Josh Vokey

He played in Constance Hilton‘s Mute Dollar Baby film as Detective.

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Josh Vokey: My name is Josh Vokey and I’m an actor. I grew up in Newfoundland, Canada and I’ve lived in Toronto since I was 18.

SKSM: When did you know you wanted to become an actor?

Josh Vokey: I did a school play when I was 11 and that was it. I spent the rest of my time in school between plays/improv/choir until I was able to audition for theatre school and move to the city.

SKSM: How did you become involved in Mute Dollar Baby film?

Josh Vokey: I got involved with ‘Mute’ through Connie. She adapted Mute into a short film and also directed. The two of us worked together on Orphan Black for 4 years. She was one of the boom operators on the show and we got to know each other quite well over the years.

SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?

Josh Vokey: I think this story does an excellent job of blending the mundane with the unexpected. Three characters are having a tough day, each in their own way. They’re all trying hard to make the best of it, but quickly realize that there was nothing mundane about their days at all.

SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?

Josh Vokey: Connie offered this part to me. We’ve worked a lot together and there’s a lot of trust between us. I think that’s essential to making good film/tv.

SKSM: You worked with Constance Hilton on this film, how was that?

Josh Vokey: Working with Connie as a director was great. A+ experience. She’s collaborative and has a clear vision in her work. She gave me a lot of room to find the truth of the detective and his POV and I’m very grateful to her for that. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.

SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?

Josh Vokey: All of my scenes were shot over the course of 1 day. We had a great team and a positive vibe on the set. There weren’t so many “funny” moments as much as it was a very calm vibe. All of the scenes were about breaking through the BS of life to find something true. There was a grounded, supportive energy on the set that day that really helped myself and Cynthia find that truth.

SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?

Josh Vokey: Yes of course! I still talk with Connie and Cynthia (who played our lead and produced). Alona (our DOP) and I have worked together in the past in Newfoundland and hopefully again in the future!

SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?

Josh Vokey: These days I’ve been keeping up with reading new material and developing my own projects. COVID has had a major impact on our industry -like most – and I’ve taken a lot of time to focus on my own training and development. Work is starting to open up slowly now and I’m looking forward to being back on set and digging into bringing good material to the screen.

SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?

Josh Vokey: I am a fan of Stephen King’s work. I started off liking his dramatic works when it was a kid like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Hearts in Atlantis. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more of a horror fan. I’ve always been a huge admirer of his ability to bring excellent character development to the horror genre.  He’s one of the greats and charged the whole game.

SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Josh Vokey: Surprising about me? Probably that I box on a regular basis. I play a lot of cerebral characters and I’m sure people would be shocked to know that I enjoy fighting for fun.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

Josh Vokey: Thank you to everyone for supporting ‘Mute’ and reading this interview. We really appreciate your support and we’re happy to be a part of the world of Stephen King! It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to work on his material.