Phosphor Magazine, Digital - Jack Wright

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Jack Wright

JACK WRIGHT

Photography IRENE CHEN. Fashion VANESSA POWELL.

You were at the Academy

happened. Before that, I wanted

the things I like to do. I like

Awards this past weekend. It

to be an orthodontist or go into

to journal. [It helps me stay]

must have been a once-in-a-

the military. I had no idea what I

accountable with my emotions.

lifetime experience to attend

wanted to do. With acting, you can

It’s so easy to live day by day

one of the biggest events in the

do it all because you’re playing

and forget about what you’re

entertainment industry. If you

different roles.

experiencing or going through,

could steal any celebrity’s look

but journaling reminds you of

from the red carpet at the Oscars,

Speaking about the more creative

your daily life. Talking to people is

who would it be?

side of things and acting, you

so important. There’s such a big

I have so many favorites. First, I

recently shared some footage

community out there waiting to talk

would say John Cena when he

from your upcoming acting

to you. I truly think it’s so important

walked out on stage. I loved Paul

project, One Stupid Thing. Based

to talk about it. I love talking with

Mescal’s outfit. [He wore] flared

on your acting, it seemed to be a

my family.

trousers and [a] cream-tone jacket.

particularly intense scene. As a

I also loved Robert Downey Jr.’s

content creator and now an actor,

You mentioned that your family is

outfit with his bolo tie, western

could you tell me more about

a really strong support network for

belt, and boots. These events are

being emotionally and mentally

you. Is there anything or anyone

changing with fashion. I really like

vulnerable on camera?

else that inspires you both in your

how each piece is so different now.

It’s so important to be human

career and in your personal life?

and show your truest emotions

Every single one of my friends

I had a feeling you were going to

on camera because it’s relatable.

inspires me. That’s what’s so

say John Cena.

Other people don’t think that you’re

important about a friendship: you

I’m so predictable.

always happy all the time or that

look up to each other, you inspire

you’re always experiencing great

each other, [and] you talk about

Before your success on social

things. We’re all human. Whether

[things]. My roommates [and] the

media, where did you see yourself

it’s filming a movie or posting on

people that are closest [to] me are

at age 20? Currently, with where

social media, being vulnerable with

definitely some of the people that I

you are in your career, where do

your emotions to an audience is

look up to [the] most.

you see yourself in 5 years?

so important because it can help

Before social media, I had so many

people out there feel like they’re

In relation to your acting career,

things I wanted to do. I thought,

not alone.

are there any specific TV shows, movies, or actors that inspired you

“All right. I’m going to keep living in the present and not think about

As someone who is active on

to pursue acting in the first place?

the future.” My twin and my older

social media, I’m sure you know

[There are] so many shows and

brother had it pretty figured out. I

how much influence it has over

movies I could share, but I’m trying

knew I wanted to do something on

our lives, whether constructive

to think of [the] ones I love [the

the creative side of things. I really

or destructive. You’ve been open

most]. I really loved the movie

enjoyed acting when I was a little

about your own experiences with

Good Will Hunting. [It’s] so raw

kid, and I still wanted to pursue

mental health online. How do you

and a great film overall. La La

that, but I didn’t know how to go

stay authentic to yourself in spite

Land definitely inspires me to be

about it. When social media started

of all that?

an actor. It’s so weird, because it’s

getting big with TikTok, I thought

It’s been a journey living in LA and

probably the opposite of what La

that it might be a chance to get

being on social media, but I try to

La Land should tell you. I feel like in

into acting again. That’s how it

keep myself [busy] and keep doing

La La Land, the message was

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Striped shirt WALES BONNER, blazer BILLY REID, pants POLO RALPH LAUREN, hat ROWING BLAZERS X 47, clogs BIRKENSTOCK.

Suit JACQUEMUS, loafers DR. MARTENS.

“don’t become an actor,” but it

almost like method acting before

our chemistry so much different

made me realize that acting was

you go into a scene.

on screen because we knew each

something that I wanted to do.

other, and we felt comfortable with

And Whiplash and Interstellar.

Journaling is such an interesting

Midsommar and Shawshank

way to get into your character’s

Redemption made me feel like it’s

headspace. Did you feel like

Were there other bonding

so much bigger than me.

you had more similarities

experiences you had that

or differences with Trevor’s

impacted your performance?

I imagine seeing Emma Stone and

character, and did that make it

For one of our first scenes,

Ryan Gosling in real life at the

easier or harder to project yourself

the three leads (Trevor, Corey

Oscars must have been surreal for

on screen?

Fogelmanis as Jamie, and Shelby

you.

What’s so cool about acting is

Simmons as Sophia) went skinny

Emma Stone is one of my favorite

finding experiences that your

dipping. The water was freezing,

actresses, so it was so amazing.

character went through and

so the directors and producers

I also love Ryan Gosling. They’re

relating [them] to your life in any

asked us if we were sure we

definitely two of my favorite actors.

way possible. There were definitely

wanted to do it, but we all said,

a lot of similarities. I was a high

“No, we think this is going to be

You play Trevor in One Stupid

schooler a couple [of] years ago,

a beautiful scene. It’s something

Thing. How did you embody the

and he’s [in high school]. We’re

that our characters would do,” and

role and make it your own? What

definitely going through some of

we decided to do it. It definitely

did the process of bringing that

the same things. I’ve never gone

bonded us a lot.

character to life look like?

through an experience like the plot

There’s not just one thing that I

of the movie, and I had to imagine

Are there any other dream

did. I tried out a bunch of different

what it was like, but in terms of his

projects or roles that you would

techniques. Journaling was an easy

character, there were definitely a

want to take on in the future?

one because I do it all the time.

lot of similarities.

I want roles that challenge me

[I] added an extra night routine in

each other.

to step out of my comfort zone.

my life. I would journal as myself

Going back to your castmates,

I mean it when I say, “I’m open

and then journal as my character.

the characters of One Stupid

to literally anything.” That’s what

I would truly put myself in my

Thing have a “deeply bonded

makes some of these actors

character’s shoes and imagine

friendship.” What was the

[great]. They’re playing characters

what it was like to go through

chemistry between the cast like

who are not themselves at all.

these different experiences, to

on and off-screen? What was it

It’s so cool when you’re able to

have these people in my life, to live

like working with them behind the

step out of yourself and be this

in this location that I do, [and] to

scenes?

completely different person. I

have this amount of money that I

It was so amazing. Chemistry is so

love movies like Fight Club, Lady

have. [There are] so many different

important. I made sure to spend

Bird, Requiem for a Dream, Boogie

things that play into your motion.

as much time as I could with them,

Nights, [and] Ordinary People

I would also use experiences that

one on one and all together. I

— which is such a beautiful film.

I’ve gone through in my personal

remember a couple nights before

[There are] so many that I’d love to

life. Another thing was talking to

we started filming, I went out with

do. I can’t pick one.

my castmates. [It’s] so powerfu

Sky Katz and we got drinks. We

lhaving your castmates with you to

went to the arcade and walked

Is there a specific genre you’re

talk about your character. [It’s]

around and got very close. It made

thinking of?

PHO S P HOR • JAC K W R IG HT

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double-breasted wool jacket with the Valentino signature, a crewneck sweater, and some baggy denim jeans. I felt like this private school kid with cool outfits. And Balmain. I wore a navy blue suit with an attached white border collar. I thought that was a really cool outfit. It was really comfortable and very chic. And Ralph Lauren. I loved [their] outfits.

I wore a navy blue trench with sage green performance pants, which I walked around Paris in and got compliments on. [There are] so many other designers I [loved], but those are definitely three of my favorites.

If you could describe your everyday style in three words, what would they be?

Spontaneous, artistic, and classy.

Modern, too.

Were the looks you wore at Paris Fashion Week different from what you would typically wear in your day-to-day life?

It depends. If I’m going to an event, I’m definitely more drawn towards

acting. I’m playing dress-up

I would definitely wear an outfit

dramatic films right now, but I’d be

and becoming these different

like I wore at fashion week. For my

so open to comedy. I love humor,

characters. During fashion week, I

day-to-day life, whether I’m driving

and I use humor in my daily life.

can dress up and be this different

to the beach or walking around

That would be really fun, and

person for a bit. I truly enjoy

thrifting, I’d wear what’s in my

obviously, horror would be pretty

wearing these different high-end

closet, which is a lot more casual.

sick.

designers and walking around the

I love having those two different

streets of Paris and Milan, playing

genres. You can separate them

Recently, you had the opportunity

this different version of myself.

a bit. [You can wear] your own

to attend this year’s Paris Fashion

[It’s] really cool.

casual, down-to-earth fit, and then

Week. How was your experience

you can get more flashy and edgy

as an ambassador?

Did you have a favorite look or

I love playing dress-up. That’s also

designer to wear?

one of the great things about

Valentino was amazing. I wore a

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with your designer fits.

You first became viral after PH O S PH O R • JACK W R IG HT

Shirt FRAME, blazer GOLDEN GOOSE, jacket AYR, shorts POLO RALPH LAUREN, boots ABILENE.

Varsity jacket, pants, shoes, striped shirt GOLDEN GOOSE, denim jacket LEVI’S.

posting videos of you and your

What are other things you enjoy

would do the soundtrack? Any of

brother James dancing online.

doing in your free time?

those production details?

Dancing seems like a very big part

I love going on hikes. I enjoy being

Am I allowed to cast myself? That’d

of your life. Do you think there

out in nature [and] smelling the

be pretty good on my IMDb. I’d

are any parallels between dance

trees. That makes me so much

definitely bring my twin along.

and fashion as forms of art and

happier. I’ll definitely [be doing

We have such great chemistry.

expression?

that] today because I was feeling

Bringing that to [the] screen would

One hundred percent. I think

a little down, and I know a good

be really cool and fun. Todd Traina

both inspire each other. Fashion

hike will make me feel a lot better. I

and Linda Yellen are amazing,

designers bring unusual

love watching movies. I’ve been on

and bringing them along as

techniques and incorporate them

a movie bender recently, and I’ve

producers and directors would be

on [the] human body, while dance

been addicted to the Letterboxd

so cool. Sometimes a soundtrack

choreographers use different

app. I love checking the weather.

makes the movie. I would love to

moves to create something for

When I was little, I wanted to be

incorporate music from some of

humans to dance to. Designers and

a meteorologist because I loved

my favorite bands (The Miniature

choreographers portray their art

checking the weather.

Tigers, Cage the Elephant, Grateful

and their forms of self-expression

Dead, Jungle, etc.).

and their identity and their beliefs.

What are three things you can’t

The people that wear the clothes

live without?

Do you have any advice for anyone

and do the dance routine add their

I’d say nature, obviously. My

thinking about going into acting?

own dimension to it, and art and

family. And then, for a fun one, I’d

I was very hesitant about it, but

fashion create this masterpiece

say sweet potatoes. I love sweet

[my best advice is] to make the

when they combine.

potatoes.

jump and do it — [enroll] in acting class, [put] in the work, and [do]

As someone who has attended

Before One Stupid Thing, you

self-tapes. What’s the worst that

many runway shows, is the

worked on a YouTube series for

can happen? There’s no problem

atmosphere of a runway show

Brat TV called The Four of Them.

with trying and doing it as long as

similar to performing live on stage

How was working on a longer film

you try your best.

for an audience?

project different from short mini-

They’re very similar. For shows,

episodes?

Looking back to when you were

you’re performing what you’ve

When you’re working on a longer

younger, maybe around high

worked on for months or years. For

film project, there’s more time to

school, would you have ever

a fashion show, you’re showing all

get closer with your castmates

considered being in the position

these beautiful designs, but that’s

and the director. The Four of Them

you’re in now?

not all you’re doing. You’re showing

gave me so much experience and

No, I would have never imagined

[them] in a very cool, creative

practice on how to be behind the

myself here, and I’m so grateful for

way. There is so much work going

camera and [know] my lines. Each

the opportunities that I was able

on behind the scenes, [and] it’s

project serves [its] own purpose in

to get. When I was in high school,

the exact same for dance as well.

your life, which is so important for

I was pole vaulting, focusing on

You’re just trying to show the best

your acting career.

school, and not really thinking

part of it.

about the future at all. Now, I’m If you were to make a movie about

thinking about the future a lot

You mentioned earlier that you like

your own life, do you have any

more, which [is] so unlike me. I’m

going to the beach and thrifting.

idea who you would cast or who

so thankful to be where I am today.

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Pants BODE, jacket and shoes FRAY LONDON, denim shirt STOCKHOLM SURFBOARD CLUB.

Shirt RHUDE, jeans LEVI’S, boots ABILENE. Grooming DENISE MADRIGAL at CLOUTIER REMIX. Words KATELYN POTHAKUL. Retouch DARIA MOZRR.

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