Pop-Culturalist.com

Jack Sochet is starring in the #1 movie in the country: Smile.

After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain. Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Jack about discovering his passion for storytelling, Smile, and what’s next.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling and the arts?
Jack: I grew up in New York City, so I would see stories every day on the streets. I saw people painting on the sidewalks and musicians and dancers performing on the subway. There were plays in parks. Stories and the arts were everywhere. And my grandfather told great stories.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Jack: If I have to say a person, I would have to say Denzel Washington. He does both theater and film, and his work is astounding in either medium. The projects he chooses are always interesting, and he is passionate about them. I do not know him personally, yet anything he is in, I know is worth seeing because the story will be great.

Also, I have always loved film and theater. My parents brought my sister and me to countless movies and plays through the years. My dad wrote small plays as a hobby and would quote Waiting for Godot and Hamlet to us. My mom loved Bertolt Brecht and Sondheim, so we would hear their music all the time.

PC: In addition to the work that you’ve done on the screen, you also have an extensive theater background. What have you learned from the stage that you’ve been able to apply to your work in film and television?
Jack: That everything is about the story, the script is what it wants us to tell, and that everyone—and I mean everyone—from the actors to crew to ushers matter, and we are all in it together to do a great job and create a piece that moves and the audience enjoys.

PC: Tell us about Smile and your character in the film.
Jack: I play Carl Renken, and I do not want to give anything away, but he is a patient of Dr. Rose Cotter, played by Sosie Bacon. She is fantastic in this role. Carl is trying to find his way, and that is all I can say other than go see Smile in theaters and you will find out.

PC: The film is receiving rave reviews. What was the moment when you realized that this project was something special?
Jack: My first day on set I had a really good feeling. Parker Finn, the director, had a very strong vision for this film and that makes my job easier. At the same time, he gave us enough creative freedom to play and discover each scene. He trusted his actors. As I said earlier, Sosie Bacon was such a great scene partner. She was giving, kind, and open. Not only is she great in this and talented but, as my mom would say, she is a really good human. The cinematographer on this film, Charlie Sarroff, made me feel really comfortable and informed.

PC: We’re seeing another golden age in horror telling meaningful and impactful stories. Why do you think this genre lends itself to this type of storytelling? What do you hope audiences take away after they see the film?
Jack: I am really happy you can only see it in a movie theater because it’s meant to be seen with a lot of other people, that way people can scream, laugh, and all talk at the screen. Horror movies are a great communal experience. I hope people leave it a little shaken up but amped up and talk about it with friends and strangers as they exit the theater and say to people on line for the next showing, “Oh man! Get ready! It is great!”

Horror is a great way of telling stories, and thank goodness we are entering another golden age. Horror films are incredibly creative, and they stay with one for a long time. Think about The Shining or The Exorcist or many, many more—they stay with us, and we remember where we were when we first saw them, and we watch them over and again because the writing, the directing, the acting, the art, the music, the camera moves, etc. were so damn good.

PC: Besides Smile, what’s next for you?
Jack: I’m about to go shoot a film in Butte, Montana called American Triage about three different perspectives on one event, and the way this film will be shot is going to be very, very cool!

To keep up with Jack, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Smile in theaters now.