Evan Mock
Actor, Designer, Model and Skater, Age 25
Tell us about your creative process. When are you most creative?
When I’m traveling to somewhere I’ve never been—or somewhere I know very well—I take the opportunity to think and perceive that location in a different way than most people would.
How do you prepare for a role or get into character?
No distractions, and creating the ultimate environment to allow myself to get in the headspace I need to be in.
Where do you hope to be when you're 30?
In a position to help others, even more than now.
What outfit makes you feel the most confident?
Something I designed or created because I’ve got to live my truth. I can’t be making things that I wouldn’t absolutely love or want to wear.
What's your favorite summer fashion trend?
Wahine purple corduroy shorts.
What is your song of the summer?
“Agua Fria” by The Bongo Hop.
What's a song forever on your playlist?
“Why Can’t There Be Love” by Dee Edwards.
Wisdom Kaye
Model, Age 21
What outfit makes you feel the most confident?
Something that stands out, but not too much. There’s a sweet spot where your look is different from everyone else’s, but it isn’t too over the top or looks like you’retrying too hard.
What's your favorite summer fashion trend?
I’ve always been into that sort of tennis-core area whenthe heat is piercing. I’m not sure if it’s trending, but the combination of short white shorts with socks and shoes ofthe same color and a slim top always has me feeling spry, even if I’m not too physically active that day.
Who do you follow on TikTok?
I follow people who make me laugh, entertain or educate me. It ranges from creators who make humorous skits, toothers who make soccer edits, to those who make political content, with a few fashion people in the mix. I used to follow people just because I thought they were attractive, but then that made me feel ugly, so I unfollowed them all and never did that again.
Describe your dream party. Who is on the guest list?
I’m not a party person, so I’ve never dreamt of assembling one or even given thought to who I’d invite. But hold me hostage and force me to throw one and I would hire a group of scientists to build a device to travel to different universes and collect alternate versions of Wisdom Kaye.
What is your favorite quality in a human?
Authenticity.
What is your song of the summer?
“Promotion Man” by Merzbow.
Tama Gucci
Musician, Age 24
When do you make your best music?
I’ve always loved to make music super late at night, like 12 to 3 in the morning. Now that I have more space to myself, I’ve fallen back into that timeframe of making music!
Was there a favorite moment on your recent tour?
My favorite memory of the tour was when my best friend Alberto came to the third tour stop in Washington from Miami! It really meant a lot because not only was it my first time touring but he’s seen me grow up and blossom into what I am now—and he knew the lyrics to the music. I saw him singing from the stage! It’s nice to know that I have friends that show up for me.
What is the last thing that inspired you?
My community of ravers—from the fashion, to the music, to the way they show love and support toward each other.
Who is your style icon?
My style icon isn’t one specific person. It’s the iconic dancehall queens from Jamaica! Many times, when I wear crazy looks, people think it’s solely the club kids that I’m referencing but it’s actually the dance hall queens: the original club kids!
What's your favorite summer fashion trend?
I do love a mesh tank. It’s the Caribbean in me.
Where do you hope to be when you're 30?
I hope to be even more successful, with many hits under my belt that I’ve performed or written for others... and operating fully out of a space that I own. More happiness, wealth and good health for the future.
What is your song of the summer?
“Challenge” by me. “I feel so cute, babe/ I’m in the mood,”that’s the anthem!
Kristen White
Filmmaker, Age 26
How will you spend your summer?
Chasing sunsets, maybe dip into Paris, and in the water as much as possible. I have a water addiction.
As a filmmaker, what is the last thing you watched that inspired you?
Atlanta because it’s forever tonally genius, and Severance was beautifully shot! I’m still sad they canceled Lovecraft Country!
Tell us about your creative process.
To be honest, I’m most creative when I have a crush! Everytime I crush on a guy, I find myself super inspired by the possibilities of the world. My friend and I have this saying: “Making muses out of the men who amuse us.” So, shout out to the muses.
What's the last picture on your iPhone?
A still from the movie Before Sunrise, where Celine (Julie Delpy) says, “Reality and love are almost contradictory for me.”
What outfit makes you feel the most confident?
Anything Gucci; I’m a Gucci girl for life!
You're trapped at the top of a ferris wheel. Who's by your side?
Trevante Rhodes. He’s hella lowkey and talented as fuck. Trap me anywhere with him, honestly.
What is your song of the summer?
“My Collection” by Future.
Anthony Ippolito
Actor, Age 22
What is the last thing that inspired you?
This quote appropriated by Banksy: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.”
Tell us about your creative process.
I like to paint and play music. There’s a meditative and cathartic feeling that comes from creating. I feel that in a generation where there is such a frenetic pace to everyday life, being inundated with stimulation from social media, it’s a good way to balance everything out.
You've played characters that range from a high school student in Grand Army to a young Al Pacino in The Offer. How do you prepare for a role?
It’s different every time, and that’s part of what makes it so exciting. You try to soak up as much as you can about the character and the world they’re in. The process is as unique as each story and character. The script is incredibly important as is the shooting style and the storytelling; to me, all of it informs the performance.
What's the last picture on your iPhone?
A behind the scenes shot from set on The Offer that was sent to me.
You're trapped at the top of a ferris wheel. Who's by your side?
Oscar Wilde.
What is your favorite quality in a human?
Kindness.
What is your song of the summer?
Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffet.
Sophie Thatcher
Actor and Artist, Age 21
Do you have a favorite set moment from Yellowjackets?
I strangely adored the mania and lunacy on set the first fewdays after the year-and-a-half break between the pilot and second episode. We shot all the plane crash sequences those first few days and bonded over the intensity of the content. There were very definitive breaks between laughter off-screen and screaming for your life on-screen.
How do you get into character? What did you like most about playing Natalie?
It depends on how I initially connect to the character, their circumstance and their setting. Natalie was easier to tap into because I felt emotionally connected to her off the bat. I even grew up on a lot of the music I’d imagine her listening to. If I were to do a more specific period piece with history I’m not well versed in, I’d do more thorough research. But with Natalie, it was about cultivating songs she would listento get into her headspace as she felt all her frustrations rise to the surface. I imagined certain music as her primary outlet and release.
Music seems to really drive your creativity.
Finding new music usually helps me get in the zone andout of my head. I constantly have headphones in. I’ll spend hours on YouTube trying to find new music from different channels I subscribe to. l look for an ambient album I can space out to and write or draw to for an hour or so. I also try to go on long walks to get out of my head or reflect. If that goes well, I’ll feel refreshed after and maybe ready to work on something.
Where do you hope to be when you're 30?
I would like to have scored and directed my own movie by that age. I want to experiment more with directing, for sure. Hopefully, I’ll also be in a more satisfying place musically.
What is your song of the summer?
Anything by Royal Trux.
Ajani Russell
Actor, Model and Skater, Age 24
Describe your dream party. Who is on the guest list?
I’m assuming I can invite anybody to this hypothetical party so I would invite Megan Thee Stallion, Picasso, all the members of Earth, Wind & Fire, Carrie Mae Weems, Prince, Takashi Murakami, Chrollo Lucilfer from Hunter x Hunter and obviously all my homies.
What is your favorite quality in a human?
Kindness takes the cake for me. You can be as “nice” as you want and still have a tiny heart. Kindness however is adjacent to empathy and thoughtfulness and love.
Who do you follow on TikTok?
No one yet. I just made an account yesterday. I would like some suggestions for funny animal pages.
What is the last thing that you watched that inspired you?
I watched a movie called Gangubai Kathiawadi recently one morning right after waking up. I chose it because, in the previews, there was a woman that kicked a man in thechest for harassing her. Aside from it being shot beautifully and the main character’s brilliant performance, the story depicts a woman demanding and reclaiming the respect that’s long been due to her while protecting the women around her. Everything screamed “badass,” including the way she confronted her traumas. She was a boss!
How will you spend your summer?
Hopefully, I’ll be on an adventure somewhere warm, painting, laughing, swimming. At the very least I’ll be rolling around in the sun.
What is one song you'll be playing all season long?
“Sponono” by Kabza De Small.
What's a song forever on your playlist?
“Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” by Deborah Cox.
