Pop-Culturalist.com

Angel Echávez and Oscar Chark are two of the industry’s most promising young stars, leading the award-winning short film More Together, which showcases the iconic music of Drew Gasparini.

In this compelling narrative, longtime friends Tom (Chark) and Lucy (Echávez) finally succumb to their feelings and spend the night together. As their newfound love begins to bloom, the unexpected delay of Lucy’s “time of the month” forces them to confront the weight of adulthood far sooner than anticipated.

Angel and Oscar bring a remarkable blend of nuance and depth to their roles, balancing youthful earnestness with the emotional complexity their characters demand. Their performances not only anchor the film but also add layers of authenticity, making the story both relatable and deeply affecting.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Angel and Oscar about More Together, their love of musicals, the importance of representation, and more.

PC: Your short film, More Together, is now available on BroadwayHD and Prime Video. For each of you, do you remember what it was about the script and your respective characters that made you want to be a part of it?
Angel: For me, it was the music. The minute I heard the music and got the breakdown for the audition, I booked a vocal coach right away. I was so excited. It was actually a really funny situation. My agent submitted a bunch of people for it, and it said Vancouver locals only. At the time, I wasn’t a Vancouver local, but I had already told her that I booked a vocal coach, so she didn’t have the heart to tell me not to do it anymore. It turned out for the best!

Oscar: For me, it was the coming-of-age aspect. I love musicals—I’ve always loved them—but the fact that it dealt with a real-life problem and was realistic really caught my attention. Being told through a musical perspective was the cherry on top. I saw it and thought, “This is awesome.” The character fit me perfectly. I was like, “I’m going to throw my hat in the ring. I really want to be a part of this.”

PC: Time is never a luxury when you’re working on an independent film or filmmaking in general, but you really do believe these two characters are best friends. How were you able to build that bond so quickly?
Oscar: We had a vocal session before we started filming, right?

Angel: Yeah! We did the recording of the music before we started filming. That’s when we first met. Then on the first day of filming, I wasn’t supposed to be there, but I came anyway because that was his day to shoot.

Oscar: We also had that day where we had the tripod and went to a bunch of places around Vancouver to record those moments when we were getting pizza or on the beach. We all got to bond then—me, Jake [Foy], and Angel. I feel like we built our chemistry from having that time together beforehand.

Angel: During those splinter days, which were essentially mini scenes, that’s when we really got to know each other.

PC: Angel, your performance of “Two Little Lines” is such a standout. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to tackle all those different vulnerable places your character is in for that scene in particular?
Angel: [laughs] I took my contacts out so I couldn’t see anyone filming me, and I put myself in that position. I did the whole thing basically blind—except when I was driving. But the whole time, I just pretended that no one else was there, and that was my true, authentic experience in that moment.

Oscar: I wish I had contacts now. That’s such a good hack.

PC: Oscar, you did such a brilliant job bringing Tom’s transformation and this coming-of-age journey to life, embracing his vulnerability and exhibiting that maturity as the film goes on. As an actor, how did you find your way into this character, from where he starts to where he ends?
Oscar: I feel like I’ve had friends I’ve grown feelings for, so I used that as a baseline. I’ve never been in a full “I’m in love with a friend” situation, but I know how things can grow and how much they can fester if left unsaid, making you feel like you’re going to explode—even before he expresses his love for her. I know that feeling so well that I was able to channel all those unsaid feelings I had as a child or teenager into this performance.

At that point, I had never even had a girlfriend, so it was tough to show that kind of love because I had never experienced it. But in a way, it kind of worked. The way we filmed this and the whole process made it feel real.

PC: There’s an earnest quality that you brought to this character. I also think it helped that you filmed this when you were seventeen, and everything felt so fresh and new. Angel, I also love that scene with Lucy and her mother and the heart-to-heart they have. Who have been the women in your own life who have held space for you in a similar way? Did you channel them into that dynamic?
Angel: I channeled it in a way that, in a perfect world, those are the types of healthy conversations I could have with my mother, where I’d feel safe enough to cry in her arms about it. I channeled this fantasy idea of what I wanted.

PC: Oscar, there’s a moment when Tom talks about how he and Lucy balance each other out. Being an actor and a storyteller is not the easiest of careers. Who have been the people that have kept you level-headed through the ups and downs of this industry?
Oscar:One is my mother. She’s always been the one to ground me, especially when I get overwhelmed or caught up in my head. “Overwhelmed” is the best way to describe it. We’ve all felt that.

Also, my coach, mentor, and cousin Robyn Ross. She coached me through this entire process. We do all my auditions together. She taught me everything I know and everything I should expect. I honestly don’t think I would have been able to get through some of the challenges I’ve faced or even be pursuing this career without her. I’m so grateful for those two women.

PC: It’s so important to have that mentorship. Angel, when you were seventeen, you told your favorite art teacher that you wished one day you could be the lead in a musical but didn’t think it was possible because you never saw anyone who looked like you in roles like this. What would you tell your younger self today? What does it mean to you to know that little girls who watch this film will see endless possibilities because of your performance?
Angel: It’s been very healing for my inner child. Even during filming, I found myself thinking, “Am I allowed to be here?”—even though I definitely was. There was a lot of rearranging mentalities in my own head and coming to the realization that the world is changing. I love that. To be part of a moment where I can be that representation for a little girl who looks like me is very exciting. That’s what makes this whole process worth it. The most fulfilling part is being the representation I didn’t have growing up.

PC: Yeah, you’re blazing a trail for young girls who look like you, and it’s going to be so impactful. Oscar, you’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative and storyteller?
Oscar: It’s how close everyone is. There’s a big difference between a large production, where you can feel that disconnection, and a smaller, independent film. That’s just the nature of big productions—they’re massive. But when you’re working on an independent film like this, you literally get to know every single person and everyone’s name. You become a little family, and you’re genuinely excited for each other’s successes and to see the project come together with everyone involved.

In big films, there are still people who become part of your circle, but it’s impossible to connect with everyone because it’s so large. That’s the biggest difference for me—the camaraderie and family atmosphere. It reminds you why you’re in this industry because everyone is so passionate. It’s really amazing to see.

I went from this to doing the bar mitzvah movie, which was on a completely different scale. I barely got to know anyone in the crew compared to this. It was interesting to see that contrast between the two.

PC: There’s something special when a small group of people come together, all passionate about the story they’re telling. Jake co-wrote and directed this. How different is the filming experience when the person who created the narrative is also directing and has experience in front of the camera? What was that collaboration like?
Oscar: I feel like the best directors are also actors. They really understand what you need to deliver the right performance and how to portray it. Sometimes, there are directors who focus more on how the shots look and don’t emphasize the acting as much, which is also great. But because Jake is an actor, he made sure we fully understood our characters and what was needed in each scene. I thought that was fantastic.

Angel: I really loved that too, especially because this was the first time I was the lead in something, and I did feel a lot of pressure. I didn’t know what I was getting into because I didn’t have much experience. It was one of the bigger things I had booked at the time. Jake was such a great mentor. He was willing to work with me and coach me, but also gave me the freedom to try things. The way he directed us was so helpful because I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had such a great time working on this project and having this as my first experience as a lead. I learned a lot because Jake was such a great teacher as well.

PC: The two of you are incredible in this. It’s also rare for a short film to have a soundtrack released. What was it like hearing it for the first time?
Oscar: We were together. I have a video of us listening to “Pinch Me.” I remember Angel’s face. It was on the big speakers in Jake’s living room. It was pretty surreal because 90% of my phone is musicals. But to hear yourself on one of those tracks that’s going to be on other people’s phones is insane.

Angel: I’ve always dreamed of hearing my voice on a track or being able to sing one of these Broadway-type songs. Growing up, I would always sing Disney or Broadway music—I sang everything. But my brain always told me, “I’m never going to be that person.” So when I got to listen to “Pinch Me,” and all of our other songs, I was like, “This is not real.” I had to pinch myself to wake up because I thought, “This is so cute. It’s so Disney vibes. It’s so adorable.” I loved all of the storytelling in it.

Being able to sing Drew Gasparini’s music is so cool. It’s so beautiful. I love, love, love the soundtrack, objectively, with or without my voice. But the honor of being a part of it—and it being Drew Gasparini’s work—is so cool.

Oscar: It was also terrifying, though. Those songs are pretty well known in this space. I remember my audition—I was sick, and I couldn’t even sing the songs. I had to do another song because I couldn’t hit the notes. I had no singing experience whatsoever, so even hearing myself and thinking, “That sounds okay,” was pretty crazy because I’d never heard myself like that before either.

PC: The film’s out now, and it’s been incredibly well received, winning awards. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? Is there a scene in particular that you’re excited for them to see?
Oscar: My two favorite scenes are “Right for Us” and the scene in the classroom with Miles. For some reason, I love the whole Tom and Miles exchange because the dialogue feels very realistic to how kids talk to each other—it’s exactly how I would talk to my friends at school. It was cool to see that. It felt really real. Then, in “Right for Us,” I think the whole scene is so well done. I love the lighting and the cinematography.

I think this film resonates with people who grew up listening to songs like Jake did, but also with teenagers and young adults who may have gone through something similar—hopefully not, but I feel like it’s for teenagers to see people like themselves in real stories.

Angel: For me, there were two scenes that I really loved being a part of, but I was so nervous. The first was with Jill Morrison in the pharmacy scene. I did research on her and everyone because I was a new actor, and they were all so much more experienced. I found out she was in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. That was the first movie I ever saw that represented me, so I was like, “Oh my God, am I the Lana Condor in this scene?” It was so cute. I even have a screenshot of us where she’s facing me, and then a screenshot from that movie with Lana Condor and her, and I was like, “That’s me.” It was like a vision board that came true. I was really excited to work with her, and she was great.

Then, I really loved the mother scene. I loved working with my on-screen mom. It was an amazing process. I really love that scene—I learned so much. I didn’t know you could walk on boxes to look taller. [laughs] That wasn’t me, but that was my mom. I learned so much, and it was so fun to film scenes with women from whom I learned so much.

Make sure to follow Angel (Instagram) and Oscar (Instagram). Watch More Together on Prime Video or BroadwayHD today.