HARVEY GUILLÉN: THE LATINX VAMPIRE SLAYER
BY IRVIN RIVERA
The full interview was first released in A BOOK OF’s Collector’s Print Issue featuring Harvey
Progress, albeit in small steps, is still progress. Seeing Harvey Guillén as the rising hero of What We Do in the Shadows is one prime example of this. Harvey, playing Guillermo as the relatable, Latinx, chubby, queer, loyal hero who beautifully evolved from being a familiar to effortlessly slaying vampires after finding out his Van Helsing ancestry is an empowering thing to watch on TV. It’s such a powerful thing, especially right now, when you see someone that looks like you or at least embodies your qualities in mainstream media. It gives the audience that power to tell themselves that if he can do it, I can too!
PHOTOGRAPHER: IRVIN RIVERA
No wonder the fans received Guillén’s character so well. He’s not the cookie cutter Hollywood hero and he could easily be any of us. And minus his vampire slaying skills aside, he’s smart, warm, compassionate, funny and was able to keep everything together in the household full of vain, centuries-old vampires.
Harvey’s passion for acting is evident in his works. He got the role of Guillermo by studying the character well and putting his own spin on it. His nuances, facial expressions (especially when the camera pans to him to highlight his reactions) and subtle actions make his embodiment of Guillermo stand out.
STYLING: ANDREW PHILIP NGUYEN, GROOMING: KIMBERLY DISTEL, LAYOUT: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG, PHOTO ASST: MILAN DILEO
Having been inspired by the film Annie since he was a kid, to gathering recyclable bottles and cans to save for acting classes, Harvey has come a long way. Some of his acting credits include being a series regular on MTV’s Eye Candy and ABC Family’s Huge. He guest starred in the Apple series Little America, HBO's Room 104 and Don’t Look Too Deep directed by Catherine Hardwick. He also served as a recurring guest star on season three of NBC's The Good Place and Nickelodeon's The Thundermans. As for his film credits, he is best known for his supporting role alongside Vince Vaughn, Rose Byrne and Owen Wilson in The Internship in addition to Netflix's horror film Truth or Dare. He will also be in the second season of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and he also just wrapped the production for the feature film Werewolves Within and has several upcoming projects on the horizon.
Have you had any supernatural encounters in your life?
I have had a couple of supernatural encounters. Actually, that's so funny that you asked me that because I was just reading this like a second ago. When I was little, we used to live in this house that I was convinced was haunted. And one time when I was sleeping, I was in bed and I had a nightlight because I'm a scaredy-cat and it was reflecting onto the ceiling, you know, the inside of the room. And I saw this silhouette crawl on all fours, and it had horns but it was just a silhouette, not an actual tangible thing I could see. And it was right on top of me and the bed. And I remember I passed out from the terror of it, and when I came to consciousness, it was morning. I don't know if I dreamt that then because I'm thinking about it, was that a dream or nightmare, or was I really in a haunted house? Anyways, my therapist will tell you.
Did it happen again?
It didn't happen again because we moved by then. But a lot of weird things happened at that house that was really kind of creepy. Just scratchings and really weird stuff. And I've always been sensitive to that, like energy-wise, I'm really big on energy. When I meet people, I can read their energy but if it goes deeper than that, it's like, oh, this is just scary. Yes, so we moved out.
What is it like to play Guillermo throughout the seasons of What We Do in the Shadows? What's the best part about playing his character?
The best part of playing Guillermo is just, I like the trajectory of his story, it always surprises me just because when I think I have Guillermo figured out, they throw a curveball with like his ancestry and the Van Helsing side of things. I just liked that he's getting into his own, like he's getting comfortable and speaking up for himself, and being a badass. Like, after season two, you will remember his motherfucking name.
I mean, let’s talk about the season 2 finale. After that I was just like - I need more episodes!
Yeah, the finale was great! Fun fact, not all people know this because I don't think I talked about this. I was really ill during the finale, I had a 104 fever. It was the worst I've ever been. I had a bad flu scenario going on. And everyone got sick pretty much like in the crew and staff. So, it slowly trickled and then eventually, it was the last day of shooting. I was like, so under the weather. I remember I had no energy and it was the last day before Christmas break, and that was the last day for the season. So, it was the big finale fight scene. And I remember talking to Kyle - the director and he was like you think you can do it? And I was like, if we get it in one shot because it's a fight scene. So, all of our rehearsal for like months of this fight scene were going to be done in one day and the day that I'm sick. Glad to report, no one could tell that I was sick. And then I went home or when I say home, went to the hotel and collapsed and woke up 14 hours later.
Oh my God! We couldn't even tell.
No. Well, that's the job of an actor, I guess.
You said months of training, how was it?
I mean, I exaggerate because I really had to learn that in about 45 minutes, but I did the choreography or the stunt, you know, the routine I learned in 45 minutes but we've been rehearsing for it for a couple weeks. But we've been shooting for months by that point because it was the last the episode of the last day. It was December 20th or something like that. We were all ready to go home and if I didn't shoot the scene, we would have had to fly everyone back in after the new year to reshoot that and all of that. So, I was like either I get it together right now and we do it and get out of here or we call it a day and fly everyone back in the new year, which they'll hate (laughs). And I was like, I'm going to do it and so I did it.
Congratulations, you really did it.
I really did it. I slayed it, for lack of a better word.
How would you describe his evolution throughout the two seasons so far?
Guillermo’s evolution has been really awesome to see just in general for myself. They don't tell us what's going to happen ahead of time, usually. So, whenever I get a script, that's the first time I'm hearing of the next adventure. And just to watch where we started, because Guillermo could have easily just blended into the background after the first season because he's the servant, for lack of a better word. And he's, you know, with Nandor, he’s his familiar so he could have easily become that character, but we kind of told a story without saying much, like with Guillermo in the first season, we always pan and look over at him. And even though the vampires are saying something ridiculous, or something stupid, his face says it all. And so, his face is really the reaction that the audience is feeling. So whenever you hear something that sounds stupid, the camera was panned to him, and Guillermo was like, you know, doesn't want to say anything, his eyes get lazy and it's like -- because remember, if he speaks up against his master, and the people he works with, he gets a demerit, he gets another year of familiar, he's already worked for a decade. And there's no expiration of how long he is going to be a familiar. And you don't want to become a vampire later in life. It's like you want to do it while you're young.
Were you expecting the amazing reception from the fans to the character?
Oh my gosh! No, I was not expecting how the fans reacted. There was like, I thought, you know, we would have become a quiet show that people must know about it, you know, word of mouth and that's it. Which I kind of pride ourselves that we kind of started that way and now everyone all of a sudden is hearing about the show and the fans have -- there's so many talented people out there -- the fan work, like the art that they do, is insane. I've seen some very homoerotic art that I was like, wow, I never thought about that position with Nandor. But I guess you live and you learn, you know. The fans have been great.
And you have a video game as well.
Yes, I have Guillermo Stakeout, which was created just for Comic-Con, which is amazing and it's so cool. And I got to do the voice for it. I mean, little me would be dying right now. Like the idea that Guillermo as a video game is insane. So that's pretty cool.
Aside from being sick on set what are the other challenges that you faced while filming, and how were you able to rise up to these challenges?
The other challenge is just everyone's an asshole. (laughs) No, the challenges would be the weather sometimes just because we shoot in Toronto, and we shoot over the fall and winter. And we learned our lesson because in the first season, we moved from all over the world, like from London, from California to Toronto. No one lived there before, and so we didn't think about that. And I think the scripts called for a lot of exterior shots. And we learned really quickly that, that wouldn't be smart in the future. So, for season two, there's a lot of interior shots. Because I remember one time we were shooting and it was like the coldest fall day on record for Toronto. And we were outside and all the vampires were on harnesses, and they were flying outside looking at Jenna through the window. And there was a gush of wind that kept going by so we couldn't get it taped because the courts kept moving, and they kept hitting each other and hitting the wall. So, you look up and they're like, who's that -- like “dahling…”, and then just like see them bumping against the wall and you're like, I don't know if we're ever going to get the scene. And it was like four in the morning, and so the weather was a huge challenge for us. But I think we learned how to deal with it.
Do you have a favorite episode or a memorable moment throughout filming?
That's a real Sophie’s Choice. A favorite episode, I think my favorite episode was when we go on our first mission with the mosquito hunters. Just that was fun to shoot and the cast, Craig Robinson and Veronika who plays Shanice and Abby, they're just so great. And just playing with the different group was fun, you know. And playing with those vampires where he really kind of kicks ass and kills that whole house. You’re going to be whoa! Like the kid twins. Funny story, those twins were not girls even though the script called them to be girls. They were boys because we couldn't find a pair of twins that were female in Toronto at that age group. So, it was boys in wigs and dresses, so they were drag queens.
Fun fact, I love the show! Representation.
Representation matters.
Speaking of representation, how important is it for you to represent that Latinx community?
Really important. Representing the Latinx community is just something that I always pride myself in doing just because growing up I didn't see anyone representing me and so there was no one to idolize and wanted to look up to. I didn't even think it was an option because I wanted to be on television, I wanted to see if I could do that. But those examples weren't in front of me so if I can be an example for any like, you know, plus size, chubby Latino out there who may or may not be queer, it's like that's it. You know what I mean? That's what I'm doing it for, so you can do it.
Was acting something that you always wanted since you were young?
Yes. So, acting was something I've always wanted to do. I wanted to become an actor when I was six years old. I was watching Annie on TV and back then I thought it was a TV show because we were poor and didn't have cable, and it was on free television. And so, I was like oh, there's a new show. What's this show? And it was the movie, Annie. And I was like, it's a lengthy show, but I love it. But then I found out it was a movie. But I told my mom that I wanted to be that. I looked over to her and I was watching Annie and I said, “Mom, I want to be that, I want to be an orphan.” And she looked at me weird. And I was like, “what's wrong mother?” And she was like, “no, no, es un actor, it’s an actor” and I was like oh, yes, "actores". And so basically, that's how it all ended up happening. It's like, I want to be an actor by watching Annie. But we were poor and I couldn't afford classes. And I had heard that the local community theatre was doing an improv class for like, 12 dollars and 50 cents. But I didn't have that money. And I went to my mom, and I was like, Mom, can I get the 12 dollars and she was like, no tenemos dinero. And I was like, okay, well, if I get the money, can I do it? She's like, “Mijo, if you can make your own way, you can do whatever you want”. And I was like, then I will, because I'm six. And so, I didn't know what to do. One day we were walking home from school and this guy was collecting cans out of trash cans. And I was like, what is he doing? He's like, vende las botes, he sells the cans and bottles. And I was like, I can sell cans! And I went into a closet, got a wire hanger, unhooked it and went to trash cans and collected enough cans to buy my first improv class. There you go.
That's inspiring. Who and what inspires you?
I feel like, there's different people who inspire me for different reasons. Activists inspire me, fellow actors inspire me, just historical figures inspire me to be better, to do better. A lot of things inspire me. You know, I try to find something every day. It sounds so cliché, but that inspires you, you know, just like whether it be in your art, whether it be in being an activist, making a change for the world. So, every day you can find something that inspires you.
Dream project?
Ooh, dream project. Well, I would love to create content that I can be in, produce, cast, so I can work with friends who I know are super talented, and may not have the opportunity to be in front of the camera or behind the camera - writers, directors and be at that level where I can build a team, that would be an ideal thing. And then hopefully use that team to produce and star in like, some kind of cool rom-com, or action star because I don't know if you've seen but I can kick some ass.
If you were a book what book would you be and why?
If I was a book, what book could I be? I think I'm really in love with the Jazz Age, and I really love F. Scott Fitzgerald. So, I think if I were to pick a book I probably pick like a Fitzgerald book because I want to be like -- because I kind of mimic the idea of Jay Gatsby. In the Gatsby, when you come from nothing and you kind of build yourself up but then that guy dies at the end, so I'm like -- and I hate guns. So maybe we can rewrite the end of The Great Gatsby. I love the roaring 20s, I love a good time and I love jazz, baby (laughs).
