Interview Hanna Mordekhai
Starring as Monica Sherwood in Steven Spielberg’s The Fablemans, Chloe East is an actress with many passions. East likes to take a lot from each role she has played and has used these experiences to channel into her role in The Fabelmans Playing the girlfriend of the protagonist of the film, Chloe East had a lot to take on. But with the support of her husband, and never losing sight of things she loved, she executed an amazing and captivating performance.
Before I ask about your role in Spielberg’s The Fabelmans I want to talk about your start in acting. You played Val on Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie. How do you feel about being a “Disney Kid”? What was it like growing up in the Disney realm? Are the stereotypes true?
Even though I worked on Disney Channel as a kid, I never thought of myself as a “Disney kid.” I worked on Liv and Maddie for a full year in their 4th season, and It was such a unique experience. People often use the word family when talking about their cast and crew, but the Liv and Maddie cast was truly special. Even though I was new to the show, they welcomed me with open arms and I’m still close to everyone to this day. The show-runners Ron & John have always been super supportive of my carrier and my personal life, like attending my wedding and checking in on me every now and then. It was never about fame, or attention, or being a “Disney star”, it was about working together and laughing with people we love. I think it was one of the best, shaping experiences I had growing up in Hollywood and I don’t think it’s a very common experience in the children’s programming world.
You played Parker Rooney’s super-smart girlfriend. Now in your biggest role yet, you are introduced as the girlfriend of the film’s protagonist, Sammy (played by Gabrielle LaBelle). Did you learn anything from played Val that you brought with you to your role as Monica?
That’s hard to say! I think subconsciously, there are things that I have learned while working on Liv and Maddie, that will manifest in any role I take today. Working on a Disney show pushes you to make big fun choices, and I think that has helped me let go and try new things when I work on a new character.
Dress, Briefs, Stockings, Heels, Earrings, Sunglasses, Clutch bag: Dolce Gabbana Bra: commando
Aside from acting, you also have a YouTube channel where you post baking tutorials, short films, and videos about personal milestones, including your wedding. Assuming you are passionate about creating videos, how did you keep this passion alive in the midst of The Fabelmans and any other recent projects? Did you get any tips about creating films from Steven Spielberg?
I grew up making a lot of fun YouTube videos; like room makeover videos, life hacks videos, things to do in the summertime videos, etc…(Many aren’t live on YouTube anymore but I made a TON of videos and was very passionate about them.) I was 13 and having fun and I got pretty good at it. When acting took over I didn’t have the time to make videos anymore, but more recently I’ve had the itch, —not to make vlogs or life hacks videos or anything like that— but to film cooking and baking videos. I’m in the kitchen a lot and post a lot of the food I make on Instagram, and so many people ask for my recipes… so I thought it was easier to make video tutorials than type everything out every time someone asks. I don’t do it for money or anything like that, it’s just a fun thing I like to do in my free time, and makes me feel like I’m a 13-year-old having fun making videos again.
Blouse, skirt, belt, bag, jewelry, heels: CHANEL Resort 2023
As we mentioned earlier, you have a YouTube channel where you bake, I noticed Ethan also makes some appearances (you two are adorable, by the way!). What type of activities do you two love doing together? How do you guys inspire each other in your careers?
Thank you. We have a lot of the same interests like surfing and watching movies, so a lot of our free time is spent either at Topanga beach or at the New Beverly Cinema. It’s so fun being married to someone you feel best friends with, we have a lot of fun with each other and laugh a lot. He is the biggest blessing in my life, and his support in my career is so sweet and genuine.
Sweater & Vegan leather dress: Chloe Paris Heels: Francesca Bellavita
Tell me about what it was like working with actors like Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, and Paul Dano.
Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous before shooting the dinner scene with Michelle and Paul. I’ve worked with amazing actors before, but I’ve never had the same “fangirl” feeling before meeting Michelle and Paul. But the moment I met them, my nerves went away, and I had such a relaxing fun time shooting that scene. They are really lovely people.
What was the process of casting for this film?
I sent an audition in, the same as I would for any other audition. And months later, in the middle of shooting an indie film, I got a call that Steven wanted to meet me via zoom. And if you know indie filmmaking, you know that there is no time and no money for anything “extra” during the shoot— I mean we were barely taking 30 minutes for lunch! So I had to beg the producers to let me Zoom with Steven for 20 minutes, and the next day it happened, and Steven offered me the part that night.
Blouse, skirt, belt, bag, jewelry, heels: CHANEL Resort 2023
Which scenes were the hardest to film? Which were the most exciting?
Every scene I shot in the film was more fun than “hard.” This character is very fun for me, and I had a lot of fun playing around. It’s funny though, because when we were shooting the dinner scene, Steven told us that shooting dinner scenes are actually the hardest scenes to shoot — “more than CGI dinosaurs, more than anything!”— he said. I think it’s because there is so much that goes on in those dinner scenes, overlapping dialogue, multiple characters (and in ours came a monkey too!), it just is a lot to cover and shoot!
In an interview with Maximo TV in 2016, you said your goal is to be in a QT movie. After being in a Steven Speilberg film, does this still stand?
Haha, I sure hope so! Working with Steven has definitely given me the confidence that I could work with anyone. —and I don’t mean that in a cocky way… I think I used to psyche myself out before meeting these big “icons”, thinking, “maybe I can’t do this, what if I freeze!” But it’s the age-old thing of, they are normal people just like us (okay maybe really TALENTED normal people just like us.)
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