Pop Culturalist Chats with Chris Brochu
Over a decade ago, Chris Brochu took a trip that would change his life forever. He packed everything he owned into a U-Haul and headed West in hopes of pursuing his dreams. His dedication and perseverance landed him starring roles in The Vampire Diaries, Soul Surfer, and Lemonade Mouth. This Spring, we’ll see Chris embarking on another journey—this time for his new film, Baja, out now in select theaters. It’s a coming-of-age tale that’s sure to make you laugh and remind you how important it is to experience new people and cultures.
Baja Questions
PC: Tell us about Baja and your character.
Chris: Baja is a coming-of-age tale about a group of friends. Todd, my character, sees an opportunity when he learns his friend is traveling down to Baja in an RV. He wants to have an epic road trip that no one will forget. At the beginning of the film, we learn that Todd’s a trust fund kid who’s run out of money. He’s trying to figure out a quick way to make a couple of bucks, see some new places, hang out with friends, and do it all within one trip.
PC: What drew you to this project?
Chris: I was drawn to this project for a couple of reasons. First, it’s always great to be working. [laughs] Second, it was a fun script. And third, the people that they had involved were great. Jake Thomas is an old acquaintance. When I saw that he was attached to the project, I thought it’d be a great opportunity to work with him, and to get to know him more as a human.
PC: How much of yourself would you say is in your character?
Chris: There are aspects of my personality in Todd. He walks through life a little more haphazardly. I’d like to think that I’m more calculated and err on the side of caution.
PC: There’s a natural chemistry that comes across the screen between the four main characters. How did you and the cast build that bond?
Chris: Everyone was really lovely and open as individuals. It can be stressful when you’re shooting in a new environment with new people, so they really encouraged us to stick together and do our best work. After each day, we’d all go to a local restaurant and grab a margarita, have a conversation, eat dinner together, and return to set the next morning. It was super helpful because it can be hard when you’re away from your family and friends.
PC: With this being a comedy, did the cast have the opportunity to go off the cuff and do a little bit of adlib?
Chris: We definitely had the opportunity to adlib and throw our own choices into the mix because the script changed a lot from when we initially read it to when we actually shot the film. There were times during the day where things would change and we had to maneuver the dialogue. Our director really allowed us to be in the moment and see what felt natural.
PC: You’re best known for your role as Luke Parker on The Vampire Diaries. What are some of the major differences between Luke and Todd?
Chris: Oh man! Todd doesn’t have a great relationship with his family. Luke, on the other hand, has a very strong relationship, especially with his sister. For Luke, family was his closest unit, and with Todd, it’s his friends. It’s a very small difference but it’s a significant one.
PC: What do you hope fans take away from seeing this film?
Chris: I hope the film encourages people to go out there and be adventurous. Experiencing new places and introducing yourself to new people is what makes a well-rounded individual.
“Experiencing new places and introducing yourself to new people is what makes a well-rounded individual.”
PC: Besides Baja, do you have any other upcoming projects that you can chat about?
Chris: Absolutely! The latest project that I just did was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my career thus far. It’s a project called Peace. It’s an intense, World War II film that takes place in the mountains of Italy. We shot in the snow with World War II paraphernalia. It stars Alexander Ludwig, Sam Keeley, and Franco Nero. They were the main individuals that I was with. I’m so excited for people to see it.
PC: What drew you to that project?
Chris: It scared me! Rick Dugdale, the producer on the film, sent me the script, told me to read it, and asked me my thoughts. I told him it was beautiful and intense, and he told me to put it on tape. Thankfully, the director loved it, and there I was. Every day I was scared about what could happen, but that fear pushed me to be over-prepared and to be dialed in.
Career Questions
PC: When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in acting?
Chris: I was probably fifteen or sixteen. It was an interesting dream to have, and both my sister and brother had similar ones. Being in Florida, I worked a lot of different jobs from a moving company to a frozen custard job, and anything else that came my way. I would take all that money and stash it away in our cookie jar. Eventually, we had enough money to get a U-Haul, go out West, and we haven’t left. It’s been eleven years. It started off as a dream and actually manifested itself, which is pretty unbelievable.
PC: Great answer! Do you have a dream role?
Chris: A dream role when I get older would be John Muir. But otherwise, I’m interested in story. I enjoy a good narrative and diving in to why we’re telling this story, and how it connects on a human level.
PC: As an actor, is there a genre that you naturally gravitate towards?
Chris: I’ve been booked in a lot of dramatic roles, but in the past year or two, I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of comedy. I really enjoy doing comedy because it diffuses life’s scenarios. It takes the severity out of certain moments, and that’s necessary. You need to laugh sometimes. With drama, it’s the other side of the coin. When hard things happen to you, it’s okay to feel those things, and to be in those moments. I prefer whichever one has its finger on the pulse.
PC: What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Chris: That’s a great question! I’m also a musician, and one time before I got on stage, my dad told me, “It’s not about making mistakes because you’re going to make them. It’s how you deal with those mistakes.” He’s absolutely right. Don’t stress when mistakes are made. Pick yourself back up, figure out what went wrong, and keep playing with it. It’s a good life principle, but also in acting. If anyone wants to be an actor, you have to be okay with people saying no to your face on a daily basis. You somehow have to get up the next day and realize that there will be a yes somewhere.
“It’s not about making mistakes because you’re going to make them. It’s how you deal with those mistakes.”
PC: On the music front, can fans expect another EP soon?
Chris: Yeah! I’m stockpiling singles right now that I’ll be releasing later this year, and I’m working on a music video right now with a friend. I’ll also be playing a music festival called Lightning in a Bottle on May 25th. If anyone’s attending, I’ll be playing on Grand Artique Stage on Friday at noon. I have an hour set. Otherwise, stay tuned! I’m looking for a couple of shows in L.A. and a few colleges.
Pop Culturalist Speed Round
PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Chris: Fixer Upper With Chip and Joanna Gaines!
PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Chris: The Goonies because it’s so nostalgic, and it’s something that I can watch anytime it’s on.
PC: Favorite book?
Chris: I’ve been reading compilations of John Muir. The last one was his Nature Writings. Course in Miracles is a good read as well.
PC: Favorite play or musical?
Chris: I freaking love Hamilton. It’s epic. I also actually wrote one with some friends. Actually, today, we’re going to watch one of the performances they did in New York, and do some re-writing. That one is called A Self Help Guide to Killing Your Boss. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine because I got to co-write all the music. When we first did it in L.A., I played one of the leads.
PC: Favorite social media platform?
Chris: YouTube! There’s so much information on there.
PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Chris: I was going to say Hayley Kiyoko, but no one would be surprised by that. Maybe Elton John? I also have Sam Cooke and James Taylor.
PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Chris: Wild Wild Country
PC: Hidden talent?
Chris: I’m coming to find out that I have a green thumb. I’m really into planting. I also played hockey for ten years!
Make sure to follow Chris on Twitter and Instagram, and check out Baja in select theaters today!
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