PHOSPHOR DIGITAL COVER
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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PH O S PH O R • JACK W R IG HT
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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PH O S PH O R • JACK W R IG HT
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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