Get ready, get set and binge-watch your day away!
Meet your newest not-so-guilty guilty pleasure: YouTube Red’s upcoming teen dramedy, “Youth & Consequences,” starring YouTube’s very own Anna Akana. The eight episode digital series (premiering March 7th) follows powerful trendsetter Farrah Cutney, the queen of Central Rochester High who discovers that as her rivals rise, the only thing harder than obtaining absolute power is keeping it. It’s “Riverdale” meets “Pretty Little Liars” meets something totally never-seen-before!
Want to know more? PLL alum Kara Royster (who plays Jayne) gave us the inside scoop on all things Y&C: from the girls’ on-screen AND off-screen obsession with playing bridge to what it was like working with internet megastar Anna and everything in between. Keep scrolling to catch an exclusive clip from the upcoming series and get the 4-1-1 from Kara!
“It’s a big thing in the series that Farrah and the three girls all play bridge. And it’s a very, very complicated strategy game that nobody knew how to play upon arrival. By the end, we got so good at it that we were setting up our own cards for different takes!”
What was your first impression of the script?
Kara: It was just bold. Especially coming from playing Yvonne on “Pretty Little Liars.” And the comedy, the pace of it was amazing. And also that unique point of view. These big hitting issues can be nerve-wracking to talk about — sensitive subjects like LGBT issues and gender equality — but it was just written in such amazing, delicate way that I felt safe.
Were those important issues tough to tackle?
Kara: As soon as I met the cast, I realized how insanely important it was to get this voice and this message out there because it is so different from everything else. And that’s why I love being on this platform of YouTube Red. They are going to reach that audience who needs it the most. It’s just smart and informative and I’m just really happy that we got to create something that is going to hopefully help out a lot of people.
You mentioned the transition from Yvonne to Jayne. How are the two characters different?
Kara: Yvonne is very poised and polite and very well mannered. It was definitely a big jump from playing sweet Yvonne who didn’t know what was going on in PLL to the feisty fierce quick-witted Jayne. I think I’m more Yvonne from day-to-day. So to put on the red dress and become Jayne was really fun!
What was it like working with Anna, who executively produced and acting in the series?
Kara: It was just so amazing because she is one of the most hard working people out there. Period, point blank. She creates all of her own content and you can tell she’s very, very hands-on with everything. We just couldn’t of have a better captain of the ship, between her talent and just how she’s so passionate about what’s going on, it was really so such a pleasure to work with her. *Phone buzzes* She actually just texted me!
How is working on a YouTube Red series different from working on a made for TV series?
Kara: The production process is exactly the same, but as a YouTube Red series, I love that we are reaching billions of people. It goes to Korea, New Zealand…and I think that it’s amazing and it is cool to be one of the newer things coming to this platform. And seeing so many really talented actors and crew and all of that so to be a part of it just makes me really proud!
You’re 24-years-old. Is it challenging to play a character so much younger than you?
Kara: High school is a learning time. At 24, it’s still a learning time! I had like the good fortune of playing Jayne and she is probably the most mature out of the whole group…so thankfully, playing her wasn’t as large of a jump.
Was your own high school experience anything like Jayne’s?
Kara: In a sense. There were different issues that we were dealing with, but I was very lucky to have had that core group of female friends like Jayne. This show really focuses on girls supporting girls, loving each other, no matter what bad things are happening, ultimately at the end of the day coming together and loving each other. It’s something that I definitely got to have and so it’s cool to be exploring that again.
Does the season end at a cliff–hanger? Will we get to see a season two?
Kara: It’s definitely a very interesting ending. We were all very surprised by it! And I think there could be a season two on the horizon…but that’s just me.
This isn’t the first YouTube Red serious we’ve been obsessed with! Did you catch Alex Wassabi in “Lifeline”?