Local actress 17-year-old Sophia Smoke, member of Dakota Plains Wahpeton First Nation is excited for her debut in Crave TV show, Don't Even. When talking to her, she shared what the show is about.
"It's a show based in the '90's. I would call it a 'dramedy'. About two young Indigenous people who have just graduated high school and are just trying to figure out life," she continues. "We've got an insane ensemble cast and I think the giant group of characters really helps to create the feeling and the setting of the story."
The show is set in Winnipeg, and Smoke explains her character's name is Mickey Carp.
"She is also a young Indigenous person just trying to figure out life in Winnipeg in the '90's. She's a little bit rough around the edges. The thing I love most about her, though, is that she just says all of the things that you're thinking. She does all of the things that you wish you just could do, and she does it without fear. She does it with full confidence. She comes off as a little bit insane, a little bit crazy sometimes, but I love it."
Smoke also has been a part of our local theatre group here in Portage la Prairie, the Basement Theatre, where she has starred in local productions and has many talents including singing. She describes how singing and music play a role in the show.
"It's funny they didn't know I could sing when I first auditioned. I'm not singing in season one; let's hope for a season two. But there is a lot of music in season one by some really talented actors who busted out their music chops. I believe there is actually some original music in season one co-written by Amber Sekowan, who is also one of our writers. It's pretty brilliant. I'm excited and proud that we will have original music in our show."
Smoke shares how she got on the show and how that audition process went.
"I kind of decided that I liked acting, and I also liked music, but I didn't know if I loved it so much. I took a break, did some random audition for a background character, and just kept getting asked to come back and come back. I came back to audition, I think, three or four times. Eventually, we landed on this character named 'Mickey'. I was really interested in her. I did the audition, went home, lived life for a few months, and didn't think much of it. One day got the call that they wanted me as 'Mickey' and I was over the moon. I was nervous to enter into a new industry, but everyone from the cast to the crew, and everyone behind the scenes; they all just made it an absolute dream."
She outlines how it's not only exciting for her but also her family. "Yeah, I'm really, really excited; more excited for my family to see it, I think, more than anything. I've been telling everyone it's great and I'm proud of everyone, but I was there when we made it. I was the one making the jokes, I had the laughs, and I had fun. It's not really worth a lot to me if my family and my community don't get to take part in it and enjoy it. That's why I think it's so cool, because when you watch it, you're going to want to be crying along with the characters, you're going to feel the same things they are, and you're going to be laughing along with them."
She also explains they all had so much fun and an amazing time together. Smoke notes "It's such a familiar story.
"I think for people growing up in a city like Winnipeg, specifically for young Indigenous women, it's something very special and something very familiar. Season two would dive even deeper into that. We have a lot of heart for our characters and where they could go next."
Friday, August 23 you can stream the first two episodes of 'Don't Even' on Crave, with all following episodes will air on Friday nights.