Kevin Sizemore – Reach

By starrymag | July 11, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for Reach and about your character.

 

A) Reach tells the story of a high school kid named Steven (Garrett Clayton) who has given up the fight for life and feels the only way to move on is to take his own life.  He’s unable to deal with all the things that’s bottled up inside him, but before he makes this horrible mistake he meets the new kid to the school Clarence (Johnny James Fiore) who gives him a whole new perspective on how to live life.  My character Jack Perkins is not too far from the world Steven lives in as an adult – not able contain his temper and stay away from alcohol, he’s currently on suspension from the police force.  He’s now a single parent with a son Nick (Jordan Doww) and the two of them have never seen eye to eye and Nick’s lifestyle isn’t conducive to how Jack thinks he should live it.

 

 

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

 

A) The role of Jack!  Love how he’s so reckless and unapologetic for how he thinks things should be, but sad because he’s locked inside himself and a victim to his haunted memories and the alcohol.  I also like the story of how Reach dives into the whole world of kids dealing with drugs, bullying and suicide.  There’s a lot happening in the film.

 

 

Q) Was there anything you added to your role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

 

A) During the rehearsal time Jordan and I went through some beats and we decided it would be a strong moment for when I attack him to take it a step further than just one hit.  It gets pretty violent quite fast.

 

 

Q) What did you find challenging about this role?

 

A) Speaking to the Chief of Police (Jully Lee) asking to be reinstated back to the job. That’s the scene where Jack tries his hardest to do what’s right and it gets thrown in his face when and former best friend and partner on the force Steve (Bojesse Christopher) shows up.  There’s so many emotions that Jack has bottled up and you quickly see him spiral even further downhill.

 

 

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

 

A) I think getting to work with so many younger actors.  I felt like a proud papa on the set seeing them do their thing.  I know how hard the writers Johnny James Fiore, Grant Harling and Maria Capp worked on this and I’m really happy for them to know it turned out so well.

 

Q) Bullying is still such a relevant topic these days. What advice would you give kids in order to keep hope alive? 

 

A) Treat people the way you would want to be treated and find those friends that you have something in common with.  Everyone has their own thing and it’s ok to be “different” or “like something” someone else doesn’t.  Who’s to say who’s right or wrong for doing their own thing?  People get so caught up in status and popularity that they are jaded by the truth.  And let’s be honest, bullies are the ones who usually have the biggest issues and try to take it out on other people.  You have to stand up for yourself and don’t let people push you around and prove to them that you are not going to be bullied.

 

 

Q) What do you hope viewers learn and take away from watching the movie?

 

A) Talk to someone if you ever feel those uneasy thoughts flowing around in your head.  Keeping things contained inside does nothing but build and will lead to you doing things you’ll regret later.  REACH out to someone even if its the Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 Also, don’t be afraid to be yourself and be proud of who are and what you stand for!   With such a heavy setting, Reach is actually very uplifting in may ways.  It shows you how easy it it to make a difference by acknowledging people and just going out of your way to notice someone.  Everyone has a bad day and you never know if the day you say hello or open the door for someone is the day that they really needed to hear it.  A simple gesture such as that can mean the world to somebody.  It sounds cliche, but one person can change the world and we hope this is what people will walk away feeling after they see Reach.

 

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant feedback you’ll receive to the movie?

 

A) Sure.  You never know how a movie will touch someone and we all hope that it will connect with those who need it the most.

 

 

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

 

A) THANK YOU!  I’m so fortunate to have been able to work in a business that I really enjoy for the last 20 plus years and I’m grateful that people like what I do.

 

 

Q) What will we see you in next?

 

A) Just have a film The Work Wife that is avail on Amazon / iTunes and our film Intensive Care was just released in Scandinavia and Japan this month.  Up next is the film The World We Make and the trailer was just released today actually.  This one was special because it reunited me with former cast / crew members from other projects and my son Gunnar Sizemore also plays my son in the film.  https://youtu.be/_n0Dt07fK2E

 

 

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