Jack Sochet – Smile

By starrymag | October 27, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

 

A) I really liked the script and the character I was playing, whose name is Carl Renken. In addition, my wife is a psychiatrist and she helped me understand Carl and what he is going through. We had a good time exploring the role.

 

Q) How was your character Carl originally described to you?

 

A) There was not a great deal of description, nor did there need to be. Parker Finn’s script gave all the clues I needed to understand and play him.

 

Q) What did you find challenging about your portrayal?

 

A) Carl has had a hard life and very dark thoughts. It was sad playing a fellow whose mind is in such a negative place and, as much as he tries, has no control over.

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them on Smile?

 

A) I knew of the cast from their previous work. Sosie Bacon, who plays Rose and is fantastic in this movie, I had seen her in “Mare of Eastown,” and she was great in it. Her performance was incredibly moving and powerful. Kal Penn I knew from his acting, but also his work with President Obama. I was a fan of all the fellow actors. Parker and Monika Mikkelsen, the casting director, did a phenomenal job assembling this team.

 

Q) Director Parker Finn did such a great job of making the film so tense and edge of your seat viewing. What were some of your favorite or most memorable scenes to film?

 

A) Well, I do not want to give too much away for those who have not seen it yet. To them I say, “GO! And it is only in movie theaters, which is the best way to see it.” As far as your question, since it is in the trailer, when I’m smiling and saying, “You’re going to die! You’re going to die! You’re going to die!”

 

Q) Having seen the film, which moments startled you to see play out on screen?

 

A) Once again, I don’t want to spoil anything for the people who have not seen it. That said, the movie was riveting and Parker, the director, did such a great job maintaining it, Also, the DP Charlie Saroff – his shots were fantastic, and the score added to the tension.

 

Q) Those smiles are pretty creepy and with such an adrenaline rush from filming, how did you wind down after a long day of shooting?

 

A) At the end of a shoot day I would play music that made me feel good or call my wife or Mom or a good friend to move away from Carl. Also, I would have a chocolate milk.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the movie Smile that is going to make it such a fast fan favorite horror film?

 

A) Because it is really good. It has everything: A great story, plenty of jump scares, it’s surprising, it has a depth to it, great acting, great costumes, great visuals, a great score and it’s really scary. Parker really knocked it out of the park.

 

Q) What are the other upcoming projects that you have been busy working on?

 

A) I did a film called Nosfarasta that played at MOMA in NYC and is traveling around. I play a vampire Christopher Columbus. Also, I am in a wrestling film called Choke that should be out soon, And, finally, I just wrapped on a film that we shot in Butte, MT but I can’t say much about it yet.