Pop Culturalist Chats with Nick Fink
Nick Fink is Hollywood’s next big name. The immensely talented actor is quickly turning heads with his breakout performance on MTV’s must-see series, Sweet/Vicious. It’s part drama, part superhero saga. It follows two heroines who take the law into their own hands and get justice for students who were sexually assaulted on campus. Nick plays Tyler Finn, the charming, mysterious artist and Jules’ (one of the vigilantes) love interest. Nick is the type of actor every show needs more of. And, he can next be seen in the highly anticipated indie flick, The Great & The Small—out this February.
PC: What can you tease about the two-hour season finale?
Nick: A lot is going to happen! I feel like there’s so much that has been brewing this whole season, and a lot of them are going to come to fruition. A lot is going to happen to Tyler. Hopefully, some good things are going to happen for Jules and Tyler as well.
PC: Will we see Jules open up to Tyler about what she’s dealing with?
Nick: I can’t say that, but I will say that at the end of episode eight, Kennedy is ready to go up in arms about this and if they’re going to try to pursue justice in the way Kennedy wants to, I think, whether Jules opens up to him or not, he might be hearing some things.
PC: What do you think Tyler’s take is on the vigilantes?
Nick: Throughout the season, we’ve kind of seen his take on his brother and what his relationship is with sexual assault. I think he would respect what they’re doing. I think he understands that maybe the institution isn’t always going to be on the right side of things, or there for the right people. Maybe he doesn’t love the way they’re going about it, but he’s definitely on the good side of things. I think he would see what they’re doing as maybe not the right thing, but an okay thing.
PC: What initially drew you to this role in this project?
Nick: I just love this show. I have since day one. I just remember reading the pilot and loving the characters and the story; the fact that it was about an issue that I felt was important. There was something to be told there and [a chance] to educate people. And, I get to work with this incredible team. Our creator, Jen, is just so phenomenal. To get to speak their words and be part of a show that I feel matters… I didn’t need anything more than that.
PC: Did you learn anything about yourself while portraying Tyler?
Nick: I learned that I have an artist in me—which is incredible—because Tyler’s an artist on the show. Just to prepare for the role, I picked up art myself. Low and behold, I was actually alright at it…maybe more than alright at it. I had this totally untapped thing that was sitting there. Now, it’s going to become a little piece of my life, which I’ll always thank Tyler for.
PC: Will you be sharing any of those on social media?
Nick: Actually, I have. There’s some drawings on social media and some paintings that I’ll probably share after the season finale that are bigger and more meaningful.
PC: What kind of similarities and differences do you share with Tyler besides the art?
Nick: Tyler’s a really great guy with a wonderful moral compass and a nice outlook on the world. I hope I’m as similar to him as I can be. He’s really a good dude. I aspire to be like Tyler. I think we do share some similarities. He can be a little goofy and weird sometimes, and I certainly can be—more than he is. I think we share a lot.
PC: Are there any parts of Tyler that you hope to explore in next season?
Nick: If we’re so lucky! There’s a ton. His past, for sure. What kind of family he grew up in, and how that makes him the guy he is… Also, more about what his art means to him. We see this season that he is incredibly talented, but it’s a very vulnerable spot for him. He doesn’t like people seeing it. I’d really like to explore that for him, try to get him more confident in that area, and see how you get there. We’ll have to see.
PC: If there was another character on the show that you could play, who would it be and why?
Nick: I would say Evan, who is Ophelia’s new fling. Maybe that’s because I just want to be the guy who plays Evan. I just want to be him. Evan’s awesome. He’s so funny and ridiculous, and the things he gets to say are so funny.
Photo Credit: MTVNick: Well, Eliza and I hit it off so incredibly well. Our friendship has really been effortless and wonderful. With that, we obviously brought all that to Jules and Tyler. I think it really shows, too. Their relationship is pretty honest and a good representation of what can happen; sometimes, your life can get in the way of things. I think that’s certainly the case for Jules and also somewhat for Tyler, too. He’s got his own thing going on and she has hers, too. Once they figure things out, they can give it another shot. I think that’s definitely where Tyler’s at with it.
PC: Do you have a favorite moment from this season?
Nick: It’s so hard to pick one. I love it all so much. I really do love Jules’ and Tyler’s first kiss scene. It’s such an awesome scene and well-written—like everything it should be. Also, that condom scene from the last episode is pretty high up there, too. That was like Taylor’s and mine’s first scene together. For me to pull the condom out of her hair with a beer bottle…it was a funny moment for us.
PC: You’ve also been filming T@gged. What can fans expect from the second season, and how has your character changed?
Nick: The second season is just amped up, and it’s relentless. It’s a whole new chapter of this show, and it’s crazy. Jake—that’s my character in that show—he’s not around quite as much, but he’s taken some steps to kind of prepare for his future so that in his future, he can provide and be there for the people he wants to be there for; be there for them in the right way.
PC: So, besides T@gged and Sweet/Vicious, do you have any other upcoming projects you can talk about?
Nick: Yeah. I have a really beautiful indie film called The Great & The Small that’s coming out. We have a limited release, but the premiere is, I believe, on February 21. It will be On-Demand. I’m super excited for that. It’s a totally different character, a totally different side of me, and it has an incredible cast. It’s about a homeless kid who, through a series of events, decides to start trying a little bit, and realizes that the world isn’t against him. That’s [been] just what he’s been thinking. It’s really incredible, and it’s a really nice film. I’m excited for people to see it.
Nick: The singing thing was just kind of…I wouldn’t say a fluke, but it just kind of happened. After it, acting was more in the forefront of what I wanted to pursue. I became allowed to pursue it. I tunnel visioned in on that. Now, it’s kind of all I wanted. That’s where I’m at now, six years later. That’s kind of where things have taken me. When I transitioned, it was just kind of like, “Yeah, I want do this. This is what I want to pursue.”
PC: Do you have a dream role?
Nick: Any role is a dream role, pretty much. I enjoy working, I love acting—that’s what I want to do. Anytime I can do that is a dream. That’s where I am now. There’s so many roles that would be awesome. Anything. I want to do a space role, I want to do a crazy fantasy film. There’s a million things I want to do.
Photo Credit: Ryan WestPop Culturalist Speed Round
PC: Do you have a guilty pleasure television show?
Nick: Oh, easy, Survivor.
PC: Have you watched all the seasons?
Nick: I took a break in the middle, but now for the past six years, I’ve been die-hard.
PC: Would you ever go on Survivor?
Nick: Maybe in a different life. I’d love to, but not with path I’ve chosen.
PC: What about a guilty pleasure movie?
Nick: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
PC: A favorite book?
Nick: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
PC: A favorite social media platform?
Nick: Anything with pugs on it.
PC: Wait, what?
Nick: I was waiting for you to catch that. Pugs like the dog.
PC: Oh! I thought you said plugs.
PC: A band or artist people would be surprised that’s on your playlist?
Nick: Whitney, the band.
PC: Do you have a favorite musical or play?
Nick: Wicked
PC: Hidden talent?
Nick: I can solve the Rubik’s cube really, really fast.
Make sure to follow Nick on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And, catch the season finale of Sweet/Vicious on January 24th on MTV.
Photo Credit: Ryan West
Glad to see Nick getting a lot of traction with his career. He is a natural, despite that American Idol debacle.