Actor Phillip Jordan voices Frank on The Bright Sessions. He played Van on the 3rd season of Jane the Virgin, and has made guest appearances on numerous TV shows including 9-1-1, Life In Pieces, M asters of Sex, Parks & Recreation and the reboot of The Gilmore Girls. He also starred in the webseries Toymakers, which was featured on Funny or Die's "Best of the Web." He has appeared in multiple national commercials and print & digital campaigns for brands such as Toyota, Verizon, Principal Financial, U.S. Cellular, Miller Lite & vitaminwater. He's currently working on the digital horror series, Geisting. Phillip is also a vegan who loves technology and natural healing. We got the chance to ask Philip some questions about The Bright Sessions, what he geeks out about, and more. Check it out:
You wake up tomorrow as Frank Sawyer. What do you do first?
That’s an interesting question. Given the state of the world today, I don't think I could handle Frank's level of empathic ability! Fundamentally, if I were to wake up tomorrow as Frank Sawyer the first thing I would do is to find out why I can't leave the house. Then I would order take-out and watch Contagion.
What type of scripts and characters are you drawn to?
I love both comedy and drama. For comedies, I'm drawn to characters who are dysfunctional yet funny like Bonnie Plunkett portrayed by Allison Janey on Mom. Also, Allison Janney is a genius. For drama, I love a wide range of characters. Similar to the role of Frank, I love characters that are written with a rich history and have depth. One of my favourite's being Annalise Keating, masterfully potrayed by Viola Davis on How To Get Away With Murder.
What’s the funniest photo that you have on your phone?
I like to play around with the filters on Snapchat. And sometimes I'll go through my photos and find random pictures that I took. This, by far, is one of the funniest photos I recently found on my phone.
How much room for improvisation is there while recording Bright Sessions episodes? Any favorite improvised moments from the relistens?
The way Lauren wrote Frank 's character, there was no need for improvisation. I love improv, but like any other tool, you have to know when and when not to use it. Lauren's words didn't need any extra tools.
What do you geek out about?
I geek out about Vegan food (my favourite food trucks are Lettuce Feast, The Donuttery & Maneating Plant, which I have almost every Sunday at The Vegan Exchange) & most things technology (IoT devices, phones, fitness tech, EV tech, etc.)
Can you share your favorite piece of fan art?
This is so hard! It's like being told to pick your favourite child. So here are a few I picked for very different reasons:
This one by doodlydear captures the pure rawness of Frank's pain and guilt. It is a great representation of the unseen baggage that he carries and the heaviness of it.
This particular piece by thefigureinthecorner, I am obsessed with the color palette! Also, there is something about the way the eyes are drawn the convey both sadness and hope simultaneously. Moreover, anyone who envisions Frank in a pastel turtleneck is a keeper!
Lastly, is this piece by violetpensive. There is something Hanna Barbara about this artwork, but futuristic. My first thoughts when I saw it was how it reminded me of Scooby Doo & Mystery, Inc. It gave me a sense of nostalgia.
Thanks for taking the time, Philip! Give Frank a relisten right here:
