00:03I'm Oliver Trevina in studio for The Hollywood Reporter, joined by this young man, Tommy
00:08Dorfman. How are you? I'm well, yeah. It's a lovely little wave. It's a nice little wave. It's a very
00:12friendly wave.
00:13Yeah, you don't want to be too abrasive with your waves. It was a good wave. It's a good wave.
00:17You're
00:17achieving a lot right now. You're good with the waves, and you're good in the show, which is out
00:21now. Season two. I appreciate that. It is out. Yeah, everyone can watch it. Everyone probably
00:25already has watched it. Everyone probably has, but I haven't, because we're actually doing the
00:29interview. We're shooting this before the release. Yes, in the past. We're in the past
00:32right now. As it so happens. Yeah, so I haven't seen it. No, I know a lot of things. And
00:37you
00:37know a lot. I've been sitting on a lot of information for a very long time. How hard is that
00:41with
00:41a show that's got a fan base like this? You know, I started working on this show right
00:45when I graduated college, so I really had no idea what I was doing, and I had no concept
00:50of what a fan base even was or what a popular TV show was, so when this came out, it
00:55really
00:55was, it was a learning experience. It was a whirlwind, and now that, like, people are really
01:00hungry for information about season two, it's been really hard. Like, we wrapped in December.
01:04It's May. That's a long secret. That's a tough secret. It's been a really, I think, like, I've
01:08told my husband everything, and then had him sign an NDA, and then... Yeah, hang on. You actually
01:13told your husband... Did you... Yeah, because I had to talk about stuff while I was shooting, you know?
01:18But you're joking about the NDA. I'm joking about the NDA. Okay, because I wouldn't put it past
01:21networks. They're very strict. Honestly, they're really crazy. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, got it. So I'm
01:25just grateful to, like, have that weight off my shoulders and move on. Right. And it is such
01:29a massive fan base. I'm assuming it's not just fans. I'm sure... Family people, friends, everyone's...
01:34Oh, yeah. Everyone. Yeah. They're all trying to, like, sell a story. Right. I'm just kidding.
01:38This is nice. This is nice. Good to know. Totally joking.
01:41Tommy's friends. Give him a break. Give him a break. So, season two. Yeah. Talk about it,
01:45because I haven't seen it. Right. Give me something. Yeah. So season two's exciting. You know, it takes place a
01:50few
01:50months after season one left off. Cliffhangers. Cliffhangers. Yeah. Yeah. Everyone is back.
01:55Okay. That's good. Gratefully. And basically, it's just about a trial between the Baker family
01:59and the school in Liberty High. Okay. Okay. And each episode, as you'll see, since you've watched
02:04the show by now, I hope, follows each character's testimony at court. Right. Okay. And you sort of get
02:10to flash back into the past. You know, that same setup is happening like we had in season one. You
02:14get
02:14to see these characters' perspectives and more about their relationships, you know, specific to
02:18Hannah, but also with each other. And you also see how it's hard for people to sort of move
02:24past that stuff. Right, right, right. Yeah, because in the trailer, it says the tapes were
02:28just the beginning. Yeah. So. So we have, as you'll see, we have some Polaroids that are
02:35getting... There are some people in the show, some villains in the show, who are out to get
02:41the people on the tapes. Got ya. Okay. So a lot of the mystery of this show lies in, you
02:48know, who's
02:49pranking us. And prank is like a really soft word for what happens. I had a feeling it wasn't like
02:54a fun kind of... It's not necessarily... Yeah, no one's really having a great time. Right. They're not
02:58those sort of pranks. No. Right. Got ya. Got ya. Got ya. Which this show, I mean, you know, it's
03:03this
03:04phenomenon, but it touches base on the issues. Yeah. Season one. Season two does not shy away from that either.
03:09Okay. So we covered suicide, bullying, sexual assault, and now season two. I think, you know,
03:16a lot, you know, more bullying, um, looking into, you know, looking into sexual assault issues
03:21deeper and responsibility and owning up to that or not owning up to that and what that looks
03:25like. And I think a lot of that too is sort of like race relations come into play in season
03:30two because of that. And, um, money. Right. At the end of the day. You know, Bryce Walker's
03:36family versus the school versus, um, those who had been assaulted. Right. How is that?
03:42You also see recovery from those things. That's good. Okay. That's good. That's good. You
03:45need some of that. Yeah. We give a lot of, there's a lot of sort of recovery and new friendships
03:49made on this show. Okay. Now, you mentioned, you know, graduating and going into the show
03:54and as a young actor, how's that been, you know, delivering storylines like this and being
03:58on a set that's got this huge fan base and going into season two knowing now how many,
04:04because I assume in season one, like you don't know how it's going to hit. So it's
04:07not that much pressure. No, we really were like, no one's going to watch this. It sucks.
04:11Like, not really, but like, we were like, who knows? Like we have no idea what's going
04:14on. Well, it's a good attitude to have because then you're not down. Yeah. And then when it
04:16came out and the response was what it was and we actually had the opportunity to see it
04:19and realize that like it didn't in fact suck. It was actually a really great show. Right.
04:22Um, we were super excited, I think, and amped up to come back for season two and I definitely
04:26felt more prepared. I will say that much. Okay. Right. Right. And more comfortable on set and more relaxed
04:31and more free. So not more pressure. No, I didn't. I actually didn't feel more pressure.
04:36I felt like I, you know, I'd also like shot like a little indie film in between and like,
04:39just as an actor, like I kind of, I separated, you know, obviously like the hype of the show
04:44as much as possible while shooting. And I think we really all tried to do that and like leave our
04:49egos at the door and just come back in like we had for season one, like all fresh faced and
04:53ready to go.
04:54Okay. So what can we expect from Ryan for season two? What's happening with Ryan? In a nutshell.
04:59More of like, get me the fuck out of here. Okay. Go. More get me out of here. Um, you
05:05know,
05:05I think Ryan's journey this season is really like trying to find a way to own up and be honest
05:12and
05:12like, and apologize for things that, you know, wrongs that he'd done, things that you saw in season one.
05:17Um, and he's very, he's kind of lonely this season because he realized like he's ostracized a lot of
05:23people by behaving the way he behaved. He was naughty. He was an old boy. Sure. And I think,
05:27and I think he really misses, he misses Hannah more than, um, more than he thought he would,
05:34especially now with the trial, bringing all these memories back up and all these experiences back up.
05:39So you have that side. And then you also have these really sort of beautiful flashbacks between Ryan
05:43and Tony where you see their relationship kind of come together and fall apart. Cause like in,
05:49in season one and present day, and they're not together, they're not in a relationship and in
05:54the past they are. Um, and so you have that same sort of thing and you also see them come
05:57together
05:57as like two adults, which I think is really not adults, but you know, like young adults,
06:02turning into adults, turning into adults, you know, Ryan's graduating, but you know,
06:05at the end of this season, like he's leaving this school behind. And I think he wants to do that
06:09on
06:09good terms and, and you see his at least making an effort to do so. Right. Right. Um,
06:15what can you pull from, you know, your, your personal experiences, you know,
06:18when you're portraying a character like Ryan, how similar, cause you were pretty, you're similar,
06:23right? I've, I've watched a little bit. There's some, there's some past, the bullying,
06:27you were bullied at school. Yeah, I definitely had that experience. Um,
06:31I think Ryan was, Ryan's way more confident actually in a lot of ways than I was in high school.
06:35And so that was an exciting thing for me to revisit.
06:36It soon changes, doesn't it? What? The confidence soon changes. You're confident.
06:40Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, that definitely like, I, you know, I did a lot of my growing up in
06:45my
06:45early twenties and I didn't have that sort of like spitfire confidence that Ryan has as a high
06:48schooler. Okay. And so for me to be able to go back to high school and experience that with
06:53that kind of courage and that kind of charisma and like, you know, when it comes to sexuality,
06:57but also like as an artist and as a, like he's a poet and he's so passionate about it and
07:01he's so
07:02outspoken about it. And I just, I kind of like hidden corners in high school and just like begging to
07:06be safe.
07:06And like, just get out as soon as possible. And Ryan's very like upfront about like,
07:11all right, I'm ready. I'm going to college. We're done. Um,
07:14So you've got to go back and do it all again.
07:16Yeah, exactly.
07:16The best possible way.
07:17The best possible way.
07:18The best possible way.
07:18And now the, now it's completely reverse.
07:20And now it's completely reverse.
07:21You're trying to hide in corners probably.
07:24And have no success at it.
07:26No.
07:26Yeah. Yeah. Got ya. Got ya.
07:28Um, so in this journey.
07:30Yeah.
07:30Graduating high school, going into, well graduating, going into this show,
07:34season two is now ended.
07:37What have you learned in this process?
07:39Like a big lesson for you personally as an actor and, and person.
07:43Yeah. Yeah.
07:44I mean, I think as a person, you know,
07:45make time for myself and my work and not lose myself and in the things that, um,
07:50are important to me, you know,
07:52like my family and my friends and the people that I sort of came into this industry
07:55with, um, you know,
07:56I've really made an effort this year to come back to them and also like not be afraid to
08:01make mistakes and not think that I know it all because I'm suddenly like a working
08:05actor now, you know, like I, you see,
08:07I feel like I've, I've seen sort of friends or peers go through this thing of like,
08:11Oh, suddenly I know it all.
08:13Right.
08:13Um, and for me,
08:14like every day on set, you know,
08:15working on season two is really just like another opportunity to learn.
08:18And I got to work with Kate Walsh a lot this season,
08:20which I was super grateful for, um,
08:22because she obviously has a lot of experience and both like in the industry and on set,
08:26like as an actor and as a person in this weird world that we exist in.
08:30Um, and so I really, I really took a lot of life lessons from her.
08:33Yeah, I really, I did.
08:34I did.
08:34And I hope to continue to take that into new projects that I'm moving forward.
08:37Yeah.
08:38I love that.
08:38Do we know about season three?
08:41You know, no.
08:42Do you know?
08:42I don't, honestly.
08:44Do you?
08:44I really don't.
08:45I really don't.
08:46You know, Ryan's graduating.
08:47So I'm not sure.
08:48You really don't know then?
08:49I really don't know.
08:50Yeah.
08:50Okay.
08:51I'm pretty sure like I, right now my focus is like,
08:54I'm really excited about the show coming out and excited to do other things.
08:58Okay.
08:58And sort of also graduate in that sense.
09:01Right, right.
09:02Moving forward.
09:02Yeah.
09:03Moving forward.
09:03Um, we have the THR's top five.
09:05Five easy questions.
09:06Ooh.
09:07Or so I think they're easy.
09:08Sure.
09:09Movie you watched as a kid that you wish you were in?
09:12Breakfast at Tiffany's.
09:14That's true.
09:15That's a good one.
09:16TV show that you would love to turn into a movie?
09:20Maybe Queer as Folk.
09:22Okay.
09:22Yeah.
09:23Yeah, that could be a good one.
09:24Mm-hmm.
09:24Very relevant.
09:24Sort of revisit it now that it's been.
09:26Yeah, yeah.
09:27Over a decade probably, I think since it's been on here.
09:30Okay.
09:30Um, if you could cross over and guest star on any show.
09:33Because a lot of people are doing that nowadays.
09:35What show would you guest star on?
09:36I would love to guest star on Handmaid's Tale.
09:39Handmaid's Tale.
09:39Mm-hmm.
09:40Could you, you could.
09:40And play something just like polar opposite of what I'm doing right now.
09:43Yeah.
09:43That was really my dream.
09:43I could see you doing that.
09:45Yeah.
09:45Yeah.
09:46Going pretty just.
09:46Or like bring Downton Abbey back and like have like an iconic guest star on that.
09:51I think it's probably more going to go the way of Handmaid's Tale.
09:53Yeah, but listen, I could really do.
09:55You'll be like me.
09:57You'll be in the downstairs.
09:57Yeah, come on now.
09:58Yeah, you wouldn't make it upstairs.
09:59Tom, you could bring Tom back.
09:59Yeah, this is exactly where you'd be.
10:01Mm-hmm.
10:01It's all right though, it's good.
10:02Um, obviously shows on Netflix.
10:04So, last show that you binge watched?
10:06Last show that I binge watched, uh, End of the Fucking World.
10:11Are you a binger?
10:12No.
10:13You're not?
10:13Okay.
10:14I'm a reader.
10:15Okay, last book you've read then?
10:17Um, um, oh my gosh, uh, Smash Cut.
10:20It's a memoir by Brad Gooch.
10:23Gooch.
10:23Good one.
10:24You've got enough to check out there.
10:25Uh, yeah, that's the last book I read.
10:26It's a really beautiful story.
10:27Okay.
10:28And in the meantime, anyone that hasn't watched,
10:30I'm assuming that most people that are watching this interview right now have already binged watched.
10:34Yeah, I really, yeah.
10:34Season two.
10:35Um, if you haven't, obviously you'll watch it.
10:37Yeah, why wouldn't you?
10:40Thank you, mate.
10:40Yeah, nice to meet you.
10:41Yeah.
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