WHEN:
MARCH 20, 2020+
WHERE:
Amazon Prime Streaming; other platforms tba
John Way, star of the soon to be released via streaming platforms family film, is a classically trained actor and has won several national awards for his work in Shakespeare productions. He now finds himself playing a variety of film roles from country singer in this film to cowboy (The Boardinghouse Reach, due out in 2021, co-starring David Arquette), and has guest-starred in the Amazon Prime Series Romanoffs.
John Way (JW) is a National Young Arts award winner, and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon. He is also certified by the Royal Academy of Dance, and has singing awards from Classical Singer magazine. Here, Picture This Post (PTP) asks John more about this film, his role, and more.
(PTP) What drew you to the role in SWEET SUNSHINE?
(JW) SWEET SUNSHINE is a story about a young Arizona man with a big dream in his heart. As an actor who was raised in Arizona, I felt a very close connection to the character (TJ Millhouse). It is a special privilege and honor to get to bring this very Arizona story to life.
This movie has a lot of original songs, and you didn't plan to sing at first--someone else was going to step in for the vocals. When did you decide you were up for the challenge?
During filming, I performed the songs live on the set with the intention of another musician’s vocals replacing my voice. However, when we were filming the songs, the Director (Craig McMahon) and Director of Songs (Chad Rubin) thought I had a good sound and sent me to the sound booth to lay down the tracks. It’s not unlike TJ’s story in SWEET SUNSHINE—a story where a little encouragement went a long way.
You were born in London and grew up in Tokyo. What effect does your background have on your acting?
It had a huge impact. Born in England, raised in Japan and finished middle school and high school in The United States. Though being a third/fourth culture kid was not always easy, I am lucky to have had formative experiences in a variety of places called home. This gave me a perspective on the world, and helped me realize as a child that people are more alike than they are different. In turn, this makes playing a variety of characters more doable.
You are a Shakespearean-trained actor. What's it like to bring that kind of experience to a musical, or your other TV work?
Every art form has its roots in something that came before. For Singing it’s opera, for dance it’s ballet. Learning the classics of a fundamental art form can really ground your performance. Shakespeare training made acting in front of the camera feel more fluid. Memorizing Shakespeare text is like memorizing poetry in an archaic language. This training makes script memorization much easier and probably more fun.
According to your bio, you've "written a series of children’s adventure stories based on a universe run by dogs". What inspired this?
When I was much younger, I had two little dog toys named Courage and Miles. I spent most of my elementary and middle school years with a close friend (who is now in the playwriting graduate program at Yale) writing and illustrating a comic book series. Although I no longer make comic strips, I still occasionally write stories, and am still very close with my friend and the two dogs!
Do you prefer working for live audiences or in film?
Tough question. It is so different! Having a live audience is a gift. The presence of an audience helps spice up and solidify the whole performance. That being said, in live theater you have to bring a strong performance every minute of every hour, every night. There are no second takes. That is both a challenge and creatively fulfilling. With film, you don’t have the immediate gratification of an audience’s reaction, but you can explore the same scene a hundred different ways. When it’s all cut together, you have a best of performance that lives forever!
What is your musical background? Did you ever perform with a band?
Never in a band— I sang in choir and did musicals in high school, but not much after that. I always focused on being an actor who could sing, not a singing actor. Although I had never worked with a band, The SWEET SUNSHINE band was not only professional but easy to mesh with. This is my first time singing in a musically oriented film.
Is this your first film experience?
My first professional acting job was on THE ROMANOFFS. THE ROMANOFFS was written and directed by the creator of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner. I also just finished filming a movie called THE BOARDINGHOUSE REACH, a movie which not only explores the diversity of the American West, but also space and time. The cast is a diverse and well-known group of actors and with some crazy animation. I can’t wait to see what happens to the film in post-production.
Whom do you think the best fit audience is for this film?
SWEET SUNSHINE is a family friendly story and would benefit anyone looking to have a fun time. If you like Hallmark Specials, or like to watch movies with your kids, this is the film for you. If you leave humming a song or two from the movie, I am going to say “mission accomplished!”
For more information visit the SWEET SUNSHINE film website.
Photos courtesy of SWEET SUNSHINE Film
