IFH 808: Behind the Screams: How Shae Smolik Brought The Hatred to Life!
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Just go to www.nextlevelsoul.tv. Next Level Soul TV, where your soul goes to grow. You are listening to the IFH Podcast Network. For more amazing filmmaking and screenwriting podcasts, just go to ifhpodcastnetwork.com. Welcome to the Indie Film Hustle Podcast, episode number 808. Cinema should make you forget you're sitting in a theater. Roman Polanski.

Broadcasting from the back alley in Hollywood, it's the Indie Film Hustle Podcast, where we show you how to survive and thrive as an indie filmmaker in the jungles of the film biz. And here's your host, Alex Ferrari. Welcome, welcome to another episode of the Indie Film Hustle Podcast. I am your humble host, Alex Ferrari. Today's show is sponsored by Rise of the Filmtrepreneur, how to turn your independent film into a profitable business.

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Hey, Shay, thank you so much for coming on the show. Thank you for having me. You know, Shay, I usually ask everybody if they've ever went to film school, but you're 10 years old and you're not at that college level yet. Not yet. So I'm going to change the question just a little bit and ask, you know, what got you into the film industry? Have you always had a love for acting, you know, as you were growing up? Well, actually, I am from Iowa, and I started this...

here in Iowa called the Peak Agency and with him and then he said I think he'd be yeah it's a new commercial I got a few commercials hey Shay I'm sorry I think the call just dropped a little bit we said go to LA so now we're going back and forth from LA and that's how I got started hey Shay I'm sorry I think the call just dropped there for a second it just it seems can you hear me okay

Yes. Okay, excellent. I'm sorry. It seemed to be it just dipped there for a second. I'm very sorry. Would you mind just answering that question again? I apologize. Yeah, of course. So I hear in Iowa called the peak agency. And then he said you should get started with a few. So you should go to a bigger market. So then he said you should go to Chicago. A couple of commercials and a couple of little.

We go back and he says, you should go to a much, much bigger market. So then he says, you need to go to LA if you want to. So now we're in LA going back and forth. Shay, I'm sorry to interrupt. I think the call just cut out again. I'm very sorry. If you could hear me, I'm going to go do one quick thing. And I'm going to try to establish a better connection. I'm not sure if it's just maybe the call reception, but I will be right back. Okay.

Hey, Shay, I'm back. Sorry about that. I actually just changed a setting really quickly. And I also connected to my router directly. So hopefully that'll be a little bit better. Okay. Okay, cool. So I'm sorry. Can we try that one more time? I'm just, I'll feed you the same. It's like being on a film set, right? We're doing multiple takes. Yeah. So, so, so Shay, you know, you know,

Obviously, I always ask everyone how they got started, and since you're not old enough to be in college yet, were you always interested in acting, even from an early age? I was. I started here in Iowa, because this is where I was born and from. I started with a little agency here in Iowa. I started modeling with them. Then I started to get more into acting. I did a couple commercials here, and then...

He says, if you want to go to a bigger market, you can go to Chicago. So now that's like a five-hour away trip from Iowa. So then sometimes we drive out there to do some commercial auditions and TV auditions. And then he said, if you want to really pursue your dream, you need to go to a much bigger market. So then we went out to L.A., and I got a couple commercials and then some TV shows and then online things. And then he says...

Yeah, now we go back and forth from L.A. to Iowa. Nine months out of the year, we're in L.A. So what was it like when your first time going out to L.A. at such a young age? What were your impressions of the whole city?

My impressions were, you know, it's such a big city that it's so busy and there's a lot of trash there. And it's not like Iowa at all, not one single bit. So I was really, I was kind of nervous because I had never been to that big of a state before. And yeah, so he, so I was very nervous and, but then I got into it more and now I like it there.

So when you go around, it was dirty there. Yeah, I mean, because it is. I mean, you know, I, you know, L.A. is, you know, I had a friend who went out there one time and she actually went out there for business and she said, Dave, it was so smoggy out there. Yes, it gets very smoggy out there.

So as you're going to all these auditions, Shay, what are some of the things that you're noticing? Do you sort of have a game plan? For instance, you mentioned these commercials. Do you sort of know exactly what you want to do before you get in there, or do you spontaneously just want to come up with something right on the spot? I just come up with something right on the spot. So if I'm thinking of an emotion in my head, that's what I would do in the audition.

Oh, so that's actually pretty cool. It's interesting to hear that because I sometimes hear actors, they think about all this stuff so much and then they sort of overthink this, if you know what I mean. And they get into the audition and they're nervous and they, you know what I mean? So it's always good being able to come off the cuff like that. It's just, it's a great skill to have. Yes.

So, you know, thank you. Oh, my, my, my pleasure, Shay. So when, when you're going along to these auditions and stuff like that, do you, do you ever get nervous at all? Shay? Cause honestly, I've been talking to you. I don't think you do, but I'm just going to ask anyway.

I don't because I know if I mess up, I can always go back line. And it's not the end of the world if I mess up or anything. It's just I won't book that. And if I mess up, that's okay. There's always another audition that I can do. And yeah, so I never, ever get nervous.

So, Shay, you study with some acting coaches out in L.A., and what were some of the things that you've worked on with them? What were some of the things that really, when you're going through all these different courses or workshops or classes, what are some of the things that stand out that you've taken away that you've really added to your acting career? Getting emotional is something that I'm really good at, so crying on set and crying

Really getting into that emotional state is what I'm pretty good at it. And that's what my coaches helped me with.

So, and, and honestly, it's good, you know, having these coaches in your life, you know, you see the importance of having the people who've actually done it and coming out and, and, and sort of, you know, guiding you through this. So, so Shay, as you started to get these commercials and, and, and different parts, were you ever, when you got on set, were you maybe even the first time, were you ever just a little bit nervous or maybe just even a little bit taken aback by just maybe the scale of some of these productions?

Yeah, just seeing all those big cameras. I was nervous for the first ever time I did book a commercial. Just seeing all the people around and seeing all the big lights and the cameras and the whole set was very nerve wracking for me because, you know, it's my first ever time seeing those things.

So on your IMDb, you know, one of the first things that you have is a flow and Evelyn, which is a web series. So, you know, just, just doing a web series like that, you know, what, what were some of the memories that you took away? You know, being that, uh, that was, I guess it was your first web series at the time. Yeah, I really, it's just meeting new friends and doing what you love is just taken away by the memories because it's amazing to meet new friends, to be on set with everyone. And it's awesome. Yeah.

So when you're on set, Shay, do you I mean, because I don't know if there maybe is a lot of other, you know, people like, you know, kids your age. So maybe there's just a lot of different maybe adults or something like that. So when you're on set and I'm asking this question because of a lot of, you know, maybe parents who want to get their kids into acting or maybe even, you know, kids your age, we're going to listen to this episode. You know, what what is it like on set? You know, maybe if if there isn't someone your age on set with you.

We'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. And now back to the show.

Well, you just kind of act like the other person is a kid. It's not that big of a deal, even though you have a set teacher there, and she is kind of like the kid to you. She plays games with you. She teaches you school. So our set teacher is kind of like a kid to us. But all of the other actors, you just kind of roll with it, and you don't really get fazed by it because, you know, it may not be a kid, but it's still a teenager or grown-up, and you still...

talk to them and act with them. So you still have to get in the character with them. That is an excellent answer, by the way, Shay. I never thought of it like that.

So as we as we go along with your with your acting career, you know, you said you spent you were going back and forth between Iowa and L.A. You know, was there ever a point where you started to maybe even say to yourself, like, wow, all I'm doing is, you know, spending so much time in L.A. because you've had a lot of roles over the past couple of years. So was ever that was there ever a time where you're like, you know, maybe, you know, saying, wow, I'm spending so much time out here in L.A. It's like time just flying by.

Yes. My past like two years have flown by so fast because I've been filming and it's just so amazing that time can fly that fast when you're having fun. And that's good. You're having fun. You know, that's one of the things, right? You know, filmmaking and acting and doing all this wonderful creative stuff. It's supposed to be fun at the end of the day.

It is. And you have to think of that as it as not just being on set. It's having fun and not just being on set. You aren't just filming. You're having fun.

So when you finally got the audition for The Hatred, and again, I want to talk about the movie The Hatred, obviously, because this movie's coming out September the 12th. Yes. And I don't know, by the way, Shay, before I ask you this question, I want to ask you another question. Do you know that the trailer's over like 12 million views or something like, something ridiculous? Oh my gosh, it's like awesome. It's like gone viral. It's so cool. Yeah.

That's 15 million views. It's unbelievable. I mean, because you're in the trailer front and center. And I was showing people the trailer and I'm like, my gosh, these guys have got 15 million views already. I know. It's so awesome.

Yeah, it's unbelievable. And I'm so, so happy for you guys. And I'm so happy for everyone on production. And I wanted to ask about, you know, the hatred. And so when you're auditioning for something like that, it's obviously a horror movie. Was there ever any... Maybe, you know, maybe you had second thoughts or anything about auditioning? Because, I mean...

It is a horror movie and maybe it would just be a little – I mean I don't – it's a little bit different than maybe doing commercials and web series. So did you just want to try something different or were you just basically thinking to yourself maybe I should just go for this because it's different? This is what I'm trying to say.

I was just thinking, I need to go for this one. I know it's going to be a good one. And I know that this will be big. So I need this lead role. So when you had the audition for The Hatred, you know, again, you know, as you just told me, you come up with things on the spot. But what was your audition like, you know, for The Hatred in front of the casting director and in front of Mike?

Oh, well, first I read the script and I was like, wow, this script is awesome. I need to book this. This is awesome. I'm the lead role. So I went in and I met Michael and I was like, whoa, if he's a director, he is so nice. He's like the nicest person in the world. Then I did it. And then he's like, hey, we took lots of lunch. It was so fun. He's such a nice guy. And I loved it. It was a great audition.

And I'm glad you had a blast. Cause yeah, Mike is a really, really cool guy. A really cool guy to meet. Cause he and I met. That was Malik. Oh, cool. You met Malik too. That's awesome. I did.

So, yeah, because I'm actually going to have Mike has already been on the show before and I'm going to have Malik on soon enough. I'm I'm interviewing pretty much everybody from the hatred. So if you name something. Yeah. So I'm going to put this all together in separate interview. You're going to love it when it's done. It's going to be this really, really cool insight into a into a movie about from beginning to end. So I wanted to ask Touche, how did you hear about the audition for the hatred?

Well, my mom called me and said, hey, Shay, you have an audition for a horror film. And this is when I was with my babysitter at the time because my mom was working. And she goes, Shay, you have a audition for a horror film. And I'm like, I've never been on a horror film before. And it was my first ever feature film.

So I was really excited. I went into the audition very happy and energetic. And then I got into that character. And then I heard I got a call back. I was like, oh, my gosh, maybe this is my big film. And then I got pinned for it, which means it's between me and probably two or three other girls. And then they called me and they said, you booked me.

it and me and my mom were like yay we were just so excited

So, I mean, and you obviously, you know, you got the part and, you know, you're front and center in the trailer. So I wanted to ask you when you're actually on set the first day and you're filming. And again, this is a horror movie and this is a really, really interesting, really cool horror movie. You know, was there ever a time where you were on set and you were like, wow, this is this is getting like, you know, pretty intense?

Yeah, when we were filming that scene where I was on top of the bed and yet you look under there and it was stormy outside and then you look up and there's the monster. I was actually kind of scared for that because it's like that person's going to get me. But besides that, I was not scared.

scared because you're friends with the people who are on set. You're friends with the scary monster. They're talking about their kids. You know, they're just a normal person and yet they are very creepy. So...

That's not me.

And they look up and the other you on top of the bed is now a monster. Yeah, I mean, that is I've noticed that, too, with the number of some of the comments like, oh, my gosh, you know, look at that. That's so cool. And so with you being, you know, front and center in the trailer, have you been getting noticed? I mean, we just mentioned the trailer going viral, like 15 million views. So are people noticing, you know, Shay, like, are you walking down the street and people are like, hey, isn't that that little girl from the from the hatred?

They don't really say anything. They just kind of look at me like stunned. And I'm like, hey. And yeah, people have been noticing me a lot more. It's one of those things. They probably know where you're from. Like, is that that girl from The Hatred? I think it's that girl who turns into a monster. Yeah. So, Zosia, when you were filming The Hatred, I want to ask, what were one of your favorite moments from filming The Hatred? Hmm. Filming it? Well...

I like the bed scene where I'm on top of the bed and then, or the hide and seek scene where the monster is like behind me yet. I don't know it. And then I turn around and then I kind of see her with my side eye, but that was pretty cool. So, so have you gotten a chance yet? Shay, have you seen a final cut of the film yet? I have at the premiere and this movie is very scary.

I was like closing my eyes halfway through the film, yet I was in it. So, yeah, it was very scary.

Yeah, you took the words right out of my mouth. That's exactly what I was going to say. I was like, you're in the film and you're feeling the same as the audience, which is so key. You're feeling that experience that the audience is going to feel. And so I wanted to ask Touche, as we talk about the hatred, what are some of the things that you hope people take away from it? Whether in terms of something that you've done in there, like your acting, or maybe even something with the movie. Is there anything that you hope that audiences walk away from the film with?

Yes, I hope they walk away with the doggy door scene where I scream no. And I feel like that was a really heart part of the movie because, you know, I'm my...

Best friend, not my best friend, but you know, she's becoming my best friend, my babysitter. The person who is taking care of me now is getting drug away by the scary person. And which is like horrifying because you know that she probably isn't going to make it out alive. Luckily she did, but I scream no. And that is a really emotional part of the movie. So I hope they take that away with them.

So, Shay, that's going to be awesome. I can't wait to actually check out this movie, by the way. We'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. And now, back to the show. And I wanted to also ask as a follow-up to that, we've talked a lot about you acting and moving from Iowa to L.A. So I wanted to ask, too, Shay, is...

What advice would you have for, you know, maybe a child actor, maybe your age or maybe even a little older? What would you ask or I'm sorry, what would you tell them if they were to ask you, you know, do you have any advice for child actors that just want to that want to get started? I would say be yourself. Don't go into the audition being someone else that you aren't. Be yourself. Be your fun self. Don't be someone else. Just be yourself.

And, you know, that is awesome advice, Shay. And like you said before, how you were, you know, just just calling the audition and and, you know, you can do it right then and there. And it's true, though, you have to have that good personality. You have to, you know, have the ability to do the character. And like you said to Shay, you had a good piece of advice. You know, there's always another audition. Right. And if you do if you do happen to mess up, there's always another audition. Right.

Yes. There's always another audition out there for you. It's not the end of the world if you mess up on one line. You just start back at the beginning of the line and just go on with it and act like you never messed up. And if you do mess up, there's always another audition. So, Shay, when The Hatred comes out on September the 12th, how are you going to celebrate? Are you going to watch the movie on Blu-ray? Are you going to call your friends over and have them watch it with you or something like that?

We're probably going to have a little viewing party. That's awesome. I'm probably going to have a viewing party, too, at my house. I'm in here in Philadelphia, by the way. Oh, wow. Yeah. So Philadelphia, it's a – I mean, do you have a perception of Philadelphia, Shea?

So, cause sometimes I, sometimes people find out I'm from Philly and they, they started asking me questions like, did you guys really do this or that? You know, it's just, you know, the, the city, you know how sports teams are and you know, all that, all that stuff. But, but just to get back to acting, I just want to ask Jay, you know, in closing, is there anything that we didn't get to discuss or anything that you wanted to discuss or, or even just to say, just to sort of put a period at the end of this whole conversation?

No, not much. Not anything. Cool. You know, Shay, it's been an absolute pleasure talking with you. And I just want to ask, I have one final question, and that is, where can people find you on social media? At Shay Smolik, S-H-A-E-S-M-O-L-I-K, on Musical.ly and Instagram.

And I will link to all of that, everyone, in the show notes at DaveBullis.com. Twitter, it's at Dave underscore Bullis. Shay, I want to say thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Oh, my pleasure, Shay. You know, I am just, you know, you're such a great interview, by the way. I just want to mention that.

Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you so much. Oh, my pleasure, Shay. Have a great night. And again, I'm going to be talking to you soon because you're going to see me tagging your social media all over the place. So when I'm promoting the hatred and stuff like this. So we'll be talking again on social media. All righty, perfect. Thank you for having me and have a great day. Thank you so much, Shay. You do the same. Bye.

I want to thank Dave so much for doing such a great job on this episode. If you want to get links to anything we spoke about in this episode, head over to the show notes at indiefilmhustle.com forward slash 808. And if you haven't already, please head over to filmmakingpodcast.com, subscribe and leave a good review for the show. It really helps us out a lot, guys. Thank you again so much for listening, guys. As always, keep that hustle going, keep that dream alive. Stay safe out there, and I'll talk to you soon.

Thanks for listening to the Indie Film Hustle podcast at IndieFilmHustle.com. That's I-N-D-I-E-F-I-L-M-H-U-S-T-L-E.com.