Flipping back and forth between the present and the ‘80s, “Mix Tape” tells the story of Alison and Daniel, two high schoolers brought together by music and pulled apart by time. On Sunday, the first two episodes of the new series “Mix Tape,” set to release later this year, premiered at South by Southwest. The Daily Texan sat down with Florence Hunt and Rory Walton-Smith, who act as Alison and Daniel’s younger selves, to discuss the filmmaking process, their SXSW experience and what to expect from future episodes.
The Daily Texan: The music in this show is so unique. What do you think the role of the soundtrack and music plays in Alison’s and Daniel’s life?
Florence Hunt: It’s the most important part of the whole show. It’s called “Mix Tape.” It’s based around that love language of giving each other mixtapes. It’s how their whole relationship started. The choices they made with the music was so clever because it told the stories that we can’t tell.
DT: In a lot of cultures, music is how you express yourself. Did the filming process change the way you view music in your life?
Rory Walton-Smith: I remember when I got the mixtape playlist, (my mom) would read all the titles out loud and she would (gasp).
FH: And every single time, every single song (music) means so much to people, it does. Someone came up to us after the premiere, and he had grown up in Manchester in the 80s and was so complimentary about the whole show and the way it made him feel because he has the same experiences as Dan and Alison. (Music) really connects people back in time, which is such an honor to be able to do that.
DT: The first interactions between Dan and Alison are full of mixed signals. Why does Alison do this and do you think Dan is being delusional?
FH: She has a really difficult home life, but at the end of the day … she just wants the experiences of a normal teenager. She meets Dan, and she wants to have this relationship with him, but there’s a barrier she needs to overcome. She’s been through a lot, but she comes fighting.
RWS: Someone could (also) look at it as (Dan) is so confident. He thinks he’s got in the bag, he saw this girl who he felt a connection to straight away. In the scripts, they make it obvious that it was a big moment so when he goes over there (to Alison) I think he gets a bit flustered and he’s like, “Okay, I have to do this now.” He’s definitely trying to make a move, but he’s taken aback because (Alison) is throwing up a wall and he has to make his way around it.
FH: The audience, especially in the beginning episodes, don’t know why (Alison) is being like that. As the series goes on, it really unfolds why at the same time that Dan is also starting to realize — so Dan is on the same level as the audience.
RWS: As you see more episodes, you’ll see that dynamic. It just gets a bit more heartbreaking, and I find out about her family life. And I think you’ll like it.
