How I love this gig. We got the chance to talk to Chandler Massey and discuss his new movie Aquarians. It premiered at the 2017 Twin Cities Film Festival where Chandler earned a Best Performance Nomination for lead actor (no surprise there). The movie was the Audience Award Runner Up. Aquarians continued in 2018 with additional screenings including; The Palm Springs International Film Festival, Beloit International Film Festival and Sedona International Film Festival.
And you know we weren’t letting him get away without talking Days, Will Horton, Wilson and Horita. We started with Aquarians.
First Chandler thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. Please tell us all about the movie, Aquarians, and where we can see it.
“Thank you so much. Yes, the movie is called Aquarians and it’s on Amazon Prime. You can go and watch it now. The movie is about two brothers, who experience a traumatic event in their youth. The event caused them to separate and the brothers deal with what happened in two different ways. They are forced to reconnect in their old home town. They have to reconcile their differences and experience a lot of uncomfortable growth. I play Daniel Sullivan, “Danny”. Danny is a deacon, in the seminary and working to be ordained. He has to come back to his home town because his priest there has fallen ill. Danny has to sort of fill in as a substitute. Danny is a quiet guy with a lot of flaws that may not be as deep beneath the surface as Danny would like to think. He’s an interesting guy.”
From reading about the movie, it appears a part of Danny’s process of being ordained and his spiritual journey will be intertwined with whatever the issues are between Danny and Jake. It’s all a part of Danny’s spiritual journey.
“Yes. So when he gets back to town, the town folk expect him to be an upstanding citizen and an exemplary member of the church. They discover he’s actually estranged from his family and in large part from his brother, Jake. They suggest that Danny brings Jake to church in an effort to set the stage for them to reconnect. It’s Danny’s job to help people deal with their spiritual burdens and he does so while also struggling to deal with his own.”
It sounds interesting and very different from Will Horton. How was it playing a seminary student?
“It was great. They are two very different characters. It was a real joy to be able to dive into the mind and body of this new guy. As an actor, it’s always a treat and fun to discover new things and to interact with people in new ways.”
Where there any experiences you drew from? How did you prepare for the role?
“I did a lot of research on seminary life. I also went up to Milwaukee before the shoot and toured the seminary there. I researched life in The Upper Peninsula. I identified with Danny because he internalizes a lot of pain and conflict and keeps it bottled up until it explodes. Will Horton is the opposite. He wears everything on his sleeve. I think my personality is more like Danny’s. It’s more of what I tend to do. I related and identified with it.”
You mentioned you researched life in The Upper Peninsula? Aquarians is described as a wintertime drama. Where was it filmed?
“We shot in Marinette, Wisconsin and Menominee, Michigan near The Great Lakes in January. It was definitely wintertime. It was freezing. It was freaking freezing.” Laughter.
Totally different from L.A.? Laughter.
“Oh yeah.”
And Atlanta. Atlanta gets a little chilly but nothing like that. Laughter.
“Yeah, a little chilly but nothing like that. I don’t own enough clothes to survive that comfortably.” Laughter.
You co-starred with Shane Coffey, known from Pretty Little Liars, who played Danny’s brother Jake. What was it like working with him?
“It was so much fun. Shane Coffey, who plays Jake, is an actor’s actor. He’s in love with the craft of acting and breaking down the character. He dove so deep. He stretched and challenged me as an actor. It was really an honor to work with him. He’s truly talented.”
Is there anything else you want to share with us about Aquarians before we talk Days?
“Be prepared, it’s not necessarily going to be anything like Days. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable but in a good way. The movie will make you ponder the bleakness of life but also the beauty of life. I highly recommend checking it out. Of course, I’m biased because I’m in the movie. But all the same, it’s really a compelling story. It turned out beautifully.”
It sounds great. We will watch. Now on to Days and Will Horton. I have to give you a little background, before asking my next question. Me personally I’ve always been a Wilson (super couple) shipper. But then Horita (a super couple in the making) came and stole my heart. You are a super couple magnet. You have been a part of two very popular pairings back to back which doesn’t happen all that often. Tell us your super couple magnet secret. What is it?
“Oh, that’s easy. The secret is being paired with two phenomenal actors. I just got lucky. Christopher Sean and Freddie are both so good at what they do. My chemistry with each guy was different, both were interesting and compelling. Honestly, it was just a pleasure to get to work with them. You know, I was worried. Wilson, was you know the first. So there is always going to be people who are biased toward that. Christopher came in and we knew we had to work to help people understand why Will and Paul could and should be together and why they are right for each other as well. Judging by the fans’ reaction I think we succeeded.”
Yes, you did! Like I said I was a Wilson shipper and I felt a little guilty jumping on the Horita train. But you all were hot as well. We were so sorry to see Christopher Sean go. But of course happy for him. He’s doing amazing things. And Wilson is a great “fall back”. I’m back to my first love. So, it’s all good. Laughter. Now Ron got us with this 24 hour only Wilson reunion before Leo came back. Oh my goodness speaking of which Greg is doing such an awesome job. I don’t know how you all are keeping it together. We’ve been laughing hysterically.
“Oh, we are too. You all just see the takes where we are barely able to keep it together. A lot of the time, I know I’m not able to keep it together. Greg is just so good. He’s so bold with his choices. He really owns the character. Greg has just been outstanding.”
When Leo was teasing Will those red “undies” I was dying. Laughter.
“Ron created such an amazing character. Will, Sonny and Paul have their flaws but they are overall nice guys. It’s really nice and refreshing to see a gay character as a villain, to be hated. I love the dynamic Ron has created.”
Exactly. That’s why we were so happy to have Wilson and Horita, a real gay triangle. Hats off. And really I don’t like to use the term gay triangle. It was a solid triangle with gay characters and solid actors. We were so happy to see Leo after Paul left to keep that soapy angsty drama. But can you please tell us if we will get more than a 24 hour Wilson reunion soon?
“Well, it depends on what your definition of soon is. I’d say in the next four months you will start to see the obstacles clear away. They are actually allowed to have an “extended amount of happiness.”
More than a day? Laughter.
“Yes, more than a day.”
We are excited every day to watch. Days is rocking. It’s been a journey the last several years for the show and the fans. We are so happy. We know we can expect a Wilson reunion a few months down the road. But what’s on the horizon for Will Horton outside of Wilson?
“Will you know has a job even though he doesn’t act like it sometimes (Laughter). He does some investigative activities digging up dirt like a good journalist should.”
Oh good! We love it when Will’s in journalism mode. That’s when his “Sami” comes out and he’s more like his momma. Before we let you go, do you have a special message you would like to send to your Will, Wilson and Horita fans?
“Absolutely! A big thank you. You guys are the reason we got picked up and are doing well. I can still pay my rent (Big Laughter). So, a big thank you. But seriously you all are why we do it. We appreciate all the support and love. All the comments I get, make it meaningful and significant. If we didn’t receive that kind of response every day and was just going in doing our jobs, it wouldn’t be the same. It wouldn’t feel like we were working towards something. We feel like what we are doing matters.”
Thank you for talking to us Mr. Massey!
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