1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: Life Audio, Jonathan, I really enjoyed this movie. Of course. 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 2: The movie is Solo Mio, which tells the story of 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 2: a man who has stood up at the altar during 4 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: his wedding day in Italy and he decides to go 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 2: ahead and go on the honeymoon alone. Jonathan, you portray 6 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 2: a new friend of the main character and hilarious main character. Also, 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: what made you want to be part of this film? 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 2: What attracted you to this project? 9 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 3: I needed a job quite frankly, Michael and getting off 10 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 3: Cameron was a friend and they say, hey, I think 11 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 3: I got a movie for us, and I said, whatever 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 3: it is, I'm in because it's Kevin James. And when 13 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 3: he asked you to do a movie, you don't say 14 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 3: no because you know it's going to be hilarious. And 15 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 3: then we had a call after that with the director 16 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,160 Speaker 3: of the Kannain Brothers, who are brilliant, all eight of them, 17 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 3: you know, who participated in making this movie, and we 18 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 3: talked about the story and I was just I was hooked, 19 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 3: and I thought, Okay, I can't wait to number one 20 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 3: shave my beard, number two wear modern clothes, and number 21 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 3: three just have a blast with a brand new film. 22 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 3: Family which really was an extension of the Canaine I'm 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 3: an honor I think I'm an honorary Canain brother. Now 24 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 3: there's like that with with the cast and crew, there's 25 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 3: like two hundred and forty seven Canain brothers and sisters. 26 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 3: So it was it was just a blast shoot in 27 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:16,279 Speaker 3: this movie. 28 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: You sit on your Instagram that Solomeo elevates the rom 29 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: com genre? What did you mean by that? How is 30 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 1: this different? 31 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: Because I think it hits people in a way that 32 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: goes below the surface. It hits on a deeper level, 33 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 3: and there's also like pretty hardcore plot twist to it 34 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 3: that you normally don't see in a rom com. So 35 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 3: I think it's got so much going for it, and 36 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 3: it's absolutely stunningly beautiful. It needs to be seen in 37 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: theaters where it's where movies are meant to be seen, 38 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 3: but specifically this it's like we live in an age 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: of distraction and isolation and this film can only best 40 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 3: be enjoyed and experienced in a gathering of a community strangers, family, friends, 41 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 3: wherever you want to bring with you, laughing, crying, gasping, 42 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 3: like things that you're not expecting, and it makes you 43 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 3: just feel good, like you. There's nothing unwholesome about it. 44 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 3: My nieces saw it, they thought it was hysterical. We 45 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 3: got people octogenarians watching it. They're like this, I love 46 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 3: the film like it's for everybody, and nobody makes films 47 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 3: like this right now. 48 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: So many rom comms and theaters, like you said, Jonathan, 49 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: are not appropriate for everyone in the family. This one 50 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: especially for teens and tweens. Is I mean, little kids 51 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 2: might be bored because it's not animating. But yeah, but 52 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 2: tell us briefly about your character. Neil a supposed therapist. Yes, 53 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 2: Neil Simmons is a therapist. 54 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 3: I'll just use heavy air quotes for that and we'll 55 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:49,360 Speaker 3: let people figure out what that's exactly. But his mission 56 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 3: is to help. He sees somebody in paying, somebody in need, 57 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 3: Matt Taylor played by Kevin James, and he wants to 58 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 3: help them. They're all on this honeymoon package, Neil and 59 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 3: his wife Donna Julian played Kim Coats and his wife 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 3: played by Alison Hannigan and Kevin James and his non 61 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 3: wife don spouse, non no show fiance, and so they 62 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 3: recognize he's on this package. He's by himself. Why is 63 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 3: he by himself, how can they help fix whatever happened? 64 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 3: And that basically becomes the plot of the film, and 65 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 3: we get to see who what Neil's heart is, and 66 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 3: what his aim and his means of trying to help 67 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: Matt looks like versus what Julian's take looks like, and 68 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: the Neil's sort of the angel to Julian's devil on 69 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 3: Matt's shoulders as to how to fix his relationship. Of course, 70 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 3: so many people only only know you about as portraying 71 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 3: Jesus and the Chosen and the Chosen. What is it 72 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: like for you to portray other characters? And secondly, what 73 00:03:47,360 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 3: times of roles and projects are you seeking? I think 74 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 3: ones where I'm wearing shoes and like modern day clothes 75 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: are pretty good change. It's a nice change for me 76 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 3: to just not wear sandals for like for the last 77 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 3: seven years. Is that it's the feet just dry right up. 78 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 3: That's really uncomfortable, But it's no, it's in all serious. 79 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 3: I mean, the Chosen's changed my life, and playing Jesus 80 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 3: has changed my life and continues to change my life 81 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 3: and my faith and deep in my faith, and so 82 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 3: that'll always forever be there. But as an actor it's 83 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 3: just fun to flex your other muscles, your comedic muscles. 84 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: In fact, before I ever did the Chosen, a lot 85 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 3: of the guest stars and smaller roles on TV I 86 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 3: did were comic. We're comedic roles, and so so this 87 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 3: was this was a wonderful departure for me to get 88 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 3: to do something different and also not feel like I'm 89 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: carrying the weight of the world in this character. You know, 90 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 3: Neil's trying to help in me, but he's human, He's 91 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 3: fully human, and he's flawed, but he has a beautiful heart. 92 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 3: And I think the g Jesus in Neil Simmons share 93 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 3: of that. They both have big, big hearts, and it's 94 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 3: lovely to kind of get to show that in a 95 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 3: different context here. 96 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 2: You're also in Jesus Revolution of Wars that Chowsen has 97 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: really been one that's kind of led this renaissance of 98 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 2: faith and family entertainment. 99 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: Do you see yourself as kind of helping lead this 100 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: renaissance and faith and family entertainment. 101 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: I hope I'm certainly a part of it. I mean, 102 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 3: I think I think I love telling stories that honor 103 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 3: God and glorify God and bring light into the culture 104 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 3: and My aim is, I think, as my mission is 105 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 3: as a storyteller, as an actor, even as a producer 106 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 3: on some of the forthcoming projects, is to also do 107 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 3: that is to continue to bring light into the culture 108 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: and do it in ways, and do it with characters 109 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 3: that aren't necessarily divine that in fact, if they are human, 110 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 3: they can be flawed, they can be broken. But what 111 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: is the trajectory of their arcs and how do they 112 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 3: end up coming into the light? Because those are stories 113 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 3: that really speak to me. I think that kind of 114 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 3: starting in the gutters and then being redeemed and finding 115 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 3: redemption or finding wholeness and healing, those are the stories 116 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 3: that right now really really speak to me and compel 117 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 3: me to want to tell them and to share them 118 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 3: with audiences. 119 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 2: Briefly, what has God been teaching you lately? You post 120 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: a lot often about your faith owed online. 121 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 3: Continue to trust them in every aspect of my life. 122 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 3: Just to continue to surrender all those parts of my 123 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 3: life that I may be holding on to control and 124 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 3: to just yeah, just yield them to Him in the 125 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: way that I did with my career. Just other areas 126 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: I gotta continue to surrender. It's a daily challenge, but 127 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 3: I too have to pick up my crops. 128 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 2: If you like today's episode, please subscribe and leave a 129 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 2: five star review. 130 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 4: That's how we help more people just like you find 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 4: the show. A big thanks to the team at life 132 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 4: Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. If 133 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 4: you go to life audio dot com, you will find 134 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 4: dozens of other faith centered podcast in their network. 135 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: See you next time.