Space Jockey Reviews is more excited than electrons absorbing energy to present our latest, exclusive interview with the amazingly-talented, gravitationally-captivating Gabriella Pastore! Yes! Whenever Gabriella’s in the the room, on the screen, in movies, TV shows, commercials, video games, and more, all eyes (and ears) are on her. Winner of “Best Actress” and “Best Acting Duo” (for FARE GAME) at the Hollywood Blood Horror Festival in 2024, this young actress is already well accomplished–and already a horror icon at Space Jockey Reviews! Here, with SJR’s Chris Rennirt, Gabriella talks about everything from how she got into acting, her inspirations, experiences on the set of movies, new projects in the queue, and more. Enjoy!

Chris: You got into acting at a very early age (I think at about 10 years old). You made your professional debut in the 2011 film Sound of My Voice. How did you get into acting so early, and tell us what you remember about your first experience working on Sound of My Voice? What was it like for you, acting at such an early age?

Gabriella: I actually started acting when I was 9 years old! My parents heard this ad on the radio about acting classes, and they asked me if I would be interested in giving acting a try since I seemed to like being in the school play earlier that year. Of course, I said yes. Flash forward to my first acting class, I absolutely fell in love with it (and I’m still just as in love with it as I was when I started). It’s just so much fun getting to perform. At the time, it felt like getting to play dress-up for work. I was lucky to have very supportive parents who were willing to move us to California so that I could pursue acting seriously when they saw how much I liked it. I remember enjoying being on set for Sound of My Voice. I really liked our set teacher and the other girls who were there. We did all kinds of fun things when we weren’t needed on set, like LEGOs (and I love a good Lego set). Since we filmed at the La Brea Tar Pits, we took some time to look at the exhibits, which was also super fun. Aside from enjoying playing around, I was still very new to acting at the time, so it was like a whole new adventure whenever I was on set. Sound of My Voice was one of the first big sets I was on, and I remember being fascinated by how much setup went into making films look good (though, I’m still fascinated by that even now).

Also, quick fun anecdote: I saw Sound of My Voice in theaters at the TCL Chinese Theater. That was my very first time seeing myself on the big screen (even if it was in the background). Last year, I went to the same theater to watch Endzgiving, a horror-comedy I had filmed in 2024. It was a really cool full-circle moment to see myself on the same big screen again for a more substantial role. It made me really appreciate all the wonderful people and projects I’ve had the honor of working with, and it made me excited for what’s to come! I’m very fortunate that most of the people I’ve worked with in the past have wanted to work with me multiple times after, so I’m really looking forward to continuing to foster those friendships and gaining new ones.

Chris: Many people who get into acting had prior experiences, hobbies, etc. that made their careers almost foreseeable? Do you have any such experiences, interests, etc., before your role in Sound of My Voice, that set you on the path to becoming an actress?

Gabriella: There were definitely some signs that pointed towards me eventually going into acting. I was always interested in telling stories in some way. In kindergarten, my teacher had these blank pages where kids could write stories and draw pictures to go along with them, and I was absolutely obsessed with using them to tell my stories. I usually wrote silly stories about my family and my childhood cat (most of them were about my cat, if I’m being honest). I actually used so many of them that she she had to print off more for the class to use. At home, I would make little home movies with my dolls, and they got quite dramatic at times. My poor dolls were going through it, haha!

I mentioned before that I had starred in the school play. That was really my first experience with acting (granted, I later learned I preferred film and TV over theater, but it was still a very fun experience). I don’t remember the name of the play anymore, but I do remember my character’s name was Super Reading Mind (which was very fitting because I am/was a huge bookworm). That play was the main thing that I think really helped me figure out the mode I wanted to use to tell stories. I still love writing, but acting is and likely will always be my favorite way to tell stories.

Chris: What famous (or not so famous) actor most influences you?

Gabriella: This is a tough question because there’s so many amazing actors out there. One of my favorite actors who inspires me is Zendaya. I really look up to her for her range and her professionalism. Seeing her go from Disney to movies like Dune is really inspirational. She’s just so good in everything she’s acted in, and she really owns her work. I aspire to showcase that wide of a range in the roles/projects I take on too.

Chris: What is most personally rewarding about your work?

Gabriella: I would say the endless creativity that goes into it. There are an infinite number of ways a character can be played, and there’s so much thought that can be put into really breaking down a character and seeing why they do what they do. I find it fun just being able to play around with it and see what comes out, whether I’m doing it for an audition or for a project.

Chris: My favorite of all the productions you’ve been a part of is the dark-comedy horror short you starred in called FARE GAME, directed by Bryan Frank. In this, you have the role of the main character Courtney, who is a rideshare driver out for her first night on the job. And, as we soon learn, Courtney is anything but just the bubble-blowing, young girl in knee socks and sneakers, cracking jokes. As I say in my review of FARE GAME, you are full of energy, 100% Courtney, and your performance is, as I like to say at Space Jockey Reviews, truly “out of this world.” Tell us about your experience with FARE GAME. How did you get the role, and how did you prepare for it?

Gabriella: Well first, I want to say, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really happy you enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun filming it. I’m very honored to have had the
opportunity to bring Courtney to life (or unlife)! So, I actually worked with Bryan Frank when I was 12 years old for a project called Hope: The Last Paladin. He’s truly a talented actor and we had a lot of fun on set. Fun fact: I also had the privilege of working with the very talented Ms. Diana Inosanto on this set; she’s such a lovely person, and she actually stopped by during one of our stunt training sessions for Fare Game to hang out and chat with us. I really enjoyed working with both of them.

Bryan and I kept in contact after we wrapped for that project, and we became good friends. One day, he told me about this project he was making for his directorial debut, and he asked me if I would be interested in playing one of the leads. I absolutely loved the concept, and I loved the script even more, so I quickly agreed. Preparing for the role took a bit since there are some differences between me and Courtney. Bryan had actually sat me down and talked through the character with me. He gave me some backstory on her and asked me questions about my take on her, which I think really helped me solidify how I saw Courtney and how I wanted to play her while still remaining true to Bryan’s vision. There’s also a few references in the script I wasn’t super familiar with, so I made sure to do my research to understand exactly what Courtney was referencing.

Chris: Is there a little or a lot of yourself in the character Courtney? If so, how are you like Courtney? I ask this because you are so natural and authentic portraying the character.

Gabriella: Thank you! That’s such a high compliment, I’m glad my performance came off authentic. I see a little bit of myself in Courtney (or at least, the more human version of her). She’s a wise cracker, and that’s definitely like me. I love goofing with people. One of my favorite parts in the film is that little banter section where they’re talking about bands; a lot of my lines for that part would definitely be something I’d say in real life to mess with someone.

Chris: Did you do your own stunts in FARE GAME? I must ask, because it sure looks like you did; and they are some pretty impressive stunts too!

Gabriella: I did! It was actually really fun to do. I had never done stunts before in a film, but I used to take stunt classes when I was younger so that I could handle fight choreography if I ever needed to. That, plus training with Ron Balicki and Luke LaFontaine, really helped prepare me for that part of the role. I was also very fortunate to work with such a talented actor like Taylor. He was more familiar with stunts than I was, and he really helped me to feel comfortable with doing them.

Chris: Was FARE GAME your first experience acting in the horror genre? Was this your first role of this type, how did you like it, and would you like to do more work in horror?

Gabriella: This wasn’t my first time acting in the horror genre, but it was my first time acting as the anti-hero of a horror film! I liked it a lot. I love characters that are more threatening than they appear. It was fun getting to be a little bit evil. I’m a huge fan of horror as a viewer, and it’s even more fun acting in horror. So yes, I’d very much like to do more work in horror.

Chris: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about FARE GAME that I didn’t ask? If so, tell us. We want to know everything you may have to say about it!

Gabriella: Hmmm, if you’d like a funny anecdote from when we were filming FARE GAME, I can provide that! We had filmed some of the car scenes in a studio. It was super cool because we were literally surrounded by screens that replayed this short video that helped simulate driving down a road at night. Between takes, we’d roleplay as if I was actually driving, like “Oh, you were supposed to turn left. We’ll just loop around again.”

Chris: I wrote a promotional article for a movie you starred in called Hidden Orchard Mysteries: The Case of the Air B&B Robbery back in 2020. In it, you played the part of Gabby who, along with your co-star, becomes a teenage detective, solving a mystery. How did you get this role, do you have a memorable story to share with us about it, and how was your experience starring in a mystery movie?

Gabriella: Thank you for promoting Hidden Orchard Mysteries! I really appreciate you doing that; it’s always a treat to read your articles, and I’ve loved seeing how your writing has evolved over time. 🙂

I had already worked with the creators of this film (Joyce Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackleford) a few times prior to HOM. My first time working with them was when I was twelve. I was one of the leads on a web series they were creating called Identity Confirmed (fun fact: this project encouraged me to take stunt classes since the potential of fight choreography was brought up). I absolutely love working with them. They’re truly amazing storytellers and they’re like family to me. They had been telling me for some time that they had an idea for a Nancy Drew-esque mystery duo, and they wanted to use me as the grounding part of the duo. I, of course, said yes. And the rest is history!

Ooooh, as for a memorable story, that’s a hard one since I have so many good memories on set. I would say when me and Ja’ness (who plays Lulu) met in person for the first time. We got Zaxby’s (which was a first-time for me since I had never heard of Zaxby’s) and we just chatted and got to know each other. It felt like we had known each other for years; she was super fun to talk to! Ms. Joyce suggested we come up with a secret handshake the girls do, so we made one up together. The weird noises we make during the handshake were actually the noises I was making to remember the steps, and we ended up finding it so funny that we just incorporated it in the actual handshake!

Starring in a mystery movie was very fun overall. I’m a big fan of mystery in general. I loved reading the script for the first time because I was mentally trying to figure out who the culprit was before I finished reading. It was also cool getting to film in some of the locations for HOM, like the cupcake shop and the dumpster (they cleaned it out before we filmed inside of it!).

Chris: In an interview with John Paul Ouvrier, he said, “I worked with Gabriella on film when she was seven or eight years old. We had to do a scene together, and she was drawing. When we ran the scene, the guy who was behind the camera asked her to do the scene differently. Gabriella looked at him like she was his age and just sat there and said, ‘No, that’s not how she would do it.’ When I asked her why, telling the guy behind the camera to stop with my hand, she explained the background of the character, why she would do what she did, and how she would have the same attitude in the rest of the scenes—just like a professional, older actress. I was shocked. I said let her do it her way. She makes it look easy. She’s super talented, super intuitive, and just a natural. She always brings a natural’s years to the rolls, whether it’s comedy, drama, or whatever.” That’s an awesome compliment, Gabriella! It’s a story about how incredibly professional and mature you were, even at such a young age. Do you have a story or experience to tell us about, working with John Paul Ouvrier?

Gabriella: Oh my goodness! I remember that, but I didn’t realize I had been so blunt, haha! Thankfully, I’ve become a little more flexible with trying other people’s interpretations of a character to see what fits best. I think I was 11 when that happened actually, but I’ve always been smaller for my age. That’s so sweet of him to say. It really means a lot to me coming from him. I’d expect nothing less from my movie dad 🙂 I have so many good stories to tell about him. He’s one of my favorite people to work with! But if I had to choose one, I’d say it was when we were filming Wizard of Youth. So, as you probably already know, he plays both the protagonist and the antagonist. I remember we were watching him act as Dark Fitness for the first time, and I was so fascinated by how he completely embodies his characters to the point that they feel like their own entity. It’s definitely not easy playing two characters in the same project, but to have a completely different way of moving and talking for each is even harder. I really look up to him as an actor (and as a person!) and I can only hope to embody characters as fully as he does.

Chris: “In Wizard of Youth, kids get to sing along with the Wizard of Youth (John Paul Ouvrier), as he joins Rock Rock (the dog), Deebles (the cat), Dark Fitness, and his special kid guests, as they journey through the Kingdom of Health.” Tell us about your role in Wizard of Youth, as well as any memorable experiences you may have had on the set.

Gabriella: My role in Wizard of Youth was named Suzy! I was one of the four kids that got to go on an adventure with the Wizard of Youth on his quest to teach us how to take care of ourselves. One of the most memorable experiences I had on set was how much ad-libbing went into the project. It wasn’t uncommon for us to improvise our interactions (especially with Rock Rock and Deebles). It was really fun getting to goof around with Mr. John Paul and the rest of the kids!

Chris: Your IMDb page includes work you’ve also done as a voice actor. Tell us what you like about voice acting? Also tell us about the work you’ve done with it and some of the characters you’ve portrayed.

Gabriella: Ooh, good question! One of the things I really like about it is that you’re really only limited by your voice. It’s okay if you don’t necessarily look like your character; as long as your voice fits the character, you can do it. That really expands the possibilities of what you can do, character-wise. Since appearance is less of a factor in voice acting, you can also wear comfy clothes (as long as they don’t make too much noise), which is another thing I really like about voice acting. I love being comfy, haha!

I’ve played Natalia Korda (and her evil counterpart, Dark Natalia) in Resident Evil: Revelations 2. This was one of my favorite projects to work on. I got to play with my voice since I had to differentiate the two characters. It was also really fun working with the Capcom crew. They would chat with me whenever they could between takes, and it made being alone in the sound booth that much more fun. Also, since most of the people were based in Japan, they brought me some Japanese candy to try!

Aside from that role, I’ve also voiced the role of Gabby in Spirituality for Kids, which was a series aimed at teaching kids important values to cultivate (like honesty and empathy). That role was part live-action and part animation, which was really cool to see. My character for that project was essentially the voice of reason, but someone that could be a little too set in her ways. It was quite fun getting to see how my character grew as a person over the course of the series.

Chris: If you had your choice of a role in the remake of any film, what would the film be, what role would you have, and why?

Gabriella: I would love to be Jenna Rink from 13 Going on 30! That is one of my all-time favorite romance films, so I think it would be fun to see what I could bring to that character.

Chris: Since SJR features horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, I have to ask what’s on your top five list of movies from those genres. Also tell us why each movie is a favorite. (I’m assuming you have favorites in at least the horror genre, with your awesome performance and obvious acting energy in FARE GAME.)

Gabriella: Oooh, this is a hard question since I have a lot of favorites in those genres. I’ll try to limit myself to just five. One would be Princess Bride. It’s a family favorite. We quote it A LOT at home, it’s inconceivable. Plus, it has a little bit of everything: drama, comedy, romance, action, etc. My second would be Get Out. I absolutely love Jordan Peele’s horror movies, but Get Out is my favorite by far. He really nails down setting up an unsettling atmosphere, which I think is one of the most important parts of a horror movie. I’m also a big fan of horror movies that have a deeper meaning. Third on my list is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. I love the Lord of the Rings series in general, so it was hard to choose which one I liked the most. I chose this one though because I’m a sucker for dragons and I loved Smaug (even though he’s technically a villain). My fourth would be A Quiet Place. The atmosphere in this movie is really good, and it really sucked me in as a viewer. I remember watching it in the theaters and being afraid to make too much noise. As for my fifth pick, I’d choose Orphan. It was one of the first horror movies I saw, and I remember being so shocked by the plot twist. Isabelle Fuhrman (the actress who plays the main character) did such an amazing job handling a complex character like Esther. Honorable mention (I know I said I’d only do five, but I have to mention this one because it’s so good): Train to Busan. I absolutely loved that movie. It made me cry. Each character was perfectly casted and each actor really made you feel connected to them.

Chris: What is your favorite movie genre—for acting, and just for a movie night at home? If there is a difference in your favorites for acting and watching, tell us about that. 

Gabriella: I love all genres for both acting and watching, but if I had to choose one, I’d say drama is my favorite movie genre for acting. I love delving deep into the minds of
my characters and exploring their emotions, and I feel like drama is best suited for that. As a viewer though, I would say my favorite is either horror or comedy (or a mix of the two). I’m a sucker for paranormal stuff, but I also like to laugh.

Chris: Lots of actors eventually get into directing too. Have you ever thought of directing?

Gabriella: I actually directed a film I wrote when I was younger (like 10/11ish)! I enjoyed being on that side of the camera and I was proud of how it came out, but I haven’t directed anything since. I would be interested in directing again one day. I am a writer, so it would be cool to also be in charge of bringing my own scripts to life (and perhaps even starring in them).

Chris: What advice do you have for those looking to achieve their dreams?

Gabriella: I would say to build a good social support system. It might take some time to find your people, but it’s so important to have at least one or two people in your life that you can trust to keep you accountable and to cheer you on. I have to say, I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by good people who genuinely care about me. That being said, it is equally important to be that person for others in return; community is only beneficial if everyone is supported.

Chris: As talented as you are, I’m sure you’re into a lot more than just acting. Tell us about any other things you enjoy–hobbies, sports, whatever.

Gabriella: Of course! I have a lot of hobbies. Most recently, I’ve gotten into pixel art, and I absolutely love it. It’s so cool to see how even the most minor details can affect a piece. I recently made my first pixel art animation (it was a recreation of the popcat meme with my best friend’s cat as the inspiration); I’m very proud of it. Aside from that, I love writing, dancing (hip-hop specifically), playing chess, crocheting, reading (especially fantasy), listening to music, and gaming (Stardew Valley is my favorite game by far).

Chris: If anyone out there is interested in getting in touch with you for a project, an acting job, or anything else you do so well, what is the best way to contact you?

Gabriella: The best way to contact me would be through my manager, Brad Richards at Kairos Talent Management. You can reach him through email (brad@kairos-talent.com) or through phone (323.356.8400)!

Chris: For those interested in keeping up with your latest work, where is the best place to follow you and get the scoop, and where can you be found on Facebook and Instagram (if you have professional pages there for yourself, as an actress)?

Gabriella: I’m most active on Instagram! You can follow me at @gabriellapastore_. Other than that, I sometimes post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com gabriella.pastore.583/). Thank you in advance to everyone who follows/friends me; I do appreciate it greatly. 🙂

Chris: And finally, I always like to ask “Five Random Questions.” Here’s the first. Where is your favorite place to go for a vacation?

Gabriella: New York! I was actually born there, but I still love going there for vacation. I’m a huge city girl through-and-through, so I love exploring the different parts of the city (especially Chinatown, they have the best food and the coolest shops).

Chris: What is your favorite food?

Gabriella: Pasta primavera! I love veggies. It also has to be with farfalle (bowtie pasta). Gotta make it fancy!

Chris: What is your favorite song?

Gabriella: I listen to music A LOT and my taste in music is very eclectic, so this is another very hard question. Favorite song of all time would be “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift. I’ve watched the music video for that song an embarrassing number of times since it came out. Currently, my favorite song is “Nice to Each Other” by Olivia Dean. I’ve had her on repeat for some time now, but that song is my favorite on her discography by far.

Chris: What do you most enjoy doing in your free time?

Gabriella: I’d say reading! Whenever I can, I like to put my headphones on and read a chapter or two of a good book. I just started rereading Healthy Brain, Happy Life by Dr. Wendy Suzuki. I’m a little bit of a neuroscience nerd, so I’ve been really enjoying it!

Chris: What famous person would you most like to meet and why?

Gabriella: Taylor Swift! I’m a huge swiftie and have been since I was a kid, so it would be surreal to meet her one day. She’s such an amazing lyricist; it’s been so cool hearing how her writing has changed and grown with time.

Check out Gabriella Pastore on IMDb!

See Gabriella’s acting page on Backstage!

Follow Gabriella on Facebook and Instagram!

Be sure to check out FARE GAME, starring Gabriella Pastore below!

And, don’t miss my review of FARE GAME, right here on Space Jockey Reviews!

Of course, Gabriella is ten rockets at Space Jockey Reviews every day!

Chris Rennirt (the interviewer) is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews appear in Effective Magazine and are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews.