So we’re talking about a trilogy here, and each film is so distinct and different. How did you tackle your characters because each film setting is different, the decade and the time period are all so different. How were you able to get into character for these?
Benjie: I feel like for me, I just tried to become Josh the best way I could, um, just by reading the script and trying to understand where he comes from and just become more familiar with him. And I feel like we already had a lot of similarities, so I just had to tap into those. The setting that we would film in just made it a lot easier and more comfortable for me to just become the character. It’s not that hard when you got to wear the wardrobe and then you got to go live in the house and you know, it becomes all pretty easy after all that stuff clicks into play. Yeah.
Kiana: I feel like we were blessed with such a great team. Literally everyone from the cast and crew, they cared so much and they were so detailed oriented in terms of wardrobe, like Benji said and set decoration and the props that we use and just the world that they created for us to act in and the space that we were provided really helped make our jobs so much easier And that also helped because, like you said, we had to time travel and play two different characters. So when it came down to doing the movie in the 1600s, we were actually filming in a village that they built for us as a set. And we had a dialect coach working with us to make sure that we were dipped into character in that way. And just so many great people around us that really, they were so collaborative. It helped us so much.
Olivia: I’m so excited and impressed too. Like for the 1600s movie I feel like everyone, even the crew and our makeup artists, everyone read a book about the witch trials. Everyone was looking at actual, historical, not like lore or anything. People were reading books of non-fiction about that time period. And it was so cool to see everybody, everyone be so ready and like immersed in that world and ready to shoot that movie. So that was really cool.
As a viewer, it was so exciting to see very distinct time periods. How much did you enjoy that? And was there a particular thing that you discovered about a specific time period that you didn’t know before, working on this trilogy?
Kiana: Oh, yeah. It was incredibly enjoyable. Really like an actor’s dream to be able to tell a story that is really one big story, but inside of it, we were able to time travel and play multiple characters in the same world. So that was really exciting and really enjoyable.
Olivia: I feel like I learned so much about both time periods.
Kiana: Yeah, definitely. And also, I think an interesting thing that we learned is that even though the movies spanned over 300 years, history really has a way of repeating itself. The things that these characters were facing in the 1600s hundreds were the same things that they were facing to an extent in 1994 and 1978. So that was really interesting to see.
The films get pretty intense. What was the atmosphere like on set?
Olivia: I feel like it depended on the day, but sometimes we were trying to like stay in it and stay on the days where we had really like emotional stuff. We tried to stay in it, but I feel like everyone was so close that we couldn’t help but have a really great time.
Benjie: Yeah. We’re all like family.
Kiana: I think the fact that we were so close and thank God we had such great chemistry, we were able to still have fun and be positive when they said ‘cut.’ And also when they said ‘action,’ easily dive back into the circumstances. That’s always the best because otherwise it’s just exhausting. You know, I don’t even think it’s like healthy necessarily, me personally, to film three horror films back to back to back, and only feel intense the whole time.
Benjie: Yeah, oh boy. Definitely.
Olivia: But it was such a safe place where it could be, oh, we’re gonna joke around and be goofy right now. But then I’m going to have to cry in five minutes, and it’s not going to feel awkward. That’s what we’re doing.
What’s the most fun and scariest scene that you had to do?
Benjie: The scariest scene, I would have to say the end of 1666 and when we’re in the mall, just because that’s where a lot of stuff goes down. No spoiler alerts, but a lot happens in the mall. And I feel like that was probably the scariest for me.
Kiana: Not giving any spoilers away, it’s hard to think of the scariest scene, but there were moments where we were faced with multiple killers at once. And that was scary because you kind of have to watch your back at every angle. And the killers were all just like they performed so well, they all moved in very specific ways and they were all creepy in their own ways. So like having them all in the same space, those scenes were really creepy
Olivia: I thought the hospital scenes were so creepy because there’s so much gore in them and it was practical and happening right in front of us. And I remember being like, this is a lot of blood. This is like a lot of blood that we’re seeing right here! And that was really scary.
This one’s for Benj. Without giving too much away, your character has something he tells himself when he gets scared. What about you, when you’re in a tough spot or you find yourself really terrified, do you do something similar?
Benjie: I usually just stop and try to talk to God, honestly. Pray. That’s how I find peace if I’m in a stressful situation or something I can’t figure out, I don’t have the answers to. I know He’s got the answers for me so I can talk to Him.
So if there was a scary noise outside that wakes you up in the middle of the night, will you really go out there and investigate it?
Olivia: I’ll look out the window. I’m not going outside!
Benjie: Yeah, I don’t really see the need to go outside and be like, oh, what’s going on?
Kiana: [laughs] Yeah. I think if it was just a scary noise, it’s not enough. I’ve heard cats. Outdoor cats at nighttime make some scary noises, and does not make me want to go outside and see them. It makes me just wanna…
Benjie: Just stay in bed!
Kiana: Yeah, just stay in bed!
Benjie: …and tuck up even more.
Olivia: Yeah, exactly!
Benjie: The blankets will protect me!
Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is now streaming on Netflix, with Part 2: 1978 premiering on July 9 and Part 3: 1666 on July 16.
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Homestream image photo credit: Courtesy of Netflix / Amy Sussman
