes of yours or
not yours in the entire movie? That might be a spoiler.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yeah, I mean, I don't want to give a good
answer because I know a lot of people are anticipating
the t Rex River ref scene because that was in
the original book, and people are very excited about it.
That's probably one of my favorite scenes in the movie.
But I want to say something better. There's a moment
where there's a moment on the boat where like the
(18:36):
Special Ops team, like Scarlett, Johnny, Oursal, all of them,
they pick us up, they rescue us from being attacked
by mosesar on our sailboat. We're all on the boat together,
and then the boat gets attacked again by Malssor and
I can spoil it right.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
It's yeah, yeah, spoiler alert everybody.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Spoiler alert please, It's like my favorite part of the movie.
But my girlfriend played by Luna Blaze, her name is
Teresa in the movie, she falls overboard and my character
actually gets to like jump off the boat after her,
and it's the first up until that point, you're not
really sure about this guy. He's very annoying and like sarcastic,
and her father doesn't get along with him at all,
(19:14):
and he's funny, but you're not really sure about his intentions.
And I feel like a lot of people are probably like,
this is the dude that's gonna get eat first, like,
for sure, right, But I think Xavier exceeds a lot
of people's expectations. He exceeded my expectations, he exceeds Reuben's
expectations in the movie, and he jumps off after And
I remember reading it in the script because, like I said,
Exavier's character is so chatty and so mouthy for a
(19:36):
majority of his time on screen. But I remember reading
that moment in script and I wanted him to say
nothing because I think originally he just yells like Teresa
and then jumps off after her. But I wanted this
moment in the movie to be the only movie or
the only moment where he doesn't say anything because it
felt so special and she's so important to him, and
this is the first it's almost his most vulnerable moment
(19:57):
because this person that he cares about, maybe more then
he cares about himself, is in danger. So it's a
it's a split second decision. He's like, no question, I'm
jumping in after her. And that's why I just felt
like a heroic moment and I love that stuff. And
it got a really big cheer when we watched it
in New York in London. Uh, I just think you know,
the Brits are a little more timid and reserve right
(20:19):
to Larry ecss, But in New York they cheered so
loud when he when my character dives off, and it
was so rewarding and like cathartic, and I dreamed about
having moments like that when I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Your big hero moment. Yeah, your big hero moment.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Look at that.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
That's that's amazing. Well, you are killing it in one
of the hottest blockbusters of the entire summer, which is
just so damn cool, and people have been waiting for
this movie to come out. They're also waiting for the summer.
I turned pretty final season was that weird wrapping up
a part of your life that's that's just been there
for so long. Like, do you grieve when something like
that ends, Stuart? Do you just kind of move on?
Speaker 2 (20:56):
That was an interesting experience for me because, you know,
Can as a character resonated with so many people in
a way that surprised me, And I think that surprised
Jenny Hahn, the creator of the show. I wasn't even
really meant. I don't think initially she intended me to
be even in the second season, because in the books.
(21:16):
My character's only in the first book, and then he's
like mentioned in the second book, and like not at
all in the third book. So I fa thought I
was even in season two felt like a bonus experience,
Like it almost felt like I wasn't supposed to be
but because everyone loved him so much, I was happy
to be there. So it didn't really feel like grief,
to be honest with you, I felt like maybe I
(21:38):
grief the experience. I grieve the experience, and I made
like the best friends that some of the best friends
that I have right now are because of that show.
My roommate is because of that show. I went to
high school with some people in that show, and you know,
it just felt like really serendipitous. So if there's any
grief involved, it is that of just not being able
(22:01):
to go to set with those guys every day. Yeah,
God willing I do it again with them on a
different project. But it's just such a special time capsule
in my life.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
It's so cool that you're also tight, right, And yeah,
you went to high school with.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Lola and Sean as well, who plays her brother. Oh
no way, Yeah, he was two years older than us.
In New York Gardia, okay, which is right across the
street from Lincoln Center, which is where we work for
the Jurassic premiere the other day.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
That's so cool.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Such a full circle.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
And your roommates with Chris No, no, Sean, Oh, with Sean.
Speaker 2 (22:27):
I don't know if I should say that. Nobody's gonna like.
Speaker 1 (22:31):
No, we don't know where. It's fine, It's fine. That's
really cool. I love hearing that because when you see
such a tight knit group on screen, you hope that
that translates to off screen, and it doesn't always, as
you know, and as I know, you know, it's work
and you hope that you are cool with your colleagues.
But when you really have that bond, I imagine it
just makes the process so much better totally, especially working
long hours and doing all of that.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Absolutely Yeah, being able to like goofle off in between
takes and or even not talk to each other in
between takes. Like I know, person sometimes I feel like, I,
you know, if I'm if I'm at work and we're
in between setups or something, I need to like still
be entertaining, Yeah, still be on. But it's really nice
when you're close with people to know that you don't
have to and they don't care. Yeah, and I don't
(23:12):
care and we can just chill on the best Yeah,
I mean just be on our phone.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
So that's a sign of a true friendship. So yeah,
when you don't have to be on totally.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, Like moments of silence are not awkward with any.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Of those Yeah. So oh, I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Well.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Cam is a fan favorite. He's you know, he's he's
sweet and endearing and just a good guy. Like he's
just a good guy. Right, So from season one to now,
what would you say you learned about yourself through playing Cam.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
It's a great question. I've always said that I admire
even from the first season. He's kind of like a
character in that show that I think is an anchor
for a lot of people. He's he goes through changes,
of course, but I think he's the most constant out
of anybody in the show. And so he's always been
even in season one when he was like seventeen sixteen seventeen,
(23:57):
he was confident in his works and his awkward nature
and his his mess ups, and I think that's why
people kind of fell in love with him. I think
he's very relatable to a lot of fans, and if anything,
I feel as if that's taught me to be the
same way. You know, I'm a very heavy person. I'm
very in my head a lot, and he is too,
(24:19):
but he's proud of it and he uses it to
his advantage. And I think it's why Belly takes a
liking to him in the first season and he sticks
around in the second season and hangs out with everybody
still because he's just relatable. So yeah, I think, if anything,
just to let your freak flag fly and be proud
of it.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
You know, do you know people still there? There is
a group of people who still were hoping you and
Belly would have worked out, like they exist, Like, yeah,
people are Team Jeremiah and so you can comrade, but
there are people who are, like, oh, Team Cam would
have been great, right, That must feel cool?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
Feels great? Man, I don't know if I like what
people root for characters that I play.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Yeah, that's great. Well, that begs the question Team Jeremiah
or a Team Conrad. Man, you're trying to get me
in some terrible I don't know what's say.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I'll say team Cama. It has to be Team Camp.
I will never jump off of that boat. I love
both of those guys so much. They're both like such
good friends of mine. They would both be very upset
with me if I said want it not.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
So you're saying season three, the plot twist is it's
team Cam.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
It's team Cam Cam Mary's belly. They ride off into
the sunset on a horse.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Can you imagine it? Can you imagine that build up?
And then that happens.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Yeah, he's so many, I think, very small people that
were like yes, and then ninety percent of the orders
to be like are we serious? Is that really ending?
Speaker 1 (25:34):
Yeah? All right, well, stranger things have happened. We'll see
never say never. So what are you most excited for
people to see regarding your character?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
I don't know, man, I don't want to. I don't
I really don't want to give too much away. Okay,
all right, it's it's people will be excited nonetheless, And
I think Jenny did a really good job of like
putting a bowl on everything.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Well that's what I was gonna say without saying anything.
Do you think people will be happy with how it ends?
Speaker 2 (25:59):
I think so?
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
I think I think everybody on that show treats it
with like a lot of respect, and they care about
their characters, and Jenny cares like this shows her baby,
you know, she cares so much about it. So regardless
of like what team anybody is on or anything like that,
I think everyone will be very satisfied where each character
ends up for sure.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Would you say this project is the one that kind
of changed your life the most?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Totally?
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Absolutely. I mean I owe so much to that show.
Like I just told you, I have so many you
know what I feel like, are lifelong friends from it.
It gave me like a really really wonderful following and
so nice to be like walking down the street and
for people to be like, hey, man, what's up. I
love your work? You know that? That is so you know,
(26:47):
as an actor, it's it's great to get validation like that,
you know. It's I think it's most important to feel
confident in your own work and feel validated, you know,
by yourself. But it's definitely a plus to be it's
my home, it's my home city, it's my hometown. To
be just walking down the street and people, I really,
I really what you did really resonate with me. That's
all that matters. So yeah, I mean it put me
(27:11):
on the map, I think, and I learned a lot. Yeah,
I love that show and other of those people.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
Well, and what's so cool is, and I was kind
of alluding to this earlier, is you're you stepped into
a very popular franchise that has it built in fandom,
and you brought this character to life in a way
that makes those original fans and an entire new fan
base love your work, which isn't always easy to do,
Like when people have an idea of what a character
should be or who they are, it could be a
(27:35):
lot of pressure, right, and and I feel like everyone
in this cast has really kind of rose to that
occasion and created something that everybody's so happy with. Yeah
it's not easy.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
No, no, it's not. And I think it's just a
testament to you know, Jenny's like love for the show
and also also the every actor and it loves their
character so much. It's definitely something to be proud of.
And it feels kind of like, I don't know, like
I remember like Alson's Creek was on TV, or like
Gossip Girl, like you know what I mean. I feel
(28:04):
like you were too young for those absolutely too young
for those I did not watch them. But that being said,
that's kind of what I'm alluding to now. I feel like,
looking back on them, there's such classics, and yeah, I
don't want to you know, toot the show's own horn
too much, but I feel like, you know, in that space,
it's definitely a very beautiful addition to that genre. And
I think in years from now, it'll be really nice
to see people like looking back fondly on it.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
Oh hundred percent. I mean people are literally heartbroken there's
no season for it. I Like I'm already seeing comments
all over social media like maybe just maybe there's a way,
and I'm like, I think the story is kind of
wrapped up in the three seasons.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, I think there's something really respectable too about you know,
not doing anymore than is necessary and like just serving
the characters in this story in a you know, respectful way.
I crazy reference right now, but I liked that they
did that with Breaking Bad, Like that's one of my
favorite time and like when they ended it, they didn't
(28:59):
have to, but it felt really right for the story.
And as an artist, I think that is a very
just humble and grounded way of approaching concluding a series.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Have you had an epic wrap party. Yet with the cast,
have you all celebrated?
Speaker 2 (29:14):
We see each other a lot, Yeah, like we just
hang there was I don't think there was any like
specific time where we all did that, but we hang
out a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
That must be a really fun group chat.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
It's a cool group.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I'm not big on group chats myself, but that must
be a fun one fun with.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
They're all idiots, like everybody just says the dumbest thing.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Is do you have to hit the mute button sometimes?
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Absolutely each other by being stupid?
Speaker 1 (29:38):
Oh that's amazing. Season three is out July sixteenth, Yes,
sorry July sixteenth. Man, Like I said, busy and book?
Do you ever just stop sometimes and think that, like
my god, I've accomplished so much at such a young age,
Like where do I go next? Like have you ever
dreamed you'd be right here in this moment in time?
Speaker 2 (29:57):
I mean, I think it'd be arrogant to say, yes,
I do think that. You know, this is all I
ever saw myself doing. I never, really, you know, never
wanted to be like a lawyer or a doctor or
anything like that, far more respectable jobs than what I do.
But now I never saw myself doing anything else. So
(30:18):
the fact that it's happening, it feels right. You know,
I'm happy to have arrived here so quickly, Like you know,
I've been working for a long time, but I'm twenty
three years old, so you know, I hopefully God willn't
have a long career ahead of me. But there's definitely
a lot of pinch me moments, man, and the pinching
never works. I never wake up, which is a welcome surprise,
(30:40):
and especially with your esset coming out, like just to
like I said earlier, be a part of something that
has left such a lasting impression on film lovers and
movie watchers and just even not sentophiles. It's such a
like it could even just be a casual movie watcher.
Everybody loves Jurassic Pork. So the fact that in this
timeline I am a part of that franchise, it doesn't
(31:03):
make any sense to me, but I'm endlessly grateful.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Well that gratitude will carry you through an entire you know,
four more decades of doing this right, like it really will.
And you're great at what you do, and it's awesome
that you're building such a name for yourself in ways
that people dream of man, I mean, people dream about it,
so it's awesome. Do you think there's room for another
Jurassic movie? I? Oh, man, ude, have you heard any rumblings?
Speaker 2 (31:29):
I know, like not really. I mean they don't, you know,
I don't think. I'm not sure if they know. To
be honest with you, I mean, I'm sure somebody knows.
But I spoke to David Kept, the writer at the
premiere the other night, and he's just really really happy
to be back working for this franchise specifically. He didn't
say anything about, you know, any potential movies, but it
(31:51):
does seem like he's very, very happy to be home
because he was so young when he wrote the first
one and then it took all for him. So I
can only imagine how he feels like coming back to
this place that you know, launch padded his career into stardom.
So if that's any you know, representation of where it
could go, I think he's excited. I'm put me in
(32:13):
four more of these, Dude. I had so much fun,
so I would love to.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
All Right, anything can happen, right, Yeah, anything can happen.
What also strikes me at your point in your career
and where you are in life? Is that? Like I said,
I joked earlier when we sat down, like are you okay?
But genuinely, because it's a lot, right, and you're balancing
(32:38):
such a heavy work cycle and career and life right
and friendship and all the things that come with being
a human being, how do you kind of protect your piece?
Like how do you really recenter and tune out noise?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Yes, it's really really good question. I'm still trying to
figure it out. I think what I have learned is
that I think for a while getting kind of vulnerable here.
But for a while, I my family just growing up
was so important to me, Like that's and they still are.
But for a while, like when I was a teenager,
in a very kind of teen angsty way, you feel like,
(33:15):
because they're such a big part of who you are,
you need to like escape that a little bit, and
you feel like you can't, or at least I felt
like I couldn't be who I wanted to be or
who I was because they were such a big part
of me. And as I you know, do this huge
big project in the summer, I turn pretty and everything
(33:36):
that I've worked on, I have stumbled upon the realization
that you are I am who I am because of them,
I can still absolutely be my own individual person. You know,
a plant doesn't need to look like the seed, you
know what I mean. So yeah, So that being said,
I lean on them a lot. I love I try
(33:58):
and make as much time as possible them, And they
all live in New York, so it's not too hard.
But just to be able to like hang out and
go eat with them and just turn my brain off
it is such a like cleansing cleansing feeling. So I'd
say family is really important to me. Exercise, of course,
it's like kind of a boring answer, but and I
(34:18):
don't be in the gym, but I love like playing
sports and playing basketball with my friends, and you know,
riding my bike as much as I possibly can. Again,
just anything that like feels like a cleanse and takes
me out of my head and puts me in my body,
that is I think that is really valuable and important.
I'm trying to start meditating to a good friend of mine,
Brian Ultimus, who's also an actor. Him and his girlfriend Gabsafa,
(34:40):
they just started like leading these meditations every every week.
Go check them out. By the way, they're so good
at their job. You can find them on Instagram. So
I'm definitely like interested in starting to work with them
a little bit. They're just good friends of mine. But yeah,
meditation I think is something very interested in as well.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
That's cool that you're really prioritizing your health and your
mental health and your well being, right, because I think
we all have to do that, and it's easy to
lose sight of that. Yeah, especially with these Right, I'm
grabbing my phone, Like, to just not be suctioned to
your phone all the time is a taily battle. It's like,
all right, time to put it down. I'm watching a
show and i don't need to look at my phone
and I'm watching a show like enough, right, And it's
(35:17):
just like we're so programmed to do that. So just
being in your body is so important.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Absolutely, Yeah, and other I think mental stimulants hope as well.
Like I'm reading, like I said, I'm reading the Jurassic
port Book right now, and that alone, just reading, I
think is also something that just to keep me like
intellectually stimulated and like keep my attention span from being
you know, the scroll and kills me. Yeah, it kills me.
So yeah, I totally agree. Keeping Sometimes I try and
(35:42):
leave the house without it and it's like it's hard,
but it feels really rewarding by the end of the day.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah. Yeah, well I like that you're reading too. I
try to do that. Do you'd like a hard copy
book or a kindle?
Speaker 2 (35:51):
I do? I love a hard copy.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
I know nothing bevizza, you.
Speaker 2 (35:54):
Know what I mean. I totally get the appeal of
a kindle. Yeah, it's easier to carry around.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
It has it's time and place.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Absolutely, I love a good hard book. I know it's
the best. It's the best. It's the best. Well, David,
we are at that portion of the interview where I
wrap up the show with the same question that I
ask everybody, and it's based off the title of the show,
which is called I've Never said this before, And I
created this show name because, as you remember from the premiere,
(36:20):
when I'm doing red carpets or junkets, you get three minutes,
four minutes, five minutes with somebody if you're lucky, and
it just leaves a very little room for genuine real conversation, right,
Like we're trying to get in your bites about the movie,
and we're and it's a lot of the same questions
every outlet wants, right, So I like to bring us
on who feel like they can share something they don't
always get to say whatever that means to you. So,
(36:42):
is there anything you can think of today that you've
never said before that you want to shout out?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah? For sure, Man. I feel like it's a little
bit cliche, but I feel like I've never really said
publicly that I'm proud of my work.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
I mean, I feel like in retrospect when I look
back on stuff like this Somewhere I Turn Pretty and
Dead Boy Detectives and all the other stuff that I've done,
I feel proud looking back on it. But it's really
really difficult for me. I struggle with anxiety and OCD,
so it's really hard for me to I probably never
said that before either, I struggle with anxiety and OCD.
(37:19):
But it's really hard for me to stay as present
as possible and really like appreciate the work that I'm
doing while it's coming out and while it's being perceived.
Because I think as an actor in an industry where
so much of what you do is based upon how
it's received by others, and the validation that others give you.
(37:41):
It can be really hard to not be wired that
way and like to behave and act for the perception
of others and for the approval of others. So I'm trying.
I'm working on it lately, especially with Tressa coming out.
I'm really really trying to not not lean on others
(38:02):
approval of my work so much and and and seek
validation from the audience. It feels nice, and it's it's
a like I said earlier, it's a bonus and it's
a plus. But I think a lot of actors deal
with this. I don't think it's a It's a very
uncommon experience because of the way the industry is built.
So uh yeah, I'm really working on just being proud
(38:23):
of myself for myself, and you know, not relying so
heavily and equating my own value to how others are
valuing me as an actor.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
It's hard to do, right, I mean, especially those little
I can say it's my show. There's little bitches anxiety
and OCD when they want to creep in. I mean,
it just tells you a completely different story than what's
actually real, right, I Mean, how do you kind of
push through that and not let that just cripple you. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:51):
I think for a while I was trying so hard
to ignore it and run away from it and do
things that would just wrack myself from it. But you know,
through therapy and and through just experience, I've learned that
the more kind of healthy way to approach that is
just sitting with it. And you know, so what if
(39:14):
it's true? You know, so what if these lies that
I'm telling myself for true? So what if I if
I'm telling myself that I'm nothing without people's and audience
watching me. Okay, so what if that's true? Then what
And you sit with it? And I think that makes
it way less scary of a monster to tackle, because
eventually your brain's just gonna get bored of it and
be like, Okay, foe, this isn't working, you know what
(39:36):
I mean, he's not believing it or he is believing
it and and and nothing's happening. So let's move on.
You know. I think that's a that's just a way
that I have. It's hard, Don't get me wrong, I
don't do it well every day. But that's another thing
I think I've learned is that it's it's not. It
doesn't have to be linear, right, every day can be
different and that's okay. You don't have to be on
(39:56):
all the time and and uh breaking with that all
the time, and that's okay. So yeah, just being able
to sit with it and knowing that it's a shared
experience and being able to talk to you about it,
I think makes me feel really good. And I think
I have felt good in the past because I've heard
other people talk about it. So I think just being
as open as possible and vulnerable and the whole, you know,
(40:19):
crux of your show, I think is really respectable and
I think it's you know, I think it's important.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
So thank you, man, I appreciate it. It's truly. I believe
we have so much more in common than we let on,
and I think a lot of that is due to
social media. I love me some social media, but like
we all put up the highlight reels, right, and we
all go through a lot more than just that. So
I like bringing people on who whatever that question means
to them, they can share something that they feel like
(40:43):
they've never said, or they want to help or pay
it forward or whatever. So I think that's back to you,
a very respectable thing for you to bring up and share,
because I know a lot of people listening are going
to say, oh my god, I go through that And
look at David. He looks like he's the king of
the world right now, but he also goes through this shit.
So that's I think one of the most human, beautiful
things that we can talk about. So I really love that.
(41:05):
And the last thing I'll say about that, too is
I think a lot of us struggle with saying we're
proud of the work we do. I guarantee everyone in
this room has had moments of that what I started
doing not too long ago. With certain friends who are
maybe like a little more woo wooy like I am.
We'll just like randomly text each other throughout the course
of the year and be like, you know what, I'm
really proud of myself because of X, Y and Z,
and I just want to text you telling you that
(41:26):
I am so proud of myself and it really makes
you feel good. And then like I'll get that from
a friend three months later and it's just like, oh Okay,
it's like a good reminder to stop and take notice
and give yourself props and not rely on other people
all the time, right, totally.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
No. I love that. I thought you were gonna say,
which is also valid. But I thought you were going
to say, you guys text each other, how proud of
each other you are, which again that's so important to
like have it. Yeah, that too, but it doesn't do
it for me. Yeah, because in my brain, I'm like,
they're lying, you know what I mean? Yeaheah, you know,
so I really really I'm gonna start doing that.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Start doing it. Yeah, And even if you don't fully
believe it, just put it out there and then you'll
trick yourself and believe it, you know. Like it's like
you said, you kind of just quiet that voice, which
I think is so cool. Oh man, I don't want
this to end. This is too much fun. This is
too much fun. I will say it again. I feel
like we just met. But I love seeing, you know,
artists like yourself who are at the top of their game,
(42:18):
just crushing it and not only doing great work that
I know people love and respond to, but who have
such a good head on their shoulders, and you know,
to see you at this point of your life and
your career with that mentality and mindset makes me know
for sure that you will literally have decades and decades
and decades of work ahead of you in this business.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
I appreciate that more than you.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Yeah, I mean it, so thank you for hanging out.
Of course, little bumdy to bring a dinosaur today, but
we'll talk about that later.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
They're too late. Actually, is there one in Rockefeller Center?
Speaker 1 (42:46):
There is? Yeah, there's a massive one. That's true. That's true.
Speaker 2 (42:50):
All right, cool, we'll do take a line easy, we
work together really well.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
Yn't wait, I'll go see later. Jurassic World Rebirth out
now the summer. I turn pretty out July sixteenth until
we meet again, my man, Thank.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
You so much.
Speaker 1 (43:01):
I've Never said this Before is hosted by Me Tommy Dedario.
This podcast is executive produced by Andrew Puglisi at iHeartRadio
and by Me Tommy, with editing by Joshua Colaudney. I've
Never Said This Before is part of the Elvis Duran
podcast network on iHeart Podcasts. For more, rate review and
subscribe to our show and if you liked this episode,
(43:24):
tell your friends. Until next time. I'm Tommy de Dario
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