| In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge for an actor new to Los Angeles? |
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I think the greatest initial challenge for most folks that come out here, me included, is dealing with that overwhelming feeling of isolation and insignificance. LA is so spread out and the gates of the industry can seem impenetrable at first. It is easy to feel powerless and defeated.
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| You majored in music and song composition at Michigan State University, not theater. Do you feel getting a degree in theater is important to a career in Los Angeles? How have you learned the craft of acting? |
| I believe that living an enriched life should be the top priority for all of us. A fulfilling life should include a fulfilling career, but not be limited to it. However, as an actor, living an enriched life is part of the craft. I am so thankful that I was able to get a college education in a field other than acting. It has broadened the scope through which I see the world and hopefully through which the world sees me too! I don’t think that having a college degree would make or break anyone’s chance of getting a role in Hollywood. As long as you are right for a part, I don’t think they care. However, having a degree shows that you have follow through and a wealth of experience to draw from. |
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| What were the biggest challenges you had to overcome as you stepped into your first starring role as “George”? |
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Christopher and Jordan Kerner |
The biggest challenge was convincing and inspiring confidence in the folks around me that I could handle leading a big budget picture. My biggest supporter on the George team was producer Jordan Kerner.
His belief in me from the very first audition and his conviction for the project convinced everyone from the studio on down to rally behind us. It wasn’t until later in retrospect, mercifully, that it struck me how terrifying it was to shoulder those responsibilities and expectations. |
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| What motivates you to stay in shape? |
| When I was in 2nd grade I made a bicep pose during quiet time. Sue Brown yelled “Hey, look at Chris’s muscle!” Discovering this new way to get attention (not to mention a detention for interrupting quiet time, but I digress) I started to work out to develop my body. At seven, I was already fascinated by the notion that we can change and develop who we are by our will and effort. When I was nine, I saw a picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger in a book store. This was way before Conan. I was drawn to it like a moth to the bug zapper. I got my first weight set that year. If it weren’t for the widespread drug use necessary to compete, I may have pursued a career in bodybuilding. |
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| What kind of foods do you have to eat to keep in shape? Did Disney order you on any particular diet when working on the film? |
| My diet was protein and green leafy things – like pond scum. When I woke up, I would have a tiny bit of Oatmeal (50 g dry) and a protein shake and a fist full of Musashi supplements. Once on set, the caterers made me an egg white omelet with spinach leaves. Mid morning I would have some raw vegetables rolled up in a sheet of nori. Lunch was 300 grams of chicken or fish and a small bit of sweet potato with some salad with vinegar for dressing. In the afternoon I would have a Musashi protein bar with the chocolate shaved off and would end the day with chicken and salad. All this washed down with at least a gallon of water daily. |
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| Do you do your own stunts? |
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Christopher and Kyle Gardner |
I love to do stunts!! Someday I want to do a high fall. I recently did a ratchet for a commercial (where a cable yanks you really fast out of frame). I also did some really scary stuff for Sea Of Fear out in the middle of the ocean (but I can’t tell you what it was – go see the movie!) The producers won’t always let you do your own stunts though depending on the danger level. I did about half of my stunts for George 2 – the other half (the more dangerous half) was done by my double, Kyle Gardner. One morning he came to the make up trailer all covered in bruises because he spent the previous day slamming into bulldozers just to make me look good on film. |
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| The actors’ life has ups and downs. How do you cope with rejection? |
| I’d like to know the answer to that one too!! Nobody likes to be rejected. We all want to belong. The fear of rejection is the fear of death. Really!! It evolved from the fear of being outcast from our tribe, which in prehistoric times, was a death sentence. It always stings no matter if it’s professional, personal or some other form of rejection even though we now know intellectually that we will probably survive it. I don’t have the answer to this, but a good place to start is to never hand your self esteem over to anyone. Also, keep a circle of friends and family close that love and support you unconditionally. |
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| Who did you admire as a kid and why? |
| My Grandpa was (and still is) my hero because he knew who he was and what was important to him. He didn’t get caught up in ego or judgment with himself or those around him. He was fun, funny, hard working, compassionate, and lived every moment with purpose and passion up to the day he died. |
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| What is your most embarrassing moment? |
| In fourth grade the butt of my green corduroys ripped out and I was wearing my red Superman Underoos underneath. I had my big red booty hanging out for the rest of the day. I decided that after that day I wouldn’t be embarrassed about anything. It has almost worked too. |
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| What do you love about acting? |
| I love discovering all the different people inside of me and getting to know them. It has been a great life lesson that whenever someone really gets under my skin, I think of how I would play that person as a character. Once you really start to see what makes people tick, you realize that we are all really very similar. |
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| END INTERVIEW |
