Science fiction and romance cross paths in Press Play, which is currently out in select theaters as well as available on digital and On Demand. The time traveling tale of love and loss stars up-and-comer Clara Rugaard (who has already made waves in Teen Spirit and I Am Mother) and recent screen sensation Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) as Laura and Harrison, young lovers whose relationship is cut short by tragedy. Lyrica Okano (Marvel’s Runaways) is also featured as Laura's best friend and Harrison's sister, while the legendary Danny Glover plays the owner of the record shop where they meet.
Press Play, directed by Greg Björkman, shares an affinity with The Fault in Our Stars (for which he served as assistant editor) in that it explores love enduring even after its recipient is gone. Co-written by him and James Bachelor (Dungeons & Derrick), this unusual romance incorporates not only time travel but also a deep connection to music, with a carefully curated soundtrack that includes Japanese Breakfast, Father John Misty, Dayglow and more.
Screen Rant spoke to Rugaard about her love of romance and how it was accentuated by Press Play's bittersweet story of grief and second chances, how music was a crucial part of her process, and her old time in Shondaland before she started taking the film world by storm.
Screen Rant: What was your first reaction to the script of Press Play, and what drew you to the character of Laura?
Clara Rugaard: Initially, it was just a page turner. Immediately, on page five, you care about Laura and care about her relationship to Chloe. As soon as Laura and Harrison meet each other, that's a classic meet-cute that we all love in romantic movies, or in any movie - and in real life. A lot of people can relate to that feeling.
People can't get enough of love, which is why romantic dramas and romantic comedies will always have a place in the industry. It just completely drew me in, because I'm such a romantic at heart as well. I was just wanting to be a part of it.
You mentioned Chloe, and I really love the friendship between Laura and Chloe. It feels like the grief that Laura is experiencing affects them almost more than anything. Can you talk about that friendship and working with Lyrica?
Clara Rugaard: Lyrica is literally one of my favorite people ever. I love her. We are very close, and we have continued the friendship off-camera as well. It was just amazing, because she brought such raw authenticity and levity as well to the dark subject matter that comes in.
I think [Press Play] tackles the idea of a real, authentic friendship in such a brilliant way. Sometimes you can't be a good friend to your friends, and communicating that is key. I think it's really beautiful. And, obviously, grief does affect so many things and manifests itself in different ways for different individuals. It doesn't surprise me that it took a toll on that friendship as well.
Greg is the director, but this is also his debut as a writer. What was that collaboration process like, with Press Play being his baby?
Clara Rugaard: It's definitely his baby, and he made that very clear from the get-go. I remember talking to him on Skype, I think it was, and talking about the script before I was attached. He had such utter passion and dedication to this project and to the story, and he brought so much heart and excitement onto set every single day.
He really cared about the story; he really cares about Laura and Harrison and their relationship. Ultimately, you need leaders that bring that passion and heart in order to lead people along. They can feel that when they walk into the space of this of this person, so it was amazing working with him. We had so much fun shooting.
The soundtrack is incredible, not to mention how the music is woven into the story. Are you personally a fan of Japanese Breakfast, and were there any other songs that got you into the Laura mindset? Did you and Lewis discuss your own playlists?
Clara Rugaard: We did! Greg actually made us make create a playlist together on Spotify. Lewis would add song, I would add song, and it would keep going like that in order to replicate this idea of what a mixtape does. There's a story told through music, and I think that's just a really powerful tool if you know how to do it. We had a lot of fun doing that.
I honestly became familiar with Japanese Breakfast shooting the movie. We had to watch them perform live, which was incredible. I love the music, and we went out for dinner after as well. I felt like we had VIP passes.
You and Lewis really brought the chemistry to Laura and Harrison. How was the dynamic between you off set as you worked to tell that lovely story?
Clara Rugaard: We basically just spent a lot of time together. Luckily, Lewis and I got on like a house on fire from day one. It wasn't really that hard to create the chemistry between us, and we just continued to have fun on and offscreen.
It's such a great cast overall, and you have everyone from Danny Glover to Christina Chang to Matt Walsh. What is it like to get to interact with these people and build different dynamics with them on set?
Clara Ruggard: That's the thing that I love about this. I love doing what I do, because I get to travel around to ridiculous locations like Hawaii and spend time with some of the most interesting people, who have lived such incredible lives.
I'm pretty sure that Press Play was like Danny's 99th movie, which just says it all. He's seen a lot of work and a lot of movies, and he very evidently had amazing stories. He just had this energy and presence every time you walked into the room, and obviously he's a bit of a legend. It was really incredible. Matt Walsh and Christina Chang as well; the entire cost was just brilliant. We truly had so much fun, and there was a lot of laughter.
You may not have 99 films in your repertoire yet, but you have been in some great stuff that I personally loved. Shout out to Still Star-Crossed, which deserved much better than it got.
Clara Rugaard: I love to hear that.
Though you did not get to be in Shondaland for very long, what was that experience like? And might you come back, now that Bridgerton is like the new Still Star-Crossed?
Clara Rugaard: It is! Thank you. It was one of my first proper gigs, and we were going around Spain, shooting on these ridiculously beautiful locations and these Medieval settings. I have stayed close to a lot of that cast, and it will always be a very special moment in time for me. We had so much fun, and it was really overwhelming because I was really a green bean. I was a tiny baby with really long hair! I miss that hair.
Who knows? Maybe one day I'll be back with Shonda. I would absolutely love that.
You've also got Mary's Monster coming up. Have you already been working on that, and what has the preparation process been like?
Clara Rugaard: We haven't started shooting yet, but upon initial reaction to being attached to this project, I'm obviously just very excited to have been given the opportunity to portray such a strong female character who left such a mark. To further promote what she stood for is such a privilege and really important to me.
And I get to do it alongside Kit Harrington, which is even cooler!
What other genres would you like to step into next? What is it that you're looking for in a project?
Clara Rugaard: Honestly, it's been going pretty well. I've been working pretty nonstop for a bit now, and with every single role that I get, I feel like I'm building up to being in a place where I can be a part of projects that I really truly care about.
Luckily, I feel like I have cared for every single project that I've been a part of, for different reasons. I've tapped into vastly different genres, which I think is really important in order to know what you like; to understand the full spectrum of your craft and of the world. And I just hope that I get to continue to go down this really exciting path, and to keep working as an actor.
Press Play Synopsis
Laura and Harrison have the picture-perfect romance built on the foundation of a shared love of music. After a deadly accident, Laura gets the chance to save the love of her life when she discovers that their mixtape can transport her back in time.
Check out our other interviews with Press Play star Lewis Pullman and director Greg Björkman, as well as our previous interview with Lewis Pullman for Bad Times at El Royale.
Press Play is currently in theaters, as well as on digital and On Demand.