An in-depth and fun conversation with actor THEO ROSSI discussing EMILY THE CRIMINAL.
Written and directed by John Patton Ford and starring Aubrey Plaza as Emily and Theo Rossi as Youcef, EMILY THE CRIMINAL is riveting, drawing viewers ever deeper into this shady world, thanks to an almost verite styling that showcases the impeccable performances of Rossi and Plaza.
EMILY THE CRIMINAL is the story of Emily, a young woman saddled with student debt and unable to get a decent job due to a minor criminal record. Desperate to make her loan payments, she signs up to be a “dummy shopper”, buying big ticket items like big screen televisions, appliances, and even cars with stolen credit cards, all under the tutelage and watchful eye of the oh-so-handsome and charismatic Youcef. Craving more and more edge-of-your-seat thrills thanks to the cash and the adrenaline-fueled exhilaration that comes with pulling off black market capitalism, Emily soon finds herself not only deeper in the crime but falling for Youcef.
An actor with eclectic and diverse choices in the roles he takes, Theo talks about the appeal of the project, digging into the character of Youcef and breathing life and resonance into him, finding notes of sympathy, collaborating with Plaza and director Ford in developing their characters and the progressing dynamic between them, Theo’s research into credit card fraud and this kind of black market capitalism and the most interesting things he learned about it, and more. Plus, we reflect on the premiere night of Lowriders at Los Angeles Film Festival some years back, as well as chat about Escape the Field, a film directed by Emerson Moore which released earlier this year.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 08/03/2022
