On set of “Finding Ohana,” what was a moment that had a strong impact on you? Who was someone you connected with on set?
Definitely one of the biggest moments on set that really impacted me was the day we filmed in the bioluminescence cave. The night before shooting I was reviewing my script and something just didn’t sit right with me as a Hawaiian in the dialogue. We were trying to share a few Hawaiian messages in the scene and I felt like the script needed a little editing. I was concerned to bring it up because I didn’t want to come off as a difficult actor, but I was so thrilled to see how open everyone was on set to fixing whatever was needed! Our amazing director, Jude Weng, was right by my side along with our amazing producers to hear what I had to say as a Hawaiian. It was such a powerful moment for me, to witness such talented and successful people in our industry have such open hearts and minds about a culture they didn’t grow up with. We worked for hand in hand and got the script to a place we all felt confident in and it was such a magical moment for me. It was a moment to show the true heart of our movie and the people who created it! Of all the amazing people I got to work with on this set, I definitely connected with our amazing producer, Ian Bryce. It was such a joy to see how passionate he was about his job and also how good he was at it! I felt truly honored to get to work with someone that’s done such successful work but yet was still so grounded and kind. He was one of my biggest supporters on set and I loved getting to sit and chat with him whenever we had a chance. He definitely served as a role model for me. Also, we also loved to play word games on our phones on our breaks lol.
What were you most nervous about before starting the filming process of “Finding Ohana”? What were you most excited about?
I was extremely nervous going into the filming of “Finding Ohana” as it was my first movie I’ve ever been in. Hands down my biggest fear was not being good enough or talented enough to keep up with my amazing cast and crew, but I had to remind myself that they cast me for a reason and that I needed to trust myself. As long as I was putting in 110% to my work, I knew that was all that mattered and all that I could control. Luckily that fear disappeared quickly once I realized I was blessed with the most supportive and loving cast and crew anyone could’ve ever asked for. For sure I was most excited about filming back home in Hawai’i. I was born and raised out there and I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have the opportunity to get to film there, let alone film a movie that highlights the Hawaiian culture I was raised with. My family was able to visit me on set and get to watch me in action! The best part was that my grandma’s house was two minutes down the street from our set!
Acting and singing, when did you discover your passion/talent for both of them? Have you always dreamed of pursuing those careers?
From the time I was very young, I knew I loved acting and singing. I was a bit of the wild card in my family as I was the only one who ever showed interest in the arts. I came from a sports family, so they were very surprised when I told them I wanted to be an actress. As I got older, my passion for acting really bloomed and I decided to do something about it. I secretly auditioned for the high school musical and was lucky enough to be the only freshman that got cast in the whole production. It was the perfect opportunity for me to mix my music with acting and I loved it. Once I started I couldn’t get enough and years later here I am now, still chasing that dream. Singing definitely got put on the back burner for most of my life, but thanks to Finding ‘Ohana I’ve been reminded how much I love music and singing and I’m going to focus more of my energy on that from now on! I honestly could never imagine myself pursuing any other careers in my life, which is how I knew this was my true passion. I used to joke that I never had a plan B because I was never going to allow myself to give up on this dream, and I’m so happy I never gave up.
Who did you look up to the most growing up? Looking back on your childhood, what were some of the most important lessons you learned?
My parents were and will always be my biggest inspiration in life. They have always been the most dedicated and supportive people in my life and they have shaped me into the person that I am today. I definitely threw them for a loop when I was the only child that had a passion for acting in my family, but they took it in stride and supported me every step of the process. They always encouraged me to follow my dreams, no matter how out of reach they seemed. I think the most important lesson they have taught me is that even though it’s great to work hard and chase your dreams, the most important thing at the end of the day is to be kind. They are the sweetest and most hard-working people I know, and it is because of them that I am so relentless at chasing my dreams. Everything I do is for them.
Share with us what gets you up and going in the morning. What pushes you to be the best version of yourself? Motivates you?
If we’re being literal, a huge cup of coffee is what truly gets me up in the morning lol. But if we’re talking mentally, it’s the idea that there are only so many hours in the day that motivates me to get up out of bed on the daily. I like to remind myself often that life is short, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. I use it as a positive motivation to push me to live life to the fullest and to not take a second for granted. Reminding myself that my time is limited really helps me set my priorities and focus. I focus on happiness, love, and caring for others. When I focus on those things, I feel like I’m able to be the best version of myself. What especially pushes me to be the best version of myself is my loved ones. They act as a constant reminder for me to love unconditionally and to spend my time on the important things in life. They might not know, but they are my biggest motivation that pushes me to work my hardest every day and to always ensure I’m being a good person.
Tell us more about what you hope 2021 will bring to you.
First of all, I hope 2021 will bring a lot of good health and happiness my way. 2020 was most definitely a tough year of reflection, but I think it was a perfect time for me to reevaluate what is important to me. My career is high on that list and I hope in 2021 I will get the chance to work on projects that truly inspire me and make an impact on the world. I hope I get the opportunity to take on some amazing roles that will push and test me as an actor. Outside of acting, I also hope to focus more on my passion for writing. Sometimes I lack inspiration for writing, but I feel like 2021 is a fresh new moment to really let my creative juices flow and see where they take me. Hopefully, my writing will spill over to songwriting and I’ll have an opportunity to dive into my music for the first time. I have such a deep connection to music and I think it will be out of this world to finally have music of my own. Besides my career, I hope to expand my interests and pick up some new hobbies that spark some joy for me! Through all of this upward growth in 2021, it’s my goal to have love, self-love, and joy woven in the mix.
@BELLOmag
Talent LINDSAY WATSON @lindsayyywatson
Photography CONRAD TORRES @conradtorres1
Interview by ALEXANDRA BONNET @alexbonnetwrites