Parker Wierling Transports Me Back to WWII via “Greyhound”
Parker Wierling has been performing for audiences since he was 8 years old, and when he’s not acting he is cultivating his musical talent by writing, recording and producing his own music.
This upcoming Spring in 2019, Parker will play Wade in the indie film “Yes, God, Yes”. The film follows a Catholic teenager (Natalie Dyer) in the early 00s who after an innocent AOL chat turns racy, discovers masturbating and struggles to suppress her new urges in the face of eternal damnation.
Tell us about the film and your character Wade.
Yes, God, Yes was such a loving film with an amazing cast and crew that gave unwavering support! It was such a fun experience. Karen Maine, the director, really inspired me. She’s a workhorse, a total leader! She created an extremely focused, yet loving set. My character, Wade, was so fun to portray. I saw myself in him for sure. He might make some mistakes, but he’s a good person who can be a little misunderstood.
What are some methods and techniques that you use to prepare for roles?
When preparing for a role, I enjoy having a little meditation before filming so that I can collect my thoughts and really put myself in the mindset I feel like the character is in. It’s always good to talk about the scene with the other actors involved so that we’re all on the same relative page. Of course, it’s always fun to throw surprises out there and try new things as the scene progresses!
You are also, write and produce your own music. How did you get into music?
I started playing music with my friends throughout high school. I was in a couple bands and we’d play at various pizza places and bars around Atlanta. After moving to Los Angeles, I started teaching myself how to produce my own songs on Logic Pro X. It really wasn’t until after I returned from filming Greyhound that I got the idea and started writing and producing for my personal project, Focal Feature!
What type of music do you do?
I would describe my music as alternative rock/dream pop. I love all different kinds of music and try to pull inspiration from all of my favorite artists, regardless of genre. I’ve really tried focusing more on the actual songwriting process in the last few months. I used to listen to the Beatles when I was younger, but I rediscovered how amazing they are. They played a major role in my transition into a focus on songwriting.
What inspired your new single “TailorMade”?
I wrote TailorMade pretty soon after I got back from shooting Greyhound in Baton Rouge. The song was really brought on by all the new experiences I had in the previous months filming nonstop. In a way, it’s a kind of journal entry from that period of time in my life. Check it out on SoundCloud.
You will also appear in the movie “Greyhound”! Who do you play in the film?
Greyhound was one of the best filming experiences of my life! I played a messenger on the U.S.S. Keeling. Watching Saving Private Ryan when I was younger was such a major turning point for me. It inspired me to want to be a film actor. So, it’s crazy to fulfill my personal dream of being in a World War II movie with the legendary Tom Hanks.
How was it working with Tom Hanks in “Greyhound”?
Working with Tom was a dream. He’s a lovely person and I learned so many lessons just from watching him work. He taught me about how to maintain focus on a set when things get hectic. He always remained calm and collected and made everyone feel at home.
“The 5th Wave”, “Speechless”, “The Walking Dead”, “The Originals”, “Sleepy Hollow”, “Swamp Murders”, and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”, are just some of the other acting credits Parker Wierling resume holds, but if you can’t wait for his next film to come out, you can always follow him on his Instagram page.
