Actors and filmmakers Alex Wyse and Wesley Taylor chatted about their film “Summoning Sylvia,” and their other projects.
‘Summoning Sylvia’
It was written and directed by Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse. It tells the story of a gay bachelor party that takes a spooky turn when sinister spirits are suddenly summoned.
“Summoning Sylvia” was released in theaters nationwide on March 31, 2023 and it is available on cable VOD and Digital HD on April 7, 2023. “It has been an overwhelming part of our lives,” Taylor said. “It has been almost three years since we wrote the first draft. The amount that we learned about collaborations and movie-making has been really rewarding. People seem to really like it and we are thrilled,” Taylor added.
“It has been a very exciting journey because of all the incredible people we’ve gotten to work with along the way. We are very fortunate to have great, passionate people that have helped us take it to the finish line,” Wyse said.
“It’s a spooky comedy that will make you laugh from start to finish, so we’re told,” Taylor said. “It’s a delicious snack of a movie.”
“This is a movie for everyone to laugh and feel a sense of community,” Wyse added.
‘Indoor Boys’
They also spoke about their award-winning series “Indoor Boys.” This comedy series is about two gay guys that don’t leave the apartment. It follows Nate (Alex Wyse) and Luke (Wesley Taylor) as they navigate their no-boundaries friendship. “We had three seasons of that, and in the third season, Veanne Cox actually scored a Daytime Emmy nomination for her performance in that,” Taylor said.
“‘Indoor Boys’ was a very wonderful experience but a hard one too,” Wyse said. “It was really hard because we were wearing so many hats: we were the actors, writers, directors, and the editors. In ‘Summoning Sylvia,’ we stepped away from being in front of the camera, and we directed with a lot more intention. We took our directing artistry to the next level. It was really exciting that we got to focus more intently on those disciplines and we got to work with so many amazing people.”
“For ‘Indoor Boys,’ we were able to bring in all of these talented people such as Patrika Darbo, Carolee Carmelo, and Sean Grandillo. They have all inspired us when we worked as actors, and then we brought them in to our writing and directing world,” Wyse added.
“Indoor Boys” has won multiple of Indie Series Awards over the years. “Those were nice and it was cool for us, but it was even nicer to see the people that we are working with get rewarded. It makes us feel as proud parents,” Wyse said.
‘Goodnight, Oscar’
Wyse stars in the Broadway show “Goodnight, Oscar,” where he plays the role of Max Weinbaum. “We are in previews right now and it’s going so well,” Wyse said. “Sean Hayes could not be a more wonderful leader. I am very thankful to be back on stage doing this beautiful and funny play. I am very grateful.”
‘The Bold and The Beautiful’
Wyse also played the role of Saul Feinberg in the CBS soap opera “The Bold and The Beautiful,” where he starred opposite Patrika Darbo. “I was grateful to be a part of ‘The Bold and The Beautiful’ family with Patrika and Courtney Hope,” Wyse said.
“It was cool that I got to be a part of that whole world, and that I was supported by such talented people,” Wyse added.
‘Only Murders in the Building’
Taylor was cast in the third season of the hit series “Only Murders in the Building,” where he will play a recurring role. “That was one of my favorite gigs I’ve ever had,” Taylor said. “It is such a satisfying experience, everyone on set is a dream, they are all my heroes. I look over and then there’s Meryl Streep, and it’s wild. I feel very lucky and I am having a blast.”
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Taylor said, “We are just diving into this world and we are making sure that we surround ourselves with brilliant people, who are learning with us.”
“The beautiful thing about film is all of the collaboration that it takes, and all of the elements have to be working with each other. It’s like theater, where it’s also about collaboration. It’s thrilling to keep learning as we get older and to keep challenging our experiences and our wealth of knowledge,” Taylor elaborated.
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Wyse said with a sweet laugh, “The Bold and The Exhausted.” “Wes and I are really excited that this movie was come out and people are taking to it. We are excited to make our next movie, and we are working very hard to make that into a reality,” Wyse said.
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, Taylor said, “Success is something that I struggled with but I work on, and I talk about it in therapy. It in hard, especially in a capitalist country, to not equate prosperity and visibility with success. The moment Alex and I are creating something together and we are in our element, that’s when I feel the most successful.”
“Success is about being able to continue doing what we love to do, and hoping that the moments that the moments we are in can lead us to the next ones,” Wyse added.
To learn more about Alex Wyse, follow him on Instagram.
For more information on Wesley Taylor, follow him on Instagram.
