Zoe Levin
Toronto Films: Palo Alto + Beneath The Harvest Sky
Interview by James Patrick Herman Photographs by Jeff Vespa
How would you describe your character in Beneath the Harvest Sky?
“Desperate and insecure.”
What’s the buzz about that movie?
“It’s about two boys who grow up in this small, poor, rural town in Maine. They feel trapped by the town and also by their identities. They try to break free, but one boy can’t escape: He gets drawn into drug-dealing by one of his family members. The other boy tries to help his friend but then he gets caught up, too.”
And you play their drug mule?
(laughs.) “No. My character plays the high school love of one of the boys. She’s not a sweetheart, though. She is trouble.”
What about your other film, Palo Alto, which is based on James Franco’s acclaimed book of short stories?
“There are high expectations because of the people attached to it, and people will be more blown away when they see it. [Director] Gia Coppola’s style is so unique, her timing is amazing and the cinematography is incredible.”
With a surname like Coppola, the stakes are pretty high for Gia. What was she like as a director?
“She kind of let us do our own thing. She gave us certain parameters and set up the scenes based on the script, but then we wound up creating a whole different scenario. Because we had such a good connection with our characters, she would let us [improvise] for like ten minutes at a time because we could imagine what these kids were going through. It felt so fluid and right.”
Is your character in Palo Alto trouble, too?
“She’s not trouble. She’s vulnerable. It’s funny because the girls I play in both movies are insecure — but they deal with their insecurities in such different ways.”
How do you feel about working the red carpet at two film premieres?
“Nervous. I can only smile for so long you know.”
What do you consider your big break?
“When I was fifteen, I was cast in David Schwimmer’s Trust after I sent in my audition tape. Then I got on a little bit of a roll and I encouraged myself to go for it. I never thought I’d do a film — it seemed impossible and so far out of reach.”
What was your first job?
“I worked at this beach body fitness camp before I did The Way, Way Back. I would do every single class along with the fitness instructors. Cross-fit training on the sand is no joke.”
Producer Bailey Reise (@BaileyReise)
Stylist Avo Yermagyan (@AvoYermagyan)
Makeup Lina Hanson (@LinaHanson) at Tracey Mattingly (@TraceyMattingly)
Hair Tony Chavez (@TonyChavezHair) at Tracey Mattingly (@TraceyMattingly)
Fashion Credits:
Look 1: Ted Baker suit
Look 2: Marissa Webb top and pants, Nanis Italian Jewels earrings and ring