Tribeca 2019: Interview With Actor Astro From SEE YOU YESTERDAY

Time Travel has always fascinated the human mind by providing an ability to change the past. Astro knows a thing or two about wanting to change the past as his character becomes the epicenter for time travel in See You Yesterday. We had the chance to speak with Astro about the film, his dual artistry and what he hopes audiences will take away from the film.

Thank you very much for speaking with me today about your role as Calvin in See You Yesterday.  

Astro: No Problem. Thank you for having me.

Of course! To start, I wanted to know what attracted you to the role of Calvin Walker.

Astro: The role of Calvin Walker felt very similar to my real life. I’m a kid that’s actually from Brooklyn, NY, East Flatbush specifically. So, the fact that it was being shot in the neighborhood that I grew up in was very dope, to bring that environment to screen. And Calvin’s energy felt very rooted in reality and rooted in just having to take on a lot of responsibility as an older brother. I have a little sister in real life, and I talk to my sister with the same kind of passion that Calvin talks to his sister in the movie. So, it just felt very real. It felt like it would have been silly for me not to read for this role.

I’ve read that you’re also a rapper and that your music is inspired by Spike Lee, who’s also from Brooklyn. What was it like working in the film that’s being directed by his protege?

Astro: It was pretty wild; it was pretty wild. It was actually a beautiful experience the entire time, because working with Stefon — I know this is his first time directing a full-length film, and you know, he took it from a short to a full-length film and it really just felt like his dream was coming true the whole entire time and was just trying to make sure — and I’m sure the other actors were too — we were just trying to make sure everyone did their part to make sure that vision came to life. It felt good; it felt like he was bringing his vision to life, which was making him happy and we were able to be a part of it, which was making us happy. It’s pretty dope.

You said that the film mirrors your life a lot, especially in regards that you have a little sister and that’s how you talk to your little sister. How is your chemistry with your counterparts on screen?

Astro: Chemistry was good on and off screen, to be honest. We were shooting in Brooklyn again, which was home, and it was a real laid back environment, for the most part, everybody just came to set and did their best and put their best foot forward, so the energy was pretty good. And I think you can see just that comfortable vibe between all of us on screen because it was really like that. We were just kicking it and everyone was there to do their best.

Did you and Stefon have any discussions about your character?

Astro: Yeah, we had a few different discussions about my character at different times, just because Stefon may have wanted my character to show certain energies or switch up, or say certain lines in certain ways. For the most part, he actually gave us a lot of freedom to breathe and do what we thought our characters would do in real life if it was a real situation. So, for the most part, it’s me, but there are definitely areas where Stefon was like let’s try this, or let’s be less aggressive or more aggressive.

Back to the film being your role, especially similar to your life, how did the movie as a whole translate to you, carrying those similarities?

Astro: Man, I think it translates to me in a few different ways, being a young black male in society, whose had to deal with the police in these same types of ways, was pretty much harassment and it seems like a pretty regular thing. Luckily, I have never had my life taken by a cop, but that’s a thing that happens so much it’s sensationalized in our society. So I think the fact that we see this on screen and the way the movie plays out, it sparks a conversation. It is definitely potent. I hope that answers your question.

Oh no, it does. And I like how you say that it sparks a conversation because it feels like there’s this need to continue the conversation, that there are sparks where it starts, but we have to keep it going.

Astro: Definitely.

It’s really good to hear you say that. Were you able to see the short film that this full-length feature was based on?

Astro: Yeah, I had seen it early on. Before I actually read for it, I got a chance to take a look at it early on.

How has this role been different than any of your previous roles that you’ve taken on?

Astro: This one is probably different because it is like a real Brooklyn role. A lot of the roles, even if they let you get a little bit Brooklyn, they don’t let you get all the way Brooklyn. I felt like in this script, especially because it was based in Brooklyn, allowed me to act, to break those walls down from being proper in any way, just let loose and talk like a Brooklyn dude.

What are you hoping that audiences will take away from this film? There are so many layers within the film. So what for you, do you hope goes out into the world?

Astro: Yeah. I don’t know. That’s a deep question, but I am sure Stefon probably would have a better answer for that since he made the film. But, for me, I definitely want audiences to experience Brooklyn in the way they’ve never experienced it before. I think it is really genius that we brought a sci-fi concept to East Flatbush, Brooklyn. And really just showed these different elements, like the West Indian influence, or the Guyanese influence. That backyard vibe of Brooklyn. For me personally, I’m a Brooklyn dude to the death. For me personally, that’s what I want people to take away – that’s Brooklyn in a way we have never seen before.

For Calvin in the film, there are constant attempts to save his life and there’s always a different consequence. This constant attempt and constant battle, how do you feel applies to modern day?

Astro: Oh yeah, I’m sure we all — for me I definitely wish Time Machines did exist and we could go back in time and stop these things from happening. I think the moral of the story is, it is definitely, it’s a continuous fight and a continuous struggle in finding the solution, you know. Definitely keep fighting, keep going, try to figure it out every time, not letting it become something we don’t talk about or address.

And I like how you just mentioned that you wish you had a time machine. If you did have a time machine, what’s one thing that you feel that you would like to change, whether it be in your own life or historically?

Astro: That’s a deep question. I would probably change something, I would probably go back to when crack was invented and distributed throughout the urban communities. If we change that, I think that would change the course of a lot of destinies as far as ghettos are concerned, but that’s a whole ‘nother conversation with a very deep answer.

It’s a very good answer though. That’s a very good answer. Calling back to your dual artistic talents, do you have any thoughts of incorporating both your music and you’re acting in the future?

Astro: Maybe, maybe. I’ve thought about it, but it would be in a cool way. I don’t think it would be me writing a movie ever, but I think I’m a writer firstly, before anything. So I may write songs for movies and do movie scores, you know, do soundtracks for movies.

Film Inquiry would like to thank Astro for taking the time to speak with us today!

See You Yesterday will be released for streaming on Netflix on May 17, 2019.