Actor and model Cooper Koch chatted about starring in the backwoods body-horror thriller “Swallowed.”
It will be released on digital and on demand February 14 via Momentum Pictures, which coincides with Valentine’s Day.
“This film was awesome. My character, Benjamin, has a really crazy journey that he goes on,” he admitted.
“Benjamin is super excited in the beginning and then, he is scared, and then, he really takes control once his survival instincts kick in, and he comes into himself. I love that journey,” he said.
It follows two best friends Benjamin and Dom on their final night together, with a nightmare of drugs, bugs, and horrific intimacy. It was written and directed by Carter Smith, and it also stars Mark Patton, Jose Colon, and Jena Malone.
“Working with Carter was awesome, he really allowed me to have a lot of freedom in my choices and decisions in terms of improvisation and how I wanted the blocking to be, and where I felt comfortable. He always encouraged and let me have a voice, which I really expected. He was really easy to work with,” he asid.
“I really want people to take away the friendship, relationship and love between Benjamin and Dom, and I want them to connect with that,” he added.
‘Fracture’
He also recalled doing the movie “Fracture,” which starred Ryan Gosling and Anthony Hopkins. “I got to sit next to Ryan Gosling,” he said. “I must have been seven years old, and my grandpa was a producer on it, and they needed some extra kids for that Thanksgiving dinner table scene.”
“Hopefully, one day I will get to work with Ryan Gosling again,” he added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Koch said, “It is really cool and great. I love going to the movies but I’m also lazy, and I love staying at home and being able to turn on my television. Hopefully, seeing this movie in the theaters is really fun but I also think it’s cool to get together at people’s houses to watch this and have a good time at home. The digital age can make things more accessible to everybody.”
Advice for hopefuls
For young and aspiring actors, he encouraged them “to go to class.” “Always be working on your craft and challenging yourself. Do a lot of practicing self-love, affirmations, and treat yourself with a lot of kindness. It’s a career where you have to face a lot of hardships and rejection. Honestly, it’s working on that belief in yourself and loving yourself.”
Dream acting partners
Koch shared that he would love to work with Ryan Gosling again, Bradley Cooper, Robert Pattinson, Paul Mescal, as well as actress and director Greta Gerwig.
Los Angeles life
He noted that he lives in East Los Angeles, and he teaches yoga, he also takes improv classes. “I am model and I am auditioning and waiting for my next project to come in and hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later,” he said.
Success
On his definition of success, he responded, “I am still trying to figure it out. Right now, I am really hungry for more success. I want to make more movies and more work as an actor. I can see success as all of the things that I have accomplished thus far such as being able to pay my rent every month and that I am healthy and my family is healthy.”
