1.) We’re delighted to welcome to our pages acclaimed actor Jacob Moran; greetings and salutations, Jacob! Before we saunter down the celluloid Q&A pathway, how goes your 2023 thus far? Hello. Thank you so much for having me. 2023 is off to a great start. I am about to finish my freshman year in high school and will get my driver’s license in a few weeks. I was fortunate to work on an amazing feature film, Holland Michigan, and I am leaving for Cannes next week for the New Shoes world premiere. Then I will be in NYC to film Regarding Veronica. I am beyond grateful to be working. 2.) Congrats and kudos on New Shoes which is making the rounds at no less of a distinguished and fabled film festival than the American Pavillion at the Cannes Film Festival! When you first encountered New Shoes did you ever think of its path and yours! would ultimately lead you to Cannes? There is a lot of excitement surrounding New Shoes at the moment and I am thrilled. We are having our world premiere at the American Pavilion at Cannes on May 24th and then right onto the Berkshire International Festival for our U.S. premiere and deadCenter the following week. We are getting ready to leave for France this week and while I don’t really know what to expect I know it will be an incredible experience. So, no I don’t think I had any idea of what direction we would be headed in when we filmed a year and a half ago. But I have always believed in this project and the passion behind the story. 3.) For anyone not in the know, can you tell us what New Shoes is about and how your character of Tristan figures into the proceedings? New Shoes is about the troubling relationship between a young boy (Tristan) and his drugaddicted mother. Elaine (Tristan’s mom) supports both her son and her habit the only way she knows how. Tristan, protects her the only way he knows how, on the front porch with his trusty brick. After telling Tristan she plans to spend her recent payday on her next fix, he reminds her again that he needs new shoes for school. Elaine angrily decides to burden her son with the guilt of placing herself in harm’s way in order to provide him with the shoes. Tristan always tries to be supportive but also feels very guilty. The overwhelming remorse he feels prevents him from going through with buying the new shoes, only to return home to find his mother bleeding out from an attempted suicide. After saving her life, Tristan is forced to examine his own life and decide whether or not he wants to continue to be her savior, or to save himself. The really powerful part is this is based on a true story. The life of Thommy Kane who also codirected the film. It is raw and real and just a glimpse at what the feature film will look like as Thommy’s journey took place over many years until he found great success as a signed recording artist and sadly lost his mother, Elaine. 4.) Did you know as soon as New Shoes entered into your orbit that this was a production you wanted to be a part of? I knew I was attracted to the concept. However, at first it was a lot of really heavy topics for me and it took me a while to get comfortable. There was the uncertainty of portraying a real person and trying to be my own character while also honoring Thommy’s truth and raw emotions. I had not taken on a role like this before and had not been exposed to drug use or abuse so I had to completely detach from “Jacob” in order to become “Tristan.” 5.) What was your collaboration process like with New Shoes directors Thommy Kane and Bojan Vanovac? Are they what some actors might refer to as “an actor ’s director”? They are totally both “an actor’s director.” Aside from being super cool people they are extremely talented and both brought a totally different perspective to the film. Bojan has a successful background in producing very cool music videos among other great things and brought a visual sense and calmness to the set. Thommy lived this. It is his life so he was able to provide insight to real emotions to give me a better understanding of the backstory and how he felt as a little boy. We actually had a blast filming. After we wrapped and as tired as we all were we had an impromptu cast party in the duplex we
filmed in and I can tell you there were a lot of laughs and unbelievable excitement to start editing right away, even during the party. The team was great. It is amazing that we packed so much into a 20 min short. I can only imagine how powerful the feature will be. 6.) You work next to some great actors in New Shoes. What was it like exercising your own considerable acting chops alongside this talented ensemble? That is a great question and look I am only 15. I was 14 when we shot this so even if my resume stacks up to some adult actors I am always in awe of watching others work. Laura/Elaine stayed in character through many of her really rough scenes on and off camera and that was amazing to watch. David Afflick was fascinating to work with because he is a kind teacher in real life and played such a jerk in the film. He was brilliant as was Laura Whiteley, Joe Vingi and Densie Monteiro. 7.) Actingwise, who inspires you? So so so many. As I am getting older, I am realizing how important it is to watch so many genres of films and study different actors. I am always fascinated by Leo DiCaprio’s work and Adam Sandler keeps me laughing and learning about comedic timing. However, my list is long. 8.) Your first credited on screen work came in the form of the 2020 television series Diabolical. Any special memories of that freshman production? Wow, that was my first TV experience. It was great. Director Andrea De Brito is very talented and kind and being part of a reenactment of a mystery that took so long to solve was great. I have found myself playing roles in the 70’s and 80’s and love the look and costumes. Currently just wrapped Holland Michigan which is more of an early 2000 look and loved that too. 9.) You have a couple of new projects in the pipeline which sound very intriguing! What can you tell our ever inquisitive readers about Holland, Michigan and Regarding Veronica? I am so excited for everyone to see both of these films. Holland Michigan is a suspense thriller led by Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Gael Garcia Bernal, Rachel Sennnot, the amazing Jude Hill and Lennon Parham who is hands down the greatest improv/comedic timing actor I have ever met. We don’t have a release date yet but look for it on Amazon Prime. Regarding Veronica begins filming in June. It is directed by the talented actor and writer David Beck. This one is going to stretch me as an actor too. I don’t want to give too much away but the film tackles the issues that a transgender woman faces after being fired from her teaching job at a Catholic school and then contemplates suicide. She meets a young girl with two fathers and they end up having a profound impact on each other’s lives. I am thrilled to work alongside Abigail Hawk (Bluebloods) who portrays my mother along with a very talented cast that will be announced soon. We are definitely going to tackle some important issues while making a great film. 10.) When you’re not acting, what do you enjoy doing for yourself? Well, I am a bit of a wild man. I love driving (fast), watersports (fast) like wake surfing and jet skiing and I am also scuba certified. I am addicted to Pickle Ball which has been really fun too. I love to travel and will be in Milan this summer studying with my best friends at Bocconi University. 11.) At the end of the day, what do you hope viewers walk away with after catching a showing of New Shoes? I hope people walk away and realize everyone has a story. My mom tells me that people suffer silently a lot and you never know what someone is going through, so always be kind. I want others to connect with that message. I also think it will leave people looking at their own relationships with parents and family members and maybe start some conversations or healing around the hurt that so many families face. And, I want them to walk away wanting to see more! Definitely check out the website to watch clips, see photos and learn more. www.newshoesfilm.com Thank you so much for having me!