Meet The Cast: Kris Taylor
Christmas with your in laws isn’t always the most fun experience, as Kris Taylor shows through his role of Tim in our latest film Coming out for Christmas. Here he tells us more about work in the North East for actors and the artists that inspired him to pursue the career.
HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE ON SET OF COMING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS?
KRIS: I loved my time on set. The other cast members and crew were, whilst super professional, great fun and very easy to work with. We had such a laugh which hopefully comes across in the final cut! Oh, and the food was lush too. Vegetarians like me were well catered for!
IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE COMING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
KRIS: Warm, fun and relevant.
WHAT WAS IT THAT DREW YOU TO YOUR CHARACTER IN COMING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS?
KRIS: Tim sounded a lot like me actually! I'm married with a young daughter and I’m all about the food, drink and nap life on Christmas day! I pretty much just had to be myself although his choice of Christmas cardigan was...err…questionable!
DO YOU THINK THERE ARE A GOOD AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING IN FILM/THEATRE/TV IN THE NORTH EAST?
KRIS: Since I started in the industry, the North East has felt out on a limb when it comes to major and even minor TV/Film productions compared to other regions. It’s a shame as we have some of the most beautiful locations in the country and an abundance of talented, hard-working local people that goes relatively untapped.
WHAT OBSTACLES ARE THERE WORKING IN FILM/THEATRE/TV IN THE NORTH EAST?
KRIS: The fact we lack a major studio doesn't help but apart from that I'm really not sure as costs up here are generally lower. I can only assume that the region suffers from a general lack of exposure in comparison to other areas and film makers often like things to be recognisably British to the viewer and the more recognisable landmarks.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LGBTQ+ FILM AND WHY?
KRIS: I've not seen many that stuck in the mind which is exactly why more exposure of the subject is needed! However, Pricilla, Queen of the Desert years ago was a blast and more recently Carol, starring Cate Blanchett was a beautifully made film.
WHAT IDENTITIES DO YOU WANT TO SEE REPRESENTED IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY ON SCREEN?
KRIS: I think that the LGBTQ+ community still has a way to go, even in 2019. It's definitely getting better though which is why projects like Coming Out For Christmas are so important in highlighting the struggle of people within the community but showing positive outcomes to give confidence to those same people.
IS THERE A FILM/FILMMAKER/ACTOR THAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO ACTING?
KRIS: I wouldn't say that any one actor inspired me to get into acting as such but I'm a big fan of Leo DiCaprio, the earlier work of Robert de Niro and Al Pacino as well as Emma Stone and Emily Blunt more recently. There's loads more I could name but we don't have enough space!
IF YOU COULD WORK WITH ANY FILMMAKER OR ACTOR (LIVING OR DEAD) WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
KRIS: I'd love to work with writer/director Joss Whedon. I'm a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from back in the day as well as his criminally underrated series, Firefly. A comedy genius in my eyes!
WHAT IS YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED FILM THIS YEAR?
KRIS: My most anticipated movie of 2019 has already been released and is Avengers: End Game. I'm a huge Marvel fan. Did I mention I had a part in it too? So it has to be that!
WHAT’S THE BEST FILM OR TV SHOW YOU HAVE SEEN RECENTLY AND WHY?
KRIS: Ooh so much good TV to choose from these days but if pushed my favourite recent show has got to be Game of Thrones. It really is a cut above anything else in every respect. However, honourable mentions go to The Santa Clarita Diet and The Good Place on Netflix which are HILARIOUS and definitely under appreciated! As for favourite recent movie, it has to be Avengers: End Game. I'm not scared to admit I cried like a baby during the last quarter of it.
WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON?
KRIS: It's been a busy year so far having appeared in Coming Out For Christmas and two other short films as well as having another short lined up for later in the summer. Right now, I'm in the middle of shooting a series of educational videos that use different scenes/situations to help teach Spanish and South American people English (it's more fun than it sounds!). I've just shot an epic battle scene for the show The Last Kingdom in Bambrough, Northumberland which was brutal but fun. Apart from that, I'm on the lookout for any interesting projects to get involved with in the second half of the year after my holiday!
Coming out for Christmas will be available later this year, you can follow Kris on Twitter here @Kris_Taylor80
