The new Netflix film Incoming brings back the nostalgia of coming-of-age comedies and there’s more than enough fun to go around! The film hit the streaming service on August 23, and before its release, we Facetimed with actor Raphael Alejandro, who plays Connor. Raphael gave us insight into his character, building chemistry with his fellow castmates, and some of his most valuable experiences and tips from his acting journey.

SPOILER: Incoming follows four freshmen as they navigate the terrors of adolescence at their first-ever high school party. The night quickly escalates into an unforgettable experience filled with chaos and laughter. The film is the debut feature for Dave and John Chernin, who are also producers on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The comedy boasts a cast list including rising stars like Mason Thames, Ali Gallo, Isabella Ferreira, Bardia Seiri, Ramon Reed, Loren Gray who you may recognize from TikTok, and seasoned actors like Kaitlin Olson and Bobby Cannavale.

“To see [Incoming] come to this big stage, [two years after filming], it is so surreal.”

Raphael comes from a family of actors, with Dalila Bela (Odd Squad, Anne with an E) and Bruce Salomon (Supernatural, Psych) as his siblings. Raphael has created a name of his own, known for Once Upon a Time, Kindergarten Cop 2, Olympus, and more. He also played Matteo in the Disney series Bunk’d and starred alongside Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt as Zaqueu in Jungle Cruise. 

Raphael has been on his acting journey for a number of years and has learned a lot from the process, chatting with us about tips for finding an agent, taking acting classes, getting into character, and more. Watch the whole interview to learn about his valuable experiences and insights. 

Chemistry with co-stars is also important, and Raphael talked about building up chemistry and a bond with Ramon Reed, who plays Eddie in Incoming. Raphael said they did a lot off set and became great friends but also rehearsed often with one another to understand each other’s characters.

“Whenever you’re on set with somebody, try to create as much chemistry as you can both on and off set.”

Raphael said playing Connor was an experience unlike any other acting project, as he had to play a character that was much more cynical and angry than any other role. Raphael said he had to go through a different process to get into Connor’s mindset each day, but also said reading and memorizing his lines from Connor’s point of view allowed him to relate and put himself in his shoes. 

“I needed to grab a part of me, the angsty teenager part of me and amplify that into Connor.”

“Whenever I read my lines, I tried to be Connor in those lines.”

When reflecting on Incoming and his character, Raphael said the most important thing he learned from Connor was to not give in to peer pressure and stay true to yourself. 

“Do what makes you happy and not what others expect of you to do.”

Thank you, Raphael, for Facetiming with Young Entertainment! Make sure to follow him on his Instagram at @raphaelalejandro22. Make sure to watch the rest of the interview where we ask Raphael more about hair and makeup on set, the most fun scene to film, and the biggest takeaways from his acting journey. Like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for the latest news in young entertainment.

Consider this: 

• When you are doing improv, the most important thing is just to let go of any expectations and don’t judge yourself for whatever happens. It’s an experience, embrace it!
• When trying to find an agent, it is important to sell yourself to them as an actor and also as a person. Don’t be afraid to talk about your accomplishments, your past projects, and let your personality shine through. 
• A great bonding exercise to build on and off set chemistry is rehearsing with your castmates. Bounce ideas off each other, discuss your characters, and even create games for memorizing lines.