Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with October Faction’s Gabriel Darku

2020 is officially underway, and we know talented actor Gabriel Darku will be one of the year’s breakout stars. With past credits that include ReBoot: The Guardian Code, Shadowhunters, and Impulse, Gabriel can next be seen in his leading role as Geoff Allen in the Netflix adaptation of October Faction. The family drama, which premieres on January 23, follows the adventures of a retired monster-hunter and his family, which includes a thrill-killer, a witch, and a warlock. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with Gabriel about starring in October Faction.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Gabriel: That’s a good story. Back in high school, I worked part-time at McDonald’s, and this one year, they announced a contest that would have the winners featured in the next national TV spot, which also happened to be the spot for the 2012 Winter Olympics. My friends convinced me to enter, and I did so, thinking nothing would come of it. The next thing I know I’ve been short-listed and they want to fly me out to Toronto (I was living in Yellowknife at the time) for the live audition round, of which I also made it through. I was in awe of pretty much the entire process of making that commercial and everything that went on behind the scenes. I knew instantly that if there was something I could do as a career for thirteen hours a day, this was it. So I took that as a sign and decided to apply to a filmmaking program for postsecondary education. And it was later on, during my time at Toronto Film School, that I discovered my passion for the actual craft of acting. So, while most people give credit to their favorite actor or piece of media that inspired them to get into showbiz, I’m over here crediting my career to a McDonald’s commercial!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Gabriel: To be honest, I’m not sure if I have a specific answer. My career still feels so new and in development. However, I can definitely say that I have a huge amount of admiration for Dwayne Johnson and the way he came up in the industry, growing his chops and earning a lot of respect along the way. Now, look at him! That kind of determination and work ethic is something that’s been instilled in me since my days as a competitive athlete, and it’s something I hope will help me in my career as it did for the Rock.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Gabriel: Booking ReBoot: The Guardian Code will always be a big standout for me. It was my first series lead. It was the job that allowed me to quit serving and consider myself a full-time actor. The show really helped prep me for working a full-time filming schedule. Not only that, but I still consider it the most fun I’ve had on any set. Despite the grueling schedule—twenty episodes in twenty-five days—I don’t think there was ever a time on that job where it felt like I was working. And that was also to do with the fact that our cast hit it off like crazy. We became best friends during that short time, and it’s a memory I will always cherish.

October Faction

PC: Tell us about October Faction, your character, and what attracted you to this project.
Gabriel: October Faction is a story about the Allen family. Fred and Deloris are career monster-hunters, unbeknownst to their kids Geoff and Viv, who believe they work as insurance agents. After an unfortunate event brings the family back to its roots, secrets emerge and unusual happenings shake the family to their core. It’s a very tragic and heartfelt story and a smart adaptation of the graphic novels. I love that the show is trying to flesh out these great characters and is focusing heavily on very relevant themes that I think are really going to hit home for a lot of viewers.

For example, my character Geoff: he’s a very sarcastic and charismatic individual, confident and highly comfortable with himself. Yet despite this, there’s a necessity to always fit in and be loved by others; his self-acceptance usually accompanies acceptance from others, and betrayals are extra painful. Despite this being a show about the supernatural, it really comes down to being a story about family, their struggles, and the consequences of harboring secrets, and that’s what makes the show so compelling.

PC: The series is being adapted from a widely popular comic book series. How familiar were you with the source material?
Gabriel: I wasn’t at all familiar with the source material, nor did I have an abundance of time to get myself fully acquainted with it before going to camera. When I did get my hands on the first issue, I immediately fell in love with the art. It has a very satisfying aesthetic that’s perfect for the story and very nuanced characters that I felt I need to learn more about. And then I realized that the story we’re telling for the show’s first season is a sort of prequel if you will—a telling of how the family came to be what we see in the novels. That knowledge, along with noticing the general differences in our story versus the novels, really helped ease my stresses about not feeling immediately connected to the source material and having the freedom to explore and make choices on how I see the background of the characters and how we’re adapting the story for a screen audience.

PC: You’re one of the leads of the series. Did that bring any added pressure to this project?
Gabriel: Only because of how little prep time there was. The time from signing the contract to the first day of production was less than a week, so that was definitely stressful. However, I consider myself to have a good handle on dealing with pressure. That and also having previous experience as a series lead helped a lot. As long as I’m enjoying my work, there’s usually nothing to worry about!

PC: Which of Geoff’s relationships has been your favorite to explore in Season 1?
Gabriel: Geoff’s relationship with Philip is definitely a highlight for me. The way Geoff is able to see right through to him and understand him, pushing Philip to accept who he truly is while being there to catch him if he falls. It’s a side of Geoff that we don’t often see. Letting someone in like that on an intimate level is always interesting to explore.

PC: If you had to summarize the first season in one sentence, what would it be?
Gabriel: A tragic family drama swept up by a supernatural hurricane. How’s that for intriguing?

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Gabriel: Hell’s Kitchen

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Gabriel: The Harry Potter series

PC: Favorite book?
Gabriel: How to Stop Acting

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Gabriel: Sweeney Todd

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Gabriel: Avenged Sevenfold

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Gabriel: I’m totally playing as myself!

To keep up with Gabriel, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Binge-watch Season 1 of October Faction on January 23 on Netflix.

Photo Credit: Megan Vincent