Pop-Culturalist.com

Sara Garcia, Tyler Jacob Moore, and Jake Foy are three of the stars of Hallmark Channel’s must-see new series, Ride.

Ride is a multigenerational family ensemble following the lives of the McMurrays, part of a rodeo dynasty going back a generation, as they struggle to keep their beloved ranch afloat. After a tragic loss, each character embarks on an empowering journey of transformation and self-discovery while also uncovering a twisted web of secrets, threatening to tear the family and their small Colorado town apart at the seams.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Sara, Tyler, and Jake about Ride, how the series celebrates inclusivity and love, and bringing authenticity to the screen.

PC: Sara, you’re playing such a strong female character who faces a lot of adversity in a career in an industry that’s predominantly male, and you’ve handled that journey with so much nuance. Did you channel any of your own personal experiences as you stepped into her shoes?
Sara: That’s a great question. Valeria is such an incredible character to play as an actor. She’s allowed me to dive in creatively and fill in the spaces in between. Like you said, she’s strong, she’s independent, and she gives the boys a run for their money. She has big dreams and aspirations. That is what I connected with. I have big dreams and aspirations in my career as well. It’s been really incredible working on a project that is led by three strong, independent women. Nancy [Travis] and Tiera [Skovbye] are incredible role models to me. I feel very blessed and lucky.

PC: Tyler, there’s a lot of hostility between Gus and the other characters when he first arrives at the ranch. While he says that his motivation for being there is to pave his own path and step outside of his family’s reputation, you’ve done a fantastic job keeping audiences guessing. Is Gus the good guy that he’s presenting himself to be? What can you tease about his arc? How much fun is it to play a character that has everybody guessing?
Tyler: It’s so fun. Do you think I’m going to tell you what his intentions are? [laughs] Come on. You’re not going to get it out of me. I would say that I don’t think villains in real life know they’re villains, so even if his intentions aren’t pure, I probably wouldn’t know that. It’s really fun to play a character that could be completely genuine in his pursuit of wanting to be in this ranch life and the community and with Missy. He’s wildly infatuated with her and wants to be part of her life. It could be that he has some side intentions, but you’ll have to tune in and find out. I don’t know how much I can say, but it’s really fun. It’s fun to play complex characters. That was compelling to all of us. We get to play in this world that has complex, very real-life characters.

PC: Jake, this industry has made slow progress in terms of representation. So often when you’re playing a queer character, the story is centered around trauma and their coming out experience. It becomes such a focal point of the narrative and so much of their identity. But with characters like Tuff and projects like Ride, we’re seeing a much-needed step forward in terms of diversity and inclusion where queer characters can exist in the world and their sexuality is a part of who they are but not all of who they are. What has it meant to you to play such an integral role in the evolution, especially on a network like Hallmark Channel?
Jake: I give you credit for having observed that at all. It’s definitely what spoke to me most about the role. As far as representation, I have definitely seen a number of opportunities come across my desk that were precisely what you’re talking about, feeling more like a stereotype than everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve. When I say “we,” I don’t just mean the community, I mean society at large. We’ve worked really, really hard to integrate queer stories into the entertainment space.

With Tuff, that is of course not the front-running characteristic about him. He’s dignified, loyal, hardworking, creative, and loving. I would have been a fool to say no to an opportunity like that. It’s been life-changing working with this cast and crew. I couldn’t ask for more.

PC: Sara, you also shot this on location, and there’s unpredictability when you’re working with animals. How did that setting help elevate your performance and bring that authenticity on screen? You also shared a funny post on social media about your relationship with the horses. Has that changed after filming?
Sara: I actually have a funny anecdote about my co-star Nick, the horse who plays Chantico, Val’s beloved horse. Nick is a twenty-year seasoned professional in this industry. In between takes, Nick is vocal, sassy, stomping, and making noise.

Jake: A real prima donna.

Sara: As soon as our wonderful director Paolo yelled “action,” he was professional. He hit his mark. He improvised a nose nuzzle on a particularly emotional line, and then as soon as he yelled, “cut,” he’s back to his old tricks.

Jake: A real intuitive artist.

Sara: He’s a real talent. [laughs]

PC: Tyler, Ride marks your Hallmark Channel debut. Did anything surprise you about the experience? How does it compare to other projects that you’ve worked on?
Tyler: It’s a fantastic experience. It’s very different in terms of the sense of community and kindness. Not that other networks and shows aren’t equally as kind, but for whatever reason, I feel it from the top down and everyone involved in this project. Everyone has led with kindness. It’s funny because the whole network is about love, hope, and positivity. It’s really funny that it’s such a genuine thing. The company and the people involved genuinely lead with that as well. It’s a joy to get to do projects like this and feel a part of this community. Everyone is so empathetic. It’s all gravy. This show is great as well, but it’s like the icing on the cake.

PC: Jake, you shared on social media that the cast and family have changed your life. What has made this project so special? How were you all able to build the bond needed for your characters?
Jake: I come from a musical theater background, so Tuff’s country singing is an enormous opportunity for me. What makes the project special is that we’re surrounded by rodeo and ranching. Hallmark is a place where love stories really happen. That’s been true for our experience as a cast and crew making this show. Hopefully, that’ll translate on screen for you as well.

PC: This series does a fantastic job tackling so many universal themes. Each audience member will take away something different. For each of you as creatives, was there a theme that hit home for you?
Jake: For me, it’s authenticity. It speaks to Tuff being a queer character. It speaks to family coming first. It speaks to finding the truth and also having empathy for each other’s journey toward that. We live in a world that’s so quick to accuse and not so quick to forgive. Getting to be a part of that story really practices what it preaches when it comes to that. That’s been a big thing for me. The authenticity of how that follows through in our workspace as well as the plot has been the best part for me.

Sara: For me, it’s the theme of love in its truest form. We explore love in familial relationships. We explore love in friendship, in community, in love for the earth, in one’s home, and of course, in romantic love. Love is beyond our flaws. Love is beyond our differences. We choose to love every day, and that’s what the McMurrays do.

Tyler: I couldn’t say it any better. I think for me personally, it’s love, but specifically, the forever love that the show portrays—the idea that these people come and go, have heartbreak and loss, all these ups and downs, and that they’re there for the people they love. That love stands the test of time. You’re always supported and always loved. That really resonates with me on the show.

Make sure to follow Sara (Twitter/Instagram), Tyler (Twitter), and Jake (Twitter/Instagram). Ride premieres on March 26 at 9/8c on Hallmark Channel.