Sean Kaufman chats with THR at 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' season three premiere and reflects on his last day on set saying, "I cried like a big baby." Plus, he addresses the online discourse from fans of the show and shares his thoughts on some of their reactions.
00:00Music is a big part of this show. What is your song of the summer?
00:05It's a great question. It changes every day, but right now, Lord's new album,
00:09it's not even like a summer song, but Favorite Daughter, I'm loving.
00:13It's like sad, but I'm loving it.
00:15So Bieber's album, a lot of good music.
00:16Oh, I know, I know. Rain, I don't know where she is,
00:19but she was talking about Bieber's new album. I was like, I gotta listen to it, yeah.
00:22Okay, so finish this sentence. It's not summer without...
00:28It's not summer without my friends.
00:30It's not summer without my friends, and I'm excited for everybody to see this new season
00:34because it means I spent five months with my best friends, you know what I mean?
00:39It's not summer without summer I turned pretty.
00:42Oh, it's not summer without summer I turned pretty.
00:43Well, this is the final season. Walk me through that final table read or that final day on set.
00:50What was that like?
00:52I don't think it felt real.
00:55You know, it's one of those things that it's like you don't realize what you have until it's gone,
00:59and I still do remember the last day, though, where it was like I cried like a big baby.
01:05I think it was the same as kind of wrapping any season, but still saying goodbye to my friends and hugging them.
01:11It was so serendipitous.
01:12I'm telling you, it was probably the most gorgeous sunset I've ever seen in my life.
01:16It felt like the universe was just sending us off in such, like, a wonderful way.
01:20It felt destined, you know what I mean?
01:23Do you think fans, because they are so passionate about the series,
01:26do you think they'll be satisfied with whatever choice Belly makes in the end?
01:30I hope so.
01:30I really hope so because I think that this season is our best season yet,
01:34and I think that they'll be very satisfied with that no matter what team they're on.
01:37I know that, like, we put a lot of hard work into this year,
01:41and when we all finished, like, it was the biggest sigh of relief,
01:47like, weight off the shoulder kind of feeling,
01:49and I think that more importantly, I think that's what I hope fans will feel by the end of the show, you know?
01:53Well, of course, like I mentioned, the fans are very passionate about this series.
01:58What do you make about all the discourse that goes on around these characters online?
02:02I know the show itself put out an anti-bullying statement ahead of its release.
02:06Yeah, yeah.
02:09I'm very proud of the show for doing that.
02:11I think it's important to be proactive as opposed to reactive,
02:14and I think it's also the most important human thing to lead with empathy and love.
02:20I want to say that, like, I absolutely love our fans.
02:23I think they are the best in the world.
02:25I can't think of a fan base that I would rather have.
02:28They're the most dedicated and loyal fans ever,
02:30and I think 99.9% of them understand what we as a show are trying to do,
02:35and let's lead with love.
02:36And I just think that there's a very small, you know, minority out there that forget to think before they press the post, you know?
02:45Forget that we are human beings and not our characters, you know?
02:49That we, like, are people with feelings and emotions, and we can feel hurt, you know?
02:54And I think it's important to say, and I just wanted to shout it out, that one thing that did, you know, upset me was the treatment of my very, very dear friend, Elsie Fisher, in the second season.
03:08And I think that, you know, she was part of that, like, attacked by just a very small minority of fans that, like, just forget to lead with love sometimes.
03:19And Elsie's a champ, and they handled it incredible.
03:22But it is important to note that, like, that's a real person.
03:26So shout out Elsie.
03:28I love them so, so, so, so, so, so much, you know?
03:31And a good reminder for fans and everyone all around to be kinder online.
03:35Absolutely.
03:35Please, be kind.
03:36You know, we're human beings.
03:38I don't know.
03:39Just lead with love, please.
03:40I'm begging.
03:41I'm begging.
03:41The world would be a better place.
03:42I promise.
03:43And very quickly, could you see a world in which you would revisit these characters down the line, maybe with a spin-off with your character or a movie?
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