Isabella Kai – Our Friend

By starrymag | February 18, 2021

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film Our Friend.

 

A) Our Friend is based upon an essay written by Matthew Teague. The story is about a family who is going through something unimaginable when their best friend steps in to help. It’s a story of love, loss and most importantly friendship.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the movie?

 

A) When I originally read the audition sides for Molly, I was instantly drawn to the character. I found the material not only challenging for me, but also, I felt it was such a beautiful story to tell. I had such empathy for her and what she and her family had gone through.

 

Q) How was your role of Molly Teague originally described to you?

 

A) Molly was described as the oldest daughter who has to grow up quickly due to her mom being sick and her dad not being around.

 

Q) Was there anything you added to the character that wasn’t in the initial breakdown?

 

A) Yes, of course. The original breakdown is just a glimpse of the character. When I read the script, I saw how much Molly went through with not only her mom being sick but with her dad. They had a very strained relationship as we see in the film. I haven’t gone through what Molly has gone through, but I have gone through things in my life that I have found to be hard. I didn’t want to play Molly exactly as she is in real life because I can’t, knowing she is a real person, but I did play her as I felt she would be and made a parallel to her and myself, bringing some of me to the character.

 

Q) Talk about working with iconic costars Jason Segel and Casey Affleck.

 

A) I feel so grateful to have spent any time with all of them. They are all so unbelievably talented and extraordinary at what they do. I am just really lucky to have gotten to work with them.

Jason and I always had so much fun together because we did a lot of improv. He is so much fun to be around and was the light even on our hard days. Casey and I had some really tough scenes together, but he not only taught me so much as an actor, but he also became a father figure to me. Dakota [Johnson] and I have a really special relationship on and off screen and I think that shows in our scenes. She is so caring and nurturing and everything with her felt so natural.

 

Q) What was some advice director Gabriela Cowperthwaite offered while shooting that you took to heart?

 

A) Gabriela was exactly the director this story needed to be told in the right way. She was perfect. She gave us freedom as actors to make our choices, but also was there for us when we needed her. On some of my harder days emotionally, Gabs and I would sit and talk about the scenes for as long as it took. She always trusted me and gave me advice when I needed it. She’s a mom herself so she had a little magic touch with certain things.

 

Q) What were some of your favorite moments from filming?

 

A) I have so many! But some of my most favorite moments were shooting the Mardi Gras and the fountain scene. I had never been to Mardi Gras, so we shot at an actual parade with the locals. It was so much fun. And the fountain scene was just magical. Everyone was so happy that day and it was just really beautiful. Some of the people that were in that scene were people that knew the Teague Family and I thought that was really special. Plus, there was the most perfect sunset that night.

 

Q) With such an intense storyline, how did you shake off a long day of filming?

 

A) There were some very intense days that we all went through. But I think it helped I had my little sister, Violet McGraw, there to help lighten up everything. She always made me laugh even if I had been sobbing for hours. Also, we had a ping pong table at basecamp, which was super fun. We are all so close on and off screen that we just kind of lifted each other up.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of feedback have you been receiving to the movie?

 

A) The film has been beautifully received by audiences and critics. I don’t really read a lot of the reviews and comments, but people have been sending me such kind words. What has touched me the most is how the film is truly moving people and the messages they are taking from it.  We are all very proud of what we did together, and are grateful people are enjoying it.

 

Q) What message do you hope viewers take away from watching Our Friend?

 

A) There are so many messages I took away from this story, but I think the most important message from this film is how important friendship is. Real friends are hard to find and the ones that will be there for you when life is not pretty, keep them so close, as they are so special.  If we all should be as lucky to find our Dane.