Mercedes Morris – Couple-ish

By starrymag | December 17, 2015

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) What was it like working with the cast of “Couple-ish?”

A) The cast, even down to the sound men and the camera men made it really fun to put it together.

Q) The cast has grown so close so quickly.

A) Even though we all don’t live close to one another, we’re able to easily check in. “How are you doing? How is that project going? I saw you in this!” It’s been really nice.

Q) There is a smaller cast to “Couple-ish” than most web series. Did that enable you to become closer more quickly?

A) For sure! We actually call ourselves “The Core Four.” It’s Kaitlyn [Alexander], Sharon [Belle], Nicholas [Potter] and I. We just love hanging out even when it doesn’t even involve shooting. We have a close bond. We love talking, listening to music and cracking jokes. We all have such a great sense of humor. So, we’re all very close. I went to school with Kaitlyn and Nicholas. We graduated from the same theater program. They are a year above me, but that’s how we knew each ohter really well.

Q) How did you get involved in working on “Couple-ish?”

A) That’s how I got involved  with “Couple-ish.” Kaitlyn messaged me and asked if I’d be interested in auditioning for this role that they created. I went in and had a blast in the audition room. Now we’re here!

Q) What was it like for you watching the trailer for the series?

A) I got the chance to watch a few of the episodes. You could feel the energy radiating from the screen because we’re so close we know each other so well. I feel like that just makes everything so much better. I knew Sharon the least coming into “Couple-ish,” but we’re very close now. The chemistry that we created through working together is amazing. I’ll ship it! I hope people love it as much as we loved working on it. Even I was shocked by the trailer. There is lightness and darkness and ups and downs. The characters really have so many layers that they are all really rounded.

Q) Talk about the chemistry between you and Sharon (Rachel and Amy).

A) I might just make you watch it and see how that came together. I can say that, personally, it wasn’t challenging to play Amy, but it was different. Amy is pansexual so you can see that Rachel brings something different out of her. It almost makes Amy more real and grounds Amy. It mellows Amy out a bit in a way that makes her almost more real. She brings out a different vibe of that character. She’s always the life of the party, funny, outgoing and always having a blast. When you meet someone you have an instant connection to that is how I can really explain that dynamic. They have a beautiful connection.

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

A) To be honest with you, there were a lot of things. I instantly connected with Amy to the point where it was so natural. People would say, “Mercedes, the cameras are rolling. It’s okay.” I was like, “This is who I am!” If a word was off, even just a little bit, I would say, “Amy wouldn’t say it like that.” I would run it by Kaitlyn and Kristen (the director) and they would say, “Mercedes, we trust you. You have got this. You are Amy and if you feel that that’s going to work better for the character then boom! Go ahead!” I felt really comfortable playing Amy and I also got to be creative and playful. It was a blast! There was one scene that we were able to work on that was highly improv based and that was amazing! It’s probably one of my favorite episodes just because of how playful we were being with each other. I got to spearhead that episode. I took the lead and everyone followed suit. It was awesome!

Q) With a webseries, you are filming under a short time constraint because they are so short on film time. What was that experience like for you?

A) A little bit more time can be great, but sometimes having a constraint or time limit helps you because you know what you have to get done in a certain amount of time. That just pushes you to give your best takes and best delivery as soon as possible. We filmed twenty-two episodes in a week and people were like, “Whoa! That’s crazy!” We arrived every morning with goals and with our sights set on a finish line. So, we pushed hard and worked hard and the payoff has been great, too. We have editors and cold writers and what not who were very involved even throughout the filming to make sure a lot of the key aspects (very important story points) didn’t get lost. I don’t feel like if we had more time it would have been more spectacular. It’s amazing. It’s great what we were able to package and tie up neatly in a bow.

Q) The show was started through Kickstarter. What was it like for you?

A) I did some mission work in Ghana with my mother so I’m used to going out there and pitching what I’m passionate about. That doesn’t really involve end perks. People are thankful for your support, but here is some extra special things for you. It’s been great doing “Couple-ish” and we did a live stream. That was amazing! The fun never stops! I’m really grateful for “Couple-ish” for allowing me to do that because I appreciate the fans and supporters so much. I realize how important the role is that they play and I’m so grateful.

Q) The series has representation of various sexualities. Why is that important to you?

A) That’s a beautiful thing for me, as a person of a color (#POC). I have a younger brother who is gay. He looks up to me, this character and this show so much because representation for the LGBTQ community is already limited and then the representation of people of color within that community is even more limited. So, to have a part in it and having a character that is so proud of her sexuality and who she is as a person is amazing for other people of color out there. I feel really proud to be able to play that role for them. I know that I have seen some posts on tumblr giving a shoutout to Mercedes and “Couple-ish” for having a person of color. It warms my heart! It’s really special and I thank Kaitlyn all the time for allowing me to be a part of this project.

Q) What is your favorite aspect of portraying Amy?

A) I love how brave and confident she is. She is so bold in all of her choices. It’s a “take it or leave it” attitude she has. I think it is important to know yourself well enough to not want to have to change or conform to other peoples’ opinions. I just love how bold and strong Amy is for sure.

Q) You are an amazing singer. What is something fans be interested to learning about you that they might not know?

A) I love to try everything. I feel like that’s just like Amy. She’s willing to dip her feet in every pond. I did a lot of athletics growing up. That’s been really cool. I feel like I want to get back into the sports realm. I love musicals, which is where I started out. I started singing when I was growing up and then my mom told me, “You should go to an arts school and take this talent even further.” So, I went to Westford Collegiate School For The Arts and started doing musicals. I really liked the acting thing and decided to pursue that. That’s what I went to University for and I’m starting to do musicals again. I’m working on a musical now called Heart of Steel. It’s part of a festival, The Next Stage Festival, coming in January. It’s been great getting to work on that. It’s the Canadian professional premiere of the musical. I love being on stage. I love being behind the camera, but I also love being on stage. I’m really happy that I have a lot of supporters who are behind me doing both.

Q) What was it like for you being a part of Buffer Festival?

A) That was definitely amazing! There was a seat with my name on it and it was such a cool experience. I think next year will probably be a little different for me. This year I was known for “Mercedes in the upcoming ‘Coupleish.'” So, as much as people knew my name they didn’t really know my work. They hadn’t seen me in things. So, the response for Kaitlyn and Sharon being in “Carmilla,” I was like let me sit back and observe that to see how much love was being outpoured from “Carmilla” fans and now “Couple-ish.” So, next year they will know more about me and I will get to reciprocate that kind of bond that are there from the supporters. It was also amazing meeting so many different YouTube stars. Everyone was so approachable and fun. I had an amazing time at that festival!

Q) What are the overarching themes you hope fans take away from watching “Couple-ish?”

A) That’s a good one! I hope that fans take away that sometimes being you is scary, but you have to push through it. You have to be brave and take chances. That’s when it pays off even more because you are staying true to who you are. I think all of the characters in “Couple-ish” stay true to who they are. They learn from others and they grow, but they are always true to themselves. It’s really beautiful and you see this light, this aura, that radiates from everyone because there is a certain beauty about being yourself. I hope they are inspired to just go out there and be proud of who they are.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about you and your work on “Couple-ish?”

A) I hope that everyone loves it and subscribes and shares it so it can grow and then we can become unionized. We were discussing representation and it’s very tough sometimes to get actors of color because they are often a part of the union. If you are to watch “Couple-ish,” you might say, “Well, they had some people of color, but we want even more.” The way for us to get even more is for us to be unionized. So, the more support the series has the more representation we will be able to bring into the series if there is a second, third or fourth season. Support it and that’s how we will all grow. I know the only way for us to show more representation is to have a union.