In Episode 3 of The Switch Podcast, host Chase Savage brings together actors Daphne Wheeler and Alijah Roberson to explore their roles in The Switch and the collaborative process that shaped their performances. Wheeler, a junior theater performance major, portrays Daughter #1, while Roberson, a senior performance major, takes on the role of the son and birthday boy at the center of the film’s pivotal scene. Both actors describe their transition from theater into film, emphasizing the differences in performance style and the opportunities created by a less rigid, more exploratory script. Unlike traditional stage work, where dialogue and blocking are tightly defined, The Switch provided space for interpretation, allowing the actors to build their characters through presence, interaction, and responsiveness to the moment.
A central theme of the conversation is the role of improvisation in constructing the film’s realism. With a clear understanding of the story’s stakes—financial strain, family tension, and the disruption caused by a power shutoff—the actors were able to approach scenes with flexibility, particularly during the dinner table sequences. Wheeler and Roberson describe how unscripted moments, physical interaction with props, and natural conversation rhythms helped create a believable family dynamic.
The episode also highlights the production environment and the structure supporting these performances. Roberson points to the organization and focus of the student crew as a defining element of the experience, describing the set as a coordinated system where each participant understood their role and executed it with precision. This level of coordination, he notes, elevated the expectations for the actors, reinforcing a professional standard within a student-led production. Wheeler echoes this perspective, emphasizing the balance between structure and creative freedom that allowed the cast to experiment while remaining aligned with the film’s objectives.
Beyond technique and process, the conversation returns to the thematic foundation of The Switch. Roberson connects the story’s focus on utility shutoffs and economic pressure to his own lived experience, reinforcing the film’s grounding in real-world conditions rather than hypothetical scenarios. Both actors acknowledge the relevance of the narrative within the Evansville community, where rising utility costs and financial instability are ongoing concerns. Their reflections position the film as more than a performance exercise; it becomes a vehicle for representing experiences that are often normalized but rarely depicted with this level of immediacy and intimacy.
The episode concludes with a discussion of what drew both actors to the project. Wheeler cites the visible passion and energy of director Tommy J. Housman as a primary factor, while Roberson emphasizes both that same commitment and the broader impact of Housman’s work with students. Their comments frame The Switch as part of a larger creative and educational ecosystem—one that extends beyond a single film to include mentorship, collaboration, and the development of student voice. In this context, Episode 3 functions not only as a behind-the-scenes look at performance, but as a reflection on how meaningful storytelling emerges from the intersection of craft, community, and lived experience.