SPF-18 Carson Meyer and Alex Israel Interviews

We got a chance to talk to the lovely Carson Meyer who plays Penny Cooper in SPF-18 as well as Alex Israel who directs the film. Such a fun film that hits Itunes exclusively today!

When you grow up in LA, real life and the movies can get a little mixed up. From acclaimed L.A.-based artist Alex Israel comes SPF-18! With high school over, eighteen-year-old Penny Cooper (Carson Meyer) has the perfect summer planned out with her cousin Camilla (Bianca Santos) and heartthrob surfer Johnny Sanders Jr. (Noah Centineo), the boy she has pined after for years. But when a mysterious country musician Ash Baker (Jackson White) shows up on the beach, Penny is suddenly questioning everything.

BSCKids: How hard was it choosing the cast for the film? How did you end up making the final decisions on casting?

Alex Israel: Casting was a lot of fun. Sean was one of the first actors we saw and I knew instantly that he had to play Steve. He’s an amazing surfer in real life, and he auditioned with this great surfy vibe so we offered him the part immediately. Carson read for Camilla, and I loved her but something was off. I then realized that she would actually be perfect as Penny! Jackson knocked us all out when he came in with his guitar and played a pitch-perfect cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” The only thing he had ever acted in before was a high school production of “Grease” and I couldn’t believe his raw talent. Bianca’s Camilla was perfect—she struck this very specific balance between wild and funny that was exactly what I wanted. And Noah was the last person we saw for Johnny. I had seen one or two other great actors for the part, but Noah’s energy was so much more youthful, and he was able to capture Johnny’s teen angst while still being warm and endearing. When we brought the five core cast members together for the table read, the chemistry was incredible.

BSCKids: How do you balance making a teen movie accessible to teens, but interesting enough so they want to watch it?

Alex Israel: I looked out into the landscape to see what was being made for the teen audience, and set out to make something a little bit different. On the one hand, SPF-18 is like a fairy tale, set on a magical Malibu beach. But on the other hand the challenges and the issues that each character faces are deeply rooted in reality. As teens we’ve all struggled with romantic relationships, family relationships and to find our voice. We’ve had to face the unknowns of life after high school. I hope that teenagers (and former teenagers) will relate to the movie on a personal and emotional level.

Even though I’m an artist and I usually show my work in galleries and museums, it’s important to me that SPF-18 will live online, on iTunes and Netflix, where so many people will be able to access it from all over the world.

BSCKids: In one short sentence why should people watch SPF-18?

Alex Israel: If you live for teen movies, yearn for a Malibu-surf-Degrassi, and/or dream of the world’s most beautiful after-school special with the 80s nostalgia playlist of your dreams, this movie will take you to your happy place.

Starring Carson Meyer, Noah Centineo, Bianca Santos, Jackson White, and Sean Russel Herman, and featuring Rosanna Arquette, Molly Ringwald, Keanu Reeves, and Pamela Anderson, and featuring music from Fleetwood Mac, The Buggles, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Cars, Men Without Hats, and many more, SPF-18 exclusively hits iTunes on SEPTEMBER 29, 2017!

BSCKids: How did you get the role in the movie?

Carson Meyer: I auditioned for the movie when I was home from college over spring break. I remember being really nervous and scrambling up some of my words. I left feeling like I blew it but I guess that ended up working to my benefit! My character Penny is pretty shy as well.

BSCKids: Describe how your character in SPF-18 is a little bit like yourself and in other ways not like yourself?

Carson Meyer: Penny and I have a lot in common. We both grew up in Los Angeles and have soft spots for surfers and musicians.

BSCKids: How do you get in character?

Carson Meyer: I use dream work. It is something I studied with my wonderful mentor and teacher and it really helps me to connect my own life to the different circumstances of the
character. I also find that costume is very important when finding a character. We were so lucky to have the legendary Mona May WHO DID CLUELESS as our costume designer. She really helped bring Penny out in me!

BSCKids: Any funny behind the scenes of any show or movie you can tell us about? How did everyone get along on set?

Carson Meyer: Everyone got along great! Making this movie felt like summer camp. Bianca, Sean, Noah and Jackson and I would camp out on the beach on our days off. It was a really special group of people in the cast and crew!

BSCKids: What do you feel like was the hardest part of working on this movie?

Carson Meyer: Alex is so organized and specific. Working on this movie was such a joy and pretty stress free for the most part. I guess the hardest part for me was the weather. I know it sounds silly since we shot in Malibu but for some reason that summer had gusting winds in the evening. All my outfits were pretty bare and we would be shooting on the Cliffside by the ocean at night. It had to feel like we are on the warm beach but between shots I was running in circles trying to warm up

BSCKids: In one short sentence why should people watch SPF-18?

Carson Meyer: Molly Ringwald, Goldie Hawn, Rosanna Arquette, Keanu reeves, Alex Israel 80s music… need I say more?

Special thanks to both Carson Meyer and Alex Israel for taking the time out to answer our questions about SPF-18, make sure to go watch it on ITunes