Talking with Koda Beschen from ‘Rescue Hi-Surf’ and more

This edition of Talking With focuses on Koda Beschen, who found himself in dangerous high-tide as Freddie on the FOX drama ‘Rescue Hi-Surf’ for the episode titled ‘South Winds’.

The danger then turns deadly when Koda finds himself in a burglary gone wrong as Juan in the Tubi Movie original ‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time.’

Koda made his television debut on the Disney+ series ‘Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.’ and hit the festivals in the indie short ‘Poppy’ among others. Originally from Hawaii, the 19-year-old is currently sharping his skills studying American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles.

To learn more, we are Talking With Koda Beschen:

What can you tell us about Freddie on "Rescue Hi-Surf"?

Koda Beschen: I think Freddie is just a normal, troubled high school boy. Him and his friend don’t really fit in and he acts out in various ways. I think what we see in the episode is not the first time he has dragged his buddy into some mischievous little plot. He values experience, he wants to have fun more than anything, with a touch of danger in his life. I think as a lot of young, bored kids do.

Did growing up in Hawaii help you with this role?

Koda Beschen: I think if I didn’t grow up in Hawaii, I would not have booked this. This is a show inherently about Hawaii, specifically about the North Shore of Oahu, which is where I am from. We were shooting in locations that I was raised in. I went into the audition with a lot of confidence because I know exactly what this life is. There was no research to be done. It was just a wonderful experience to get to revisit that feeling of being a kid on the North Shore trying to figure out what to do with his life.

Why do you think fans enjoy this show so much?

Koda Beschen: I think anything that has to do with this beautiful island will garner some sort of attraction. This show succeeds in giving people who have never been to Oahu an inside look to what it’s really like. Along with interesting characters and simply good writing to support that already awesome backdrop of the North Shore. They also use a lot of local talent which helps to really capture the authentic experience of the location. I think the more the show really leans into the truth of the whole North Shore, the more enjoyable it is.

You also appear in the Tubi movie "Wrong Place, Wrong Time"; tell us about that one.

Koda Beschen: Yes, that was a really fun project. It was the first time I booked something that was kind of out of my usual type range. I basically play a (as he’s described in the script), a wanna-be gangster who sneaks into houses and steals stuff. It was really nice to get to do some character work to take on the role. Getting direction from Christopher Stokes was very effortless and it made the shoot move swiftly. The movie turned out great, it’s thrilling and heartwarming at the same time and I am proud to be a part of it.

Do you like portraying the 'bad boy' types?

Koda Beschen: Yes, I do. In my very young career, I guess that is what I have been cast as the most. I think there is something to be said about the natural essence that somebody is able to portray the most authentically on screen. I wouldn’t say I am a bad boy type in my real life, but I do think I have some sort of knack for playing it. Maybe it comes from me being very anti-rules, or my love for that sort of reckless, young naïve, exploration of life. I guess it comes through in my auditions and it’s what I end up booking, but I really don’t have a preference as to what I play. I want to do anything I can, and I want to try every spectrum of the way humans can behave.

Where do you start when preparing for a role? And does that change depending on the genre or other factors?

Koda Beschen: That’s a hard question to answer, it is never the same. It usually consists of some sort of research followed by some sort of way to connect, on a personal level, to whatever the character is going through and where the character is coming from. For example, I really didn’t do much prep for Freddie On Rescue: HI-Surf because I was already very in touch with the experience. As for Juan in Wrong Place, Wrong Time, I immediately began research, filling in personal details about his life that resonate with me. I will always try to make my work as deep and personal as I can, whether it’s months of prep or no prep at all.

What was your favorite moment from working on either of these projects?

Koda Beschen: I had so much fun going home to work on Rescue: HI-Surf. Shooting scenes in a canoe far out in the ocean, followed by a bunch of different jet skis and water safety crews. All of which consisted of people that I knew from growing up on the North Shore, it had a real sense of community. It was very surreal to travel back home, to be on a set, after moving to LA to be on sets. It was also a blast to be directed by Andi Armaganian, who did a great job giving the actors a sense of ease and fun, which was really important in my scenes. I made sure to soak up every moment with that amazing team.

What inspires you the most creatively?

Koda Beschen: What inspires me the most creatively I would say are the characters that I play. When you’re an actor, you are an artist but you’re a different sort of artist, you’re an interpretive artist and you need the character, you need the script, you need the director. The inspiration from the story that I’m telling should usually be enough to carry me through the whole role. Other than that, I can be inspired by absolutely anything, to me it’s what great about being an actor: It’s an excuse to be inspired. Whether it’s music, a documentary, paintings, real life encounters, it’s all usable because acting is a cumulative artform. Being able to derive some artistic insight from any experience and use it for good is such a blessing.

Finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

Koda Beschen: Yes, I’d like to give credit to my upbringing on the North Shore for my love of acting. Growing up in such a beautiful environment definitely nurtured my creativity. When I look back on my childhood, I see a lot of signs that this is always what I wanted to do. My brother Noah and I used to make little skits on his iPhone. I would take direction from him in our backyard. Even when we were surfing, we would be messing around in the ocean, making up stories to entertain ourselves while we wait for waves.

Keep up with Koda Beschen on Instagram: @KodaBeschen