IN CONVERSATION WITH KRISTIAN VENTURA
interview by JANA LETONJA
Filipino-American actor Kristian Ventura is starring as the male lead of popular TV series ‘School Spirits’, which just returned for its second season. Kristian's leading role as Simon Elroy positioned him as one of the industry's most sought-out young actors today.
‘School Spirits’ has been a breakout show, and your character Simon plays a crucial role. What initially drew you to this role?
When I first auditioned, all of his sides were comedy. They were three light-hearted scenes and I thought “Why? Levity is not the heart of this character. It’s his grief”. And so I took a scene where he admits how much he misses his dead best friend and asked my agent to send that tape to casting. I just wanted to present him in a more complete way. That’s what drew me, how much he cares, the way he stands up to people. I loved that Simon’s strength came from a really weak, sad part of him. I’m told that for all later rounds of callbacks, the casting director officially changed the audition to that scene for other actors to read.
At the start of this season, Maddie has to convince you that you’re not crazy and she is in fact a ghost. What’s playing his insanity like?
Simon has a photo of her, which is proof she’s alive. And proof is all he can hold onto. How do you tell someone their evidence is invalid? For him to believe Maddie, he would have to ignore his own sense. So what’s stronger than your mind? Well, there’s love. He has to jump from pragmatism to soul. It’s like in Athens when Socrates was put to trial. He could have pled for mercy and been rational and try to work his way out of it, but he said “Okay, kill me. I choose my teachings, I choose my heart”. Socrates was willing to die for his principles because the heart outweighs reason.
Season 2 premiered to massive success, with viewership skyrocketing. Did you expect such a strong response from audiences?
No, it was surprising. I had my fair share of grocery story run-in’s where fans asked me when the next season would be released. One time in a drive-thru, the employee wouldn’t give me my food until I answered. And I saw their eyes whenever they talk about the show and it’s so honest. I can’t explain it. ‘School Spirits’ has a great fan base, I think they’re wonderful people.
Your character, Simon, carries a lot of emotional weight in the show. How do you prepare for those heavy scenes?
I treat every line the writers give me like sustenance, I never want to alter them. Not even adding an “and” or “like.” When I avoid inserting myself so quickly, I find that to be the key to better understanding. And I read the script over and over until my eyes can barely open. And when it’s time to film, and Simon feels something deeply, so do I.
The show blends mystery, supernatural elements, and drama. Which aspect do you enjoy most as an actor?
I think those are all just a way in. Those elements are a style of speaking, but at the core, the writers have a thesis. And I found the thesis to be about people who love each other. They go through supernatural torture because they care. I guess what I enjoy most is their tender moments, their little endings here and there. Confessions, rage, pleading, breakdowns, these moments shave everything down, brings us to our miniature hearts. The tension of the mystery builds and you find out that you’re following this journey only to discover that amidst all the commotion, their pain and desire is universal.
You get pretty physical towards the end of the season. How did you enjoy the stunts?
I wish there were more. It was one of the highlights of filming. Simon knows how to get himself into a fight. I enjoy working with a stunt coordinator. I’d love to do more physical roles in the future, stories that are action-packed. I enjoy boxing and love sparring quite regularly.
You graduated from USC with a BFA in acting in 2021. How has your training shaped your approach to your performances?
Theatre training helped accelerate my understanding of literature. As a student, you read these brilliant plays and over time, you feel this bright bubble glowing underneath the whole thing begging to be discovered. And you do your best to find “the idea.” You expose yourself to Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller because of their ideas. It’s all about the idea. Without understanding the idea, the actor can’t give it to others. A Shakespeare sonnet at first seems like a blob of unrelatable text, but when you eventually crack it, you can’t let go of it because his ideas are so precious and large and beautiful. That glow and what it unfolds to is what I look for in scripts.
What are your absolute favorite things about the craft of acting?
I guess I love the chance to be precise with what the writer went through hell for. To communicate things accurately. Again, it’s “the idea.” Because I want to be spot-on with what is needed to tell the story, and you can’t simplify the script just to make it easier for you to perform as an actor. You have to strive and envelop their ideas and communicate them without any impurities or debris, exactly the effect that must be intended. The right voice, the right percentage, the right way, at the right time. It’s the bullseye.
Who are some of your favorite actors today and why?
Julia Garner for how she stretches. Carey Mulligan for how attuned she is to how people are. Colin Farrell for his playfulness. Tom Hardy for his courage. Anthony Hopkins for his accuracy. There are so many elusive actors. I’m just so fascinated by Benicio del Toro. And I think Mark Rylance is a gift to the world.
Who are some of your favorite directors today and why?
Derek Cianfrance for his understanding of what happens when you lose. The Wachowski Sisters for making ‘Cloud Atlas’. David Fincher for how each of his scenes can really be made a book. Martin Scorsese for how he always decides to show us the full span of life. And Denis Villeneuve for how he raises my heart rate.
Are there any dream roles you’re hoping to take on?
I think a movie about Adam & Eve would be incredible to make.
CREDITS:
photography BEN COPE
