“You should be hard on yourself.” Interview With Richard Harmon, Star Of I STILL SEE YOU

Richard Harmon, who has starred in films like Age of Adaline and the long running television series The 100, acts alongside Bella Thorne and Dermot Mulroney is his newest venture I Still See You. Adapted from the novel Break My Heart One Thousand Times from Daniel Waters, this film takes place after an event has us living among the ghosts of those we lost. I was able to talk with the young star about his interpretation of the story, advice for others coming into the industry, and his favorite actors/films!

Kristy Strouse for Film Inquiry: I enjoyed the film! It’s an intriguing set up. Can you tell us what your initial impression was of the script and of your character?

Richard Harmon: Absolutely! I came onto it pretty late, like I literally did the taping before I read the full script, because they needed it that day before I got a chance to read it, and I ended up booking the role which I did not see coming. But I ended up reading the script and got very, very excited about it. I just think that Jason did such amazing job of adapting Daniel’s original novel. It’s a thriller, undoubtedly, a supernatural thriller, but there are so many more elements to it that I liked. There are emotional things, like dealing with this very natural feeling of loss that all humans feel. Every single character in the movie goes through some form of loss in it or has gone through some form of loss. So, I really liked that as an actor, to tap in that. A lot of times with thrillers you don’t often get to go through the emotional stuff. And this movie undoubtedly taps into a lot of really dark stuff, so that kind of intrigued me right off the bat.

I agree, I think it transcends the idea of just being a supernatural thriller. I know you said you came onto it late, but did you get a chance to read the book in preparation?

Richard Harmon: Yeah, I read the book on the flight over to Winnipeg to shoot it. The first thing I noticed was that in the book they made a really big change to my character Kirk from the book to the movie. I read the whole book and it was interesting to see where the changes from the book to the screenplay took place, usually that happens because they are two very different mediums, so yes I did.

I haven’t read the book and I don’t know if its spoilery, but what’s the big change in your character?

Richard Harmon: What I noted from the novel to the film was that Jason, the screenwriter, made my character a little darker in the screenplay and you’re more unsure of his motives, in the book you’re more aware of his intentions a little bit more from the beginning.

And that makes sense, given that there’s a lot more to a novel.

Richard Harmon: Yeah in a film you want to have all the mystery you can get.

Yes, you do. So, you’ve mentioned it before how it transcends that genre, you have done a lot of different projects that have a fantastical element to them, is that a genre that appeals to you?

Richard Harmon: I’m still a young actor so at this point in my career it seems to be a genre that myself as an actor appeals to the filmmakers who are doing that genre. For me, my favorite movies are more of the subtle ones, that are just human to human interactions and I’ve found that the more I’ve done these fantastical things, I’ve found that its incredibly fun. Like The 100 is just like seven months of running around in the woods with guns with my friends, shooting and stabbing each other which is kind of really fun. Its like kids in a sandbox really, so it allows you to go further than the more subdued movies would go and I think that’s great task to do as an actor.

What do you look for when you are looking for a role? Is there anything specific that you would like to do that you haven’t?

Richard Harmon: There’s a million things I would like to do that I haven’t, and I am hoping they will all come in time. The way that I choose roles seems to be that if I read the script and it terrifies me, like if I don’t know how I would do that, that’s a good sign that I should do that role because it will challenge you and it will be difficult. And the thing with I Still See You, is it’s a straightforward male lead, and I’m usually the off side character that’s really kind of out there which is really what I love to do so I saw a real challenge in I Still See You, with that male lead to kind of hold up half the movie on their shoulders . So, that was a great, great challenge for me, and it still scares me thinking about it [laughs].

That makes sense. What was it like working opposite Bella Thorne?

Richard Harmon: It was incredible. Yesterday, honestly, was the first time that I saw the movie. So, I’ve gotta say that Bella held that movie on her shoulders. After I saw it I texted her and said, “By the way, Ronnie held that whole movie.” She was so incredible, and it was the same way on set. We work in two very different ways. I’m kind of like introverted and into myself, and she just likes to talk to everyone and kind of get the vibe of what everyone’s doing. So, it was such a delight. We’ve ended up having a great friendship from afterwards.

That’s great. I know you’ve been acting for a while and your family is also in the business. Did that influence your decision to act at all?

Richard Harmon: No, they were actually against it. I was a really shy kid, so I don’t think my parents… this is the thing: they’ve been in the industry for a long time and they know how easy it is to fail. It’s way easier to fail than it is to succeed. So, they saw this very shy son of theirs want to do it and I feel like I totally agree with them. This didn’t seem like the kind of job that was made for me, and they weren’t sure if I could deal with the failure of it. But it was something I liked to do, so they allowed me to, and I kept going for it. There was a lot on the line, but it worked out! I’m still baffled by it, and I’m trying to work my butt off to keep the success going.

Do you have any actors/actress or films that have inspired you?

Richard Harmon: Oh god yes! And I feel like there’s a new one every week probably [laughs]. Jack Nicholson is my favorite of all time. Mainly because it just seems like he has so much fun out there. No matter how dark the role may be, we’re still in the entertainment business, so I think if you’re having fun that’s the easiest way to have the audience have fun while watching. So, Jack undoubtedly is the top one for me and I think someone nowadays would be Paul Dano. The Coen Brothers’ movies, I think, are my favorite of all time. The Big Lebowski is my number one movie of all time, so I just like to have fun watching people who are also having fun when they are working.

I think that definitely comes through and Jack Nicholson is a great example of that. So, you’ll be returning to the show The 100, what else do you have coming up?

Richard Harmon: Yeah, I’m returning to The 100 and they actually gave me three days off to come down and do all of this which is really lovely of them. And that’s been such an incredible experience doing six years on that when I thought it would be only two or so in the beginning and it’s just evolved. Do you remember Sara Thompson? She played Bella’s best friend in the movie, and we actually just did another movie together, in Winnipeg again about four months ago, called Homecoming. Which is great, it’s like a sci-fi thriller. She plays my girlfriend in that one, so we have a lot more interaction in that one. She’s such a brilliant actor. And then also I did a movie called Anderson Falls in LA recently with Shawn Ashmore and Gary Cole and that was incredible. Then I also have a movie called Woodland that I’m the lead in and I play a drug addict photo journalist in the 1980’s, and that is coming out – doing a film festival run, coming up soon and it’s having its premiere at Whistler Film Festival up in Canada at the end of November. I’m very excited for everyone to see that.

So, sounds like you’ve been busy! You’ve got a lot of stuff coming out.

Richard Harmon: I try to be, I’m a workaholic! I love to work. [laughs]

Well we look forward to them! On top of being film fans a lot of our readers are trying to succeed in the business themselves or are currently in school. Is there any advice that you’d give to them?

Richard Harmon: Patience. Patience above everything else, for 99.9% of the people who try to do this it’s not going to happen overnight, it certainly didn’t for me. Take the failures and keep getting back up. I actually think you will have a longer career if you don’t succeed right off the top, if you fail and get back up and you learn to have resilience. I think that’s the important thing, you should be hard on yourself, I know that I am, but also find a way to forgive yourself for things. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just try to be better every day and forgive yourself for the downfalls that you have.

That’s terrific advice, thank you! What was it like working with director Scott Speer on I Still See You?

Richard Harmon: Scott was the best! Such a lovely, lovely man. He had everything worked out, the vision had for the film, and he was very inclusive, so it wasn’t his way or the highway. He would talk to you about it and have a legitimate conversation about what you wanted to do with your character. I actually just texted him, and we were talking all this morning before I started this interview, so we are still friends. He was such a ray of sunshine on the film set, it’s such a hard thing to direct a movie and it’s so stressful but I never saw it get to him and it clearly must’ve at some point, but he always had a smile on his face and always willing to hear you out.

That’s great. I know you’ve also been a producer on a couple projects, do you have any interest in continuing to produce or maybe direct, anything outside of acting in the future?

Richard Harmon: Acting is my number one thing and even when I have produced it was sort of more for, well there’s a million reasons why an actor might want to produce a movie that I won’t get into [laughs] so I have produced a few things but it’s usually for a contractual thing or something else. There is one movie that we have in development, that me and my best friend wrote. It’s the movie I have always wanted to make, and that’s the one thing I could ever see myself directing but I think we are going to go with someone else, somebody who has been working as a director and has earned the shot much more than I have just being an actor and thinking I can just jump into it. Not that people can’t, a lot of actors make great directors, but this is my job – I’m an actor and it’s what I love.

Speaking of actors directing, you mentioned Paul Dano, he just directed his first film Wildlife. Did you see that yet?

Richard Harmon: No I haven’t, I’ll have to go see that!

Before I let you go, for those who haven’t seen the film, how would you describe the movie and your character?

Richard Harmon: It’s a chilling movie. It’s suspenseful, and a thriller, but it also has some comedic elements to it, it’s got a little romance. It’s got a little bit of everything, for everyone! It’s just fun, and it shows how much we had making the movie. As far as my character is concerned he’s a bit of a mystery, he’s kind of that typical dark, brooding, misunderstood teenager, but I think (and hope) that the longer you get to know him the more he’s fleshed out than that, and that’s what I loved about him from the beginning. Jason and Scott made him such an interesting character, more than just the typical kind of guy.

Thanks again and congratulations on the movie, I enjoyed it!

We want to thank Richard Harmon for taking the time to speak with us.

I Still See You comes to theaters and VOD on October 12th.