Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat is a fast-rising actor and musician from Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation. Harlan has been performing on stage as a musician since the age of 11 and into adulthood playing venues in the city and townships of Meadow Lake, Loon Lake, and Saskatoon. Being on stage rocking out sparked a fire and enabled him to explore his creative side culminating in working on school plays, concerts, and class readings. He got his first acting break in 2019 and has never looked back since. We caught up with him to discuss his career and current projects
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. For readers unfamiliar with you, how did you get into the film industry?
I got into the film and acting industry back in 2019. I was working at our golf course back in my reservation which is called Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation. I was covering a shift for one of my co-workers at the Loon Lake Golf and Country Club this one afternoon and to me, it was just a regular day at work, but little did I know there was someone who works in the film/tv industry and offered to connect me with the agency he works with and also with his agent. After he and his father were done with their meals they came up and paid and I was asked if I’d ever done any acting before. I said only in grade 10 drama and no more than over a week later I got an email from him saying that he has this audition, and he thinks I’d suit the role perfectly, this was for Outlander on Netflix. I was shortlisted for the role and ever since then, I’ve been pursuing a career in acting.
You’re also an accomplished musician who has been performing since childhood. How do you manage a schedule between your creative interests and life away from the industries?
Finding the time to make music or just to play my guitar was never difficult. I always take my guitar with me whenever I can to whichever city I happen to be in for work, so I always find myself playing my guitar in my hotel room when I’m not reading a script for the project I’m working on. Or when I’m at home I’m playing my guitar whenever I’m not doing any auditions or in a meeting.
Who are your biggest industry influences, to date?
In the music aspect, my biggest influence is SLASH from Guns’n’Roses. As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a rockstar. My life obviously has taken a different path which I also love and really appreciate. When it comes to acting, Johnny Depp is my all-time favorite. I love his work in anything he does. My favorite film of his would have to be either “What’s eating gilbert grape” or “The lone ranger”.
You made your official on-screen debut in season two of the APTN drama ‘Tribal’ playing the role of Jonas Takosin. The episode tackled pertinent topics of social activism and missing indigenous people. How did you secure the role and what impact has it had on your career?
I was offered the role of Jonas Takosin in TRIBAL after I auditioned for another character in the series. I didn’t fit the bill for the first character I auditioned for and they had other plans for me to play the role of Jonas. The episode really hit close to home because it dealt with the missing indigenous peoples’ of Canada and I felt honored to be able to bring that story to the screen and to the homes of fans alike. This role has had a big impact on my acting career since it was my first gig ever and the story was a very important issue.
We will be seeing you star as Sanguinet in the new and much anticipated Letterkenny spinoff ‘Shoresy’ Please tell us more about the series and what audiences can expect.
Shoresy is a story-driven show about a hockey team in the NOSHO (Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization), with Shoresy being the main character on a mission to never lose again. The chirping and hockey is very much alive in the show. Fans of LetterKenny and fans of hockey will love it as it’s true to its roots and really funny. It’s story-driven, meaning you’d have to watch episode one in order to understand what’s happening in the rest of the season. Whereas LetterKenny you can just hope into any season and any episode and won’t be as lost.
You are the co-writer of a new feature-length script exploring colonialism through the lens of three childhood friends battling a mythic beast in rural 1960s Canada. Please tell us more about the project, and how you came to write it.
In the summer of 2020 I was asked to help develop a character in this film my friend was writing at the time. This character is a young indigenous male who has made his way back to his friends after being away from home for a few years and trying his best to keep his relationship with his childhood best friends. It’s based in the 1960s, in rural Saskatchewan and there’s a shadow being casted over their small town.
Q7- What other projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am not working on any projects, other than the script I’m helping with, and trying to get my music out for the world to listen to. It’s been all auditions ever since I wrapped filming for Shoresy.
Q8. Where can our readers find out more about you and your projects?
You can find out more about my projects just by simply searching up my name on IMDB. There’s nothing there in regards to my music as I am still working on getting that started up as soon as I can.
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