Based on Anna Todd’s best-selling novel which became a worldwide phenomenon on social storytelling platform Wattpad, “After” follows Tessa (Langford), a dedicated student, dutiful daughter and loyal girlfriend to her high school sweetheart, as she enters her first semester in college.
Armed with grand ambitions for her future, her guarded world opens up when she meets the dark and mysterious Hardin Scott (Tiffin), a magnetic, brooding rebel who makes her question all she thought she knew about herself and what she wants out of life.
Check out our exclusive interviews!
Shane Paul McGhie
The Knockturnal: From an outsider’s perspective what are your thoughts on Hardin and Tessa’s relationship?
Shane Paul McGhie: I would say that there’s a lot of passion and fire in it. There’s a lot of fire there’s a lot of passion but with that there’s a lot of youth in it so there’s room for growth, learning, and understanding.
The Knockturnal: Have you ever been in love or had your heart broken?
Shane Paul McGhie: I have been in love and have had my heart broken. It hurts but that’s why they write songs about it and books about it. I’ve had that great fortune of experiencing what that was like. The love and it’s a great feeling.
The Knockturnal: Did you ever have any idea of how this would take off when you guys first started on the project?
Shane Paul McGhie: It kind of took off before I ever got on board. The fans are fantastic and just really really supportive and just die hard which has been a very interesting and a very awesome thing to see and opportunity to be a part of. I guess you never really know at least I didn’t know what it would be when working on it. You just take it a day at a time and you just try your best to do it justice. You just hope that everybody will be happy with how it came out and that you’ve honored the world and the story and what these people are going through.
The Knockturnal: Anna has been a big part of the movie. How was it like working with her?
Shane Paul McGhie: These characters are like her children and her babies and I’ve been saying it all day but it’s so true. Just to have her there and to have her looking out for us and whatever we needed she was just there. I feel like that doesn’t happen too often where you have the writer, the creator, who is there constantly working with you guys who says I wholeheartedly trust you I give you that liberty to take the characters off the page and that was a blessing. She’s a great soul.
The Knockturnal: The ending was a little intriguing. Why do we get left wondering towards the end?I don’t want to spoil the ending but I guess what I’m wondering is if Tessa forgives Hardin?
Shane Paul McGhie: Well I mean it depends on if you read the books or just going based on seeing the movie. I think you can kind of tell just based off of where she is and how she got to that place where it’s headed and where her head space is. It does end in a beautiful tranquil way where you know we’ll see.
Inanna Sarkis
The Knockturnal: What is the best way to describe your character?
Inanna Sarkis: She’s a bitch. She’s kind of what you play in your head things you want to say to people but she actually says it. She’s very ‘says it as it is’ and I feel like bitch is the best word for it.
The Knockturnal: What is something you disliked about your character?
Inanna Sarkis: She’s super vindictive and manipulative and that’s definitely one part that made me think “oh I don’t wanna play that. I don’t want people to hate me and think I’m really like that,” and that tends to happen a lot. So those two traits I didn’t want to play that but those were elements she definitely brought.
The Knockturnal: With the theme of the movie, have you ever been in love? Have you ever broken hearts?
Inanna Sarkis: I’ve never broken any hearts because I’ve never cheated on anyone but I’ve definitely gotten my heart broken because I’ve been cheated on by all my boyfriends. I feel like I totally feel like I get where she’s coming from in that element. A lot of people are like why does she act the way she does and I’m like well I kind of get it. Even though that’s not her boyfriend he’s still a person that she feels is hers and for someone else to just come and swoop him away I kind of get where she’s coming from. She shouldn’t take it to the level or extent that she did but I get what’s it like to feel a broken heart. She does have love for him even though she doesn’t admit it.
The Knockturnal: You come from the digital space and you have been super successful. How has that transition been like into acting and is this something that you are passionate about and would like to continue doing?
Inanna Sarkis: I think it was hard at the beginning when people didn’t take social media seriously but I feel like now we’ve transitioned into a place where a lot of people who are big on social media are also actors and models and all these things. So I feel like it’s definitely helped me get the roles that I want. I think it’s all about balance like if you get a film role it’s a great way to promote it and show people what you’re doing so I think it’s just about balancing both worlds.
The Knockturnal: I know you direct as well how is that like? Acting or Directing?
Inanna Sarkis: I don’t even know. Right now I feel like I’m still young so I want to act. Like I want to act in all the roles that I can act in but I love directing and writing and bringing things that are in my head to life so that’s always fun and also using my platform to tell messages that I feel like are important and people need to hear. But definitely acting is my passion right now.
The Knockturnal: Why do you think this movie is different than all the cliche love movies out there?
Inanna Sarkis: There’s not really a movie about loosing your virginity and that whole time of your life. That is such a turning point for a lot of young people. I don’t know another one that is in that age category so I feel like it’s a super important part of someone’s life and that age group so I think that brings a new element.
The film is now playing.