Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Safety’s Elijah and Isaac Bell

The best things in life come in twos. Just ask actors and models Elijah and Isaac Bell. Fresh faces in the industry, the brothers are ready to make their mark on the industry, and there’s no better way to do that than in a Disney+ original, Safety. Pop Culturalist caught up with Elijah and Isaac to learn more the film, getting their start, and sharing this experience with each other.

Career

PC: How did you guys discover your passion for acting?
Elijah and Isaac: We both discovered our passion for acting when we were seventeen. We saw one of our childhood friends, Terrence Hardy, on Ghost Whisperer. Ever since that day, it became a big deal to us to see how films were made and what actually goes into making a film or TV show. It made us want to explore new things in life. We wanted to tell stories that inspired people and brought them joy.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your careers?
Elijah and Isaac: That’s a big question. There have been a few people who have had big impacts on our careers. Both our mother and father have been huge influences. They are the reason why we continue to push so hard at what we do.

We also have to thank God for all the blessings he has put in front of us. Without him and trusting his plan, none of this would be possible at all.

Max Decker, our acting coach and mentor, was the guy who first took a chance on us. He was the person who believed in us and believed we would make a name for ourselves. Without him, we wouldn’t know anything about acting or this business, so we have to thank him the most. Thank you, Max!

But the two people who have inspired us the most have to be Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington. Both of these people are heroes in our lives. We couldn’t be more thankful to be able to watch them on the big screen. They’ve given us so much life and hope with the amount of emotion and realism they bring to their work.

PC: You both started your careers off as models. What has the transition been like going from that medium to acting?
Elijah and Isaac: The transition from modeling to acting has been very different. With acting, you have to give everything to your character, so there’s a lot more research, emotion, and life that goes into creating a character. As for modeling, you still have to give that emotion when posing, but it isn’t nearly as intense as creating a character.

PC: What was the biggest lesson you learned as models that you’ve been able to apply to your acting careers?
Elijah and Isaac: One of the biggest lessons we have learned is not to care about other people’s opinions. Take risks and go with your instincts. An actor isn’t an actor without his or her instincts. Acting is all about reacting and listening. That is the key. Go with your instincts.

PC: As you both embarked on your journey, how much more special is to have your brother on your side?
Elijah and Isaac: It’s been a blessing to be able to have each other, especially in this business. It’s a very cutthroat business. It can get really scary and intimidating being alone. Knowing that we have each other to go to when things aren’t moving the way we want them to is the best thing. We’re able to give each other notes and advice. We couldn’t ask for a better person to do that with than each other.

Safety

PC: Tell us about Safety, your characters, and what drew you to this project.
Elijah and Isaac: Safety is the story of Ray Ray McElrathbey, a freshman football player for Clemson University who secretly raised his young brother on campus after his home life became too unstable. We can’t give away too much about our characters, but we do play his two best friends. We take the journey with Ray, who is played by an incredible actor, Jay Reeves.

Our number-one dream has always been to be in a Disney movie. Another reason is this film is about brotherhood and how a bond between two brothers can bring so many people together. Also, it’s directed by the legend himself, Reggie Hudlin. Being on set every day and learning so many things from him and watching him work was the ultimate master class for an actor. His work speaks for itself.

PC: This is a breakout role for you both. What was biggest takeaway from this experience?
Elijah and Isaac: The biggest takeaway is the fact that we love our craft so much. The cast and crew were incredible to work with. Without this whole cast and crew, the project wouldn’t be what it is. Spending so much time with the crew made this experience feel so real. It didn’t even feel like we were shooting a movie. It felt like a big family coming together on Thanksgiving dinner.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Elijah and Isaac: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Friends. Both shows will put you in your seat for hours with nothing but excitement!

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Elijah and Isaac: Peter Pan. That is the best fictional character ever.

PC: Favorite book?
Elijah and Isaac: Harry Potter and Twilight.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Elijah and Isaac: This is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan and Prodigal Son by John Patrick Shanley.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Elijah and Isaac: Frank Sinatra and Hall & Oates.

To keep up with Elijah and Isaac, follow them on Instagram. Catch Safety later this year on Disney+.

Photo Credit: Carlo Alberto Orecchia