Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Retrocausality’s Kristian Denver Diaz

Kristian Denver Diaz is a multifaceted artist who’s pulling triple duty on his latest project, Retrocausality. The timely film follows the story of a young man trying to find a girl with whom he has a strange connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pop Culturalist caught up with Kristian to learn more about Retrocausality and what it was like stepping into the simultaneous roles of actor, producer, and director.

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling?
Kristian: I didn’t grow up in the industry. I didn’t have family members or friends that worked even remotely close to the arts. I feel like it wasn’t possible for me until I actually started doing it.

I remember walking to my first casting and being super late, like the last one there, and being super nervous. I just wanted to go home. I had no experience or anything. Everyone looked super calm, but I remember walking and then waiting. Finally getting in the room, I felt like I blacked out. But I remember after that, I was like, “When’s the next one?” I feel like that’s where I first discovered that passion or at least the start of it.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Kristian: Easily, my mom, dad, and Will Smith. I feel like I always go back to thinking how hard they worked and the sacrifices they made whenever I feel like my back is against the wall or anything like that.

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Kristian: Trust the timing. You can’t control much. Just do what you can. Trust the timing and it might not be exactly how long you expect it to take or exactly how you pictured it, but you really have no option but to trust it.

PC: Tell us about the inspiration behind Retrocausality.
Kristian: During the early stages of the COVID pandemic, we’re all trying to figure out what’s going on and we get all this new information every day. In the film, we have Scott, who is this young blockbuster actor. He’s trying to find a girl named Max. They have this weird connection where they feel like they know each other, but they’re strangers. They’re trying to figure out what’s stopping them from meeting and what’s going on. Everything stopped and has to move a lot faster when Scott’s mom catches the virus and we go there.

PC: How early in the process did you realize you wanted to wear all these different hats?
Kristian: Super late—way too late. [laughs] I just wanted to make it, and then I wrote it. Closer to the last draft, we decided I was going to play the actor and act in it. I wrote a lot of myself in Scott. Then directing was a last-second thing. We couldn’t find anyone. Then me and the cinematographer, Michael Manus, both directed together.

PC: What was the biggest takeaway from this experience?
Kristian: It’s about working with the right people and being patient in finding them. Surround yourself with good people because I feel like that’s the most important thing, especially on set. When you’re just working with so many different dynamics, be patient in finding the right people.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Kristian: Nailed It!.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Kristian: I watched Forgetting Sarah Marshall more than what’s healthy for one person.

PC: Favorite book?
Kristian: The Places You’ll Go.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Kristian: Glass Menagerie.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Kristian: Megan Thee Stallion.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Kristian: Terry Crews.