In advance of our theatrical release of What We Find on the Road, stars Finn Haney, Katherine Laheen, and William Chris Sumpter discuss making What We Find on the Road.
On September 17, we had the incredible opportunity to share an advance screening of What We Find on the Road at the Robin Williams Center in New York as a part of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, featuring leading actors and casts sharing their experiences, insights and craft.
The panel, moderated by culture journalist Lexi Lane, featured Finn Haney, Katherine Laheen, and William Chris Sumpter, each sharing candid stories about their involvement in the film, how their experiences shaped their characters, and what it means to be a part of a road trip movie that transcends geographical boundaries to explore themes of family, friendship, and self-discovery.
The actors shared their experiences including how they joined the project, filming a road trip movie on the road, the value of independent filmmaking for actors, and more.
One of the most unique aspects of the film is its authentic road trip approach which takes viewers through an authentic American landscape while weaving in moments of connection and self-discovery. The cast and crew traveled 1,3000 miles across the country in an RV, filming at various locations along the way.
What We Find on the Road explores complex relationships, particularly focusing on TJ's journey to find his father. The actors discussed how their characters' different backgrounds and experiences shaped their interactions and the overall narrative.
When asked what he hopes viewers take away from the film, Finn responded, "I would hope it might give people some space on the road to consider the important relationships in their lives and how far they're willing to go or not go for the sake of those relationships."
Everyone emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, with many scenes involving improvisation they stressed that valuable learning experiences and opportunities for growth can be found in smaller productions, not just in big-budget films. Katherine noted, “On small, indie sets like this, you have the space to build something together. Everyone’s opinion is valued, and you grow together as a team.”
The cast closed the conversation by reflecting on what they took away from working on an independent film like What We Find on the Road. “You don’t have to be in the biggest Marvel movie to grow as an actor,” Chris said. “Indie films give you the chance to be a part of a learning environment where everyone’s committed to getting better at their craft.” Finn added, “making stuff with your friends, on a small set, is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.”
We were thrilled to share What We Find on the Road with the SAG-AFTRA community as our film is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking and the unique experiences it can offer to actors and filmmakers. For any aspiring actor, this conversation was a reminder that no matter where you start, every role has the potential to be a journey worth taking.
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