Quadruple threat Chrissie Fit is back for the third installment of the hit film series, Pitch Perfect. Familiar audiences will know her as the guatemalan, Florencia “Flo” Fuentes. Known for her comedic commentary about life, “in her country”, Chrissie has done away with the immigration jokes considering the current political climate we are in. Touted as the “farewell tour” for the fictional Bellas, Pitch Perfect 3 takes the group international where they compete for a chance to open for DJ Khaled.
The Cuban star spoke to Screen Rant to discuss her start in Hollywood, adulting, and whether or not she’s involved in Fast and the Furious series.
Screen Rant: I just saw the movie the other night and it was great. I really felt like it was the closing of a chapter and moving on the next, which is full-on adulthood. So, at what point in your life did you really feel like you moved into adulthood?
Chrissie Fit: You know, I think it’s when I moved out to Los Angeles from Miami. I kinda came on my own and had like $900 bucks in my bank account and didn’t know what I was going to do except I really wanted to pursue acting, and so I, living on your own and kinda making choices for yourself and working and that’s kinda how I felt like the transition into adulthood, where you have all these responsibilities now, not your parents helping you out.
SR: No, I hear ya, I moved out to LA from Jersey with like $500.
Chrissie Fit: Really? My first job was at P.F. Chang’s. I was a hostess at P.F. Chang’s and, and was like working to make that rent money.
SR: So, what is a frequent task that you do that you would define as #adulting?
Chrissie Fit: Oh, #adulting for me is always laundry. It’s like, I literally, I can clean 70 toilets and be ok with it, but laundry I don’t know why it’s like not even a big deal, you put it in the washer, you put it in the dryer, but like I hate it. I think I hate folding and hanging up. That’s adulting.
SR: Yeah no I 100% agree. Something interesting here. I recently read an E News article that said you were actually asked to change your last name to sound more Latina. So, what was the reasoning at that time because historically people in all types of industries either feel pressured or are advised to change their last name to something that sounds less ethnic.
Chrissie Fit: Right, it was, it was kinda the opposite of what I heard. But, because,I think the coach wanted for me to be more specific and because diversity was starting to really take precedent in Hollywood that it would benefit me more if my last name was more Latina sounding because unfortunately in these casting offices, all you really see are these names on a list. A lot of the times if your name doesn’t match the character’s description, then, you know, if you’re not like a Gutierrez or Gonzales, they’re like, well then maybe not for the Latina character.
SR: Right.
Chrissie Fit: I think that’s why. And I understood the reasoning behind it. But, you know, I don’t think that a last name makes you more Latina, than the other person. You know, I’m Latina.
SR: That’s great that you could stick to your guns like that. Speaking of diversity, especially with what’s going on with the industry, have you personally had any obstacles in your career progression that your colleagues may not have had?
Chrissie Fit: Yeah I mean, most definitely, I kinda had a very different experience because I grew up in Miami, Florida and the majority of people there are Latino. So, in my high school, there wasn’t a lot of luxury of casting based on race or ethnicity. So, it was whoever did the job right that got the part in it and even in college. In college I played Juliet, which if I was here in Hollywood, auditioning for Juliet, it probably wouldn’t happen. You know, at that time, so I was really lucky to be able to play all these different roles and not have it affect, or not have it be based on what I looked like. So, when I got here I was always be like, why can’t I audition for that? You know, so they want caucasian. I didn’t understand that concept and that was really hard for me to wrap my brain around. Thankfully the industry has changed since I got here, and there’s more opportunity. We’re moving in that direction, which is really encouraging and really hopeful.
SR: You’ve done a number of projects behind the scenes, writing and producing and directing, and I believe you worked with Elizabeth Banks and Brittany Snow on a project, correct?
Chrissie Fit: It was for an episode of a digital series we did for Who Ha Ha, which is Elizabeth Banks’ platform for funny women. And and also in conjunction with Cosmo.com. We were the first to have a scripted series and that was amazing. Like it was so much fun to be able to be the boss essentially and write your own things and be in it and work with your friends like Brittany Snow, who is in one of the episodes. I think that’s kind’ve really important to me right now. I realized the longer that I’ve been in this industry, that there’s more power on the other side of the camera. You know, that’s when you can expect more change. And we need just more, you know, diversity, more diverse writers, and producers, executives, to be able to see more stories.
SR: Right, and is there a property or something you’re eyeing up to write or produce yourself?
Chrissie Fit: Yeah, there’s a couple of things that are in the works that I’ve written, or are in development. I can’t really say, but you know it revolves around a Latina at the center of the story, or has to do with Cuba.
SR: Is it Fast and the Furious 10?
Chrissie Fit: [laughs] Yes, it’s Fast and the Furious 10. My gosh you got it! Now they’re going to fire me.
SR: No. I guess my last question is, what do you want the audience to take away from Pitch Perfect 3?
Chrissie Fit: I want them to see and feel the love and joy that we felt while making these movies. The times are kinda crazy, and just to be able to go to the movies and escape from the world for an hour, hour and a half, and sing and dance. Just be part of a family. The Bellas have become a family, and I think, that that’s really evident in this film. You know there’s the saying,“The family you have and the family that you choose.” And these girls have chosen to be there for each other, no matter what. Not even just in college, but out of college, and I think that’s like a really wonderful, beautiful message, especially for young girls to see that, you know, we’re stronger together and we need to encourage each other.
Key Release Dates
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Pitch Perfect 3
Release Date:2017-12-22
