Kimball Farley
Going into this feature, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted out of it. I can talk to a million people, but when I write, I want people to come away with at least one thing. I strive for a clear message to resonate, but admittedly, I’ve found myself recently writing to get it done rather than genuinely exploring the conversations I have with these artists. However, this feature felt different. It wasn’t until after our conversation, as I began piecing everything together, that the purpose really started to come into focus.
A few months back, I had the chance to sit down with director Mark H. Rappaport to discuss his latest film, Hippo(which you can read here). During our conversation, I discovered the film was co-written by its lead actor, Kimball Farley. I’ve always been drawn to projects where the writer also appears on camera, i.e. Benny Safdie, Lena Dunham, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Cooper Raiff; there’s something deeply connective about it. After a dazed, late-night viewing of Hippo, easily one of my favorite films of the past year, I knew I wanted to speak with the people who brought it to life. A few weeks after my chat with Mark, I reached out again and asked if he could connect me with Kimball.
The following is my conversation with actor Kimball Farley.
Kimball Farley sits relaxed in his Vermont retreat, a world away from the deserts of Arizona where he grew up. “It’s just beautiful up here,” he says with quiet awe. “I’ve lived in New York and California, but there’s something special about this amount of…green.” Reflecting on his early days in Arizona, Kimball reminisces about the joy of making amateur films with his childhood best friend. "I knew pretty early on that acting and filmmaking were what I wanted to do,” he recalls earnestly, describing his first paid acting gig, a small indie film shot locally, a rare opportunity in his home state. “I remember feeling so excited, driving home after the audition and thinking, 'Wow, this might actually happen.' It was surreal.” Kimball recently starred in Recluse, a horror film shot in Lancaster, Massachusetts, which he describes vividly, particularly noting the autumn hues, “It was gorgeous, just seeing the leaves fall.” As a Massachusetts native myself, I completely understood what he meant.
Our conversation naturally shifted to our shared fascination with cinema. I asked about his ongoing collaborations with filmmaker Mark Rappaport, particularly their acclaimed indie feature, Hippo. Kimball warmly recalled their initial connection. “I emailed Mark out of the blue after seeing a horror film he produced called Pledge. Our interests aligned immediately, we just clicked.” I related to this deeply. As an aspiring filmmaker, I’ve learned that creative connections matter more than almost anything else. Their synergy led to the haunting short film Andronicus, and eventually to Hippo, a black-and-white coming-of-age story that resonated deeply with indie cinema lovers. Curious, I asked Kimball about potential future collaborations. “We have about five scripts written now,” Kimball shares excitedly, mentioning their latest project, Godhead, another atmospheric tale promising gothic vibes and Southern mystique. “We shot that in January and it's cooking.”
Diving deeper into film, we found common ground in our admiration for directors Paul Thomas Anderson and David Lynch, with Kimball naming There Will Be Blood as his all-time favorite and mine being The Master. “I’d love to do more Western-style movies or a gothic epic, something grand and haunting,” Kimball says, eyes alight with creative ambition. “I love a good epic.” Don’t we all.
I also shared my experiences writing for Orange Peel Magazine, a gig that started simply but quickly became something personal. I explained how I use it not only as a creative outlet but as a means to build connections, openly expressing my aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. Kimball resonated with this approach, noting, “It's similar to acting, you’re always chasing that initial feeling, creating something raw and meaningful.” His perspective was comforting; many creators know the anxiety of throwing everything at the wall and hoping something sticks. Kimball reinforced my belief that it’s always better to try and fail than never to try at all.
Q: “What was the moment you realized ‘I made it’?”
Kimball doesn’t hesitate, noting his memorable role in the acclaimed television show The Righteous Gemstones, directed by Danny McBride. "Working with Danny and Bradley Cooper was surreal," he explains. "These were people I looked up to my entire life. Standing on set with them was genuinely one of those 'pinch-me' moments." He laughs recalling his nerves: "I was so nervous beforehand , I had this irrational fear that something bizarre would prevent me from making it to set. Thankfully, nothing did." This experience connected Farley to Rough House Pictures, Danny McBride’s Charleston-based production company that also helped produce Hippo.
Another area Kimball and I connected over was music. We share a mutual love for Asheville-based artist MJ Lenderman. We concluded our chat with promises to keep in touch, perhaps even collaborate, and undoubtedly keep exploring this endless world of storytelling we both cherish. Saying goodbye, Kimball’s enthusiasm for future projects was contagious, leaving us both energized and inspired.
Often, when I'm preparing for these interviews, I try to appear put-together and project a certain image. However, meeting Kimball was refreshing. I felt no pressure to perform. I’m not a real journalist by any stretch; I do this because I enjoy it, and sometimes, I even get to attend concerts for free (lol). Usually, I walk away from these conversations having learned something, but this time I felt renewed excitement not just because I had a great conversation, but because Kimball genuinely inspired me. In a world obsessed with fame, taking risks can feel limiting and scary. Yet this conversation reminded me that you won’t get anywhere without trying. It’s refreshing to speak with someone whose intentions are pure, someone who simply wants to create. In our often superficial world, that kind of authenticity truly stands out.