Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with SurrealEstate’s Tim Rozon

From getting his start as the heartthrob in Teen Nick’s Instant Star to playing a man of few words in Schitt’s Creek to stepping into the shoes of the iconic gunslinger Doc Holiday in Wynonna Earp, Tim Rozon has wowed audiences with the dynamic characters he’s brought to life in film and television.

Currently, he can be seen leading the star-studded cast of Syfy’s SurrealEstate, which follows real estate agent Luke Roman (Tim Rozon) and an elite team of specialists handling haunted and possessed houses that no one else can.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Tim about SurrealEstate Season 1, making the transition from Doc Holiday to Luke Roman, creating a bond with his cast during a pandemic, and tapping into his vulnerability.

PC: You were filming Wynonna Earp when you got this opportunity. What’s that transition been like going from playing Doc Holliday to now Luke?
Tim: I laugh about it because Doc Holiday doesn’t say too much. He’s a brooding type who sulks and chooses his words quite wisely, which are few and far between. Whereas Luke has a lot to say, especially in the first couple of episodes where you build it up and try to explain the story because it’s not easy. It’s a balancing act between real estate and the paranormal. You’re trying to get the audience up to date as quickly as possible. That was fun.

It was definitely a challenge, and I was more than frightened. To be honest, when I found out Sarah Levy had the part, she was the first person I called. I was like, “There’s so much to talk about.” Her character, Susan, also had a huge workload, so that was our immediate bond. We laughed about it, because in the show we did together, Schitt’s Creek, our two characters didn’t talk too much. [laughs]

PC: As the first season has progressed, we get to see the different layers of Luke unfold. How did you prepare to tackle his journey throughout that first season?
Tim: What a gift of a character. Can we just talk about these characters? I haven’t skipped ahead. I’ve only seen what everyone else has seen.

We’re officially halfway through the season, and I’m a fan of the show. I know I was there on the day, but watching it—the look of the show, the direction, the characters, and the performances—everyone has knocked it out of the park.

These characters are a gift. There’s so much depth there. In episode five, Luke was dealing with a young boy who lost his mother and trying to explain to the kid that he won’t see his mom again. That was heart-wrenching, because we know from episode one that Luke lost his mom at a young age.

It’s great to see the different sides to him. I hope it doesn’t come across this way, but I’ve always found when someone tries to sell me something, it comes off a little sleazy. So, when we get to the heart and the vulnerability, that’s when you get me. I’m a real softy.

My favorite scene of the season is in episode four when Savannah Basley’s character, Zooey, and Susan come together. They have a heart to heart and Zooey that explains the effect her ex-boyfriend has had on her. To see those two bonding, I loved that.

PC: Luke has a lot of really heartbreaking moments later in the season. As an actor, how do you prepare for those scenes?
Tim: I’ve got a depth of pain. We’ve all lived, so we have things we can pull from. Being sad is kind of easy for me. I don’t know if that’s depressing—it’s not, because I’m a really happy, positive person, but I know where my sadness lives. I know how I breathe when I’m sad and I know where to go to get it. It’s easier for me to do that…sometimes easier than comedy. I find comedy is a science. It’s like math. I’m not good at math or science, but I’m good from the heart. I’m not so good from the head, which is difficult for other people.

PC: On each episode this season, the team tackles a new case/house. Which has been your favorite to explore from season one?
Tim: The great thing is they’re all so different. There are different pieces to each of them. We tackled some serious subject matter in episode five. It was gut-wrenching at times. Then, episode one right off the bat with the demon dog was frightening as well. It’s still fun. We’re throwing pork chops and running. I love that. They’re also different. My favorite one is probably in the finale because when I read the script, it was mind-blowing.

PC: There are so many important and relevant themes that the show tackles throughout the first season. Is there one in particular that hit home for you?
Tim: Like you just said, we’re dealing with a different external demon in each episode, but the show also beautifully depicts the internal demons that people deal with and how these characters cope and rely on each other, not only on the job, but also rely on each other to get through the internal demons that they’re battling themselves.

Luke and Susan lean on each other a lot. Zooey and Susan lean on each other. Adam and August are the duos of all duos—they might be my favorite duo. Now, Megan and Luke have each other. They’ve found each other. I feel like everybody was lost in this group, but together they’re finding themselves. That’s important. Found family is sometimes more important than blood. I know they said blood is blood, but what if the blood is toxic?

PC: There’s fantastic chemistry that comes off the screen between you and the rest of the cast. I know you’ve worked with some of them in the past, but how are you all able to build that bond, especially during a pandemic?
Tim: It’s a great question. I asked that question myself. It’s a testament to Danishka Esterhazy and George Olson. George is the creator of the show, and together they’re the showrunners. They are so present, and they put this great team together.

We did one Zoom read. That was about the only time we could do it and everyone was available. I remember when we shot the first episode—the first scene we had all together was us in the Roman agency office, where it’s all of us talking, and introducing Susan. I remember thinking, “This is clicking!” My first day, I had all my scenes by myself, out at night with the hat and rain.

But the first day of working with everyone, I was like, “Oh wow. This is clicking already. How did they know? The chemistry is working.” People got into character. We were all excited, right from the get-go. The cool thing is we’ve become a family already. We’ve got a group chat going at all times. You don’t always get that with casts and shows. We’re all fortunate. We all really like the show, and we’re all really hoping to come back.

PC: You touched upon this already a little bit earlier, but a lot happens in episode ten. What was your initial reaction when you read that script?
Tim: Honestly, my mind was blown. I wasn’t ready for it. Whenever I start putting things together, they’re never exactly what I think will happen. George is really good at that; he’s a really good writer and he’s got a great team behind him. It was magical. I’m excited for people to get to the end.

To keep up with Tim, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch SurrealEstate every Friday at 10/9c on Syfy.