Interview by Grace Kinter
Actor and comedian Kevin Matthew Reyes has tackled theatre, commercials, and television, and this year, he takes the deep dive into the feature film world with his breakout role as Colin in Hulu’s Pizza Movie, premiering today, April 3rd. Alongside a star-studded cast including Gaten Matarazzo, Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Sherman, and more. Perhaps the most exciting part about Pizza Movie for him was that it re-ignited and validated his love for comedy. For years, he was often cast against his true identity, his ethnic ambiguity leading him into roles he didn’t actively seek out. But instead of leaving him jaded, his experiences shaped his comedic point of view, reminding him that humor and witty commentary are powerful tools for shaking things up and promoting change.
Pizza Movie was a breath of fresh air for Reyes in so many ways. With a substantial background in improv, he was over the moon about the collaborative, open-minded energy on the set. Playfulness and experimentation while filming allowed his character to truly shine. We chatted with Reyes about the types of roles he resonates with most, what helped prepare him for his role, and what it was like filming Pizza Movie.
With four film roles on the horizon, including Pizza Movie, what has been the most exciting part about diving into film after theatre, TV, and commercials?
Movies and stand-up were my first loves growing up, long before I even knew I wanted to pursue this as a career. I remember listening to stand-up comedy CDs every night so that I could fall asleep laughing, and my first memories of watching movies like Star Wars and Jurassic Park will live with me forever. It was really cool to have this sort of full-circle moment in my career, getting to work on film sets after all these years, and especially on a comedy as funny as Pizza Movie.
What prior role or life experience prepared you the most for your role as Colin in Pizza Movie?
Everybody knows this clique growing up. The “cool kids” at school everyone wanted to hang out with, whether they were actually cool or not. You either were them, feared them, or wanted to be them. I had a bully in eighth grade who everyone thought was cool. He pretended to be my friend in class but was an absolute dick to me at lunch in front of other kids. Years later, I found out his parents had been going through a nasty divorce that entire year. I tried to bring a bit of him to the role.
What was the energy like on set for Pizza Movie?
I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much while working that hard on a set. It was honestly so much fun. The best way I can describe it is “chaotic good.” Nick Kocher and Brian McElhany wrote an insane — yet somehow incredibly tight — script and were open to discovering the best version of it during production. The jokes are silly, random, and downright dumb at times, but the emotional throughline of the story was really clear, and the guys carry themselves with just enough seriousness and so much self-confidence in their humor that it’s easy to buy in. Everybody there really cared about making this thing good, from the producers to our DP Bella Gonzales and the entire crew, and I think that’s evident in the final product. I remember having an out-of-body experience one night while we were trying to block and shoot one of the farting scenes. We were all huddled around, discussing the logistics of the action, camera, and lighting so seriously. And it was all about farting. So we couldn’t stop laughing, but also had to keep pushing forward. I remember thinking, “This is actually really hard to figure out, but also this is fucking hilarious. This is fun.”
What message do you hope to share through your acting and comedic work?
I hope to tell stories that are universally resonant in their truths, but maybe come from a place or a face that isn’t often seen or heard from (mine). Whether that’s playing roles traditionally cast with white actors, or telling stories from my unique background, I think both perspectives are greatly lacking in our current industry climate and also incredibly refreshing to watch when they come along. There’s a lot of humor to be found in pointing out the ironies in the world we live in today, and I think in doing so, you’re able to pretty bluntly say, “This is who we are. Isn’t that ridiculous? We can be better.”
What types of roles and characters do you resonate with the most, and why?
I resonate most with characters who dream of something bigger for themselves. Those who are maybe a little earnest and idealistic, but also willing to break a few rules. Characters like Luke or Rey from Star Wars, or Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Or even Ke Huy Quan’s Waymond in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Characters who may feel like they haven’t been fully seen, but are very self-assured in who they are and their purpose.
