Our friends over at the hit teen webseries “Anyone But Me” are throwin’ a party! It’s a Web-a-Thon, let’s make enough cash to fund Season 3 party! I thought a chat with Rachael Hip-Flores (Vivian) would be a great way to kick things off. The Web-a-Thon starts today at 4:00pm EST at www.AnyoneButMeSeries.com but you can check out my chat with Rachael right now!
Rachael, what is this show for you?
Rachael Hip-Flores: “Anyone But Me” is pretty much the best thing that can happen to an actor. Not only am I working with extremely talented and dedicated people on a regular basis, but I also get to do work that actually means something to a lot of people. For me, it’s a cross between a ton of fun when we’re on set filming (and, of course, the promotional stuff like the Web-a-Thon) and this sort of beautiful sense of…I want to say responsibility, but that’s a too heavy a word…it’s a strange sort of security, knowing that you’re doing something that matters. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever expected that feeling from a career in acting, but I’m certainly thankful that it’s happened!
What does playing Vivian mean to you?
RHF: Oh man! Playing Viv is completely fun and completely painful! She’s almost as awkward as I was in high school, and it’s kind of a masochistic joy to go back and go through it all again. I love Vivian because Tina Cesa Ward and Susan Miller give her such humanity and vulnerability, that, reading a script, you know exactly where she’s coming from. She’s very much at my emotional core, who I am at my most vulnerable, and it’s scary and exciting to get to play a character like that.
What type of response have you received personally? Letters, email, etc.
RHF: I’ve received the best response I think a girl could hope for. I get Facebook messages every day from people all over the world telling me how much they love the show, how it’s changed them – wonderful words of encouragement. Like I said, I didn’t really expect to be able to reach so many people in such an intimate way starting out (or ever, if you want to know the truth of it) and it’s such a boon to be have such an immediate and loyal community built around ABM. This whole internet thing? It’s kind of remarkable!
How do you feel ABM makes a difference?
RHF: Honestly, I think the most fundamental way ABM makes a difference is that it makes people feel less alone. I wish I could tell you the number of people who have written to me saying that they live in a place where being out means being marginalized and that ABM is one of, if not the only outlet they have to explore their feelings. On the other hand, there are also messages from people saying that they’ve actually come out because of the show, and that that has strengthened their relationships with loved ones. Honestly, I think the love that has very clearly gone into the creation of ABM allows it to reach and connect with people on a level that not a lot of mainstream shows achieve, and the fans pretty obviously respond to that.
Why is it important to have portrayals of LGBT teens out there?
RHF: Oh man. Because, whether people want to acknowledge it or not, sexuality is such a huge part of being a teenager, and when you’re growing up and figuring yourself out, I think, for the most part, all you’re looking for is people that are like you, who are going to help you grow up and figure yourself out. If you don’t see anyone out there who has the same questions, insecurities, passions that you do, the vast majority of us will quash all those differences out of ourselves and end up as different people than who we’re meant to be; and I think that’s just a tragedy.
Has Nicole played an important part in how you portray Vivian? After all, she has really nice lips so I’m sure that’s pretty important!
RHF: AW NICOLE!!! [big grin!] Seriously, I love Nicole so much that playing her girlfriend is a breeze! She’s so open and honest, both as a person and as an actor that it’s completely easy to fall in love with her, build a relationship with her, and just allow whatever is happening between the two of us on screen to happen. She does get lip gloss all over my face every time we make out, and we have had rather heated disagreements about the new Star Wars trilogy, but I guess nobody’s perfect 😉
Do you know anything about Season 3, can you give us a sneak peak? What would you like to see happen in Season 3 with Vivian and Aster? Should Vivian explore other relationships?
RHF: I know absolutely nothing about season 3, not even enough for a sneak peek! I have to be totally honest, I know I’m going to upset a lot of Vivsters out there, but I would be so interested to see what the non-romantic Vivian and Aster are like together. JUST FOR A SECOND. What kind of exes would they be? Friends? Bittersweet frienemies? Would one constantly be trying to talk to the other who just couldn’t handle it (and which would be which?) I’d love to see what Viv is like in other relationships because I think they’d be a growing experience for her, but the romantic in me really does want to see Aster and Vivian together in the end 🙂
Who do you think should guest star on ABM? What type of role would he/she have? Who would be your dream choice?
RHF: Well, ideally we’d find out that Vivian is, in fact, a Vulcan (how could we not have known, with those ears?) and then Zachary Quinto shows up as Spock, to help me – er, her – navigate these “emotions” and perhaps outfit me with a laser gun… But I get the feeling that would alienate (pun!) a few viewers. I’d take ZQ or Joseph Gordon Levitt as a long-lost, never-before-heard-from brother… Viv is missing a mom… Now, stay with me here, I don’t know if anyone’s noticed, but I’m not blonde. And both my dad (played by Dan Via) and maternal aunt (Barbara Pitts) are, so I’m thinking Yunjin Kim (Sun from Lost, adopted into Aunt Jodie’s family) has to show up and explain how I got Asian. And if we’re not interested in explaining that away, it would be kick-ass to work with Tilda Swinton. She doesn’t even need to be my mom, she could just show up. Actually she could be Aster’s mom. That seems to fit. But of course, we all know who’s playing Aster’s mom. OH MAN AND ALAN RICKMAN! Is he old enough yet to play Viv’s grandfather? Can we age him up? Oh! Or Michael Emerson, as the private eye who Viv’s mom hires to find out what’s going on in her life! Can Emma Thompson be the really understanding librarian who takes Viv under her wing? This could go on…
LMAO…I dig you so much right now!
Why should people help to keep ABM alive?
RHF: Because it’s a wonderful show, a genuinely solid work of art, that makes people around the world feel a little better about who they are and who they can be. It’d be a shame to let something that beautiful and that meaningful waste away. Come on folks – if grassroots financing worked for Obama, it can work for us, too!
How can people help? Where can they go to participate?
RHF: Well, you might have heard we’re doing this Web-a-Thon – you can tune in at www.anyonebutmeseries.com July 27th-29th at 4pm EST (the video will be up for quite some time afterward too) and there will be items you can bid on, videos that will be released as we hit mile markers, interviews, walking tours, and, I believe, a Donate Now button – you’ll be thoroughly entertained. Also our DVD is on sale on Amazon, and there’s merchandise galore on the site’s store. Please help us make Season 3 – it was a cliffhanger ending, and I can’t stand not knowing what happens!
Visit AnyoneButMeSeries.com to participate in the Web-a-Thon. Make a donation, buy something from the store or head over to the ebay auction and bid on one of the crazy cool items for sale. Help make “Anyone But Me” Season 3 a reality!
Interview by Tiffany N. D’Emidio
Twitter: TiffanyDEmidio