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Chris Ana On His Starring Role in Call Sign Romeo, Training For Wrestling Scenes
Image Credit: Freestyle Digital Media
The 411 Interview: Chris Ana
Chris Ana is a young actor who is making his feature film acting debut with the new drama Caii Sign Romeo, which is set to hit all digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms starting on July 4th, 2023. In this interview, Ana talks with this writer about making Call Sign Romeo, working with director Raymond Wallace, and more.
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Bryan Kristopowitz: How did you get involved with the movie Call Sign Romeo?
Chris Ana: I was asked to audition for Call Sign Romeo because of my athleticism and acting background. The role required a physical skillset and wrestling knowledge. I wrestled in high school and have practiced parkour since I was a young child. For the audition I was cocky / arrogant like the character, and I went shirtless. I did a backflip off a telephone pole, a move that was ultimately incorporated into the movie.
BK: How did you approach your character Chris Torres?
CA: A lot of the storyline was reflective of my life as a high school student and wrestler, so I was very comfortable in the role. I think I had to work hardest to show the mega confidence that was required to play the role of Chris Torres.
BK: What was it like working with director Raymond Wallace?
CA: Working with Raymond Wallace was fantastic. He was instrumental in providing instruction in using facial expressions to portray the emotions of my character. He was really patient and respectful with all the actors in the movie and all their varying skill sets.
BK: What was it like working with your fellow Call Sign Romeo cast members?
CA: We all worked well together for the most part. At times it could be challenging to deal with the different personalities on set but overall our goal was the same so we were able to practice our lines together and at times a sense of humor was what kept us all on that same goal.
BK: What sort of wrestling training did you have to go through in order to play Chris Torres?
CA: I prepared by working on my strength and flexibility. Knowing that this role was going to require me to use my parkour skills, I worked with my parkour coach daily. We worked with the wrestling coach to make sure certain moves and outcomes happened, but a good chunk of the action between me and Kid Hulk was two guys going at it. Ultimately I think it added to the authenticity of the movie.
BK: What sort of flying training did you have to do?
CA: The primary training was “Don’t touch any of the dials.”
BK: What was the hardest part of making Call Sign Romeo for you as an actor? What was the easiest? Was the sparring sequence with the two Navy SEAL characters as intense as it appears in the movie?
CA: I was not a confident high school student in real life so that was where I had to work hardest to portray an over-confident, somewhat arrogant high school student / athlete. In the movie, my character fell asleep in class when he finished a test early. In real life, I may have fallen asleep in class, but it wasn’t because I finished a test early.
The scene with the two Navy SEAL characters was intense because all three of us were athletes and we didn’t mind getting banged up. We did so many takes. I’m not sure if the other two guys were sore the next day, but I know I was.
BK: Any moviemaking heroes?
CA: I’m not sure about heroes but I like the work of James Wan and Patrick Wilson.
BK: Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
CA: I am currently researching future roles in other movies, keeping physically active for stunt work, and doing some local modelling jobs.
BK: What do you hope audiences get out of Call Sign Romeo?
CA: I had a lot of fun making the movie, and I hope audiences enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed acting in it.
BK: Would you ever want to fly a fighter jet in real life? What would you want your call sign to be?
CA: I don’t think I’d have it in me to fly a fighter jet, but if I could choose a call sign for fun it would be Call Sign Shawnee, to reflect my background and membership in the Eastern Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma.
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A very special thanks to Chris Ana for agreeing to participate in the interview and to david j. moore for setting it up.
Call Sign Romeo is set to hit all digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms starting on July 4th, 2023!
Check out the Call Sign Romeo official website here and official Facebook page here and official YouTube channel here!
All images courtesy of Freestyle Digital Media.
