Matt Young – Pearl in Paradise

By starrymag | August 18, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

 

A) I’ve just had a very busy beginning to the year, which is surprising as I live in Fiji, in the middle of the South Pacific.  But Film Fiji has a really great tax rebate for film/tv productions, so productions are starting to realize the potential of our locations (and the skill of industry professionals like myself who live here).  As you know, I appeared in A Summer To Remember for Hallmark as Dr. Bailey and will be playing Ben in Pearl In Paradise, another Summer Nights movie, so you will be able to watch those shows all summer long.  I also was involved in “Wrecked,” a comedy for TBS and you can see me on the TBS app in Season 2, Episode 7 while you are watching the current season.  I did stand-in and background work on Adrift, which is about to be released on DVD and I was the choreographer and have a small screen appearance in The Other Side of Heaven 2, a faith-based film that will be released in the USA in April 2019.

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film Pearl in Paradise.

 

A) Pearl in Paradise is about a magazine photographer, Alex (Jill Wagner) and an adventure novel writer, Colin (Kristoffer Polaha), who are sent to Fiji to (begrudgingly) work together on a magazine story about a mythical pearl that is rumored to be in the hinterlands of Fiji.  It’s got a Romancing the Stone sort of vibe.  I play Ben, the rival photographer at Alex’s office, who is competing for the next issue’s cover story, as well as a promotion at the magazine back in New York.

 

Q) What was your audition like for the movie?

 

A) As I was on set filming my role as Dr. Bailey for A Summer To Remember, Gary Yates (Pearl in Paradise‘s director) was already in Fiji and watching me in the monitor to work out if he could cast me as Ben as well.  He wasn’t entirely convinced, as they were hoping to find a fresh face for the role (they were concerned, since both were to be airing during Summer Nights, the audience might think it was odd to have the same actor in supporting roles in both movies).  So, they asked me to grow a beard and wear my glasses to audition for Ben, which I did, in a self-test, and then a callback with the director.  I then ran into one of the producers, who said, sorry, it wasn’t going to work out.  I was disappointed but shrugged it off.  Then, two days before the scenes were to be shot, I was asked if I was still available for the role!  And when I got to set, they had me shave and take off my glasses!  Through the magic of make-up and costumes, I was made to look a bit younger and, viola, Ben was born.

 

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

 

A) Not sure about added but subtracted.  In one of my scenes, I was replaced by a Post-It note, but I don’t want to ruin the story so you’ll have to watch the movie to work that one out!  Otherwise, I have a background in musicals and comedy, so I brought a lot of my comedy bits to the role, to make it as fun as possible for myself and the viewers.

 

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

 

A) The great thing about Hallmark movies is that they are for a family audience.  And the adventure/romantic comedy aspect was a draw.  I’ve never been a part of a TV movie before and I knew that this was a show that my kids (we are adoptive parents), my own parents and my friends in America and Fiji could enjoy with their families.  I didn’t realize how popular Hallmark was with all of my friends from Gardner High School in Massachusetts until I became involved in these films as well.  It’s great to have all of my high school theatre friends reaching out and saying they are excited to watch the movie.

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before filming with them?

 

A) My teenaged sons are big “Teen Wolf” fans, so they were pretty excited to meet Jill Wagner.  They are both extras in the movie and Graham spent his day on set chatting with Jill and Kristoffer.  And I’m lucky to have worked with the production to source local talent for the film, so three of the supporting roles are Fijian actors who I have taught, or worked with, so it was great to have other local actors on set.  And though I didn’t know Rob Kippa-Williams before we started, I’m a big fan of him as a person and as an actor.

 

Q) Talk about filming in Fiji.

 

A) What many people don’t realize about Fiji is pretty much everyone here is like a big extended family.  It’s not that big of an island.  So, the family vibe on set is awesome.  Also, the producers were able to adjust to a more laidback way of doing things and didn’t get stressed when things didn’t go as planned.  There are a lot of unpredictable elements of filming here, but the scenery is amazing, and the local people are friendly and adaptable.  It’s a big culture of word of mouth information, but remarkably, things can get done quickly with a few quick phone calls – to the right people.  You just have to have a local knowledge, which is why our local crew is invaluable.  When the movie Adrift was filming here, I got a call one day from a friend in the art department who knew I had wild banana trees in my back yard, so the team came and cut a few big bunches and they were on set that afternoon, as set dressing for the next scene that was filmed.

 

Q) What advice did director Gary Yates offer during shooting that you took to heart?

 

A) Gary is a meticulous director and works well with his stars.  Jill was amazing, offering to rehearse and run lines and adding some suggestions for us to play with while we filmed.  And Gary trusted her and I to just have a bit of fun.  I think that’s the biggest thing.  Gary knew that we had a handle on the comedy of the scene and when I heard him stifling a laugh from behind the monitor after one of my lines, I knew it was working.  He made slight adjustments that made technical and comic sense and then stood back.  He was constantly accessible, and a joy to work with.

 

Q) The hallmark of Hallmark movies is the great balance of heart and humor as well as love and lessons. How does this film stay consistent with that?

 

A) On their journey to find the pearl, Alex and Colin learn lessons about friendship, loyalty and love that are just as valuable as the pearl itself.  Each of the supporting characters are wise and warm as well, so the lead characters are always learning something new.  And isn’t that what we all want in life?  To always be learning and loving?

 

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming Pearl in Paradise?

 

A) In addition to acting in the movie, I did double duty as the background actor casting director.  I teach acting through Tukuna Acting Club here in Suva, Fiji, so I was able to give some of my students the opportunity to get on set.  My friend Tami, whose kids go to LDS high school with my kids, grew up in Idaho and is a huge Hallmark fan – and was able to get on set as well. A bit of a dream come true for her, I think, which makes me happy. Finding background talent for the magazine scenes, which we filmed in the first week, was my first big task as background casting director.  I needed to find actors who looked like they would work in a metropolitan magazine (yes, the New York scenes were filmed in Fiji).  Walking onto set for my scenes and seeing the wonderful collection of background actors, who the costume and make-up team transformed magically into metropolitan New Yorkers, was an absolute thrill.  And to top it all off, Dina Gillespe, who plays our boss, is someone I know from Australia, so it was like coming home.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the movie that will draw viewers in?

 

A) Hallmark is so good at those “fish out of water” story lines, a la “When Calls the Heart,” where the lead female finds herself in a situation that is well outside of her comfort zone.  While Jill’s character is a little more adaptable, Kris’s character is not coping!  It’s hilarious.  But, also, the adventure element is so exciting.  We had a great stunt crew from New Zealand and the characters fall off cliffs, fall into rivers and get up to all sorts of adventure-based shenanigans.  (Not my character, but I got to work with a stunt crew in Fiji earlier in the year on another show, so it’s ok.) I think that these characters are going to be so well received and I hope they have other adventures together in the future.  And maybe they will take Ben with them next time!

 

Q) Will you be sharing any special snapshots or behind the scenes moments on social media while the movie airs?

 

A) Of course!  I LOVE to tweet during the shows I’m in (I think that is how we became aware of each other in the first place).  I know Jill Wagner will be on line during the show as well and Stan Spry, one of the producers, usually jumps in, too.  I can’t show you pics of my character before we go to air, but I’ll be sharing some Behind the Scenes nuggets during the show.  Then, you can check out my other social media accounts @mattyoungactor after the show airs, as I love to interact with my fans!

 

Q) This is your second movie for Hallmark. What have you taken away from your experiences being a part of the network?

 

A) I think Kristoffer Polaha put it best in an interview I listened to recently.  He was saying how the network brings back a staple of stars, who the audience get to know and love, much like the old Hollywood studio system.  It then gives the fans an opportunity to see their favorite actors play romances, or adventures, with other Hallmark stars and feel like they really know them.  And the supporting actors, like me, often get the opportunity to be in more than one film, so become familiar to the fans as well.  I hadn’t realized the exposure that these shows provide for their actors.  Jill Wagner jokes that people come up to her on the street and say, “I loved you in such and such Hallmark movie!” and she’ll think, “How did they know it was me?  I was wearing a ski mask the entire time?!”  I will be in North America in the later part of the year, to visit my parents for Thanksgiving, so I hope there is an opportunity for me to pop in and shoot a quick role on any Hallmark Christmas movie that may be shooting at that time?  I definitely don’t want Pearl in Paradise to be my last!

 

Q) What advice would you give to up and coming actors and actresses?

 

A) Be proactive.  Don’t expect that Hollywood is going to come knocking on your door.  I was able to get onto these films in Fiji, because I did my research, found out which production companies were producing them, sent e-mails, made phone calls and tried to be seen for the roles.  I made the production’s job easy by providing a local solution to their casting problem, without overstepping my bounds.  And when you do finally get on set as an extra, a stand-in, a crew member or an actor show up early and be kind to everyone. That person who is sewing a button onto your shirt, providing snacks for the cast or driving you to set may be the person who recommends you for your next job.  Be humble and grateful to take part in this wonderful gift of an entertainment industry.