'RIVERDALE’S' TREVOR STINES EXPRESSED ADMIRATION TO FANS, SHARES HIS LOVE OF COMIC BOOKS AND SUPERHEROES

Actor, model, author and comic books lover Trevor Stines sat with us and shared to us his acting journey so far, writing his first book, his appreciation to the creators, showrunners and fans of the show and his desire to be a part of a superhero franchise.

Stines currently plays the recurring role of Jason Blossom in the CW television series Riverdale. Although his character is already dead, the show was able to find creative ways to bring him back in several episodes.  

Read on and learn which comic book he is currently reading and discover one of his favorite comic book characters.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHIL LIMPRASERTWONG

Tell us a little about your story. Who is Trevor Stines?

What a question. "Who am I?" No pressure there! 

I grew up in a small town in Washington. I was really shy as a kid, which is kind of surprising for me to remember, given my vocation. I did plays and musicals all throughout school, and came to love performing, which I think helped bring me out of that shell a bit. Despite my introversion, I always had a probably unhealthy amount of self-assuredness. I came to be very independent in my teens. So, after I graduated high school and turned 18, I packed up my entire life in the back of my car and drove to California. That was a while ago. Now I'm less shy and a bit less self-assured. I hope I've found a healthy balance.

STYLING: BRANDEN RUIZ, GROOMING: GARRET GERVAIS at MCH GLOBAL, AGENCY: DT MODEL MANAGEMENT

How did you end up booking the role of Jason Blossom?

It's actually of a funny story. When I got the audition, I was having a terrible day. I had just gotten some bad news, I was walking home in the glaring sun, sweating and frustrated. I saw the email from my agent saying I needed to put myself on tape and send it within an hour. For reference, an hour is not enough time to prepare and tape an audition. I got home, and none of my roommates are there to help me film. So I spent about 30 minutes dragging and stacking every piece of furniture we had into some sort of makeshift tripod for my phone, pulling lamps into room to get proper lighting, and generally hating the entire experience. I was too warm, too frustrated, and had too little time. I took a breath, took a shower, changed, and shot the audition by myself. I heard the good news the next day.

What’s the best part about playing his character?

It sounds like a platitude, but I swear it's not: it's the fans. The fans I've had a chance to meet and interact with have been so incredible. It's really rewarding to know I've contributed, even something small, to the happiness of those people. As a creative, you really come to understand why you do the work that you do when you meet the people who enjoy that work. Art doesn't always have to change the world; even if it changes one person, in a small way, it's done its job. I love that feeling. I love the people that take time out of their day to watch something I was a part of. 

LEFT: Flannel: HARDEMAN, Pants: DYING BREED RIGHT: Shirt: MILA SULLIVAN

Were you a fan of the Archie Comics and Riverdale prior to the show?

I've been reading comics my entire life, so I was obviously exposed to the world of Archie Comics, but I only knew the basics: Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, et cetera. After I booked the show, I wanted to know as much as I could about the history and the world, so I dove into some recent runs and worked my way backwards. They're such high quality, some amazing writers and artists work on those books. I encourage anybody who likes the show and is interested in reading comics to check them out. Mark Waid's run on the main Archie comic is where I started. You can also read the spectacular "Blossoms 666" miniseries, written by Cullen Bunn, if you're a big fan of those characters.

Did you ever expect the show to have as much impact as it did?

I knew it was based on the Archie Comics properties, so I suspected there would at least be an audience that was interested. I had no idea it would turn out the way it did. Credit goes to all of the talented people working in front of and behind the camera for putting together a show that so many people love. Credit to our writers, and the people at Archie Comics as well. Getting to be a part of something that they put so much hard work into, and getting to see such a passionate response has been incredibly fulfilling for me. 

LEFT: Outfit: RAQUEL ALLEGRA

Are you reading any comic book at the moment? Which one is it?

I am! I'm currently reading Chip Zdarsky's run on Daredevil and am enjoying it immensely. I'm chronically behind on my comic-reading, but Daredevil is one of my favorite characters, so I've managed to stay up-to-date on those stories. I'm also finally getting around to reading Charles Soule's fantastic Darth Vader comic (big Star Wars fan as well), and finishing up Tom King's Batman. The graphic novel God Country by Donny Cates is next on my list.

Which one do you think is the best comic book of all time?

Now this is a tough one. I either love comics too much, or don't love them enough, because I can't think of one that I can single out. It’s hard to dispute that books like Watchmen or The Dark Knight Returns are some of the most influential comics of all time, and they're fantastic. Maus by Art Spiegelman is more than worth a mention. I mean even a seminal run like Geoff Johns's Green Lantern could be considered. It's impossible for me to choose. Can I phone a friend?

Shirt: MILA SULLIVAN

What’s your favorite thing about being an actor?

For me, honestly, it's the people. I'm so inspired when I go to set every day and I get to see everyone all working toward the same goal: making something they can be proud of. I feel like it's something a lot of people who don't work in the TV/Film industry miss out on: Almost every person on a set (from grips to sound to camera operators, PA's, AD's- everyone) is there because they  chose to be there, because being a part of creating something is what they love. There are people just starting out in their field that are just as passionate and excited as people who have been doing it for years. It really fuels my own creativity to be a cog in that machine. I have to give my 100% for them. 

As an actor, what type of roles and genres do you normally gravitate towards?

I think the foundation of the story is the character, so I'm really drawn to personal character stories. The more complex, the better. I love exploring the shades of grey inherent in any person. How one might not be bad but does bad things, and what that means, for example. I also am really interested in more action-oriented affairs, for the cool factor. I'd love to experiment with stunts and things of the like, as that would be a new field for me. Got to find the right project and the right professionals to work with.

What’s your dream role or project?

Superhero. I know it's a cliché to say because superheroes are some of the biggest properties in TV and Film right now, and those projects are life-changing for the actors who work on them. But I've talked a lot about comic books already; I like to think I know my stuff. It would be more than a lifelong dream come true, it would be beyond words for me. I'm not even picky. I'll play anyone as long as I get to wear the costume.

LEFT: Outfit: RAQUEL ALLEGRA RIGHT: Shirt: MILA SULLIVAN, Pants: OBEY

How was it to write your published poetry book, Leather & Glass? Where did you draw your inspirations from?

Oh man, it was an experience like nothing else. It was an experiment for me. I've written in different mediums my entire life, but it was the first time I honed what I wanted to say into something so specific and hammered away at it until I had a completed work. Poetry just leapt out at me as something so evocative, if not immediately accessible to everyone. I took inspiration from everything: my past, my relationships with friends and family, and largely other poets. Legends like Frost and Bukowski, along with my contemporaries like Ocean Vuong and Lang Leav all really astounded me with what they were able to do with language.

Poetry is really vulnerable: there's no filter or performance to it. It's terrifying and exciting, and I want to get better and better with it. I can't wait to put out another book.

How long did you work on it?

I worked on it for about a year, front to back. Writing, rewriting, workshopping the cover, rewriting again, editing, formatting, rewriting again. I couldn't have done it without my amazing readers who put up with my neurosis, and my good friend Andrea Stangoni who brought my vision for the cover to life. After I was done, I thought "that's it, I'm drained. I'll never write again." Thankfully, that turned out to be untrue. 

If you were a book, what kind of book would you be and why?

I'd like to say I'd be, like, a science fiction book, because that's a majority of what I read and enjoy. Valiant heroes and adventures. But I'd probably be something a bit more mundane, like a philosophy textbook, because I overthink everything. Or a coloring book- mostly blank on the inside!