Pop-Culturalist.com

Nomi Ruiz is a multihyphenate artist who is best known for the legacy she’s built (and continues to build) in the music industry. But that’s just one facet of her talent. She’s also a dynamic performer on screen who is captivating audiences with her debut feature film Haymaker. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Nomi about Haymaker, what she hopes audiences take away from the film, and her experience as a first-time producer.

PC: Tell us about Haymaker and your character in the film.
Nomi: I always describe Haymaker as The Bodyguard meets Rocky with a Muay Thai, electro-pop star twist. I play Nomi—we kept our own names in the film. She’s a successful electro-pop princess who’s wrapped up in her own world until she meets Nick [Sasso]’s character. They both have this wake-up call when their paths cross.

PC: You met with Nick prior to joining the project. What was it about this script and story that resonated with you?
Nomi: I really love Nick’s passion. Right away, he was pitching me the film and his vision for it. I was on board right away, even before I read the script. Once I read the script, it was so refreshing. I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t really know Nick’s work prior. This is also his first film, so there was no reference. It was really, really surprising—the beauty of it—and how he understood me and the character. It’s also a refreshing trans narrative, too.

PC: You and Nick had several months of rehearsal before heading into filming. How beneficial was that for you two as you built the chemistry that we see on screen?
Nomi: That was really, really important for both of us. It was our first time getting to know each other. We really built a friendship and a trust with each other during that time, which really helped us ease onto set.

In addition to Nick being the director, writer, and producer, I also produced. It was good to build that chemistry before and know where and how far we wanted to go with certain scenes. We had those discussions before we got onto set.

PC: Like you said, you’re also a producer on the film. At what point did you realize you wanted to not only star in, but also produce the film? How challenging was it to wear multiple hats?
Nomi: It was an interesting challenge, but it was really exciting when it came to fruition. One of the locations that we shot in was in Greece. I worked really hard on that because I’ve built so many relationships there as my career has taken off in Greece, and we got to utilize that. It got people really excited to support the project and give us locations and casting. Also, in New York, I got to cast a lot of my dancers and friends to help with the club scenes. It was really fun and rewarding.

PC: You’ve built this illustrious career as a musician. What has it been like going from that medium to now acting?
Nomi: It was really challenging, but it’s what I always wanted. I got to a point in my career where I was getting comfortable. I wanted another outlet to express myself. When this opportunity came along at the right time, it was great. It pushed me to learn a new craft. It pushed me to learn more about myself as a creative. There’s a really therapeutic nature that exists in acting. It was great to tap into that as well. It’s been a great learning process.

PC: You’re making your feature debut with Haymaker. Did anything surprise you about the process? What was the biggest takeaway?
Nomi: I was surprised at how emotional I got. I gained a real appreciation for acting as a craft and actors in general, especially in the moments when I had to tap into certain emotions that I felt in the past. It was difficult to put it all back away; I would take it with me and would need a moment to decompress. That was challenging, but it was also very informative to know that I still have a lot to learn about acting and myself. I learned and grew a lot. Haymaker made me become a better actress, and I’ve become a more evolved person.

PC: Is there a particular moment that you’re excited for your fans to see?
Nomi: I love the performance scene where her past comes to haunt her. I’m performing a song that I wrote for the film called “Like a Ghost”, which is about the pasting haunting you. All these characters from her past come to see her perform. I really love that moment. It’s full of all the things I love: drama, passion, music, and performance.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away?
Nomi: I want people to see that you can be yourself and be loved. Be your true selves.

To keep up with Nomi, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Haymaker is out in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital now!

Photo Credit: Gravitas Ventures and Kamikaze Dogfight