In the Booth: Alex Lupica & Tyler Murphy
In the Booth is a new blog series where we go behind the scenes and chat with the folks that make How it Ends. We asked our team a series of questions and let them choose which resonated most, so expect to see some variance in these features. Join us as the creators, cast, and crew members share their experience working on the show. Get ready to meet our talented team and maybe even hear a few secrets behind its gripping conclusion!
Please note that some answers may contain spoilers for How it Ends Season 3, so read at your own risk.
Alex Lupica, voice of John Buckley, and Tyler Murphy, voice of Ben Keller, know a little something about keeping secrets. Their characters share a similar arc style in that much of their development appears to happen "off screen" but actually plays out front and center in the story. Given the nature of these two characters, I will remind you that spoilers abound. Continue reading at your own risk!
Alex is a writer and can be described as “whatever the word is for someone with massive amounts of food knowledge that isn't foodie" because the word often carries a snooty connotation that Alex himself would reject. He's a self-proclaimed lovable curmudgeon made from equal parts snark, musical knowledge, and self-deprecating humor. In short, Alex is a great dude who skews a little older than he might seem, hence landing the part of John Buckley.
Tyler is a writer and a teacher who is dramatically different from the character he voices. But we'll let him tell you about that. He stepped into a role that Stephanie and Micah had intensely specific notes for, requiring him to strike a balance between innocent nonchalance and subtle violence without giving up the ghost too early in the series. We think he nailed it.
Let's dive right into character questions. You both play characters that are older than you and come at the story from, let's call it... a ‘unique’ angle.
Alex, how is John similar to you, and how is he different? Tyler, same question for you.
Additionally, is there anything you like or dislike about them?
Alex: I am (thankfully) not quite as old as John, but I've got an old soul, to put it optimistically. So I have some of that same world-weariness, some of that same self-doubting darkness. I also think we have a bit of the desire to help out. John always feels up for anything that can help his best friend's daughter, and I'd like to believe some part of me is similar. I'm not so outdoorsy, though. I'd probably last a week at best as a park ranger. And I DO have a recent phone.
Tyler: Ben has a lot of layers. He really does a good job of "seeming" one way. I think, in some ways, I fit that character model. Not that I'm some incredibly complex being, but people who know me always sort of come to know me as a type of wise-cracking, good-natured goof. I am definitely that. Like Ben, I contain multitudes. Maybe just not the antagonistic ones.
Alex Lupica
voice of John Buckley
John and Ben appear in Season 3 in a big way, but they’ve been present throughout the entire series. Is there an episode or scene that sticks out in your mind more than others?
Alex: There are a couple of scenes toward the end of the penultimate episode this season where John is a bit more front-and-center than normal... he's frequently in a listening mode, and in these, I'm in a more active role. Flexing the acting skills a bit more in these scenes was a good time.
Tyler Murphy
voice of Ben Keller
Tyler: I enjoyed the episode where Elia invited [REDACTED] for cooking lessons. The way the tension built up in the scene and the escalating tone of danger really let me play around with who my character was and explore his motivations and the games he likes to play.
Did you bring anything to your character that wasn't part of the original plan?
Tyler: I was told Ben would evolve throughout the story, but to consistently play him like he was "in control." Part of the fun here was how that manipulative and controlling personality started to manifest in arrogance. I felt especially smug during my scene with Elia. For someone with no cooking experience, don't you think I have pretty good knife skills?
Similarly, do any particular moments about that scene (or another) stand out?
Maybe it's related to your performance or someone else's. It's up to you.
Tyler: Another cast member, Tori (voice of Aimee Perry), and I just got married. While I was in the scene, I was tasked with being, well, creepy. When we were done recording, I looked at Tori, who was sitting in on the session, and she was aghast.
"I don't like it," she said.
I'm not anything like the character I play, and I'm not really the type of person to raise his voice. So her reaction to my performance was funny.
Alex: For me, it's a more general answer. Honestly, the great thing about working with your friends is that every recording session is a riot.
It's hard to focus on any one specific bit because I think that, in general, our love language is trying to make each other laugh, so even when really dark things are happening in the script, the wise-cracking switch flips easily before and between takes.
Do you think your role suits you? And is there any other character that you'd like to voice?
Alex: I think Micah and Steph really clued in on the ideal folks for casting, so I think I am the right character already. But if I had to choose, I'd obviously pick one of the cats, because I too am food motivated and spend most of my life sleeping.
Finally, do you enjoy anything specific about working on How it Ends? What made you decide to join the team?
Alex: Oh, it wasn't even a question. When Micah first brought the idea to me, I knew I'd sign on regardless. I didn't know Steph very well then, but I'd been lucky to read some of Micah's short stories and such years prior, so I went in with implicit trust. When I discovered more about where they were steering the story, I knew that confidence was justified.
Tyler: I've been a writer and teacher for several years now. A part of me always thought, "Oh heck, I'd love to take a chance at acting or reading off of a script." It was fun to play a small but important part in making this podcast. I'm not sure I can hack it in the big leagues, but I learned quite a bit through the process.