It was one of my favorites at Tribeca last year and blew me away.

What research and preparation did you do for this role in particular?

MINA SUNDWALL: Yeah.

Mina-Sundwall-The-Graduates-interview

There was a lot of listening and conversations and questions and trying to learn as much as I could.

I feel like that care really shines through in that preparation.

They’re still just as real as they were.

Alex R. Hibbert and Mina Sundwall in The Graduates

Image via The Future of Film is Female

Just because theyre not there doesnt make them less real.

I think it was really those conversations in creating that character together thats what solidified it for us.

The scene where Genevieve pulls over on her bike and has the panic attack makes me cry every time.

Mina Sundwall as Genevieve in The Graduates

Image via Brigade

It catches me off guard and makes me break down.

It kind of felt like I was right there from the get-go.

Why do you think that those moments of humor and levity enhance a heavy story like this?

Mina Sundwall in The Graduates

Image via The Future of Film is Female

I thinkthat’s really life.

There’s no one tone to any part of life.

That is having feelings.

the graduates poster

A young woman prepares to graduate high school following the death of her boyfriend to gun violence a year prior.

Was all of the dialogue from the script, or was there any improvving in those group scenes?

They just felt so real to me.

Yeah, there was a lot of improvving.

Movie

Mina Sundwall Says Onscreen Mom Maria Dizzia Made Her Feel Safe

I love it.

It makes it feel so much more natural.

I feel like you two, together, had a lot of really nice ones.

I love Maria, and every day working with her is so special.

She really locks into it, and she’s there, and she’s present.

She’s also just one of the warmest people I’ve met.

And she just allowed that space to be.

I feel like that shines through a lot, too.

Another one of the dynamics thats really strong in this movie is the one between Genevieve and Ben.

I’m curious how you two worked together to develop such a rich and layered dynamic.

Yeah, we had a lot of rehearsals and conversations before we started filming.

I’m like, Oh my god that was really good.

Its that preparation mixed with that freedom in the moment.

It wasn’t super overpowering or messagey, but it was still there.

That felt like it added a very interesting texture to it, too.

Making it about people and about the community, it’s included in that in most places.

Yeah, it was amazing.

I love Hannah, and I want to work with her forever.

There’s not one moment that I had ever really thought about that in the experience at all.

I really love working with her.

I want you to keep collaborating with her, too, to get more of this.

I know, fingers crossed!

Can you tell me about how that came about and the project in general?

I’m very excited about that.

I cannot say too much about the project specifically right now.

I cannot say too much, but I launched a production company.

I’m very, very excited for it.

The Graduateshits theaters November 1st.