October 4, 2024 / Pop Culturalist
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Finn Haney and William Chris Sumpter are two of the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming storytellers, delivering a masterclass performance in What We Find on the Road. Their nuanced portrayal of brotherhood, self-discovery, and the lengths we’ll go for the ones we love is sure to put them on the map, captivating audiences with their authenticity and emotional depth. With this film, they’re proving that they’re not just stars in the making, but talents destined to leave a lasting mark.
On his 18th birthday, TJ is handed a key from his estranged, ex-con father—a key that unlocks a weathered ’68 convertible and sets him on a cross-country journey. The challenge: to drive across America in hopes of mending his fractured sense of family. Joined by his best friend Jake (Sumpter) and a group of lovable misfits, and with humor and determination holding them together, TJ learns that sometimes the longest road is the quickest path home.
Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with Finn and Chris about What We Find on the Road, the brotherhood they created both on and off screen, the self-discoveries they experienced while portraying their characters, and much more.
PC: Finn, you brought such a remarkable sense of naturalism and honesty to this character, making it easy for audiences to connect with TJ. As an actor, how did you immerse yourself in his shoes and navigate the range of emotions he experiences throughout this road trip?
Finn: I relied a lot on my amazing scene partners. It was about imagining every moment as real as possible for myself and letting go before stepping into scenes with Chris or Katherine [Laheen].
PC: Chris, in addition to the incredible work you’ve done as an actor, you’re also a musician. How much do you lean on that part of your craft when preparing for a role like Jake, who’s at such a pivotal time in his life, coming into his own? If you had to select a song from your project Hunting Season that describes his journey in the film, which would it be and why?
Chris: Wow, what a cool question. I’d probably pick “Missed Calls” because Jake is known for missing a call or two. He’s like, “Dad, I’m not picking up this call.” So, I’ll go with that one.
PC: Finn, the car feels like a character in the film, with so many interesting parallels you can draw to TJ’s relationship with his father. What was the preparation like learning the intricacies of that vehicle? How did it inform your performance? Do you have any favorite behind-the-scenes moments with it?
Finn: Wow, that’s so interesting. The struggle to maintain the car and keep it on the road is a lot like TJ trying to stay on course, sticking to the journey he set out for himself without being deterred.
What did I learn about the car? Well, it had holes in the roof, so we had to seal that up. There was a lot of patchwork behind the scenes. Billy Amaral, who played Paul Guilfoyle’s scene partner in the mechanic workshop, is an actual mechanic who worked on and maintained the car. His son, Evan, traveled with us and was the one who kept the car moving across the country. A lot of the responsibility fell on him. I think we broke down maybe once, and he got it right back up and running. It was pretty amazing. That’s all thanks to Evan.
PC: Weren’t there also little notes on the car about how to operate it?
Chris: Wait, how do you know that? That’s so true! Finn, there actually were.
Finn: You should ask Chris about the car.
PC: Chris, do you want to add anything?
Chris: Besides the fact that I hit a mailbox or two? We also had these cassettes they rigged up to play music, but I don’t think it actually worked. You know the gas station scene in the movie, where we’re trying to figure out how to fill up the car? That was real—we had no idea how to do it.
Finn: That car was a bit of a mystery box. I’ve never operated anything like it. There was a very specific way to get it started.
PC: Chris, you also shot this film in just a couple of weeks, which is an incredible feat. When you’re working with such limited time, how does that influence and elevate the performance you give?
Chris: That’s a good question. I knew we were going to be moving really quickly, so I had to do a lot of preparation. But it was hard to fully prepare because the movie had so many moving parts. Sometimes we’d get scenes the day of, and then we’d have rewrites to make the story flow better. We had to stay on our toes. Finn and I would be outside the hotel like, “What scene are we doing?” But ultimately, we figured it out. After the first week, we were like, “We got this. Let’s go anywhere in the world, and we can film this movie.” Finn and I had it easy, though. There were people who had to rig the car and make sure the camera didn’t get stolen. We had the easy part.
PC: The brotherhood between the two of you is so believable on screen. Not just in the ways your characters show up for one another, but also in how they hold each other accountable. How were you able to build that bond and trust so quickly?
Finn: We played a lot of pool. We had a few days before shooting, and when Chris showed up, we just hit it off. There was an immediate sense that our connection wasn’t going to be an issue on this project, which was a big relief because there were plenty of other challenges. [laughs] We got really lucky with the people involved and the crew, because you’re not just making a movie—you’re also on a road trip with these people. You want a good group. It’s a big ask to make a movie with so many locations. I think we went through thirteen states. For everyone to be flexible, easygoing, and positive was really important, and that was the vibe, which was awesome.
PC: I love the map on the film’s website that tracks the actual journey you took. Throughout the film, we meet these characters who hold space for one another unconditionally, which is such a powerful takeaway for anyone who watches the movie. For both of you, who have been the people in your life who have held space for you in a similar way?Finn: That’s another great question.
Chris: My answer might be cheesy, but I’m going to say Finn. He held space for me in a lot of the same ways that our characters do. After the movie, Finn moved to New York, and we got really close. I visited him in L.A. This is the most I’ve traveled the country with a friend, so I’d say Finn. He was so kind to me—you welcomed me into your home, introduced me to your parents. I was a crazy nineteen-year-old Chris Sumpter, and you held a lot of space for me. So, you’re my answer for that.
Finn: Oh, man, buddy, that’s so sweet. Not to piggyback, but I’d say Chris too. He’s really deep. We spent so much time in the RV talking and having these deep, long conversations that helped me discover things about myself I wouldn’t have thought about otherwise. We’ve held space for each other, helping me discover who I am too. That’s a big part of our relationship.
PC: Beautifully said, and the perfect segue to this next question for you, Finn. On this road trip, TJ makes so many discoveries about himself and his relationships. With this being your first time leading a feature film, what discoveries did you make about your own craft during this journey that you’ll bring to future projects?
Finn: It’s interesting. I went to CalArts to study acting for four years and took classes in L.A., trying to figure out this thing called acting. Getting to really experience it every day, no matter how you’re feeling or whether you’ve nailed the moment in a particular scene, you’re doing it. In the end, it’s about trusting the people you’re with and playing off of them. It’s not just about you and “your process.” It’s about being present together and making it happen. I learned that I can handle this, and it’s something I’ve always wanted but hadn’t actually done before. It was really cool to do it and feel comfortable in that role. Now, I have an appetite for it, and I want to do more.
PC: Chris, this is Chaysen [Beacham]’s directorial debut, and I believe he also has experience in front of the camera. How different is it working with an actor-director? What was that collaboration like?Chris: Are we talking about Chaysen? Is Chaysen an actor-director?
Finn: He’s was a model. He was a gymnast.
Chris: Yeah, he was a gymnast, a bodybuilder—what hasn’t Chaysen done? I don’t think we worked with an actor-director; we worked with a Jack of all trades. Chaysen is good at everything. But that makes sense because he was so nice and really cared about me as an actor first. I remember when we got to Texas, I was freaking out because I forgot to get a meal for lunch, and he knew how important it was for me to have DoorDash that day. He was like, “No, no. The actor needs to be good to film this three-line scene.” And I thought, “This is a really good guy. He cares about the actors.”
PC: One of the most beautiful things about independent filmmaking is the ability to take more risks. If you brought this initial idea to a studio, where the cast and crew literally embark on a road trip across the country, they’d likely turn it down. For each of you, what excites you about independent filmmaking as storytellers? And what are your favorite behind-the-scenes moments?
Finn: Definitely the freedom and fewer constraints. It didn’t feel like there was a constant presence looming over us while we were working. I don’t have much experience, but that’s been my experience with this film, and maybe I’m spoiled in that sense. That freedom could backfire, though, because you might end up saying, “Let’s do this or that,” and then lose track of things or fall behind. But overall, that freedom was great.
My favorite behind-the-scenes moment was hanging out with Chris and Katherine in the RV. It was really fun. I feel like we were in this constant conversation the whole time we were shooting, with only brief interruptions to actually film. [laughs] It was such a cool experience.
Chris: One thing I’ve noticed about independent filmmaking is that everyone seems to be more patient. Sets can get chaotic really quickly, but even though we had a lot to tackle and it got messy at times, it worked out because everyone was patient with each other. Whether it was taking extra time to set up a shot, being okay with getting your lines late, or helping wardrobe with continuity, people were flexible. If I wandered off to the skate park, they weren’t going to kill me. They’d just be like, “Chris, we’re going to film this now.” There was more patience involved. I don’t have a specific favorite memory—it was just being in the RV with Finn, talking about random things.
Make sure to follow Chris on Instagram. What We Find on the Road is in select theaters now and on VOD on November 12.
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