Actors Robyn Alomar, Akiel Julien on Hulu’s Utopia Falls, Fame, Life

You’re not only going to have people to cheer you on. So you need to be your biggest cheerleader because if you don’t have that foundation of believing in yourself. Then other people are gonna believe in you as well. What’s up everybody? This is Fred Richani of the TSC podcast. We have right here on the line not one but two very special guests. They are the lead actors of the brand-new Hulu series Utopia Falls mixing a little bit of sci-fi with a whole lot of dance and hip-hop. We are talking to Robyn Alomar and akele Julian on the line today guys. How’s it going pretty good.

Thank you. Yeah, I appreciate it. Now. I got a kick out of this show. I’ve been binging a few episodes of who was kind enough to provide it. I’m a huge hip hop head myself when you both got the scripts and you had a chance to audition. And what jumped out at you first about this show I’ll go first. I think for me that I’m a major geek in general with anything. That’s gonna be sci-fi or fantasy. Like that’s a cool for me. So I was super excited about that. But I think to me was that when I was looking at who looked like the leaf of the show were that they were both black.

And it was on a sci-fi and like fantasy show and I think we’re not so much represented majorly in those on reserves in film and literature. So that really stood out to me. I was really excited from news really honestly. It was the fact that my character was an M Steven it was honestly the characters audition for was MC. I never really got to tap into that side of my artistry before, so to like do something that I, you know that I’ve never really got the chance to tap into, you know was really interesting to me and intrigued me in that sense. And I’ve also never really done.

I’ve never done anything flat five. So, it would to be honest. It was just really everything was new, you know, just really something new. And I knew would have been like a really fun experience. So, yeah. And it’s pretty crazy because it involves a lot of hip-hop use and current and past as well. But the show itself in the same takes place what like two three hundred years and into the future. So you guys discuss stumble upon this archive, which is of course voiced by the great snoop dogg and used to score kind of like forbidden art. And I think there’s kind of like a subliminal message there that’s man.

Like hip-hop would be pretty boring mm-hmm. Absolutely. I think that like hip-hop is all about speaking your truth. And you know, talking about your story your circumstances. So, I think, you know, that type of them that type of expression is exactly. Why they don’t want it they don’t want people to talk about what’s going on in the world right now and in what people going through. So, yeah, did all the research on you. And it sounds like you’re a pretty big anime fan is that correct. Oh, I mean, I wouldn’t say pretty big anime fan. I mean, I used to watch it a lot when I was younger, you know, but like I watched like Inuyasha and watching, you know, all those things on TV at that time.

Yeah. Like, well, I’m not a huge anime sir. I am. Oh perfect. What did you grow up Boston Robin. For me, honestly like what got me in the beginning was Inuyasha what got me Naruto was like my life studio ghibli any of those films. I think I’ve watched all of them at least like seven times and they never get old. Yeah, I’m pretty crazy. Like, hey, nothing wrong with I love anime, too. I grew up actually a humongous Dragon Ball fan and intentional fan. So when y’all got a script and you saw it and with any kind of sci-fi series or anything or movie. There’s always its own type of lords always own type of story, you know, obviously knock on wood.

You guys get renewed for season two and may seasons. Beyond that, you know, they essentially create their own universes yo the director, the producers and everything else. And, you know, the actors really need to be into it to sink their teeth into it when you’ve got when you got the script what jumped out at you based on your love or your past love a castle for anime that said. All right. This is something I really want to dive into honestly it was bodis. It was Bodhi story that I had that really drew me to the project because you know, he was just the kid who I can tell he had he struggled with self-identity, you know, he struggled with self-identity.

He didn’t necessarily know where he really fit in their society. He always believed that there was something bigger than what he hadn’t been what he’s been taught, you know? So on it was really and it was meeting his desire to want to, you know, find that shame, you know, discovery was discovered discover that saying that, you know that he’s longing for, you know. So any through the use of hip-hop. You know, he was able to you know, find that self-identity, you know, he found something that he could identify with and you know, with that he kind of put the pieces together to, you know, because truth, right? -.

That’s what hip hop’s helped him do was help him speak, his truth, a lot of things that he was thinking of, you know, or you know he believed and he didn’t necessarily know how to articulate it but with hip-hop the genre helped him to do. So, you know. So, yeah, that’s what that was yeah with you to serve a very young in showbiz have been on the Canadian scene for a while now transitioning not just on a show that’s featured in Canada, but now in the states with hula, which is obviously a massive platform. What’s been the biggest difference going from the Canadian TV and movie scene to Hollywood now basically my first major project.

So this is like my kind of anything. So, this is mission in general from just going like having, you know, a larger role on a show being on like a bigger set and whatnot was really really crazy. It was really crazy. We had a massive massive soundstage. And I feel like I’ve never been on something like that before and it really that’s what really kicked in for me with that. Wow, this big production look at the fact that we’re on this is crazy. That’s awesome. And when you to audition. I mean that of course is not just for saying your lines is also hitting in the choreography as well was a little more complicated and some other roles you guys have auditioned for in the past.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, well, the whole I’m a dance at first, right? I’m a dancer first. So, the dance court the choreography part of the part of the process wasn’t it wasn’t as daunting for me, but it was really it was really the musical part of it. It was a class that my character was an MC it’s not something that I, you know that I’ve done before that was I was kind of that was emotional on the scarier side of things also I felt like I had a huge responsibility as well. You know, kids this show talks a lot about the history of hip-hop and I didn’t want knowing that some dogs on the show as well.

Like I didn’t want to, you know, do an injustice to the art form in that sense. So I felt like, but it motivated, you know what I mean, it motivated. I think yeah, like that. And I think to like watch it watching the show obviously it incorporates sci-fi and hip-hop it incorporates a lot of history incorporates, black history. There’s a scene, I believe it was on episode, maybe an episode to where you want to explore or maybe I said we’re exploring civil rights and you said you want to learn more about it and your soup dogs narrating and talked about, you know, dr King and Malcolm X.

It’s very powerful. We’re getting very close home, especially with Black History Month here in the state. So you talked about your responsibilities and that leader role, but we follow the show’s over all responsibility is obviously it means to entertain. But I also feel like what watching a few episodes that is meant to be also kind of a history lesson. Absolutely. I think that the show is meant to, you know, reach people up as well. I think it’s meant to, you know, obviously pose and talk about diversity, but also talk about definitely other issues as well. You know, you can’t have hip-hop without having history and like knowing people’s lives and truths and their struggles and what they’ve gone through and like black history is a huge part of hip-hop and music in general what you like to be the most to tell the most truthful story that was our responsibility to include that like we had to add that truth to it.

Yeah. And I think you guys definitely did a great job with that based on what I’ve seen so far and Robin props to you because I was doing some research on you as well. And I looked up your background, this is your first major lead role Congrats on that. And I don’t really do some digging to find out accidentally actually that your stepfather is the famous Roberto a legend. I give you huge props for being able to kind of keep that on the low key and really being known, you know for your own success and your own projects, but I’m sure when you initially transition into acting and showbiz was kind of tough does he have any advice for you.

They provided to say, hey, okay, be careful of these trappings of Fame. Yeah, I feel like he’s been coaching me since I was a kid for this. He’s always kind of treated like a midori like that’s his life. So, I feel like everything he refers back to that right? So, even when I was auditioning should always like stay true to yourself, you know, plan a if you distract you from planning. It’s always like stay on track stay on she was like a coach always. And so even with this. Like when I booked this association. They treated yourself, you know, who you are always speak from the heart and kind of people you kind of just let me know that.

Yeah. And to be nice to people and everybody that could work with you said he said always respect and be kind of everybody that you work with. He’s like it’s extremely important. You have that work ethic. So, yeah, he’s been coaching me. Awesome. Hey, that’s definitely some great advice. I can certainly attest to that in the TV and media industry now you two are both based in Canada, right? Or were based in Canada for a while. Yeah, I was raised I was raised in Toronto. Okay, how happy are you kinda like the Renaissance of the Toronto Raptors. Oh, that was okay. That was amazing. That was amazing the energy that you felt from the city like I was right.

We were filming and I was right downtown for that? Like my condo was right downtown and just to feel that energy one day one it was in they needed to get outside. And I go to sleep, I think it like 6:00 a.m. I was like I need to get out. I need to get outside. I need to enjoy this moment it was a really proud moment. Oh man. I was super pumped, man. It was the same. We were actually together on that date when they won. Yeah. He was and yeah, that’s about the attitude that’s right. It’s incredible because I saw inspired email. And I mean, like I feel like okay, this is Toronto.

This is where I’m from and it’s like going on, you know, moving forward? I have to, you know, we have to do the city respect just like, you know, the Toronto Raptors is done. Yeah, I feel like I’m kind of happy my sort of legacy that Toronto hat. Wow, you know. Yeah. Oh, yeah, for sure. And I feel like to just says somebody has Canadian relatives and in Western Canada one of my closest friends in Toronto does this film production there. It’s like it’s nice to see a Toronto and overall Canada being you’ll put on the map in America. So to speak as far as like mainstream with the Toronto Raptors, and obviously you got Drake and I feel like it’s kind of shifting now in terms of TV as well.

You have your working moms, which is a been a big hit as well which is transitioned. Well to America and of course, now you have Utopia Falls, which, you know based in Canada, but now I’m airing in the US and Hulu do you kind of see that shift where, you know, Canadian TV is you’re gonna see more Canadian TV and Canadian TV stars transition and become more mainstream in the US, I would say definitely. I would say that even some Canadian shows are like more popular in the US than they are in Canada was actually really cool to see like you’ll see massive bills like the expanse here, which is a Canadian show Canadian sci-fi show and dark matter.

Well, it’s really definitely seeing that shift. No, it’s simply great. It’s been good Vikings to us also give a shout out to, but yeah, all great shows your ears included and definitely nice to see. Now, before we let you two go, we usually do some kind of rapid-fire random questions just for fans to get to know you a little better. Are you ready? Hey, yeah. Yeah. What’s your favorite hobbies besides acting and dancing playing video games? Oh, man. I love the plane with video games line, we also do cover gaming here. You got to tell me what are you playing right now, I’m still playing Skyrim and I’m also playing The Witcher.

Oh my god, I think I love you both because I have a switch and I’ll tell you like it’s one thing to playing Skyrim or which are on ps4 PC. It’s another thing when you could take Skyrim in which or with you. I’ve so many. I don’t know same just say I’ll withhold the information, but both incredible games. And when you can take it anywhere. It’s even better. Yeah, on planes, especially I’m on my planet. Yeah. Yeah. Just saying it’s not doing this because you get so addicted, you know, I mean like now that you get to take it totally portable now, you know, I mean, I feel like that is like at home.

It’s already so addicting, but gotta take it all take it with you. It’s like, you know, get crazy. Yeah, I started my Orioles discipline. I mean you just obviously stay in shape and you look great on the show and hit all the moves are in effect. You got that mod such a nice mental break, but I gotta ask you, though if you do Robin. You said Skyrim Akala know if you played into what are you did you take the straight and narrow path. They kind of join into the Thieves Guild, you know what path did you choose? Oh, I do. So I would played played siren.

So, I’ve done all the different paths, but my main character that I play on is right guard kind of look like me. I did this, but my favorite one was is when you do the DLC that they have the vampire one where you get to find like the Sun one arrow have you done that quest a while ago? Yeah, I think I stopped like after like 30 hours in I kind of put I was about to join a Thieves Guild and I was like, you know, I’ll stay on the arrow I fell come to Jon Snow for my own good. Sometimes, you know, the best.

So like that’s actually one of the best storyline. I would actually say in like the game. It’s so much fun. Awesome. I don’t have to check it out and frame, but it hasn’t played Skyrim and The Witcher there’s your free plugs for those game y’all should definitely check them out. What’s your favorite cheat meals. I tell you take this you go. My favorite cheat now? What is my favorite now. I probably see a haagen-dazs ice cream peanut butter and chocolate talk about my favorite cheat new snack good. I like I think pizza. Oh, yeah, like Pete’s all the way. Yeah. What is your most awkward moment as an actor.

Oh, and it’s hopping on set I tell you were there. Okay. My most awkward moment as an actor is when like a group being against. They’re like, all of the main cast. And I’m about to do this scene and start the scene. And I look over to Mickey and I’m talking. I think I’m experienced. I think it’s the first time up the CD archive. I’m like, oh, look at this all of a sudden my face. There’s a full twitch on like the left side, like my face is fully twitches notice was exactly he’ll mess up my face. Like I know exactly how much it twitch and I think that was awkward over that’s awesome.

That was in the middle of the cake, right? Yes. Yeah, we were filming, what are you doing you’re covered. Wow. That’s great a Carol. Do you have one I rip my pants on stage. That’s pretty much in high school and I kinda had to just like there was a throughout the whole my performance thing. Yeah, I was pretty it straightened everything. And I wasn’t wearing an underwear as well. Oh, that wasn’t what I wasn’t spending 12, man. I don’t know if anybody they definitely did. I’m sure they did old saying as the old saying goes, times are rough. All right, what’s your favorite spot in Canada.

If I was traveling say like Toronto or somewhere. It’s your favorite City with somewhere you would recommend a Canadian tourists. I really like I really like the Harbourfront in Toronto like I would sit as a tourist ago I in the summer obviously, I used to live by there. So, I think it’s really really pretty by the water and there’s like little bars there and stuff. So, I’d say the Harbourfront. Yeah, I’d say center island as it’s an island cuz you get to take the ferry boat across and you know, there’s a lot of stuff on it is a beach and there’s like this ain’t as well.

Like one of my favorite spots to go in the summertime, especially no shade being thrown here, but Canadians have known have been known to be very very polite la la New York usually the opposite. Was there a bit of an adjustment period going from the politeness of Canadians to the brashness frogs a better term of Los Angelenos. I think in the beginning if there was I think there was definitely just a different vibe here, I would say it’s a different vibe here. I definitely took some some getting used to but people recognize the politeness here and I feel like it. I feel like it’s as well.

So nice from here. Are you and I’m like, wow, damn that’s communication. But yeah, I feel like it was a bit of an adjustment, right to New York, I like fit right in there. So, yeah, nothing nothing is better. What is the best piece of advice you give anybody particularly somebody around your age range. You’ve risen up the ranks a pretty young. What’s the best piece of advice you give anybody that’s hoping to break into show business and have success to stay connected to your truth, you know, I feel like that. I feel like if you know, you keep that in mind, you know, that’s when you’re really really be contrasted you want to stay connected to your tubes at all time.

No, I’ve been artists, that’s what makes you an artist enough to tell your truth. So that’s my best piece of advice in any sort of compromising position that may be put in be my best piece of advice man. You know, they stop there easy, but for real always believe in yourself, but always know who you are and you had and like what you’re probably going to be what your goals because I feel like you know, you’re not always gonna have people to cheer you on. So you need to be your biggest cheerleader because if you don’t have that foundation of believing in yourself and other people are going to believe in you as well.

So I was really new stuff. Yes, they treated yourself and get your content like out there because it’s extremely important. And we want to see it is it different voices right now. So, that’s a if I said, I would give awesome. Well, tell Robin I sincerely, thank you guys for a time, you know, you got a lot going on with the show just drop in the press tour and everything else, but thank you all so much. I’ve really enjoyed the show wish you the very best. I hope that I’ll expect the news of season 2 very shortly until then hope everything goes? Well, and to have a great year.

Thank you so much. Thank you very much.