Jessica Marie Garcia – On My Block

By starrymag | April 13, 2018

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) You have great comedic timing. Is it something that has always been natural to you or have you had to work at it?

A) I’ve always used humor to answer anything. Humor is my go-to for everything since birth. I haven’t taken a specific comedy class or anything like that. I was in a performing arts/magnet program at my high school. That was kind of a deeper, classical training so not even comedy. I didn’t really start getting into comedy until I moved out to LA and that did “Huge” and then “The Middle” and then I did an all-female sketch show. I think that’s where I really honed into comedic timing because I’ve just been able to play so much.

Q) I love that “On My Block” let you improv so much.

A) There were times when they just put a camera on me and Joe Kessler our Cinematographer would just be like, “Put the camera on her! Let her go!” I was like, “Oh wow! Oh Wow! They are giving me a lot of room here!” And that was so fun and terrifying at the same time. I remember filming the dance scene in the first episode and I half way didn’t think anyone would see it except the people that were there, so I was really just trying to make the people around me laugh. Then, it was like, “Other people are going to see this now. Okay.” It was a little overwhelming.

Q) There have been a lot of behind the scenes things shared by the cast and writers. They recently shared audition tapes. What was Jasmine’s original breakdown and how much room was there to improv there?

A) Jasmine’s breakdown was mostly the fact she was strong and confident, but a bit awkward. She would never think so, though. The audition process was super fun. I didn’t initially get the audition, but a couple of my friends did. When they read this script they were like, “Jessica, you need to read this script.” I asked my agent about it and I read the script and was just so blown away. I had all these ideas for her. So, even in the audition I was like, “I’m going to kind of play her how I want to.” So, I kind of improvised a little in the room a bit as well and they don’t necessarily love that, but I took a risk and that paid off. You will see my audition tape. You have to see the 100% improv scene that we did at my chemistry read with Jason [Genao]. It was just the most fun I’ve ever had. I met him for all of two seconds before I went into there and it was really fun.

Q) Jasmine doesn’t seem like the jealous type at all. Even though we see this push and pull with Ruby, Jasmine is still aggressive in her pursuit.

A) I always just played into the fact that she just wants to be accepted. She wants to have these friends and be a part of this squad. Even though she is a little aggressive she is still ruled from a kind place. Mind you, she will pop off in a second, but it would never be her first. She was all about love and about being accepted, she just didn’t get any social cues.

Q) She wants to be a part of the squad, but at the same time is doing her.

A) And that’s huge! Making her very unapologetic about who she is was very important to me, regardless of what people thought of her she was going to be her 100% and regardless of who she was around. I love that about her.

Q) Jasmine wears her faults and flaws on her sleeves.

A) Literally I peed in a sink. Okay?

Q) There are great female characters in this series. They are certainly not shrinking violets and the guys aren’t trying to mack up on them. They are fierce and flawed at the same time. What about that balance is important for females to see represented and have this feminism throughout the series?

A) To me what I enjoyed about reading the scripts was that bey the end of the series you don’t get that Olivia (Ronni Hawk) and Monse (Sierra Capri) are fighting over this guy. That’s not the case. They could have easily done an entire season of that and we weren’t about that. I feel like that was because we have a female creator and so many female of all different colors on our writing staff. I feel like that’s what we have to attribute to that to – that women are writing for women. We know that’s not how all women are. If you really pay attention to or have women in your life you know that there isn’t this bickering, catty nonsense. We’re very much a sisterhood, especially on this show. It’s not “these are the guys” and “these are the girls.” It’s a squad and I love that. And it’s about damn time! You fall in love with these characters and I think that’s not as popular any more. It’s more about explosions or massive amounts of sex or violence. It’s not about falling in love with characters and seeing them grow through seasons. I’m so proud of the fact that our show does that though.

Q) On “On My Block” we see these people of color are more than just a plot device and a way to lift up the other parts of the storyline. They are not there to be the catalyst, but they are at the forefront. How you feel about Netflix valuing these characters?

A) I think that it’s great because there is nothing bigger than Netflix. Netflix is the place to be right now. So, the fact that they are being the leaders of this kind of movement just makes me even more thankful to be a part of it. I think the reason the show is growing at the magnitude that it is because people see ourselves in it and their stories. We’re not representing every story though. It’s funny because I run into people on the street and their like, “Tell me about ‘On My Block’” and they have notes. It’s definitely not everyone’s story, but it’s our story and I think we have resonated in a lot of peoples’ hearts and just seeing these fan videos back echoes that. I am so thankful for Netflix and I hope that they continue to because I want them to realize this isn’t just a glitch. This is happening. It’s a movement and it’s a reflection of where America is headed hopefully.

Q) We get these really layered characters as well. They are loyal and fierce and proud and unapologetic. Where did you approach your portrayal of Jasmine?

A) I think that Jasmine is an easy person to make unlikeable and it was very important for me to show a human side of her. Even though I played her with this strength and confidence, there is still very much a girl on the inside that has these walls built up and has these barriers that she has built up of experience. There is no way Jasmine is as sexually experienced as she acts like she is. That’s just a granted. I needed that to show – that vulnerability and humanness to show through her or else I felt like she would just be too obnoxious, and you wouldn’t care to see her at all. I wanted people to want to see more of her.

Q) She gets these great moments where she provides comedic relief while still having more behind her. I hope that in Season 2 we talk more about her and see more of her background.

A) That’s very much the plan. I’ve had conversations with the writers and creators and we definitely have an idea and direction of how we want her to go and how we hope she will go. I think the more you see these characters and when we get a Season 2 I would love for you to see where these characters can even grow more, especially for my own self and Jasmine. I’d love to show you who she is and why she is the way she is – and take you home with her!

Q) She is more than just the life of the party!

A) Comedy stems from drama and I think that she has some things she is dealing with. That’s kind of what I did. I have an idea of her whole life. But let’s see if the writers and creators agree. When I built Jasmine I very much had an idea of what she comes home to, so I am excited to share that in Season 2.

Q) I was thinking of starting a “Justice for Jasmine” campaign because she got rejected by her boy and then got sick at the end.

A) [laughs] I know! It was like, “Can I get a break?!” Get a t-shirt! People would understand. [laughs]

Q) What is it about these writers that understand crafting really witty, diverse and multi-dimensional characters that maybe other writers or networks don’t grasp.

A) We have millennials. I would say we have an even amount of female to male ratio. We have like three or four white writers. Not that we should have everything, but we have a very diverse group. I feel like they’ve lived these stories for the most part. I think that’s why it rings so true is because they so true for the most part. I think they are also writing stories they wanted to see growing up. I am sure there are many kids of color (myself included) who wanted to have their own adventure. The fact we got to show that comes from having diverse writers. First and foremost, they have to be there or else it’s never going to ring true.

Q) What I love about the show is that they are short episodes, but so much is packed into them!

A) Yeah! You feel like you’re being force fed information. I feel like some shows are like that. So, I feel like it was a good pace. (I’m patting my own self on the back.) I would be such a fan of this show if I weren’t on it. Everyone’s attention span is so much shorter now these days, so you don’t have a lot of room for filler or else people will click away.

Q) The show has a great ability of tugging at your heart strings and then tear you to pieces. When you read the season ending and tired to process it what were your thoughts?

A) All of our creators and producers were sneaky and mean and didn’t give us the script until like right before we shot it. They kept us on pins and needles and even talked about even not giving us a real one. We didn’t want to know too much, I guess, but when I read it I was by myself. I just remember putting it down and going “Oh my God.” It talked about the second ambulance turning off and I was like, “What does that mean?! What does that mean?! Lauren, what does that mean?!” I was just freaked out. We know as much as you do when it comes to what is going to happen. So, we’re still in this crazy limbo. Compared to when I read it and when I watched it (because I didn’t watch them film it)…When it came out I watched the last episode and was just in tears. My fiancée was just in tears. This 6’4, 300lb man was in tears. I had to call Jason and Ronni right away to make sure they were alive in real life. That’s how their performance hit me. I was like, “The breathing! They linked the breathing! Oh my God!” It was too good. It was too good, but way too sad. They pulled at your heartstrings, for sure. What is crazy is I have people coming up to me and just demanding to know what happens or asking, “Why weren’t you there?! You could have done something!” I’m like, “I’m sorry…I was dying. Did you not see I was a zombie myself?” [laughs] I’m so interested in how we tell Jasmine and how Mario (Jasmine’s brother) finds out. He tells Monse to watch about Ruby and she’s like, “Yeah, we will.” Now, it’s like, “Uh-huh. You didn’t.” It’s going to be crazy. It’s just the parents finding out and the way they call for him is just so good. It’s sad, but I’m so happy to be a part of it. It’s what everyone is talking about it and it makes me so happy!

Q) Between that and Jamal found all that money I wonder what they are going to do.

A) I don’t know! He is about to own the whole town.

Q) In regards to the parents, they were all very supportive and accepting as well. The Grandma went on the adventure with Jamal and the parents got together to make a Quince for Olivia. Then, of course, when Jamal finally tells his parents he is playing football they were okay with it.

A) I loved that! You see them being good parents and I think that’s another thing that a lot of shows when they are predominantly people of color they don’t show. So, I’m happy you see families that are together, good and happy. That’s another thing that could have been a whole season, but no. And I love that.

Q) What do you hope fans take away from series and what they can keep actively doing to keep conversations of the show going?

A) I hope that the fans see themselves in these characters. I hope that they see themselves and their stories being told and that they are included and a part of the narrative of America. I think that’s really important. It wasn’t until I saw Jennifer Lopez in Selena that I was like, “Oh wait! I can do this?! That’s crazy!” So, I would really love that they get that. Also, for someone who doesn’t see themselves in the show note that there are similarities to the way they grew up and get some kind of unity. For Season 2, I hope that they tell everyone and their mother to watch. Keep the conversation going because the more you show love the more there is a chance to get a Season 2. When we get a Season 2 it will be because of the fans. We owe a lot to the fans and to you for helping to promote our show.