Connor Jessup – American Crime

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I have a movie called Closet Monster that is doing the festival circuit these last few months. It premiered in Toronto in September and it has been going around. It is making it’s way to the Palm Springs Film Festival around January, around the same time as “American Crime” comes out. So, that should be getting out there increasingly in the next few months.

Q) How was your character Taylor on “American Crime” originally described to you?

A) My character wasn’t really described to me. When I auditioned for it, I got a very brief outline of what things were. I knew that he was a high school student who was making accusations of sexual assault against other students. Other than that, I didn’t know many details or where anything was going to go. That sort of unfolded as the season went.

Q) What  made you want to be a part of the show and take on the role?

A) The first season was out when I auditioned for the show. It was this past summer so the first season had already finished airing and it had gotten a lot of attention. It was available and I watched it. When you can go out for something that is a proven product (the first season is so good), John Ridley is so good and all the actors are so good that it was really a no brainer.

Q) What was the most challenging aspect to portraying Taylor?

A) It’s not just my character, but the show in general (which is what John is after) is incredibly emotional and incredibly high in intensity. When you are in that head space for ten episodes it can get a little draining. You can start to lose the forest through the trees. That’s difficult, but when it is there on the page for you as thoroughly and full bodied as it is in John’s scripts it is really a gift.

Q) What would you do to be able to shake off the intensity after filming?

A) In my experience (and a lot of people say this on shows or movies like this that are this intense) there tends to be a counterbalancing effect. People are lighthearted and fun. It never felt on set (other than when the camera was rolling) unnecessarily dreary, gloomy or heavy hearted. People are people and people are wonderful, funny, crack jokes. Joey Pollari, one of the other actors on the show, was my roommate while we were filming. So, we had each other to fall back on every night. Besides the content, it was one of the most fun experiences I have ever had.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from shooting?

A) There is a lot…There is a scene at the end of episode one that I’m excited for that was my first real “American Crime” scene. It was my first real, intense, full force scene in the show. It was my first time working with Lili [Taylor] who plays my mother on the show. I am excited for that. There is some stuff later in the season…There is an episode in the second half of the run that is an exception in the season. It has a very different feel and rhythm to the season. There are some really weird and exciting stuff that happens. I haven’t seen it yet because they are still editing it, but I’m very excited to see how that all comes together and how people will respond.

Q) You seem to have a penchant for dramatic roles. What makes you drawn to them?

A) Maybe I’ll answer in the negative – because I’m terrible at comedy. I’ve never been drawn to comedy and comedy has certainly never been drawn to me. I have nothing against it. I think, for me, comedy is infinitely harder than drama. I don’t know. There is a certain rhythm to things. When you are a teenager or a young actor, most of the roles you go out for are coming-of-age stories to one degree or another. Those tend to be (unless they are funny coming-of-age stories) about struggle. They tend to be about the troubles and things of coming of age. That’s sort of the zone I’ve been playing the last few years, but I can’t complain. I’ve been very lucky with the people I’ve gotten to work with and the people I’ve gotten to play.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will receive to your character on “American Crime?”

A) Yeah, I’ve learned to take it with a little grain of salt. People are really, really sweet because I have been on Twitter for a few years. People are really nice. When things air people are really sweet and really supportive. It’s great. It is a good boost of confidence, but it is also limited. It’s not a full cross section of the population. It’s a very narrow demographic of people who are reaching out to speak with you. Not that it means nothing, but if you think that Twitter represents the world then I think you are going to get some skewed world views. I am very excited to see how people respond online, but also none of my friends and family have seen it. It’s private. I guess that’s how these things go. They are private and then suddenly they are extremely public. So, I’m extremely excited to see how people are going to react.

Q) You were a part of “Falling Skies” for five seasons. What kind of impact did the show have on your life?

A) It’s hard for me to understate how much “Falling Skies” impacted my life. I was fifteen years old when I got cast on it and I was twenty years old when I finished. In those five years for six or seven months this was my life. So, those are some pretty seminal developmental years. Anyone, no matter what you are doing, goes through a lot and changes a lot between the ages of fifteen and twenty. For me, it was on “Falling Skies.” So, I’m a radically different person and actor. Everything I used to define myself was changed by “Falling Skies” – for the better! It was a wonderful playground and the people were the best. I couldn’t have asked for a better working experience. I really couldn’t have. I think I couldn’t have done this show (despite how different they are ostensively) without “Falling Skies.” Five season (fifty-two episodes) of something to practice, fail, fall flat on your face, try again, get better and learn form the people you are working with means a lot. It will always be the seminal event of my young life.

Q) Were you satisfied with the finale?

A) It’s hard for me to say. I thought (and I don’t think I’m speaking out of turn) that it is hard to wrap up something that is so broad. By the end of season five, the scope of the show had gotten so large with intergalactic war and multiple species. It was so huge that to wrap something like that up in a convincing way. So, I felt like we didn’t entirely pull it off. I felt there were moments I really enjoyed and character moments I really enjoyed, but on a whole I don’t know if the execution of finale was as complete as it could have been.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you! Stick in there! I’m always surprised when I hear anyone out there is. You work in such a bubble and it’s so sweet and encouraging and really humbling (to be cheesy for a second) to hear that people exist at all. So, I don’t know what to say beyond thank you. “American Crime” is going to be tough, but if you can get through all ten episodes…It’s not the easiest show to watch, but it’s a really good one. And I’m really proud of what everyone has been able to do on it. So, if you can make it through it will be worth it!