Pop-Culturalist.com

Romina D’Ugo stands out as one of the industry’s most thrilling emerging storytellers, crafting profound connections with every role she brings to life on screen. Her meticulous character work has yielded outstanding performances in projects such as 12 Monkeys, Nikita, and Funkytown.

Her latest venture, I Like Movies, is an award-winning indie film that is both sharp and hilarious, portraying the coming-of-age story of Lawrence, a young cinephile who works at a video store. Romina shines in the role of Lawrence’s manager, who develops a complex friendship with him.

Additionally, Romina is the founder of WILYMI, a luxury yet affordable jewelry brand where each piece is created with intention, mirroring the dedication she brings to her work in the film and television industry.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with this multi-faceted talent about I Like Movies, her character development process, WILYMI, and more.

PC: Alana is such a complex and rich character, and you brought so much depth to her. How did you create the space to explore her vulnerabilities and flaws, and her journey throughout the film?
Romina: Well firstly, thank you! I loved her so much, from the moment I read the audition scene (someone throws a Gordita at the gay and lesbian section and she has a meltdown. Done, in love).

I consider it my responsibility to explore every part of a character I play—the darkest, most vulnerable places, and all the cover-ups that make them who they appear to be to the rest of the world—isn’t that what we all do anyway? Including the parts and questions the characters themselves have no answers to yet.

I know firsthand that trauma is deeply relatable and doesn’t need to be exact to be universally understood. But there’s also nuance in a person’s story. So, I pulled and uncovered every YouTube video, every documentary, and article I could find where women, who are completely unfamous, unknown, ex-actors in the film industry, had been sexually exploited and lost everything—not necessarily the brave ones who spoke out during MeToo, who still have phenomenal careers (they are deeply important because they gave courage to everyone else to speak up too)—but the women who lost… everything.

I also found out what Alana was like before all this happened (which reveals itself to you in the process)—from her closet contents to her music preferences, to her friendships and sense of humor. And who is she now…and who does she wish she was? Giving the character space to reveal herself, as cheesy as that may sound, helps me navigate my own human experience.

PC: Chandler Levack wrote and directed this. How different is the filming experience when the person who created these characters and universe is also at the helm directing? What was that collaboration like?
Romina: Oh, she was the coolest when it came to trust. Once I was officially cast, we set up our first Zoom date. I was in LA, and she was in Toronto at the time, and we talked for over a couple of hours about Alana.

At that point, we’d already had a series of callbacks and chemistry reads, so I’d formulated a chunk of who this woman (Alana) was. But my job is to eventually take this character away from the director.

Jessica Chastain, whom I really love and admire, talks about this (and maybe she got it from someone else), that she takes the character away from the director (or in this case writer/director). That once an actor has a role, they must take full ownership over the character so that they know them better than the one who created them. I love this and personally think my characters are mine until the film is released—and then they belong to the audience, which I love. That’s the point for me, which is beautiful.

On this Zoom call, Chandler asked me so many questions about Alana—why she made this choice or why she said that thing or why she is the way she is. It was kind of moving that she had already grasped this integral part of the process on her first film. She trusted me. I trusted her.

PC: This film is such a love letter to cinema. What was the movie growing up that had the biggest impact on your journey as a storyteller?
Romina: You know, you can’t choose these things, they sort of choose you! [laughs] Pretty Woman chose me—big time. I must’ve only been five years old (so inappropriate for a five-year-old, I know), but it was the first grown-up film I fell in love with. In my twenties, it became Il Postino (The Postman), starring the late great Massimo Troisi, who is arguably one of my favorite actors of all time, and maybe my favorite performance of all time.

PC: You’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative?
Romina: The intimacy. Smaller sets, where every conversation or bit of input matters, the rush of the time crunch with such little money—every moment, minute, breath counts.

PC: This film has made its way around the festival circuit and theaters, and it’s been incredibly well-received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? What do you hope they take away?
Romina: I think in today’s world, we’re all supposed to be a big deal. You’re supposed to really achieve something, be someone—I mean, we literally have jobs called “Influencers” now. The pressure is so high. I think this film tells the stories of dreams that don’t come true—the kind of dreams that you think define you, define your worth as a person. And I think this film tells the stories of people who are deeply relatable, overcoming this grief and still being…okay. That maybe there is always a different path. That maybe we are meant to clash with one another until we become willing to look at our wounds, deal with them, and move forward—and still be good. Everyone’s had a dream. This film honors the journey in a real and funny way.

PC: You also have a very successful jewelry brand. Tell us about WILYMI and your mission with the company.
Romina: WILYMI was birthed in earnest when people asked to buy the jewelry I made, off my body! But the journey began long before that—making and repurposing wearable art since I was a kid. Obsessed with my mom’s jewelry box and my own ideas of what was possible, it was a nice, focused, solo activity that didn’t ask anything of me.

Cut to Covid, I lost my acting gig when the studios began to shut down productions, and the weight of this time was heavy on my heart, a mental health dark spot for me. The most satisfying, consistent, and soothing thing was to create my jewelry. At that time, I decided I needed pieces tethered to intentions so I could look down at a ring I made and be reminded of grounding, possibility, or resilience—whatever intention I had set for that piece.

This attracted people to my work, and my solo endeavor turned into a hobby, and then into a full-fledged business—giving an entire team of people jobs, new skills, and new growth. It’s been an incredible dream I didn’t know I had. We strive to create luxe, handmade, affordable, eco-conscious jewelry that connects people to the joy of wearing a beautiful piece of art, and to the meaning behind the piece that inspires and supports them. We dedicate a portion of all our proceeds to the incredible @girlsinc foundation—a nonprofit organization that empowers young girls through education, therapy opportunities, and mentorship to impact systemic change through policy reform and become tomorrow’s leaders. I should mention, WILYMI stands for “Wear It Like You Mean It”—jewelry with intention. At this point, you can’t be surprised I’d choose a name like that.

PC: How have your experiences as a storyteller and artist influenced the way that you approach WILYMI, and vice versa?
Romina: Absolutely. I think the vice versa, more so, surprisingly. I have always had such reverence for acting and the business of film and TV making, never really feeling I was “good enough yet.” But I entered the world of jewelry and fashion totally naive and free. I never took a class, never knew much about retail, manufacturing, slow vs fast fashion, or who’s who. I was a total newbie. With that naivete, I approached retailers in Beverly Hills or the Four Seasons Hotel—establishments and connections I didn’t consider could be difficult to land, and yet I did! I achieved a lot in a really short time. Now, I approach my acting with the same mindset as my WILYMI endeavors. I’m ready now, always learning and growing (it’s deeply rooted in me to strive), and at the same time, I am ready now. I don’t have to wait until I measure up to some imaginative standard of “good enough.” I really love this and want everyone to experience it. And I want more of it. You see, the striver in me!

To keep up with Romina, follow her on Instagram. Watch I Like Movies wherever you stream films.

Photo Credit: Vita Cooper