Pop-Culturalist.com

Victoria Justice is one of the industry’s most versatile young talents. She’s an acclaimed actress and singer-songwriter with over fifty credits to her name and hit singles like “Treat Myself,” “Gold,” and “Stay.” This Spring, she stars opposite Garrett Hedlund and Noah Schnapp in the psychological thriller, The Tutor.

Directed by Jordan Ross, an in-demand tutor for the East Coast monied elite, Ethan (Garrett Hedlund) lands a high-paying assignment to instruct a billionaire’s son, Jackson (Noah Schnapp), at a remote New York waterfront estate. Almost immediately, Ethan realizes that his student’s interest in his life borders upon obsession. As tension grows, Jackson’s accusations threaten to expose Ethan’s perceived dark secrets to his girlfriend (Victoria Justice) and the authorities. As sentiment turns against Ethan, it is up to him, and only him, to unearth Jackson’s accusations and prove his innocence.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Victoria about The Tutor, how music played a role in her preparation, and more.

PC: The Tutor has so many twists throughout the plot. Audiences will be guessing until the very end who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist. What was your initial reaction when you read the script? What was it about Annie that you connected with?
Victoria: When I first read the script, I loved it. I thought it was great. Thrillers are one of my favorite genres. They’re one of my favorite types of movies to watch. I love being in suspense and on the edge of my seat. I feel like this movie does that really well. When I was reading the script, I was guessing the entire time. I didn’t figure it out. I feel like I read a lot of scripts and usually, I can see where things are going. With this one, I really couldn’t. I loved that about it.

I loved the cast that was attached and wanted to be able to work with them because they’re incredibly talented and amazing. I also love the character of Annie because I love her arc. I love the fact that she’s fully there for Ethan. She loves this man. She’s very pure. She’s in a place in her life where she’s the most vulnerable she could ever be because she’s pregnant. I’ve never played a character like this before and it was really fun. It added a lot of layers and vulnerability. She’s emotional and her hormones are raging. It was really fun to step into those shoes.

PC: You’ve brought so many dynamic female characters to life on the screen. Who are the women in your own life who shaped the storyteller that you are today?
Victoria: That’s a great question. I have to say my mom, first and foremost. We’re incredibly close. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom. I love her so much. She’s such a strong, compassionate, smart woman, and I admire her so much. She’s number one. Her and Oprah.

PC: Jordan said that each of the actors was able to elevate the material beyond what was written on the page. What was it like getting to collaborate with him? What’s something new that you brought to Annie that may not have been on the page?
Victoria: Working with Jordan was amazing. I would work with him again in a heartbeat. After I read the script, which I really loved, meeting with Jordan is what sold me on this project. He had such a clear vision. He was clearly passionate about this project and had great energy and a great disposition. I could tell he was open and collaborative. Those are the people that I love working with. He’s a cool person. Jordan is like a friend on set. He’d be chatting it up at lunch and hanging out. He’s a great guy and a talented director and knows exactly what he wants and knows how to get it.

As far as what I brought to Annie, a lot of the scenes that Garrett and I have together at the beginning of the film when we’re establishing our relationship were scripted, but Jordan also gave us a lot of free rein to mess around and say whatever felt natural. A lot of that was improv.

PC: Annie and Ethan have such a complex history, and we learn more and more about their past as the story unfolds. What were some of the early conversations that you and Garrett had as you were approaching the dynamic and relationship and making sure that the reveal at the end doesn’t bleed through at the start of the film?
Victoria: That’s a great question. We had a lot of conversations about how we wanted that to play out. But the most important thing is that we wanted to make sure people were going to buy into our relationship and the love that we had for each other. It’s the most important thing in the film. That’s what we focused on.

PC: In addition to the incredible work that you’ve done on screen, you’re also a singer-songwriter. Actor-musicians have often said that there’s a different vulnerability that you need to tap into when you’re releasing your own music. Having had such an illustrious career in both mediums, have you found that your work as a singer-songwriter has impacted the way that you interpret scripts and characters that you’ve helped shape and mold on screen?
Victoria: I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like the two are necessarily correlated, but I will say that I feel like music is a huge part of my life. Whether I’m writing music and recording it or taking an acting project, finding songs that fit certain scenes or that help me get into the mental space that a character is in has been really, really helpful for me. That’s a big part of my process.

PC: What was on your Annie playlist?
Victoria: That’s a great question. I love Sia. I don’t know if you know the song “Breathe Me” by Sia, but that song was really helpful. It helped me get into this vulnerable place that she was in, feeling so lost as everything is being put into question. That was a good one.

PC: If you had to pick one of your songs that could be the soundtrack of Annie’s life or if you were going to write one, what would it be about?
Victoria: Oh my gosh. I think a song that I would write for Annie would be stripped back and have an acoustic vibe. Because I feel like her intentions are very pure. She really loves Ethan. She is excited to have a child with him, start a family, and build a life with this man. Then things really take a turn when he meets Jackson and starts tutoring this kid and there’s this dark obsession from Jackson’s end. I think Annie’s song would be about how much she wants this future and wants to love him. She trusts him. She still wants to make it work. I’d play around with that.

PC: You deliver such a standout performance. Is there a scene that you’re really excited for your fans to see?
Victoria: That’s a great question. The ending of the movie is really exciting and interesting. Everything peaks there. I got to have so much fun. I’m excited for people to see that scene. It’s the climax and it’s very intense. I hope people love the film. I love thrillers. I feel like this movie does a great job of keeping people on the edge of their seats. I hope they like it.

PC: Without giving any spoilers, there’s a moment towards the end of the film where everything is revealed and Annie has to confront the reality of her situation. You handled that with so much nuance. Jordan brilliantly focuses in on each character through close-ups. For you as an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to dive into that moment, especially on a project like this where you’re not getting tons of takes?
Victoria: It was a bit challenging because this is an independent film and we didn’t have a ton of time. We didn’t have a ton of rehearsal time to prep for it. I didn’t have a lot of takes. We were on a pretty tight schedule. It was actually the first scene that I filmed with Garrett. I had met him a couple of days before. Then we jumped into this intense moment together. But I felt really safe and that I was in good hands because I did trust Jordan. I knew that he wasn’t going to stop until he felt like he got what he wanted. I did feel like I was in good hands with him. I also felt like I was in good hands with Garrett. He’s such an incredible actor, and he’s amazing in this film. To work opposite him was wonderful. It makes you want to be better because he’s so good. I felt very, very safe.

PC: You do a fantastic job in that scene. You’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative and a storyteller?
Victoria: I love the stories that are being told in independent films. It feels like nowadays that a lot of them are more character-based, human stories. Those are the movies that I love to watch. It’s not every day that you get to come across a script like this and you get to work with people as talented as this whole cast and crew. It was such a pleasure to work on this one.

PC: Outside of this project, you’ve got a new single. Can you tell us the inspiration behind “Last Man Standing?”
Victoria: I love this song. It’s a song about female empowerment and being in a place where you’re not ready to settle down with one person and wanting to explore and taste them all as the song says. But what I really love about it is that it comes from this strong place of not needing anyone and having confidence and an independent spirit. I really love the song and every time I sing it or play it. I hope when other people play it that it makes them feel sexy, sassy, and confident.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2023, what’s ahead for you on the acting or music front? Could we potentially see you back on tour?
Victoria: You never know. I am really looking forward to releasing a lot more music this year. I’m looking forward to getting back in the studio. I have a couple of film projects that are in the works and lined up, but I can’t talk about them yet. But yeah, there are two other projects that I’m really excited about. I love what I do. I’m excited to keep singing, to keep writing music, and to keep challenging myself and playing characters that push me and are exciting, fun stories to tell.

To keep up with Victoria, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. The Tutor is in theaters now.