- So, Charlie, how would you describe
the genre of 'Spontaneous?'
Would you say it's more of a thriller
or like, a love story? Where would you put it?
- I mean, I guess I would say it's a love story.
Not even in the, necessarily, the Dylan
and Mara relationship alone.
But, I think what really connects
all the characters is love.
I mean, like you and your parents, and you and Tess,
who's played by Hayley Law.
I mean, really, most of the characters are scared,
but are sticking together, you know?
And I think that's an act of love.
So, I guess I would say it's a love story.
But, definitely, maybe like, whatever genre you would
put this year into I would say is that film.
Katherine, why do you think that exploding teens
makes for a good romance film?
- You know, it's interesting 'cause
reading the book and then also reading the script,
I think that's the surface-level kind of description.
But, when you read it, there's a lot more.
There's a lot more that kind of comes into play.
You know, I think what makes it
a beautiful love story is the fact that
it has these elements of reality put into it.
Like, a love story isn't necessarily beautiful
from point A to point B.
Sometimes love can happen out of necessity
and out of two people needing each other.
And I think the love that Mara and Dylan have
for each other is one that's not just romantic,
but it's also, again, like you said,
it's also about a great friendship
and, you know, being able to have someone
to hold on to, and be strong with, and be strong for.
But, throughout the whole film, you know,
it's not just a love story in that sense.
You also have the relationship and the love
between you and your family, you and your parents.
And then Mara and Tess, the best friendship,
that kinship, which, as a woman, I really love to see
because I think having that best friend,
it's such an inseverable bond.
And when those relationships are put,
kind of, at the feet of this big objective
or this crazy thing that happens,
it only strengthens or breaks those bonds,
which is very interesting to see.
What do you think makes Mara
and Dylan's relationship different from
the things that we've seen before?
Maybe in like, the teen romance sense
that's been kind of different?
- I mean, I think the thing that, you know--
and you mentioned the friendship thing,
which I think is definitely there.
But, I think the thing that was
most striking to me, especially at first,
was the amount of self-awareness between the two
and about the relationship that they had,
which, you know, almost there was kind of
like a cynical kind of feel to the whole thing.
Even though, of course, they are
falling in love with each other
and, you know, that's very real.
But, I think that was something that I really
enjoyed quite a bit, you know?
That they're really-- I mean, not saying
that in other teen romances the characters
aren't smart, but I think in this,
they're just smart in a very specific kind of
way that I really was attracted to off the page.
But, yeah. And then I also just think,
you know, in the midst of all that chaos, as well,
that's going on around them, they managed to have
a lot of fun with each other and laugh a lot.
And you don't get to really see that
in those types of love stories very often.
You know, you see the, kind of, the pain,
and the anguish, and the trial and tribulation,
and the vulnerability, and all that.
But, when they're just laughing about, you know,
the last names of these football players
or whatever it is, and really just, kind of,
having fun amongst themselves,
I think those moments, you rarely
do get to see in those stories.
Katherine, what drew you to the role of Mara, specifically?
- I just remember it being very quirky and different.
That's the first thing that struck me is that
it felt very satirical. And when someone explodes
within the first minute,
or the first couple of pages, it feels very--
it just felt very unique and different.
And then once I was hooked into
that first moment, being able to experience
the story and say that it wasn't all just gore,
or just love, or just one thing or another,
it was kind of this beautiful balance
of turmoil with gore, with satire,
with love, and these moments of levity.
Thirdly, I'd say Mara. Her journey
and her as a character, she's like,
the most beautiful, lovable kind of chaos.
You know, she's like a puppy
in the sense that it's just like,
everything, she takes it in.
She's like a firefly in a jar.
But, there's also, you know, there's the playfulness
to that, but then there's also
the real, kind of, depth behind that.
And I think that's what
I found really beautiful is that,
you realize when this thing starts to happen
that she really puts up these facades.
And it's not just for other people,
to make them feel OK,
but, at the end of the day,
it's also for herself.
And really hitting that core and having to learn
this lesson of sometimes things
in life happen for no reason.
- Were there any similarities
between you and Mara that you especially
connected with when reading the script?
- I think I resonated towards the playfulness
and, especially at the beginning of the film,
you know, when we see her especially with Tess,
that, kind of, that friend who always
wants to make the other person smile
and wants to make other people happy.
I think that feeling of wanting to spread like, light
and that, kind of, jovial quality
that she has, I definitely feel like
I have had moments like that.
But, also, I mean, I guess, in a way--
maybe this isn't specific to me,
but maybe it's something that
we can all resonate with a little bit
is that response to what happens.
That, you know, trying to, kind of, grapple
with a situation that is scary
and a situation that is uncertain.
What do you do when you can't control
anything that's happening?
You know, the way that Mara deals with it,
I mean, she goes on a bit of a spiral,
and I think a lot of other people do, as well,
when something happens.
Also, at the end of the day, you know,
she tries to be strong. She tries to be strong,
to be strong, to be strong.
So, yeah, I feel like, maybe, especially
in this context, even though we did this
before the current climate was even--
I mean, didn't exist like this complete satire.
I feel like, now, maybe those moments,
people will be able to reflect
on a little bit more, or maybe it will
be a bit closer to home.
So, Mara calls Dylan nerdy. And some people
might expect you to have played this
kind of nerdy, very quiet, unspoken character.
But then, in the film, Dylan actually goes out
and, kind of, gets what he wants and he sort of
rebuffs a bit of that stereotype.
Why do you think that's refreshing?
- I liked the idea that he's pretty open about,
you know, this narrative that he had
for himself going. And that, you know,
he was gonna just, kind of, keep to himself
and wait until college, and that's when he was gonna,
you know, put himself out there
more and invest in the life that he wanted.
But then, you know, similar to our current
circumstances in the world right now,
this thing completely out of his control
derails that narrative and derails that plan.
And, you know, what he's left with is just,
in his case, is this kind of newfound drive
to go after the life that he wants.
And part of that is, you know,
reaching out to Mara and saying,
"I really have these feelings for you
"and I wanna, you know, kind of, be with you."
And I just think that, you know,
I don't see that so often in a lot of characters.
But, I think, especially, when the
character is someone who is kind of a more
internal, passive person. That's pretty rare.
So, I really did enjoy getting to see that.
And then getting to see where that actually
takes him, and the life that he's able to then have
after that point, I really appreciated.
And I think I really appreciated the message of,
you know, when one actually does take that action
and that initiative to go after
the life they want, you know, how full
their life can be because of that.
So, with that message of taking advantage
of the present moment, what advice would you give,
you know, young people around the world
right now, with that in mind?
- Take advantage of your youth. (laughs)
We're also all being affected by
what's happening very differently.
And, you know, some people are experiencing
different things or probably yearning
for different things.
Then, especially as a young person, you know,
I think the future and the idea of future
is so important because, you know,
the future is your potential, it's
your life, it's what to look forward to.
And I think, you know,
I'm still also a young person,
so I'm still learning things about life, and what to enjoy,
and what's good, and all that kind of stuff.
But, I guess the piece of advice for
all of us right now is that, you know,
if you are feeling really restless
or you're feeling like you're unsure
of how to deal with this moment,
firstly, there's always people and there
are things that are there to help and support.
But also, the idea that, you know,
some things happen for no reason,
and that's what we cover in the film.
You know, sometimes things in life
will happen for no reason. People will die,
accidents will happen, or there will be things
in your life that just don't make sense,
and it's hard to be OK with that,
and you don't have to be OK with that.
You know, make the most of your time in your life,
whatever that is that you're doing.
And, you know, I guess, do whatever brings you joy
because at the end of the day,
your life is your life, and it's there for you
to do with it what you will and what you want.