Kiori Mirza Waldman on Ice Cream Man, Mia’s Fate and What Comes Next

[00:00:08] Kiori, thank you for joining me today on Pop Culture Unplugged. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited. Congrats, Ice Cream Man is finally out. First of all, what's been the reaction with all this? We've had a few days now that it's been out. I mean, I was super excited when I watched it. I was screaming, I was crying, I was laughing. It was such a fun experience. And yeah, I mean, I hope people are loving it. How were your approach for this film? Audition, somebody you knew they didn't have a part for you. How did this happen for you?

[00:00:39] So my agent sent me a request saying that I just had to submit a self-tape. So I submitted the tape. I got a call back. I got to meet Eli and everyone. Then I got a call back after that. And I got to have a chemistry with the two boys. And then I landed it. So it was always for Mia? Yes, it was always for Mia. Yeah, which is good. Do you remember the description for this character?

[00:01:05] I remember Mia. It was like, she's the cool, popular girl in a small town. She's brave and she's fearless. I think that was along the lines of what it is. Did you have like your own idea how you wanted to play this character, put your own spin in her also?

[00:01:22] I mean, I just really wanted to play into her journey. Because, you know, at the start, she comes off as like this cool, popular girl who's always trying to be trendy. And you don't really get to the real side of her. But then, you know, as the plot progresses, you get to see the real brave, courageous side of her. So I really just tried to play into that journey. So when you first found out that she was one of the few kids who doesn't become infected, like what excited you the most about this role in her story?

[00:01:50] I think it was really just to play the journey and to become possessed at the end. Because I thought that would be really cool to act out and a cool challenge to take on. Yeah, to be possessed at the end. You know, one of the biggest reveals in the movie is she survives because she throws up the ice cream before it could take the full effect. You know, when you first learned about this twist, like what was your reaction?

[00:02:13] I mean, I was happy that I got to make it through the movie not entirely possessed. That was a little bit of an awkward scene to film because I just literally had to make noises. But I was really excited that I got to make it through the film for most of it. You know, we mentioned that she's one of the kids, but she's being forced to make some decisions, you know, overnight, you know, like how did you approach playing those emotional, like that emotional transformation for her? She made some hard decisions. Yeah, like how did I act that out?

[00:02:43] Yeah, like how did you approach it? I mean, yeah, it was just really understanding. I did a lot of character studying. So I did try my best to understand the journey and to play each part of the journey very specific. So, you know, acting kind of too cool for school at the beginning and, you know, being awkward around the boys at the beginning. And then as it progresses, slowly getting closer to them and learning to trust them more. And yeah, to just develop a deeper relationship with them.

[00:03:09] You mentioned the school, they have some, you know, there's some intense parts of the movie that take place in the school. Like for you, what was the biggest challenge filming those scenes with all the chaos that was happening around you? Oh, the biggest challenge. Sometimes it was not laughing. So Shiloh, who plays Tommy and Charlie, who plays Jared, we would just laugh all the time.

[00:03:33] I think that would be the biggest challenge. Everything was so fun during those scenes, though, because they're just surrounded by backgrounds who were playing with like these dead body parts. And people were screaming and running everywhere. It was just a blast to film those scenes. So it really wasn't challenging. You mentioned, you know, one of the things, too, is like, you know, Mia's friends suddenly become her enemies, too. What was it like filming those scenes opposite with the young actors?

[00:03:57] Yeah, those scenes. I know at the beginning, I'm crying because my friend doesn't my friends a little bit possessed. I thought those things were always kind of funny, though, because my character kind of doesn't realize that there's something wrong with her friend, even though she's like covered in ice cream and she does not look OK. So that was actually pretty funny to play into. But yeah, I was just more thinking about the backstory behind that, which really brought out the emotions in me.

[00:04:23] You mentioned earlier blood and body body parts and everything like for you, like when did you realize like this is absolutely insane of what's going on around here? I think it was. I think it really just was the first day I went on set. The first one of the scenes we filmed was when we were inside like this glass room and we're just locked inside. And then I remember Eli was like just cuing different people to do things. And it was like someone's being slammed against the window and blood dripping down.

[00:04:50] And then kids just like falling backwards and like trying to break the glass. And that's when I realized this film really is insane. Eli Roth, he loves making these horror movies the last two years. Any advice from him when you're on set? Yeah, he was a really great director because he's an actor, too. So all the directions he gave me were amazing. One of the things he helped me kind of overcome was using my hands and eyebrows a lot.

[00:05:16] When I asked, we did one scene where we just use our eyebrows to ask, which I thought was super funny. He was just a really great director again because he is also an actor. So his directions were very easy to take. In other words, you would do another horror movie if you get the chance. Mm-hmm. The ending leaves the door open for, you know, the possible story down the road. When you first read the ending, like for you, like what did you think of this whole thing?

[00:05:44] Well, again, I was super excited to be possessed. Right. Because you're playing a princess, which is pretty cool. But I was very curious because you see the ice cream truck heading into a city. So definitely leave some room for a sequel. So where do you think Mia is? Pardon? Where do you think she ends up? I think she just ends up becoming one of the kids that start terrorizing and killing adults and doing crazy stuff.

[00:06:10] So you mean if we see a sequel, do you want to be one of the killers this time around? Well, I mean, I do, but I don't because I do think it is cool to play a possessed character. But also the acting is, you know, different because I don't get to have like a real, real personality like I got to play during this film. So I do hope that they find a way to return Mia back to herself. In a horror movie, there's always a way to get people back. I'm sure there is.

[00:06:39] You know, throughout Ukraine, you've done some comedy also. For you, like, now which one's more fun, comedy or horror? Well, actually, Ice Cream Man mixed a lot of comedy and horror together. There were definitely some comedic moments in that. I do think that the acting is different because like in Small Achievable Goals where that is a very comedic series. That was, I think it's just, I've just had different experiences on set because although that was a comedy, it was the only kid on set.

[00:07:09] But then on Ice Cream Man, I was scared. There's a bunch of kids on set. So I don't really think I prefer one or another. I think I just both love the acting styles. As a young actor, what did you learn being in a film like this? Ooh, I learned to not be scared of everything. I think I definitely overcame some fears being on that set. And this is a good question.

[00:07:37] Yeah, and I learned to use my eyebrows less. So if you hear an ice cream truck coming down the street, you're going to it or you're running away? No, no, no, no, no. I don't trust those anymore. If you could put Mia in another famous horror movie, what would you pick and why? I would probably put her in Obsession because I've always wanted to be an obsession. That was good, wasn't it? Yeah, I love Obsession and I feel like she'd be cool in that.

[00:08:04] Who would you trust more in a horror movie, Mia or you yourself? Oh, Mia for sure. I'd be the first one possessed. What's next for you now? Any other projects you'll have to tell us about happening down the road? I do have a role in American TV series. I can't say too much about it, but I am and I'm not done filming it yet. When are we thinking we're going to see that? About another year or so? Probably like January-ish, January, February, I believe so.

[00:08:34] I mean, it'll probably be announced sooner than that. That's funny. We'll have to look forward to it. We'll have to get you back on and talk about that series. Yeah, I'd love that. Carrie, I want to thank you for giving me a few minutes today. Congrats on Ice Cream Man. Hopefully we'll see another one down the road. Hopefully see your character down the road again. Thank you. Thank you for having me. This has been amazing. Thank you. So yeah.