Pop Culturalist Chats with And Then I Go’s Arman Darbo

Every so often, we witness a performance that’s so moving and powerful, it renders you speechless. That’s exactly what Arman Darbo accomplishes in his breakout role as Edwin in the socially relevant drama, And Then I Go (out now on Amazon and YouTube). Arman’s character is a misunderstood teen who, along with his only friend, is tormented each day by their classmates. Eventually, they’re pushed to their breaking point and the unthinkable occurs.

Pop Culturalist spoke with this up-and-coming talent about the project, the conversations that the film is sparking, and how it’s shining a different perspective on a tragic event that is occurring far too frequently in society.

PC: Tell us about your character in And Then I Go.
Arman: I play a character named Edwin who is experiencing a lot of unpleasant things at school along with his friend Flake, played by Sawyer Barth. Flake comes up with a plan to get revenge on all the classmates who mistreated them, and my character follows along because he’s afraid of losing his only friend.

PC: Were you familiar with the source material? What are some of the major differences between the novel and the film?
Arman: There are a lot of subtle differences between the film and the novel. We were incredibly lucky to have the writer on set who was open to us making changes so that it felt and sounded more natural.

PC: Can you talk about how the film approaches a tragic event from a different perspective?
Arman: Of course! When you hear about tragedies like this, you only see what happens afterward and the aftermath. But it’s important to show all angles of the story and the different perspectives. The film is told from the perspective of the kids and humanizes the situation.

PC: Were you ever nervous throughout the process given the film’s sensitive subject matter?
Arman: No, not really. I feel like the whole point of movies is to convey a message. You shouldn’t shy away from difficult topics like this. Being a part of films like And Then I Go make me feel proud to be an actor.

PC: How did you find the humanity in a character who commits a terrible act?
Arman: The script made it really easy. I feel like I was conveying what was written for my character. The film is really highlighting that while the actions of these boys aren’t right or normal, they’re still kids at the end of the day. There’s a lot of factors that go into tragedies like this and it’s important to show all sides.

PC: The film highlights the importance of friendship, especially in trying times. What do you think makes the friendship between Edwin and Flake so special? How did you and Sawyer build that bond?
Arman: Vince, our director, really encouraged us to get to know each other before filming, so we were good friends by the time we were on set. I think what makes this friendship so special is that it’s the only one that Edwin has. You’ll see in the film that Edwin is dragged in all sorts of directions because Flake is everything he has. The film really highlights the feeling of isolation, and how that leads Edwin to do what he does.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Arman: I love a lot of really terrible movies—too many to list—but they’re all so hilarious. [laugh]

PC: Favorite book?
Arman: I really like sci-fi, dystopian books.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Arman: My high school just did a rendition of Pippin. I loved it.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Arman: I have a broad taste in music. I love classic rock like Yes and The Grateful Dead. And jazz standards like George Benson.

PC: Favorite social media platform?
Arman: I’m not too active on social media. I have an LG so it’s a nightmare to text on, but if I had to pick one I guess Instagram.

And Then I Go is now available on Amazon and YouTube.