Brandon Delsid is an up and coming young actor who has a featured role in ‘This is Me…Now: A Love Story’ starring Jennifer Lopez. Brandon is Latinx, Gender Fluid and a fervent advocate for LGBTQ representation in film. His scene stealing role in the film celebrates queer joy and gender queerness and it’s available to stream now!
Can you share your experience working with Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck on “This is Me…Now” and how it has influenced your career?
They both were everything you’d hope they’d be and more. She is truly an icon of a woman. As a culturally diverse performer it’s not lost on me the gigantic impact she’s had on the entertainment industry and the doors she’s kicked open with her stilettos. They both were so wonderful and down to earth. I know people say that, but it’s really true. To get to act opposite her was the craziest experience ever. We would do the scene as written a couple times and then try it again and just play around and banter and see what we would get. Even after we wrapped she continued to be incredibly supportive and has included us in fun celebrations along the way.
As a fervent advocate for LGBTQ representation in film, how do you feel your role in ‘This is Me…Now’ contributes to this cause?
Visibility is truly everything isn’t it? I can remember how seeing Mark Indelicato as Justin on Ugly Betty meant everything to me when I’d watch it secretly after my bedtime. I get to play Jennifer’s gay best friend in this film and help guide her on her journey of love and ultimately coming into her own. I’d like to think my character gets to bend the gender norms and stereotypes that society tries to put on us. I’ve always tried to bend gender norms in my own life through fashion and makeup no matter what anyone else thought. I learned to love myself by celebrating myself. Realizing it’s all your own game and there’s no box you have to fit into. I think my character in “This is Me…Now” is truly modern, empowered and unapologetically fabulous and I hope it will empower all facets of the LGBTQIA community and shake up the rest of the world to catch up!
Tell us about the fashion in the film, especially working with Jennifer Lopez. How did it enhance your character and the overall aesthetic of the movie?
Buckle up! That’s all I can say. I grew up a musical theater buff but this is unlike anything ever done before. Truly a Dune meets Moulin Rouge spectacle. Genuinely it is a feast for the eyes. Come hungry. haha The fashions in the film are out of this world. My character really gets to bring alot of glamour and statement moments. Jennifer’s last look has to be my favorite. I can remember the final day shooting how magical and ethereal we all looked. The costumes definitely impacted my character in so many ways, it affects everything. The glam was glamming. The fabulous makeup artists didn’t hurt either!
Considering your background in theater and diverse roles, how do you approach the transition from stage to screen, particularly in a musical film like “This is Me…Now”?
Magically in this project my worlds got to collide. The love of musical theater and film exploded together in the most show stopping way. I think as far as acting it’s a metric system. You are doing the same thing whether it’s stage or screen but you adjust to the medium and to what is happening around you and at you. So much of being an artist is adjusting and being in tune with yourself. It’s all play. It’s everything you do in the sand box when you’re a kid that society tries to squelch out of you.
Your role in the film celebrates queer joy and gender queerness. How did you prepare for such a unique and significant character?
I’d like to think I’ve been preparing my whole life. The journey of myself coming into my own was also an adventure. Growing up in a small conservative town in California and being singled out every single time I’d put on makeup. It gave me a thick skin from an early age. I always believed in myself though and I think that’s ninety percent of success. Radical self belief. Being queer is a superpower! We are superheroes. There is no box. Throw out the box and rip it up and then burn it for good measure. Paint with every color you have. I wanted to make sure to create a character that was human and real and that celebrated queer joy ultimately.
Can you share a memorable moment or experience from the set of “This is Me…Now” that stands out to you?
We have a really cool scene we shot in the rain in Pasadena at this insane mansion. Literally a house so big that I thought it was an airport. I don’t want to spoil anything but you can see tiny clips of it in the trailer and we have a massive wedding scene there. It came out so amazing in the film and to me is one of those scenes I think people will be talking about for decades. Dancers skipping through a maze as the wedding procession carries on with rain sparkling down like glitter. It is true musical theater history and camp and glamour and Jlo and all of it put together in one.
Given your diverse acting experience, how do you choose roles that align with your values and contribute to positive representation?
I feel more myself than ever. It grows and changes obviously but I think life is about becoming an expert on yourself. I’m interested these days in roles that challenge and excite me. I want to take on roles that advance queer representation in the media. Amplifying our voices and creating spaces for others down the road. It’s never lost on me all the queer pioneers that came before me to create a space where a character like this could exist.
You caught the bouquet in Jennifer Lopez’s new music video – any fun stories or anecdotes from shooting that scene?
That scene was actually improvised! It was so fun and in the moment and just silly and spontaneous. I am known as a bit brash when it comes to catching friends’ bouquets, so I’m excited to add JLo to that list. Feeling free to play and improvise was one of the best parts of the film. Jennifer and our incredible director Dave Meyers really wanted to see what we had. They’d let us do the script as written and then sort of just riff off of each other. Some of those moments made it in the film!
How has receiving the 2023 Diversity Scholarships impacted your approach to acting and your involvement in promoting diversity in the industry?
Definitely, one million percent. Being both Latix and Native American I’ve always had to find my own spaces and try to cultivate that. It hasn’t always been easy because people do truly want to put you in boxes. I’m huge on training and always learning as a creative. I think it keeps you humble and hungry! Both super important things as an artist. Don’t lose that hunger and spark. There’s no point you reach where you’re done growing in life. That’s when life gets stagnant and boring. I’ve worked with several amazing coaches in town and schools and gained something from every single one. For minority performers, there are so many resources out there for you to continue to grow. A big goal of mine would be in helping to continue scholarship efforts for other performer’s out there.
“This is Me…Now” is one of this years most highly anticipated movies on Prime Video. What message or feeling do you hope audiences take away from the film?
I hope people leave falling in love with themselves. Loving others and loving your partner is amazing, but I hope people leave this loving themselves more than ever. Radical self love for yourself . You will be with yourself through your whole life. Make it a good, solid relationship. I think JLo’s journey in this film all centers back to that, truly loving yourself through the whole wild ride of life. You deserve it.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
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