Devery Jacobs
Devery Jacobs made a quick trip to Brooklyn recently to accept her THEM NOW award which honors LGBTQ+ vanguards at the forefront of culture and change today. Elliot Page presented the award to Devery and spoke of their great friendship and bond both professionally and personally. Elliot’s PageBOY productions helped get “BACKSPOT” the Queer Cheer squad film starring the magnificent Devery to the screen. You can experience more Devery magic in the third and final season of “Reservation Dogs” streaming on Hulu. We were psyched to meet this Indigenous beauty for a quick sunny stroll through the NYC streets chatting food, style, cornbread cheeks, cheerleading culture, but most importantly….chapstick.
The Bare Magazine: From start to finish can you describe the journey bringing Backspot to the screen?
Devery Jacobs: Bringing Backspot to life has been a nearly seven-year long labor of love. The incredible director, D.W. Waterson, approached me in 2017 with an idea for a sports film and they wanted me to play the lead — they hadn’t realized that I’d been a champion gymnast in a former life, so I was immediately on board. It was there, where we began producing together, and where we uncovered and brought the story of Backspot to life.
We worked closely with our talented screenwriter Joanne Sarazen; wanted to hone in on the dynamics between generations of queer folks and what it looks like to be an out, queer, young athlete in 2024. After a general meeting, Elliot Page and his production company PageBOY Productions came on board and helped open doors for us to get financing together. From that point, it was fast and furious. We shot the film in 17 days (and for those who know production, the quickest a film is usually is 21 shooting days, and that’s without stunts!) and I did all of my own stunts except for one.
We premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2024 SXSW Film Fest, and now we’re finally bringing it to audiences on-demand. It’s been the most challenging, joyous and heartfelt process of my career to date and is probably the role that I’m most proud of as an actor.
Bare: What can a viewer expect to get out of this cheerleading story that might be unique from any other?
DJ: There have been iconic films about cheerleading that I love, films like Bring It On, and But I’m a Cheerleader. But unlike these fun and lighthearted movies that usually don pom-poms and sideline-cheer, Backspot takes the sport of cheerleading seriously, diving into the undeniable athleticism and physical toll and risks that these athletes put themselves through. It puts some respect on cheerleaders’ names.
Bare: Did you have fun with the costumes and your character Riley’s style?
DJ: I loved the naturalism in the film. When thinking of cheerleaders, people usually associate bows and glitter during their competitions. But most of Backspot takes place during the practices leading up to the final comp. So that means we had little-to-no makeup, sweatpants and clothes that young women actually wear as athletes. It was the most comfortable shoot I’ve ever had, and I loved expressing Riley’s masculinity in what society usually perceives as a hyper-feminine sport.
Bare: We had so much fun on our shoot - do you enjoy creating and trying different looks? Including makeup - would you say an interesting statement makeup is more your thing than a no-makeup makeup?
DJ: In my day-to-day, I don’t usually wear makeup. I’ll definitely be more natural but have fun with my fashion. I’m not skilled at makeup, so when I do have access to a makeup artist and talented folks who know how to paint, I love to play. I love to explore different ways of expressing myself through color and shape. I always aim to look interesting, or smart, or cool — versus “soft and pretty,” because to me that’s boring. I visually want something that will inspire me.
Bare: The topic of blush came up, and you mentioned in your culture a person wearing too much blush is referred to as "cornbread cheeks" Can you share any other slang expressions?
DJ: I joke that I have “cornbread cheeks,” a phrase that my culture has coined for someone who has round cheeks or a round face. Our version of cornbread is more like round polenta balls, rather than southern-style yellow cornbread. So I own my cornbread cheeks proudly!
There’s lots of slang or expressions from my community. If someone’s cool or badass, they’re “beast.” Or instead of saying “jeez” we’ll say hánio or hátskwi for emphasis!
Bare: You're a big foodie we hear. Can you share a few of your favorite restaurants in Toronto where you live? Do you have dietary restrictions? Do you cook often?
DJ: I think my all-time favorite restaurant in Toronto is their Northern Thai spot Pai. It’s my go-to, it hits every time and I’ve gotten so many people obsessed with the spot. I also love to cook though, my favorite to make at home is Italian food — I make my own gluten-free pasta and sauces. My Native genes came for me and have made me lactose intolerant, but I’m still in denial. Dairy is my love language!
Bare: You are heading to work on a new project in Atlanta. Is there anything you'd like to share about it?
DJ: I can’t share too much just yet! But I will say getting to act amongst this unbelievably talented cast is a dream. People I’ve admired for so long, like Michelle Pfeiffer, Denis Leary, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Jason Schwartzman and Havana Rose Liu. It’s wild!
Bare: Please list your top five Bare essentials (they can be anything).
DJ:
Lip balm: I am full-blown addicted to lip balm; I have my backpack Chapstick, my bedside Chapstick, car Chapstick, you name it. But my favourite right now that’s really been doing it for me is the Glow Recipe plump hyaluronic lip gloss balm
Notebook: ever since I read and watched Harriet the Spy growing up, I aspired to be like Harriet and to document my life in journals. It was my therapy before I found therapy and I take mine with me wherever I go.
Moisturizer: I need to keep these cornbread cheeks hydrated.
Sleep: it feels like my life unravels if I don’t get enough of it.
Yummy meals: My toxic trait is that every meal I eat needs to be delicious. I eat very healthily, but it’s always yummy.
Photos/Makeup: Tina Turnbow using Juice Beauty
Clothing: Batsheva
Shot at Batsheva’s store and streets of NYC
Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine
