Check out our interview with “The Get Down’s” Herizen Guardiola and Justice Smith.
OJ Williams was able to sit and speak with the young stars, getting some info on the dynamic between the stars, the music on the show and some info on the next season, which premieres this Friday. Smith plays Ezekiel on the show, a young poet who is trying to figure himself out in the Burning Bronx in the 70s. Guardiola plays Mylene, a young songstress who is trying to make her dreams of becoming a famous singer some true. The star-crossed lovers struggle with finding a balance between their friendship and their goals. The Get Down is available for streaming on Netflix.
OJ: Let’s talk about your show! Which is freaking awesome. Do you guys have a great time doing the show?
HG: Him and I [gesturing to Justice] generally do have a lot of fun.
OJ: I’m sensing so much chemistry…
JS: It’s fake.
HG: We’re besties … we really actually hate each other.
OJ: I feel like it’s kinda fake…
JS: Well good cause it is. *laughing*
HG: They told us to be nice to each other.
OJ: That’s acting!
JS: It’s great acting. We kinda haven’t seen each other in a while so-
HG: – it’s just good to see each other.
JS: We kinda were each other’s rock throughout the whole time.
HG: He was my person through this thing.
JS: Yeah ‘cause it was tough. Very stressful and very tough.
OJ: How long was the filming process?
Both: 2 Years.
OJ: oooh, that’s a long time.
OJ: Can we talk about those musical numbers? They’re pretty insane.
JS: The music in the second part is really cool, I’m really excited for people to see the music from the second part. There are a lot more numbers from The Get Down Brothers, there’s a lot more numbers from Mylene. When I watched the episode, I forgot which song it was but it was but it was so good – I think it was the one with Kevin.
HG: Oh yeah, that’s a nice song.
JS: Just get ready it’s gonna be really cool.
OJ: Let’s talk about the script, Baz is often known to go there, was there anything you ever got that was really intimidating?
HG: Yeah, anytime I had to really be sexy, I was struggling honestly. The sex scene in the 3rd episode, I was so awkward because I’m comfortable in clothes and to be grungy and not be that, I felt so naked. I felt so embarrassed, it was just very difficult for me. Those are the things that I struggle with.
OJ: What else can we expect next season? To give the fans a little preview…
JS: A lot more danger and high stakes. A lot more colors. It’s really just amazing, honestly, it’s a step up from part 1.
HG: Yeah, it’s so much better, it really is. I was watching it last night and I was like woah, this show is really dope.
