Talking With Nyah Juliano from ‘Rescue Hi-Surf’ and ‘Reeling’

This edition of Talking With focuses on rising actress Nyah Juliano, who is proving a stand-out in both film and television.

Originally from Hawai’i, this genuine beauty of Filipino descent appeared this season on the FOX lifeguard drama ‘Rescue Hi-Surf’ and made her feature film debut at SXSW in the indie drama ‘Reeling.’

Prior to this, Nyah emerged on the CBS police in paradise drama ‘Hawaii Five-O’ and several notable indie films. After moving to the Big Apple, she earned a BFA in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

To learn more, we are Talking With Nyah Juliano:

What can you tell us about Penelope on ‘Rescue Hi-Surf’?

Nyah Juliano: When we meet Penelope, we see she’s a cheerful college student who’s ready for a fun day out on the ocean. Her strong sense of empathy helps her quickly spot when someone is uncomfortable. She becomes the voice of reason when her boyfriend and his fraternity crew take hazing a pledge too far. She knows when the party’s over because, when someone’s safety is at risk, helping a friend becomes the top priority.

Any fun stories from set you can share with us?

Nyah Juliano: The Rescue-HI Surf set was definitely a one of a kind experience. I don’t think I’ve ever put that much sunscreen on! I probably was reapplying like every 20 minutes; it was so hot (and I’m used to these conditions!) We were out on the water the whole day soaking in the sun, and given the circumstances of our scene–a floatilla party–we really were just playing around and enjoying ourselves! The watercrew had a contraption called a Seabob which is basically like a small, handheld jetski, that they let us try out and it was fun to zoom around underwater with them.

You also appear in the new indie film ‘Reeling’; tell us about that one.

Nyah Juliano: This film is about Ryan’s experience after a life-altering accident and it’s centered around a birthday luau at his family’s home in Hawai’i. It navigates themes like belonging, memory, and family trauma. I play the role of Leia, who is a close family friend. She brings a lively energy, dancing and laughing her way through. I like to think of her as a ray of sunshine in the tense nightmare Ryan’s family finds themselves in. Yet, beneath her upbeat demeanor, she opens up about her struggles to reconnect with Ryan again, now that he’s changed.

Do you have a favorite moment from the movie?

Nyah Juliano: Is it cheesy if I say every moment was my favorite? It was such a pleasure that my first feature was filmed in my home island, I couldn’t have had it any other way. Some highlights definitely included the scene where the pig comes out of the imu pit and we’re all picking at it–it tasted so ‘ono. I also really enjoyed filming the first scene which was one of those really long takes with no cuts. Watching our director, Yana Alliata, and our DP, Rafael Leyva, work out the blocking and choreography for it was inspiring, they’re so talented and I admire them so much. It always gives me butterflies when those difficult shots pay off–I fall in love with filmmaking all over again.

Why do you think fans enjoy watching shows and movies set in Hawaii so much?

Nyah Juliano: I think audiences from Hawai’i appreciate seeing their home represented in big ways. I remember when I was homesick in college, I’d watch the first Moana film not only for its heartfelt story but also just seeing a depiction of a pacific island and its cultural customs was comforting and familiar. Polynesia is made up of small islands, but the people there are caring and strong, and they deserve to be seen too. For audiences outside of the islands, it’s something they don’t often experience in their everyday lives. I’m sure seeing something set in a place with a captivating backdrop that’s both visually and culturally rich would provide a sense of escape or exploration.

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

Nyah Juliano: The script is always my foundation. I use it as the introduction to my character. I’ll pinpoint information that is said about her or she reveals herself that I’ll later flesh out and develop stories behind so that she becomes a more three-dimensional human. It’s like the character is something I wear. It starts as a piece of fabric, a lifeless material, and every day I work on it, it begins to form into a sort of suit that I pull around my body to give it life. For me, this doesn’t change given the genre or how big or small a role is. You can make something out of nothing, and I welcome those challenges.

What inspires you the most creatively?

Nyah Juliano: Being on set fills me with the most inspiration for two reasons–one, witnessing all the moving parts. Sure, it’s chaotic, but what you have to look closely to see is that there’s this flow and everyone is in sync. It’s like magic. The same goes for theatre, and it reminds me, time and time again, that it takes a village to make something great. Two, you can do all the work you want alone, but when you’re there on the day, in wardrobe, who knows what will change. That’s what motivates me, the fact that nothing is really set in stone. Your co-star could’ve prepared the scene in a completely different way; there are no right or wrong answers in art. As long as you’re both receptive and listening to each other, a scene can go in a direction you never expected. It opens the door for so much more discovery.

Finally, is there anything else you’re working on that we can watch for?

Nyah Juliano: I have a couple of exciting projects currently in post-production, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they come together. It’s always thrilling to see how things evolve during this stage, and I can’t wait to share the final results with everyone. I’m hopeful they’ll open up some interesting opportunities moving forward. Stay tuned, because there’s definitely more to come.

Keep up with Nyah Juliano by visiting: NyahJulianoActor.com and follow on Instagram: @nyahjuliano