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"I'm Not Your Girl": How Bella Mraz Says No On Set · Breaking The Meta

• Bella: my wall were painted green with defiantly lyrics on the walls furthermore Mike Winson: Really? Love it. That's so cool. Bella: furthermore I moved to Glastonbury in the fifth grade. So I moved like imagine like a a new like kid in fifth grade. a brand new school I was going to paint myself green and sing to fine graphic. Mike Winson: Do you have a picture of that? Bella: Really I need to ask my mom because I I like need this video. I was like I cannot be bullied. Like people tried to bully me, but I just didn't I just didn't let I sang my Defiant Gravity Mike Winson: That's so cool. Bella: in my Alpha Bug costume. Mike Winson: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Breaking the Meta. My name is Mike Winson. Today we are sitting down with the star of vertical drama such as my book boyfriend came to life, my the most eligible heiress, foul play with my brother's best friend and the quarterback, Secret Princess. Her name is Bella Moraz. Hello, Bella. How are you doing? Bella: Thank you so much for that introduction. my goodness. I'm Green. How are you? Mike Winson: I just love I think I I think the thing I love most is reading off the names of all the vertical dramas that you guys Bella: The names. You I you honestly you were nice to me. And like you could have been meaner because I have s there're some crazier names. You you are pretty nice. Foul play with my brother's Mike Winson: There are some there are some farther down. Bella: best friend is a crazy name. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. That I did not get quite to that one. There are some interesting ones farther down. But yeah. it's so great Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: to see you. Thank you for being willing to do this. I hope I you know, you guys have been you guys have been through a lot in the vertical in the vertical drama world over the last, you know, five or six months. How how are things Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: going with you right now? Bella: yeah, it's been crazy. It's been honestly insane. I mean, I I got to LA like a year ago and then I kind of worked for eight months straight, which Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: I didn't sleep. I don't really need sleep anymore, so that's like a fun thing. and then yeah, I guess like six months ago there was definitely like a s a shift and everyone was kind of like, Maybe we should start taking these seriously. Maybe Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: this could really be something. So Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. Bella: it it's been it's been quite quite a year. It's been probably Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: the most insane year of my life. Yeah. Mike Winson: That's awesome. Well, let's let's start off by just learning a little bit about you because we found out before we hit before we hit here we hit go, we hit record that we're both New Englanders, which very exciting. you're from k Bella: We are very exciting. Mike Winson: you're you're from Connecticut, which is, you know, the little brother of Massachusetts, but that's okay. We'll we'll it's all right. Bella: Alright. Mike Winson: Sorry. okay. Bella: Little brother. I mean, so no one knows what Connecticut is. Like most people don't even think it's a real place. So do you know Mike Winson: Yeah. Or or they can't decide if it's part of New York or part of Massachusetts. So Bella: Yeah. I mean the only kind of good thing about Connecticut is it's close to Rhode Island. Mike Winson: That's true. The armpit of New England Bella: That's exactly exactly. Mike Winson: okay, so how walk me through how you got from Connecticut to doing verticals in LA. Bella: that is a journey. Well, I drove. Mike Winson: Ha ha That was a been a long that was a long drive. Bella: I did though. I did. it was a long drive. It was a long Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: drive. me and my dad actually took that road trip seven days. Mike Winson: Wow. Bella: Seven days. Mike Winson: That's actually pretty good doing that in seven days. Bella: Yeah, yeah. mostly I mean like I say we drove, but he drove and I sat there and he Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: bought everything for me. That was how that happened. But before I Mike Winson: Of course. Bella: drove. I I've been acting my whole life. I've been but mostly theater and I really started in like more like opera legit singing, actually. Yes. Yes. Mike Winson: Really? That's cool. Bella: But my vocal coach kind of pushed me to do musical theater. So that's what I went to college in New Jersey for. And while I was over there, I was auditioning. I was auditioning for like musicals and they didn't want me. They they did they did not want me. I was not getting cast. that's a it's it's a hard it's a it's Mike Winson: It is very hard. Bella: really hard. Like, like obviously I the in this doing this as a job is hard in general, but musical theater, like they're a different kind of cutthroat. They're a different kind. Mike Winson: Well, and musical musical theater got even worse post COVID. Like it it was hard before, but it was it got about ten times worse post COVID. Bella: It's like you have to you don't even it's like you can't even be human. Like you have to be like it's insane. I I'm not cut out for a waking up at three AM going to a dance call. Dance call, that's my nightmare. It's a dance call Mike Winson: Ha. Bella: at three AM. We have to stand in line and they're like, Okay, do a pirouette. No. And you might not even get seen. So that I was like Mike Winson: That's crazy. Bella: I was like, I don't think this is for me. Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Bella: but but I was like, but I love acting and I mean I made it this far. and I started I didn't have the agent, I didn't have a manager, I didn't know shit. I didn't know anything. I didn't know like what a mark was, I didn't know what action was. I didn't even know when I first started that you film things in order out of order. I was like, Why are Mike Winson: my goodness. Bella: why aren't we filming this in order? That is the level of like I didn't know anything. And that's Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: when I was still in college. I was a junior in college. I was 19. And I end up just like submitting myself on backstage for this random indie horror movie that shot in San Francisco. and Mike Winson: Wow. Bella: they and I and I came. I came and I I did this mess of a horror movie. No, that's the whole of the story I wanna even get into, but it was It was a core memory, and I survived. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: But there's a woman on there who played my mom, and she was like, y like, have you heard of these things called verticals? like I just I just did one and and I and they I went there and I was expecting a movie and the cameras were flipped this way, and she was like, But you kinda look like, you know, like the girl that they cast as a lead. Like maybe you should give it a try. And I was like, Okay, sure. And I think I like when I To Connecticut, I like submitted myself an actor's access. And I ended up booking my first one I ever submitted for as the lead. And that was with if you know Seth Eden. He's Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Bella: Mr. Breaking the Ice, Mr. Popular King of Real Short. So I ended up Mike Winson: Ha ha ha. Bella: booking that with him. And I think the week we filmed that. Was the week breaking the ice took off, and I saw him gain Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: like a hundred thousand followers in like four days. Mike Winson: Dang. Bella: And I just remember we're filming and I was like, What is going on? This is really crazy. And I actually caught up with recently with the director of that, and we were like just like rehashing everything, and she was like, You didn't know anything. She was like, You didn't know anything. But she was like, But you learned so fast, and Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: she was like, I knew you had a lot of potential, but you just didn't know anything. And since then, I mean I've done like probably like twenty shows now. And I Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: I can say I have learned a lot. But Mike Winson: Ha ha. Bella: it's a lot more than I did two years ago. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: but it's been like awesome, an awesome training ground. but I ended up doing that vertical and my college musical theater very intense program at the time that were on their high horse did not approve of these verticals. They were like, Mike Winson: gosh. Bella: stop foul playing with your brother's best friend. They were like, stop doing this. They also didn't want me to work professionally because in my opinion college musical theater programs are like a scam. And I I just they just don't really teach you anything. Like Mike Winson: I've it's amazing how many vertical actresses in the space are music theater graduates that Bella: It is. I I noticed that too. I was like, hmm, you all are here. But yeah, they didn't want me working professionally because they wanted me to graduate. And I kind of had to make the decision and I was I it was my first semester junior year and my parents everyone in fact was like don't drop out, just graduate. You have a year and a half left, like just Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: graduate. I just had a gut feeling. I was like, no, like I don't know why. I just need to get to LA and I need to drop out and like in my like gut, like it was such an overwhelming feeling that Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: here is super important if I don't get into this now and if I don't get to LA, I'm like it's gonna be a huge mistake. And I just l had that gut feeling, even though everyone was telling me, You're being an idiot and I I just followed it and everyone was really mad at me. But I dropped out. and I actually took a break from verticals the n the six months before I moved to LA because I felt as though some companies, you know, want you to do the more soapy acting and dramatic acting. And I knew in my head, hey, I've never actually done T V film acting before. I don't want this to be my introduction. I don't wanna get this ingrained into how I do this because I'm Mike Winson: Right. Bella: taking sleep. I I wanna I wanna get some real T V film training before. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: So that's kinda what I did. I I took some classes, I did some shorts, did a like feature, and then May came around and I got reached out to by Vigelou to do mated by mated something bound it changed. They also changed. Mike Winson: Mated by my mated to my rival Alpha. Is that Yeah. Bella: Yes, yes, about yeah, made it to my rival Alpha. And yeah. And they flew me to LA and I was like, alright, I'm gonna move here. And then yeah, two months later I I I drove with my dad. And that's how it Mike Winson: That's crazy. Bella: got from point A to point B in a long, long story. But yeah. Mike Winson: No, that's great. This is what I this is why one of the reasons that I love doing this is everyone's story is a little different and it's just so cool to see how you guys got to where you were at because even even me, my my journey to a point of doing what I'm doing now is just wild, especially over the last seven or eight years. It you would never I I the idea of being here is just doing this is crazy compared to what I used to do. So Bella: Really What is used to do? Mike Winson: man, I used to be I used to be an AV an A V guy for a school and then Bella: Whoa. Mike Winson: and then I got laid off because of COVID. But I was also Bella: Okay. Mike Winson: a streamer. And after I got laid off, I w became a full time karaoke singer online. And I did that I did that for about a year. Bella: You're joking. Wait, what's your go-to karaoke song? Mike Winson: Huh? Bella: What's your go-to karaoke song? Mike Winson: Dream on. Bella: Okay. Wow! Okay, so you can sing. my Mike Winson: yeah. Yeah. Bella: gosh! Mike Winson: Yeah. It was fun. It was fun. It was probably the most fun I'd ever I most fun I've ever had in a job before. singing. I was singing like 60 hours a week. yeah. And then COVID shut the app down that I was doing. So I had to rebuild myself. I started just doing some side stuff and then I s and then I made one TikTok that blew up. And then I started doing lives like crazy. And then I started the podcast. And I've now interviewed people that are running for Congress that I'm like that I have on my phone that I talk to regularly. And it's like, that's crazy. And now I'm talking to these to amazing people like you that are, you know, actresses and actors in Hollywood doing just such cool things too. It's just wild. So I love I love the stories. I love the how you got there stories. That's the best part. Bella: That's so awesome. Mike Winson: Yeah. so what what was your first thought when you saw like your first vertical script? Like like w 'cause they're 'cause verticals are are interesting things and especially, you know, a year and a half ago. Bella: Yeah. I actually remember exactly where I was. I was working, at I I used to be a cart girl, at at a like golf course over the summer. That I I Mike Winson: Okay. Yep. Bella: did my stolen billy in our life, which was the first vertical script I saw. And I just like got the offer in my actor's access and I called my mom. She's like, What's the script like? And I was like, I don't know. There's like a Mike Winson: You don't I don't I can't tell you. Bella: It actually wasn't that bad, but that Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: is usually the conversation I have with my mom. She's like, What are you doing? What how was work today? What did you do? And I was like, Mike Winson: No. Bella: You know, how have you been? What what what's up? Or or when my my I I have ADHD also began to tell, so I'm gonna be bouncing between stories. But my dad Mike Winson: You're fine. Bella: called my dad called me. Like he was like, I saw an ad for your show. That was in the top five scariest moments of my life. I think. I Mike Winson: my gosh. Bella: was like, that wasn't me. I don't know who that was. That wasn't me. Yeah. Mike Winson: What have have your parents watched your verticals at all? Bella: I have let them see one. One single Mike Winson: Okay. Bella: one. I wanna see if you can guess. What one? You named it at the beginning. Mike Winson: Huh? Bella: You named it at the beginning. Mike Winson: So is my my book boyfriend came to life? Bella: And it's not that one. Mike Winson: I mean Hollywood Starlet isn't a bad one either. You could have had they could have watched that one. Bella: I I c I could have I could have shown them that. I showed them the one, probably my favorite one, my most eligible the most eligible airis is Mike Winson: Okay. Bella: what is my favorite show I've done. And I let I let them see that. And there's like just like it was like very minor. Like I think I like ki I had like two kisses on screen and my dad had to walk away. He was like, I'm not watching this. I'm not watching this and I was like, Mike Winson: my gosh. That's so funny. Bella: my god, I was like, if only you knew Mike Winson: Yeah, yeah. Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: that reminds me of of my interview with Lottie where she made a she made a verta she made a TikTok about when her parents found out that she had to give someone a lap dance and kiss them in a vertical. And she just had the audio of it and I was dying the whole time. Bella: I'm like, you don't need to know. You don't Mike Winson: No. Bella: need to know. What what you don't know won't hurt you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My first one was Mike Winson: won't hurt you or me or anyone else. Let's let's leave it like that. Bella: pretty tame and I think I called her and I was just like, I don't know, there's a billionaire and I'm his assistant and Mike Winson: Yep. Yep. That's all I'm gonna let you know. Yep. Yep. Bella: That's that's I don't really know. And that's all you need to know. And that's it. Yeah. Mike Winson: so obviously verticals as a whole are very very interesting, as we were just talking about, in some cases very, very, very interesting. but I watched your most recent two, my my book boyfriend came to life in Hollywood Star Starlet. I, of all of the ones you've done, first off, I want to say I find it very interesting that in my book, Boyfriend Came to Life, and I can't remember the name of the other one, you've played a librarian you've played a library girl, at least in two, in two that I've seen you in, which was very interesting. Was Bella: God, you saw Heartbreaker? Did you Mike Winson: that was that the one you had like this crazy big hair and Bella: second one I ever did. I was still in college then. my god. Mike Winson: Okay. Bella: Yes, yes, I have. I have played li Marion's a librarian, technically. Pearl her Mike Winson: Yeah, correct. Bella: nickname was just Pearl the Library Girl. Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah. but anyways, what I loved about those two, so those two are with A Twist, Bella: That's yes. Mike Winson: which I'd never heard of until until watching these. But what I loved about Bella: They just want it. Mike Winson: okay, what I loved about them was that the story was just so much better. And it was so much more about the story and the acting, and it wasn't about Gratuitous intimacy scenes all over the place. And I was, I was dying laughing. You did such an amazing job. Like I was Bella: thank you. Mike Winson: what when I watched when I watched my book boyfriend came to life, I was just sitting here. I was just, you did like when you opened it and you were interacting with with this God that came out of a book, and you're just like, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like it was so good. You did so good at it. And and it's what I loved about it. that it allowed it's it it would allowed you to be more of an actor and less feeling more like a like a a soap opera or something like that. Bella: Yeah. Yeah. That I absolutely love a twist. I love working with them. They just launched, they're female owned, female led. Mike Winson: Ooh. Bella: with with that, that with my book boyfriend, we shot that in March. and yeah, that whole team was incredible. Like like I love this story. and they I try to make all of my characters like super different and that's kind of something like I promised myself if I was gonna keep doing verticals was I'm going to treat every single one like a feature and fully prep every character, like even if I don't have time, even if I'm gonna be up for twenty-four hours straight. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: but that one was so awesome th because they wanted it like very like inspired by like Zoe De Chanel, a new girl, and Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Bella: she's funny and quirky and she wears crazy outfits. And I just I absolutely loved playing that role. And it was like my first comedic role too, in this space, Mike Winson: Who? Bella: which is awesome that they like allowed me to do that. And Julian Higgins directed that. He is absolutely fantastic, and he just like trusted us, gave us the freedom. And I think when like like platforms like a twist, like and they really trust their actors, it it kinda it elevates the whole project. And I r I remember everyone was like, after we did the first scene, they were like, Wait, you're you're actually funny. And I was like Mike Winson: Well thanks. I appreciate that. Bella: Thanks. I feel like a lot of people like like just like see me or like they don't know me and they're like, I thought you were gonna be really mean and boring And it's like, Hey, you know thanks. Mike Winson: Well, and and arguably arguably it's understandable because most verticals don't allow you to guys to do things like that. They're very Bella: Yeah. It's true. Mike Winson: they're you know, the women are, you know, getting slapped all the time and crying half the time and getting soaking wet and stuff dumped on the other half of the time. And the men are just taking off their shirts ninety percent of the time. So that that Yeah. I will protect you. Bella: Or being like, don't touch her. I love that one. You know that my alpha. Yeah. Mike Winson: Yes. yes. So it's always gotta be my alpha. and even even Hollywood Starlet, I think one of the things that I really liked about it was Once once it got to the point where like you know the the the bad mother and all of the whole the whole like the whole part broke down and you realized who was bad and who was good and and the person who played your sister came up and was like, I didn't even want to do this. I don't I hate acting. I'm so sorry. And like it it's so different than any other vertical out there in in the like you added just enough they added just enough pieces to it that felt like a vertical you'd seen before, but then then you put a twist on on all of these parts that made it feel so different while watching it. Bella: Yeah, exactly. They're all all of the people from a twist are like, you know, like they're all like Hollywood, like I I think S Susan used to be at Warner Brothers, so they have like all cr so they're kinda like Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: the the company that's like starting to elevate all of like this space. and so Mike Winson: Gotcha. Bella: I mean Hollywood Starlet was is actually created by Bradley Bell who did Bold and Beautiful. And they're trying to make that a a long running the first long running vertical soap opera. is Mike Winson: Well I hope so because because your person like was hurt at the end and it was done and I was Bella: Well we already saw yeah. Mike Winson: like, what happened to him? Bella: Well I will tell you that we just wrapped season two of that. So it will be out probably in a few Mike Winson: Perfect. Love it. Heck yeah. Bella: months. And they are just they're just continuing seasons and it's such a it's such a fun world and it has Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: so much potential for like, you know, new characters to come in and out. So so yeah. And they're Mike Winson: It really does. It really does. You get Bella: like geniuses. We we we shot that Sunset Studios, which is, you know, like where they I we were on set and they were filming I some Ryan Murphy show on the on the lot next to us and I was like Mike Winson: wow. Bella: it was really s it was really surreal being there because, you know, it's not it's first of all like the entire crew and e and everyone like cares so much and it's such a different experience. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: it's it's just so it's just so cool. Like I have my own dressing room and it's Mike Winson: That's so cool. Bella: it's just they're just like real they're real professionals. Yeah. Mike Winson: Well, you you did an you did an amazing job in it and you you deserve to be to be treated that way because you it was awesome. I I really, really enjoyed it. so you've done a lot of verticals now. Is there is there any style of vertical that you haven't had a chance to do yet that that if you could snap your fingers and just And have it written and have the part that you would do it, that you would want to do it. Bella: I actually have one that I created and I wrote with my writing partner that is Mike Winson: Ooh. Bella: exactly that. So I actually did it myself. We're Mike Winson: There you go. Bella: actually if you were in LA, I would totally invite you to the we're having a reading for it on Saturday. and I know I know Mike Winson: Well, when if you ever get to a point of actually doing things with it, let me know. Maybe I maybe I will find a way to come and that would be cool. Bella: Yeah, yeah, we're we're trying to get it produced, but it is a it's a kind of retelling of Princess and the Pauper. which Mike Winson: nice. Bella: yeah, it's kind of like Lucy inspired by the Barbie version, with the the princess. except my character is the daughter of a town healer. But she's like my dream is like I love playing like badass women, like who like fight. There's like a bunch of sword fighting scenes and Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Bella: yeah that's kinda like my I that's what I love. I love doing that stuff. That's why I loved Eligible Harris because Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: if you haven't seen that one it's it's on DramaBlocks I think. it didn't Mike Winson: Okay. Bella: do super well but it is still my favorite. and I kind of play like a Katniss Everdeen type. Mike Winson: Nice. Bella: but yeah I would say that or like a musical a musical vertical. Mike Winson: W what what's your favorite musical of all time? Bella: really hard question I this is gonna sound basic but it's not basic wicked wicked is my favorite and Mike Winson: Love it. Bella: not in a like in a way of like the wicked movie fans in a way that when I was in elementary school and maybe up into an inappropriate age my rooms of my wall were painted green with defiantly lyrics on the walls furthermore Mike Winson: Really? Love it. That's so cool. Bella: furthermore I moved to Glastonbury in the fifth grade. So I moved like imagine like a a new like kid in fifth grade. Because I was living in Manchester before that. And I remember for we had a talent show right when I moved. And I decided that I was at a brand new school I was going to paint myself green and sing to fine graphic. Mike Winson: Do you have a picture of that? Bella: Really I need to ask my mom because I I like need this video. I I think Mike Winson: I I I that would make my day to see that. I'm just saying. Bella: You know, I'm gonna I'm gonna ask her and I'm gonna send it to you if I if I find it. But yeah, Mike Winson: Heck yeah. That's soaked. Bella: I I was like I cannot be bullied. Like people tried to bully me, but I just didn't I just didn't let I sang my Defiant Mike Winson: That's so cool. Bella: Gravity in my Alpha Bug costume. So yeah, Wicket's my favorite musical. Mike Winson: That's hey, it's good music. That's not that's not basic at all. mine is newsies. If if I Bella: Ooh, that's a good one. Mike Winson: I I if I had a chance to be in Newsies or a musical vertical, I I've told multiple people now. I'm Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: if you ever if ever is if ever there's a mute vertical musical, I will find a way to come to LA to be a part of it. That's how bad. Bella: Right. Well well actually Mike Winson: I want to be in one. Bella: a twist I'm not in it, but they just they did a musical vertical called Theater Kids versus Zombies. and it's and it's directed I have to move you because I have to plug my iPad. it's directed by Jesse Tyler Ferguson from Modern Family. But Mike Winson: wow. Bella: he was yeah, he came to set for Hollywood Starlit actually a few days and I was like Be normal, be normal, be normal. It was really it was a lot of pressure. I was like, I was like, be cool, be cool, Mike Winson: That's so cool. Be cool. Be cool. Be cool. Be cool, Bella. Be cool. Bella: be cool. Like, I got this, I got this. but yeah, he directed that and it's all original music from so Mike Winson: that's so cool. Bella: I forget, I forget who wrote the music, but it's some Broadway like Tony Award winning like people. It's Mike Winson: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Bella: like insane. so yeah, I was I I really wanted to be in that one. But I I hope I Mike Winson: That's so amazing. Bella: hope there's more musical ones that happen. For sure. Mike Winson: There should they should because that Bella: Yeah. Yeah. Mike Winson: like again, mus musicals are just really big right now. At least in the United States Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: they are. So Bella: Like everyone well, most people love musicals. If you don't love musicals, I'm we probably won't get along Mike Winson: Then I don't have anything to do with No, I'm just kidding. No, no, no, no. so, okay. Has there ever has there ever been a a a vertical that you have either chosen to do or not or decided not to do like that there's something in it that just made you feel so uncomfortable that you either like had to try and get it changed or or just said, no, I'm not doing it at all. Bella: yeah. I Mike Winson: I knew the answer, but I wanted to ask it like I didn't know the answer. Bella: Yeah. I over my past two years of learning this industry and this specific world, I I have learned a lot. I've learned a lot Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: and and for the first year or yeah, first seven months of doing this, I wasn't even repped. I didn't have a manager or anyone looking out for me. And it I It taught me a lot and you know like I I I went through a lot of a lot of bullshit and I I'm glad I did because, you know, I I've become so good at advocating for myself, Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: in a way like that I'm honestly very proud of. Like I'm I'm very good at that. And I every time I get a script, the first thing I do is like go through all of it. And I make notes if there's anything I want to or what I want changed or if there's a line I don't like, I send it back and I go, These are the notes. If you if you want to change them, great. I'd love to do it. If you don't, I'm not your girl. I'm sorry. and there have been a few times where I've done this, and because I'm very careful about what Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: I pay to do, I 'Cause you know, my face is attached to it. So Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: I I'm I'm very careful about, you know, the things I do. I I I don't I honestly haven't done like that like crazy, crazy things in in shows. No no shame to anyone who has, but I just like I haven't. well there's there's there's fun sometimes. But but there have been some times where I've done that and it's all been approved and I've gotten to set and they'll they'll try to do something Mike Winson: They try to do more. Bella: they try to do more or like specifically there's this one company that I we weren't even filming here we're filming in Vancouver and we got to set and they tried to push all of these crazy ad scenes on us that didn't have anything to do with the vertical nothing to do with the story they were just like one off sexual ad scenes that they wanted to use for clickbait for the and I'm like I I think I called my manager, I was like, What what is this? I'm not doing this. It's like you're not doing this. And it was a whole back and forth argument between like and Mike Winson: That's crazy. Bella: and it was it was just a lot and I and I had everyone there trying to convince me to do these ad scenes. And I was like, I'm not doing these ad scenes. So I'm not doing them. And then the show comes out. and it did it did very well. I think it's one of my more popular ones. And recently, I had a fan reach out to me and tell me, Hey, I just saw this crazy AI out of you for that Mike Winson: Mm-hmm. Bella: show. And I'm like, it can't be that bad. And she sent it to me and was like, it's that bad. It was it was an AI nudity of me. And and it was like an Mike Winson: my gosh. Bella: ad scene and then it cut to me and my co star on the real show. And it was on Instagram. Mike Winson: Right. Bella: And it was like one of it it was so dehumanizing and so I just r like this is like probably like a couple months ago. I just remember feeling like just like not like a person. Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: Like I just like everything I done was like obviously like it's not true, but like everything I'd done like To advocate for myself and all of that is just for nothing because after all even after all of that, they still did that times w like a hundred. Like they're like, you're not gonna do the acting? Okay. We'll just make AI porn of you and then cut to you in the show. And there's nothing you can do about it. That that Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: that's just really Mike Winson: And that's Bella: unfortunate, yeah. Mike Winson: that's obviously been a really big thing in the vertical space lately. some of the different companies have gone to the point of going full AI or AIing out people after they did the recording and and what you're watching is is just them totally AI'd up and a bunch of other things. I've noticed at least somewhat, especially because of companies like a twist. And candy jar and stuff like that. There are some companies that are coming out that are pretty much avoiding AI again, which is nice for you guys because that means there's work coming back for you, which is always good. do you see a place for AI in what you guys are doing in the vertical space? Bella: I think that I think AI can be used in you know, like an editing sense, like Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: Like specifically honestly like horror like like like Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: horror things like like for like blood and like things like that. Mike Winson: Or to turn you guys into werewolves. Bella: Yeah, or like kinda that like I I've seen Real Short use some effects like that, but full AI shows, like who wants to watch that? And it just takes Mike Winson: Don't know. Bella: it it takes you know, it's taking jobs from everyone. A lot a lot of like my colleagues like just have I don't know, it it's just I actually w one one of my good friends was supposed to go and do a show i in ab abroad in Turkey I think and like a day Yes. A day Mike Winson: Kayla, right? Yeah. Bella: before two of my best friends, they cancelled it and they're like it's going Mike Winson: I saw I saw her TikTok where she was like, I'm in Europe and they canceled the show and I don't have a way home right now. So that's yeah. Bella: It's just really sad and and and scary and it's it's it's really scary but the these new apps like like Candy Jar and a Twist they are giving me hope that Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: people well people wanna watch real people like at Mike Winson: Yes. Bella: the end of the day. Like you can't you can't connect to a a robot. And and a lot of these companies that are going fully AI in there and they're calling it what are they calling it now? They're calling it so stupid. They're calling that like animation and they're calling like normal things like live action. Live action. I I just think that's like what? Like live action vertical. Okay. But anyways, that's that's what they're calling them. But Mike Winson: Yeah. They're they're Yeah. yeah. S well, I mean, that's one of the reasons that I'm that's one of the reasons that I wanted to do this. That's one of the reasons that I wanted to interview all of you amazing people because the best way to to help push this idea of people wanting to see you guys is to give them is to let them learn who you are, 'cause you know, then they wanna see you guys and they don't want to see just a random AI person. So I I think I think it's awesome and I think it's nice to see that they're finally at least in America, they're finally starting to realize there there's enough pushback against AI that I don't think I think you're gonna start seeing more and more, which is good. Bella: I hope so too. I hope so too. But yeah, I really appreciate you like doing that and kind of creating a space where we can talk about it because it's it's it's hard. It's it's it's it's a weird like towing the line kind of thing, 'cause it's like, Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: can I even talk about this? Or will it cost me a job? You know, it's Mike Winson: And I know I know that's been an issue in in in the vertical space lately. So that's why I'm very try be very careful about how I ask the question in a way that won't hopefully cause anyone to lose any work because that that would be the worst. I would feel horrible. so you are a singer, you're an actor, you're a dancer too. Bella: I can kind of dance. Mike Winson: You you're a dancer ish. what obviously things can change and and and you never know what the future holds. But if you like where do you see what what's like the what's what's Bella's goal like five, 10 years in the future? Do you hope to keep doing verticals? Bella: Well this question. Mike Winson: Would you like to kind of go into in if you If you got the opportunity, would you like would the ideal be like doing musicals even though you weren't able to get into the space? Like what what kind of what's what's the thing that you would love to see five, ten year from now, Bella, be doing? Bella: My dream and my dream will always be Broadway and theater. Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: Musical, a play. That when I when I make my Broadway debut, like that is when I will have made it. Like I don't care if if, you know, like you know, like my career in TV film, like like does I do super well, like I don't care. Like once I make my Broadway debut, even if it Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: says I don't I don't know, something something crazy. I that is when I know Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Bella: like I will have made it. And that's that's what I'm really honestly doing Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: this all for because there's just like I love TV film. Don't don't get me wrong. Like I absolutely love my job. I love, you know, like I I love verticals. I love I love doing like features and I haven't done a TV show yet, but like I love it. But there's nothing like theater. There's nothing like a live audience and it's just there's something so magical about like performing live and everyone in that room, like you get it, you're a singer, like everyone in that room will only have that experience one time. And that is magical. And I I just I I it's really hard, unless you have like a name for yourself first to kind of transition back into that. So that's my goal is to kinda make a name for myself and then get back to theater like at some point. Like ten years from now. Yeah. That's the goal. Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Heck yeah. what is something that people would probably be surprised to know about you, that you enjoy, that you do anything? Bella: I crochet. Like that's kind of like maybe. Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Bella: Yeah. I haven't in a while, but that that's something I do. I mean yeah, I can't think of it. Like honestly, like I'm so like work oriented and I'm like, what have I done? No work oriented. Mike Winson: And and that's and that's that's completely valid. You guys, you guys especially it's like in the vertical world, it feels like it's it's either you're going nonstop or there's there's really nothing happening. And when you guys are going nonstop, you guys are going nonstop. And it's crazy. Bella: On stop. It yeah, it was on stop. There's like an eight month period, like I said, where I I worked I worked every every single day. I mean, even this last month actually was also crazy. I did five shows back to back. Mike Winson: Wow. Bella: And yeah, I did five shows back to back with two days break, which was Mike Winson: How does your how does your brain process that much script in five weeks? Bella: I Mike Winson: You don't know, you Bella: I have to Mike Winson: just just luck. Bella: I have it I have it down to a system now and my body's kind of just used to it. Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: but f for this last month, I like really have to only do project by project. Like I can't think about future scripts, I can only think about what I'm on then. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: So and my this last month was just straight work. It was just straight work. So like My process is I I kind of, you know, if I'm lucky enough, I'll get a script more than two weeks in advance. But if not, then I don't. but I'll kinda like two days before, I'll I'll sit down, I'll go through the script, I'll I'll do my work on it, I'll do my character work, and then once we start filming, I memorize my lines for the next day the night before. and I'll just like I'll t I'll talk to myself in my apartment like a crazy person. Mike Winson: Ha ha. Bella: Like insane. Like my neighbor, like this neighbor, like gotta think I'm like nuts, like Mike Winson: You you should you should set up a camera sometime just of you working on it, just just as like a fun as a fun thing to Bella: Okay. Mike Winson: show and be like, This is what it's like, like a like just with the music in the background, it just hears you talking and you're just like, This is me working on a script. Bella: my god, they would literally think I'm insane. Mike Winson: Mm. Bella: Insane. But yeah, that was that was that was my life. Like that was my life. I I know the last month I, you know, I would wake up at whenever my call time was, usually six or seven. Wake up at seven at five, 'cause it's probably like an hour away 'cause it's LA. Mike Winson: An hour away. Bella: Wake up at five, make my espresso, go to set, work for twelve hours, and then come home and learn my lens for the next day. And so that's kind I guess yeah, that's my answer. I just it is nonstop. It's nonstop. Yeah. Mike Winson: That's crazy. That's crazy. you know, mad respect because that doing that for five weeks straight is wild. So okay. I want to do a quick, I call it a speed round. It's just easy questions, easy answers. go to coffee order. Bella: chai latte with a shot of espresso. Mike Winson: Perfect. Sweet or savory breakfast. Bella: Sweet. Mike Winson: What what would you get? Bella: waffles. If I'm like going out to a breakfast place. Mike Winson: Nice. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. beach or mountains? Bella: Beach. Mike Winson: go to karaoke song. Bella: Hopelessly devoted to you. Mike Winson: Okay. Heck yeah. There you go. dogs or cats? Bella: Dogs. Mike Winson: favorite comfort food. Bella: McDonald's fries. That's just the first thing we've seen to find. I love Mike Winson: All right. All right. no, hey, you know, comfort food is comfort food. Bella: a McDonald's fry. Mmm. If I'm pulling over McDonald's Mike Winson: They are the best fries. Bella: McDonald's fry diet coke and I'm healed. Mike Winson: Best best best fries in the game are McDonald's fries, straight up. Bella: True. Mike Winson: last show you binged. Bella: I rewatched Bojack Horseman for the eighth time. Mike Winson: Yes. Bella: My comfort show, you will. Mike Winson: morning person or night owl? Both. So you're like an afternoon person? Bella: I don't think no. I I Mike Winson: No. Bella: guess morning person, morning person. Yeah. I had to pick. Mike Winson: is there a food that you refuse to eat? Bella: Mm. I'm kind of against like like vegan like meat substitutes. Like Mike Winson: Okay. Bella: after being in LA, I'm like, why? Like like there's like vegan steak and I'm like, just give me the steak. Or like vegan ice cream. Like, I don't want vegan ice cream. Give me ice cream. Like, what? Yeah, I guess I'm kinda I'm I love my friends Mike Winson: Yeah. So so anything vegan? Bella: and people. I'm sorry. Not anything vegan. There's some things that are good that are vegan. Just Yes. It makes Mike Winson: Vegan meat. Okay. Bella: me and scared of it. Mike Winson: Yeah, it's understandable. favorite season. Bella: But not here. In in East Coast, yeah. Mike Winson: I knew it. I already knew the answer. I knew the answer the second I asked it. Every East Coaster, especially a northeastern person, always says Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: fall. So that's not a surprise at all. swe Bella: I think it's the first day of fall today too. Mike Winson: yeah. Bella: Yeah. Mike Winson: Well, you know, that's why it's cool here and I'm happy. Bella: I don't know. Mike Winson: sweet treat you can't say no to. Bella: like ice cream. Honestly anything. Mike Winson: Any specific kind? Bella: like this is basic, but like vanilla bean. That is I know, I know. Okay, okay, okay. Mike Winson: Hmm. That's not basic. You keep saying things are basic. They're not. You like it, and that's all that matters. Bella: I'm I'm I'm standing by it. I'm standing by it. Mike Winson: Okay. a person real or dream that you would love to either like do a duet karaoke style with or act with. Bella: Idina Menzel, just 'cause I've always been obsessed with her. Mike Winson: Yeah. Bella: singing a wicked song with Idina Menzel. That is my dream. That is my dream. Mike Winson: That would be pretty sick. That would be pretty sick. if you had a free day with zero plans, what would you do? Bella: I would be in New York City and I would get a bagel and I would walk around Central Park and I would be nowhere near LA Mike Winson: Heck yeah. Bella: and I would watch all the leaves falling down and I'd be like wow I'm so so happy that'd be my Mike Winson: Yeah, that's completely fair. Bella: favorite Mike Winson: That's completely fair. for everyone listening, I just want to make sure that I remind everyone Bella's newest sh newest episodes, newest verticals, my book boyfriend came to life in Hollywood Starlet are out on A Twist right now. You need to go watch them, they're absolutely worth it. So good. for anyone that wants to follow you on things like social media, where where can they find you? Bella: My Instagram is just BellaMoraz and my TikTok is Bella.moraz. Mike Winson: Bella, thank you so much for sitting down and letting us get to know you. This was so Bella: Thank you. Mike Winson: much fun. I really enjoyed it. Bella: Me too, thank you so much. Mike Winson: for everyone that got this far and listened all the way here, thank Bella: Ha Mike Winson: you also so much. Please hit all those buttons down below. Makes it possible for me to keep doing what I'm doing, which is interviewing amazing people like Bella right here. And for those of you that may be new to breaking the meta, just so you know, breaking the meta is about having hard conversations when necessary, fighting to break the status quo and the idea that all people, no matter your race, religion, gender, or identity, Deserve rights, respect, dignity, and safety. Again, Bella, thank you so much for being here. And everyone else, we'll see you next time on Breaking the Meta. Bye, guys.