Friday September 18th:
Tom Welling aka Superman from TV show "Smallville" was walking around downtown near the Shangri-La Hotel at around 8:00pm. We saw him but he was walking so fast that we didn't get to talk to him. (and plus, I'll admit I totally froze...haha). He's so good looking! :)
-Christinaaa
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Scooby Doo! PART 2!
Hey everyone, if you didn't catch the premiere of Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins on Sept. 13 on Cartoon Network, you can still see it on Teletoon (for us Canadians channel 50 haha) on September 26 @ 7:00pm OR on October 3 @ 7:00pm! So don't miss out! Or you can check it out on DVD on September 22! So either way, I really think you should go see it :) Anyways, so if you missed my previous post about Scooby Doo, go take a look. Here's part two of the Scooby Doo post series featuring... Nick Palatas! AKA Shaggy :)
1. How did you get started in acting? How old were you when you started?
Basically, I did a school play back when I was in 6th grade. I really liked the energy I felt up on stage and continued in the theater up until I graduated from high school. My senior year, however, I had my first taste of film when I landed a Wal-mart commercial. I loved the experience, and with the tugging on my heart, I decided not to pursue my collegiate studies (despite having a nearly full-ride scholarship to a nice university in Missouri), but instead to take the plunge and pray for the best. I have now been in Hollywood for 3 years, making me 21!
2. Is Scooby Doo the first movie that you play a lead role in?
Technically, no. I have played lead roles in other film projects, but they were all either student films, independent films, or commercials. This is my first feature. That can also answer question 3!
4. What made you want to get into acting?
Although I've always found it exhilarating, the biggest influence on my decision to bypass education and a job, and go straight to practice and a career, was the persuasion I felt from God telling me that it was what I should be doing. I just prayed about it often and the responses all pointed me towards Hollywood.
5. How did you land the role of Shaggy? What was your reaction?
Truthfully, it was a giant blessing. I auditioned just like every other kid, but happened to have something that set me apart. Brian Levant (our director) has often commented that he knew I was Shaggy from the first audition he of me. As for my reaction, I basically cried, lol. I was so freaking happy. Not only was it a feature, but it's Shaggy! There are maybe a handful of characters to play that equal such a fun and recognizable icon as Shaggy.
6. So what was it like to play Shaggy?
The best part about being Shaggy, is that you simply have to drop all inhibitions and take everything as it comes. He is super friendly, happy, and genuine, with a ton of energy, and just enough naivety to make everyone laugh.
7. Do you think you and Shaggy are similar at all? Why or why not?
It's funny, because a lot of people say that I just AM Shaggy, but there are also many who don't see it at all. We're similar, in that I love to have fun, I try my best to always be happy, and I love to make other people laugh. In fact, I've often said that my greatest goal in life, is to make every person I meet and/or know laugh at least once that day. You cannot have a bad time when you're smiling and laughing.
8. What was it like having to act and pretend that “Scooby” was on set?
It was quite a challenge. I've always had quite an imagination, but it really pushed all of us to the limits. I remember the hardest time I had, was during the "You and I" montage, because I had to spin around in a circle while pretending to hold hands and spin WITH SCOOBY. Not only do I get motion-sick when I spin, but it was like 100 degrees outside that day, I had long sleeves and corduroy pants, and we were doing the shot in slow motion, so I had to step awkwardly. We must have done 20 takes just trying to get my circle right and making it so I looked like I was actually holding Scooby.
9. What was your favourite part about filming Scooby Doo?
Favorite part? Just being on set and getting to know so many great people. I love the whole process, and love to be with the crew and cast each and every day we filmed.
10. So when I visited the set, it seemed like a pretty fun atmosphere...what was one of the funniest things that happened on set?
Wow. There were a ton. I really can't narrow one down. There was Kate and her "adorably accident-prone" self, there were many inside jokes on set, there were mishaps and bruises galore, there were out-takes and bloopers... Just suffice it to say that we shared a lot of laughs!
11. What was it like working with Director Brian Levant?
To be completely honest, Brian Levant is like a second father to me. What a gentle, kind-hearted, genuine, and fun guy. I cannot say enough about how sincerely amazing Brian is. Truthfully, he takes a little getting used to, as I was pretty afraid of him for the first week or so of filming (maybe intimidated by is a better word, but nevertheless). However, after that first week of acquainting myself with his... style? I learned to absolutely love the man. We couldn't have asked for a better director.
12. So how did you like filming in BC? Have you ever been here before?
Nope, I've never been to Canada before, despite having lived and traveled all over the world as the son of a Naval officer... Vancouver was beautiful, and the Canadians were all very nice. I was expecting it to be so much different than America, for some odd reason, but as it turns out, it was quite similar. And again, it was beautiful.
13. If you could work with any other actor/actress in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could work with ANY other actor? Oh goodness. I'm gonna go with Jim Carrey. The guy has inspired more laughs than should be humanly possible.
14. Lastly, do you have any upcoming projects?
So far, I have no upcoming projects, but the movie hasn't even come out yet! So, right now, I'm just enjoying the ride and waiting patiently to see what God has in store for me.
Thank you Nick for the interview! :)
COMING NEXT: Video interviews with KATE MELTON (aka Daphne) & ROBBIE AMELL (aka Fred)
-Christinaaa :)
1. How did you get started in acting? How old were you when you started?
Basically, I did a school play back when I was in 6th grade. I really liked the energy I felt up on stage and continued in the theater up until I graduated from high school. My senior year, however, I had my first taste of film when I landed a Wal-mart commercial. I loved the experience, and with the tugging on my heart, I decided not to pursue my collegiate studies (despite having a nearly full-ride scholarship to a nice university in Missouri), but instead to take the plunge and pray for the best. I have now been in Hollywood for 3 years, making me 21!
2. Is Scooby Doo the first movie that you play a lead role in?
Technically, no. I have played lead roles in other film projects, but they were all either student films, independent films, or commercials. This is my first feature. That can also answer question 3!
4. What made you want to get into acting?
Although I've always found it exhilarating, the biggest influence on my decision to bypass education and a job, and go straight to practice and a career, was the persuasion I felt from God telling me that it was what I should be doing. I just prayed about it often and the responses all pointed me towards Hollywood.
5. How did you land the role of Shaggy? What was your reaction?
Truthfully, it was a giant blessing. I auditioned just like every other kid, but happened to have something that set me apart. Brian Levant (our director) has often commented that he knew I was Shaggy from the first audition he of me. As for my reaction, I basically cried, lol. I was so freaking happy. Not only was it a feature, but it's Shaggy! There are maybe a handful of characters to play that equal such a fun and recognizable icon as Shaggy.
6. So what was it like to play Shaggy?
The best part about being Shaggy, is that you simply have to drop all inhibitions and take everything as it comes. He is super friendly, happy, and genuine, with a ton of energy, and just enough naivety to make everyone laugh.
7. Do you think you and Shaggy are similar at all? Why or why not?
It's funny, because a lot of people say that I just AM Shaggy, but there are also many who don't see it at all. We're similar, in that I love to have fun, I try my best to always be happy, and I love to make other people laugh. In fact, I've often said that my greatest goal in life, is to make every person I meet and/or know laugh at least once that day. You cannot have a bad time when you're smiling and laughing.
8. What was it like having to act and pretend that “Scooby” was on set?
It was quite a challenge. I've always had quite an imagination, but it really pushed all of us to the limits. I remember the hardest time I had, was during the "You and I" montage, because I had to spin around in a circle while pretending to hold hands and spin WITH SCOOBY. Not only do I get motion-sick when I spin, but it was like 100 degrees outside that day, I had long sleeves and corduroy pants, and we were doing the shot in slow motion, so I had to step awkwardly. We must have done 20 takes just trying to get my circle right and making it so I looked like I was actually holding Scooby.
9. What was your favourite part about filming Scooby Doo?
Favorite part? Just being on set and getting to know so many great people. I love the whole process, and love to be with the crew and cast each and every day we filmed.
10. So when I visited the set, it seemed like a pretty fun atmosphere...what was one of the funniest things that happened on set?
Wow. There were a ton. I really can't narrow one down. There was Kate and her "adorably accident-prone" self, there were many inside jokes on set, there were mishaps and bruises galore, there were out-takes and bloopers... Just suffice it to say that we shared a lot of laughs!
11. What was it like working with Director Brian Levant?
To be completely honest, Brian Levant is like a second father to me. What a gentle, kind-hearted, genuine, and fun guy. I cannot say enough about how sincerely amazing Brian is. Truthfully, he takes a little getting used to, as I was pretty afraid of him for the first week or so of filming (maybe intimidated by is a better word, but nevertheless). However, after that first week of acquainting myself with his... style? I learned to absolutely love the man. We couldn't have asked for a better director.
12. So how did you like filming in BC? Have you ever been here before?
Nope, I've never been to Canada before, despite having lived and traveled all over the world as the son of a Naval officer... Vancouver was beautiful, and the Canadians were all very nice. I was expecting it to be so much different than America, for some odd reason, but as it turns out, it was quite similar. And again, it was beautiful.
13. If you could work with any other actor/actress in the world, who would it be and why?
If I could work with ANY other actor? Oh goodness. I'm gonna go with Jim Carrey. The guy has inspired more laughs than should be humanly possible.
14. Lastly, do you have any upcoming projects?
So far, I have no upcoming projects, but the movie hasn't even come out yet! So, right now, I'm just enjoying the ride and waiting patiently to see what God has in store for me.
Thank you Nick for the interview! :)
COMING NEXT: Video interviews with KATE MELTON (aka Daphne) & ROBBIE AMELL (aka Fred)
-Christinaaa :)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
MITCHEL MUSSO INTERVIEW
I was able to have a phone interview with Hannah Montana star, Mitchel Musso and he gave us some insight into his life and his music career! He was really nice and great to talk to. My article is only in the Alberta issue of Youthink this month, so I'll post it once I get a copy of it from the Youthink office!
Here it is for you to read though! (I might post the recorded conversation later)
1. So tell me how you’re feeling about the recent release of your debut album. Has it been in the works for a long time?
M - It has been in the works for a good amount of time. I’ve been playing music since I was about...oh man...Six years old was when I got my first grand piano, so I guess involved with instruments and stuff like that. I picked up a guitar for the first time at like 10. I started playing the drums at 11 or 12. So just overall, I’ve always had a passion for music, an ear for music, I loved just music in general; from tempos, keys and chords and everything else that comes with it. But most recently, probably about 6-8 months ago, we were in discussion about creating this album to drop right around my birthday when I turned 18; and just this whole new look, you know what I mean, just completely changed. And it has! But I think it’s all for the better, you know what I mean? Music has opened so many doors and I do love it so so much so it’s been very good!
2. How would you describe the overall feel or theme of this album?
M - The overall feel...I guess as far as topics that we really talked about in the album where I discussed is like you know, girls, parties and not fitting in but how it’s okay. And I guess mainly the sound, like if you want to hear what genre it really falls in, I’d say it’s kind of a rock, hip hop, dance, electro kind of a vibe. Yeah, because I listen to everything from classical to hard rap. Like Billy Joel to Three 6 Mafia or Lil Wayne to Elton John, you know I mean, so like everything in between. You probably won’t find very many country sounds in my album but as far as everything else is; I try to add as much as I could; get a variety.
3. How did you balance working on the album with your work on Hannah Montana?
M - You tell me! I’m not sure, it just kind of happened, you know what I mean? I wouldn’t say...working on Hannah’s not too difficult and recording music’s not too difficult, so both of them together wasn’t too bad.
4. Was everyone on the cast and crew supportive of you pursuing this endeavour?
M - Yeah, yeah for sure! They were like the first people who got the album. I came in with like a whole; everybody was asking me for one so I came in with a whole suitcase full and gave everybody one. I wanted to hear everyone’s opinions. I know Miley was like the first person I showed my CD to and she thought it was great and she wants to do music later on in the future. Like for the second album, she’s written 2 songs: one just for me and a duet between me and her, but you never know.
5. So Miley was really supportive, did she give you any advice about the project?
M - Yeah she was. And not really, other than she wants to do a duet.
6. So did Disney approach you to do an album or was it you taking the initiative and approaching them?
M - No, no, that was me wanting to do it. Yeah, they did a long time ago, and I was like “No.” The thing about music is that I just truthfully...I wanted to be an artist before I was an artist, so like what that means is...Like when I was little, I learned a couple big editing softwares like Pro Tools and Logic and Reason. Because like nowadays I can go to the studio and lay down all of my tracks, which are you know, the keyboard, the drums, guitar and edit and mix it all by myself. And that was what I wanted to do, or at least to be able to do. Just being able to know music before I really became a musician and that was what we did.
7. You worked with a number of well known industry heavy hitters such as Max Martin, Curt Schneider, and Matthew Wilder...How was the experience working with them?
M - Phenomenal. I mean, even, we also worked with S*A*M & Sluggo, which is Sam & Dave, who did Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Gym Class Heroes, also Metro Station, my older brother’s band. And then PJ Bianco who did “Look Me in the Eyes” for the Jonas Brothers, branched them off in the top 40. But overall, yeah, I try to tell everybody that there was so much talent put in this record, not on my own behalf, just by everybody else’s help, that it really made it sound like a rockin’ album. It’s not just me, it’s a lot of help, you know what I mean, there’s so much talent in the world...it’s ridiculous.
8. So how much input did you have when you were in the studio?
M - A lot. All creative rights and everything else; creative control.
9. You co-wrote a few songs on this album? How did you enjoy that process?
M - It definitely was a thrill. I wrote two of them by myself and then I co-wrote mostly all of them except for like two that were already written. But it’s been cool. I wanted to add my own ideas and I feel like we covered all of that. I feel like we came out with a pretty rockin album.
10. So your brother Mason is also in the music industry and is featured on the track “Shout It”...How has he helped you or influenced your career as a musician?
M - Well as far as Mason goes, he’s really like my role model when it comes to music, you know what I mean? Not just music, I mean he’s my role model in general. He’s my older brother; usually your older sibling is the person you look up to. But I think he’s helped me, I mean, a good amount, he’s definitely taught me a lot of guitar. He taught me mostly all the instruments before I knew because he picked them up first. And then, when he was progressing in it, excelling in it, I was like “I want to do that”, and he helped me out, taught me some chords. He taught me how to write. I mean, when I was little, he taught me what chorus, you know, the meaning of the chorus, and the meaning of a verse, and a prechorus and a bridge...just pretty much how to make music to be completely honest with you. And I’m so stoked because we’re going on tour the 28th of this month, so real real soon we’ll be on tour together.
11. So earlier, you mentioned that you have a wide range of music that you listen to...are there any in particular that you like more, or any bands that stand out for you?
M - Well you know what, there’s so much talent in this world, that it’s very difficult to really pick my favourite artist, you know what I mean? But I love bands like...let’s see I love Blink 182, I love The Used, I love the Clash, I love Metro Station. And then again, I like stuff like...I love Eminem. I love Dr Dre, I love Three 6 Mafia...it really all depends. I like everything.
12. Have you always known that you wanted to get into the music industry as well as acting? When did you decide to pursue your music career?
M - Truthfully, just after I knew I could do it. When I felt like I was an artist, that’s when I felt like I wanted to pursue it. I was like, I don’t want anybody to just look at me like another one of those kids who comes out with music and is all bubblegum pop and everything else like that; no creative control and just gets fed stuff and does it. I wanted to really be able to take over. I get up on stage and I play every instrument and I just want to be a musician in general.
13. How has being an actor helped your career as a musician?
M - You know, the fan base of course. And I have the coolest fans in the world, I always like to shout them out; they’re the best always, always filling out the shows and everything else. As far as acting goes...When I write I guess, it’s not necessarily... I don’t want to word this wrong but it’s not necessarily always true, you know what I mean? When I write, some of it’s from the heart but I try to mix up a couple things. Because when I write, I don’t like to write about necessarily my personal personal life. If I write about things, it’s very under wraps, you would never know, only I would know and maybe the person who it’s written about, you know what I mean? You’re not going to catch me in a room with an acoustic guitar writing a song about a girl named Ashley who broke my heart, you know what I mean? The music’s more about...it’s always going to be upbeat. I will always want everybody to dance to it and I want everybody to be able to feel free and let loose and that’s what the music truthfully is for me. But everybody has their own opinions on making music.
14. How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business, particularly because you are so recognizable from your TV career?
M - I don’t know, I think me and Mason especially, are pretty good about it because we’re very...how do I say this...we love to share I guess is the right word for it. We’re huge into sharing. We like everybody to be able to...Like if we’re going to play a concert, we love throwing the mic in front of the kids’ faces so that they can sing with us! We want everybody to feel involved to be completely honest with you. We also come from the smallest county in the largest state of Rockwall of Texas where everyone’s all hicks and I mean, I walk outside and you see cows and then you see a lake, you know what I mean, like whatever. So I feel like maybe that kind of has a little help. But then again, we just look at it like a job. We’re just regular kids with just extraordinary jobs. It’s weird, I feel like if you talk about being grounded, you actually have a big head, so it’s kind of weird. You know, like [in sarcastic tone] “Oh I’m so grounded, I’m just the nicest of the nicest” you know what I mean? No.
15. What is it like to be a part of such a phenomenally successful TV show as “Hannah Montana?”
M - It’s nice! Ever since, I was about thirteen was when we started so it’s definitely been the right area for me to get involved in. I mean Disney was definitely a good stepping stone and will always be right there to back me up. I’ve definitely been blessed I guess to be a part of the channel. Disney is phenomenal; they’ve helped me pursue this dream, not just of being an actor, now they’re so open armed into letting me be this musician and everything else.
16. So how did you land the role of Oliver Oken?
M - Auditions. A nice little audition process. It took a good amount of time but when it all comes down to it, it started with um I guess I was in Texas, it’s actually a long story here, but it started out I was in Texas and I got this call for “Hey you have an audition for a show called Hannah Montana” so I was like okay cool, you know what I mean? No one knew what Hannah Montana was, no one knew what Hannah Montana was going to be. And so, it’s a Wednesday, we were flying out Friday to L.A. My mom says, “Don’t bring your skateboard Mitchel,” that’s all I used to do, is be a skater, that was like my life. “Don’t bring your skateboard Mitch, you’re going to hurt yourself, don’t do it. We gotta leave in 2 days, just keep it easy tonight.” “Okay Mom, I swear I’m not going to, I swear, I’ll be good. I’m not going to bring my board, I’m going to be fine, it’s all good, don’t even worry about me.” Went outside, ran around the back, grabbed my skateboard. Pretty much an hour into skating, I go up a ramp, I have no idea what I did, I just remember coming down and snapping my arm completely in half. I snapped my radius and my forearm; my arm looked like a V, seriously it looked like a zig zag. And so 6 weeks later, 7 weeks later, we fly out to L.A for pilot season; they’re still casting for Oliver. I go in for the audition and there’s this chair and they’re telling me to climb up on the chair because if you can remember from the pilot, Oliver’s character is climbing up into Hannah Montana’s balcony and I guess asking her to sign something for him; god we’ve shot so many episodes I’m sorry I don’t even remember what it was about. But I just remember climbing into the window but I was supposed to be climbing this chair that was the idea. So I was like “okay yeah for sure, definitely.” I dropped to the ground and I noticed like they’re all sitting behind this, there’s about 15 execs including Gary Marsh and Robert Iger who is the head of Disney and then the head of Disney channel. So like all the huge execs are sitting behind this table that’s like this mahogany leathered; this table looks like it’s more expensive than a Ferrari. It’s like a million million dollar table that’s got Disney engraved in it and it’s got Mickey Mouse coming up out of it; it’s crazy. So I dropped to the ground, no one could see me, and I just start crawling up on their table. And I figured, I don’t know, I felt like that was a change. Change it up a little bit.
17. Your character Oliver “Smokin” Oken is a pretty funny guy...Can you relate to Oliver and his crazy situations?
M - Sure. I guess Oliver, he’s a little bit “goobery” and I’m not as wild as he is for sure. Also, Oliver is more of a clean cut kind of a kid. I’m more of like a Southern, you know, I like to go out and play in the dirt and stuff like that; that’s the kind of stuff I like to do. Oliver is more like, likes to look proper and nice. He wears his, not khakis, but more like suit pants and stuff like that. See, I never do that kind of things. I like to go out in my black jeans and my black shirt with my black shoes on, you know what I mean, I’m not too fond of all the colours.
18. How do you feel being on Hannah Montana has affected your career in television as well as the music industry?
M - It’s affected everything really. I guess because you get known as a character and people learn to love that character and they want to see this character all the time and then they figure out that it’s not just you, it’s a character that you’re playing. So then there’s this other ego and then they want to learn about that. And then you’re playing another character on another show or another movie or music, you know what I mean? That was just kind of the first stepping stone that opened up the career. Even though, I’ve done tons of stuff beforehand and that was just, you know, but when you get booked on a show, you get stuck as that character because you play that character for years. I’ve played Oliver for the past 6 or 7 years, you know?
19. Moving forward, what will be in the forefront – your music or acting career?
M - It’s a tough question but when it all comes down to it, I would pick music because music I’m playing Mitchel; acting I’m playing another character. Although, I love acting, you know what I mean; I can always improv and make it my own and stuff like that but when it comes to music, I make my own call time, I write what I want to write about, it’s more of my project, it’s me being my own artist and I think that’s cooler.
Mitchel, thanks for the interview!
-Christinaaa :)
Here it is for you to read though! (I might post the recorded conversation later)
1. So tell me how you’re feeling about the recent release of your debut album. Has it been in the works for a long time?
M - It has been in the works for a good amount of time. I’ve been playing music since I was about...oh man...Six years old was when I got my first grand piano, so I guess involved with instruments and stuff like that. I picked up a guitar for the first time at like 10. I started playing the drums at 11 or 12. So just overall, I’ve always had a passion for music, an ear for music, I loved just music in general; from tempos, keys and chords and everything else that comes with it. But most recently, probably about 6-8 months ago, we were in discussion about creating this album to drop right around my birthday when I turned 18; and just this whole new look, you know what I mean, just completely changed. And it has! But I think it’s all for the better, you know what I mean? Music has opened so many doors and I do love it so so much so it’s been very good!
2. How would you describe the overall feel or theme of this album?
M - The overall feel...I guess as far as topics that we really talked about in the album where I discussed is like you know, girls, parties and not fitting in but how it’s okay. And I guess mainly the sound, like if you want to hear what genre it really falls in, I’d say it’s kind of a rock, hip hop, dance, electro kind of a vibe. Yeah, because I listen to everything from classical to hard rap. Like Billy Joel to Three 6 Mafia or Lil Wayne to Elton John, you know I mean, so like everything in between. You probably won’t find very many country sounds in my album but as far as everything else is; I try to add as much as I could; get a variety.
3. How did you balance working on the album with your work on Hannah Montana?
M - You tell me! I’m not sure, it just kind of happened, you know what I mean? I wouldn’t say...working on Hannah’s not too difficult and recording music’s not too difficult, so both of them together wasn’t too bad.
4. Was everyone on the cast and crew supportive of you pursuing this endeavour?
M - Yeah, yeah for sure! They were like the first people who got the album. I came in with like a whole; everybody was asking me for one so I came in with a whole suitcase full and gave everybody one. I wanted to hear everyone’s opinions. I know Miley was like the first person I showed my CD to and she thought it was great and she wants to do music later on in the future. Like for the second album, she’s written 2 songs: one just for me and a duet between me and her, but you never know.
5. So Miley was really supportive, did she give you any advice about the project?
M - Yeah she was. And not really, other than she wants to do a duet.
6. So did Disney approach you to do an album or was it you taking the initiative and approaching them?
M - No, no, that was me wanting to do it. Yeah, they did a long time ago, and I was like “No.” The thing about music is that I just truthfully...I wanted to be an artist before I was an artist, so like what that means is...Like when I was little, I learned a couple big editing softwares like Pro Tools and Logic and Reason. Because like nowadays I can go to the studio and lay down all of my tracks, which are you know, the keyboard, the drums, guitar and edit and mix it all by myself. And that was what I wanted to do, or at least to be able to do. Just being able to know music before I really became a musician and that was what we did.
7. You worked with a number of well known industry heavy hitters such as Max Martin, Curt Schneider, and Matthew Wilder...How was the experience working with them?
M - Phenomenal. I mean, even, we also worked with S*A*M & Sluggo, which is Sam & Dave, who did Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, Gym Class Heroes, also Metro Station, my older brother’s band. And then PJ Bianco who did “Look Me in the Eyes” for the Jonas Brothers, branched them off in the top 40. But overall, yeah, I try to tell everybody that there was so much talent put in this record, not on my own behalf, just by everybody else’s help, that it really made it sound like a rockin’ album. It’s not just me, it’s a lot of help, you know what I mean, there’s so much talent in the world...it’s ridiculous.
8. So how much input did you have when you were in the studio?
M - A lot. All creative rights and everything else; creative control.
9. You co-wrote a few songs on this album? How did you enjoy that process?
M - It definitely was a thrill. I wrote two of them by myself and then I co-wrote mostly all of them except for like two that were already written. But it’s been cool. I wanted to add my own ideas and I feel like we covered all of that. I feel like we came out with a pretty rockin album.
10. So your brother Mason is also in the music industry and is featured on the track “Shout It”...How has he helped you or influenced your career as a musician?
M - Well as far as Mason goes, he’s really like my role model when it comes to music, you know what I mean? Not just music, I mean he’s my role model in general. He’s my older brother; usually your older sibling is the person you look up to. But I think he’s helped me, I mean, a good amount, he’s definitely taught me a lot of guitar. He taught me mostly all the instruments before I knew because he picked them up first. And then, when he was progressing in it, excelling in it, I was like “I want to do that”, and he helped me out, taught me some chords. He taught me how to write. I mean, when I was little, he taught me what chorus, you know, the meaning of the chorus, and the meaning of a verse, and a prechorus and a bridge...just pretty much how to make music to be completely honest with you. And I’m so stoked because we’re going on tour the 28th of this month, so real real soon we’ll be on tour together.
11. So earlier, you mentioned that you have a wide range of music that you listen to...are there any in particular that you like more, or any bands that stand out for you?
M - Well you know what, there’s so much talent in this world, that it’s very difficult to really pick my favourite artist, you know what I mean? But I love bands like...let’s see I love Blink 182, I love The Used, I love the Clash, I love Metro Station. And then again, I like stuff like...I love Eminem. I love Dr Dre, I love Three 6 Mafia...it really all depends. I like everything.
12. Have you always known that you wanted to get into the music industry as well as acting? When did you decide to pursue your music career?
M - Truthfully, just after I knew I could do it. When I felt like I was an artist, that’s when I felt like I wanted to pursue it. I was like, I don’t want anybody to just look at me like another one of those kids who comes out with music and is all bubblegum pop and everything else like that; no creative control and just gets fed stuff and does it. I wanted to really be able to take over. I get up on stage and I play every instrument and I just want to be a musician in general.
13. How has being an actor helped your career as a musician?
M - You know, the fan base of course. And I have the coolest fans in the world, I always like to shout them out; they’re the best always, always filling out the shows and everything else. As far as acting goes...When I write I guess, it’s not necessarily... I don’t want to word this wrong but it’s not necessarily always true, you know what I mean? When I write, some of it’s from the heart but I try to mix up a couple things. Because when I write, I don’t like to write about necessarily my personal personal life. If I write about things, it’s very under wraps, you would never know, only I would know and maybe the person who it’s written about, you know what I mean? You’re not going to catch me in a room with an acoustic guitar writing a song about a girl named Ashley who broke my heart, you know what I mean? The music’s more about...it’s always going to be upbeat. I will always want everybody to dance to it and I want everybody to be able to feel free and let loose and that’s what the music truthfully is for me. But everybody has their own opinions on making music.
14. How do you keep yourself grounded in such a crazy business, particularly because you are so recognizable from your TV career?
M - I don’t know, I think me and Mason especially, are pretty good about it because we’re very...how do I say this...we love to share I guess is the right word for it. We’re huge into sharing. We like everybody to be able to...Like if we’re going to play a concert, we love throwing the mic in front of the kids’ faces so that they can sing with us! We want everybody to feel involved to be completely honest with you. We also come from the smallest county in the largest state of Rockwall of Texas where everyone’s all hicks and I mean, I walk outside and you see cows and then you see a lake, you know what I mean, like whatever. So I feel like maybe that kind of has a little help. But then again, we just look at it like a job. We’re just regular kids with just extraordinary jobs. It’s weird, I feel like if you talk about being grounded, you actually have a big head, so it’s kind of weird. You know, like [in sarcastic tone] “Oh I’m so grounded, I’m just the nicest of the nicest” you know what I mean? No.
15. What is it like to be a part of such a phenomenally successful TV show as “Hannah Montana?”
M - It’s nice! Ever since, I was about thirteen was when we started so it’s definitely been the right area for me to get involved in. I mean Disney was definitely a good stepping stone and will always be right there to back me up. I’ve definitely been blessed I guess to be a part of the channel. Disney is phenomenal; they’ve helped me pursue this dream, not just of being an actor, now they’re so open armed into letting me be this musician and everything else.
16. So how did you land the role of Oliver Oken?
M - Auditions. A nice little audition process. It took a good amount of time but when it all comes down to it, it started with um I guess I was in Texas, it’s actually a long story here, but it started out I was in Texas and I got this call for “Hey you have an audition for a show called Hannah Montana” so I was like okay cool, you know what I mean? No one knew what Hannah Montana was, no one knew what Hannah Montana was going to be. And so, it’s a Wednesday, we were flying out Friday to L.A. My mom says, “Don’t bring your skateboard Mitchel,” that’s all I used to do, is be a skater, that was like my life. “Don’t bring your skateboard Mitch, you’re going to hurt yourself, don’t do it. We gotta leave in 2 days, just keep it easy tonight.” “Okay Mom, I swear I’m not going to, I swear, I’ll be good. I’m not going to bring my board, I’m going to be fine, it’s all good, don’t even worry about me.” Went outside, ran around the back, grabbed my skateboard. Pretty much an hour into skating, I go up a ramp, I have no idea what I did, I just remember coming down and snapping my arm completely in half. I snapped my radius and my forearm; my arm looked like a V, seriously it looked like a zig zag. And so 6 weeks later, 7 weeks later, we fly out to L.A for pilot season; they’re still casting for Oliver. I go in for the audition and there’s this chair and they’re telling me to climb up on the chair because if you can remember from the pilot, Oliver’s character is climbing up into Hannah Montana’s balcony and I guess asking her to sign something for him; god we’ve shot so many episodes I’m sorry I don’t even remember what it was about. But I just remember climbing into the window but I was supposed to be climbing this chair that was the idea. So I was like “okay yeah for sure, definitely.” I dropped to the ground and I noticed like they’re all sitting behind this, there’s about 15 execs including Gary Marsh and Robert Iger who is the head of Disney and then the head of Disney channel. So like all the huge execs are sitting behind this table that’s like this mahogany leathered; this table looks like it’s more expensive than a Ferrari. It’s like a million million dollar table that’s got Disney engraved in it and it’s got Mickey Mouse coming up out of it; it’s crazy. So I dropped to the ground, no one could see me, and I just start crawling up on their table. And I figured, I don’t know, I felt like that was a change. Change it up a little bit.
17. Your character Oliver “Smokin” Oken is a pretty funny guy...Can you relate to Oliver and his crazy situations?
M - Sure. I guess Oliver, he’s a little bit “goobery” and I’m not as wild as he is for sure. Also, Oliver is more of a clean cut kind of a kid. I’m more of like a Southern, you know, I like to go out and play in the dirt and stuff like that; that’s the kind of stuff I like to do. Oliver is more like, likes to look proper and nice. He wears his, not khakis, but more like suit pants and stuff like that. See, I never do that kind of things. I like to go out in my black jeans and my black shirt with my black shoes on, you know what I mean, I’m not too fond of all the colours.
18. How do you feel being on Hannah Montana has affected your career in television as well as the music industry?
M - It’s affected everything really. I guess because you get known as a character and people learn to love that character and they want to see this character all the time and then they figure out that it’s not just you, it’s a character that you’re playing. So then there’s this other ego and then they want to learn about that. And then you’re playing another character on another show or another movie or music, you know what I mean? That was just kind of the first stepping stone that opened up the career. Even though, I’ve done tons of stuff beforehand and that was just, you know, but when you get booked on a show, you get stuck as that character because you play that character for years. I’ve played Oliver for the past 6 or 7 years, you know?
19. Moving forward, what will be in the forefront – your music or acting career?
M - It’s a tough question but when it all comes down to it, I would pick music because music I’m playing Mitchel; acting I’m playing another character. Although, I love acting, you know what I mean; I can always improv and make it my own and stuff like that but when it comes to music, I make my own call time, I write what I want to write about, it’s more of my project, it’s me being my own artist and I think that’s cooler.
Mitchel, thanks for the interview!
-Christinaaa :)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Scooby Doo! PART 1!
Part 1: THE ARTICLE!
I wrote an article for Youthink Magazine about a new movie coming out on TV & DVD called "Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins" Last summer, during filming here in BC, I was able to visit the set and take a look inside the world of making a Scooby Doo movie. It finally comes out on Cartoon Network on Sept.13, on Teletoon on Sept.26 & Oct.3 and on DVD on Sept.22! The movie is a prequel to the other Scooby Doo films so it has all new actors! I was able to meet the gang: Robbie Amell, Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft, Nick Palatas and Kate Melton! My article has come out on the youthink website so please check it out at:
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/fun/movie-reviews/scooby-doo-newcomers-fill-mystery-machine
(it wont let me add the link to click on it, so just copy & past it!)
This is part 1 of my Scooby Doo posts so keep checking back for more pictures, video clips and interviews with the cast!
I wrote an article for Youthink Magazine about a new movie coming out on TV & DVD called "Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins" Last summer, during filming here in BC, I was able to visit the set and take a look inside the world of making a Scooby Doo movie. It finally comes out on Cartoon Network on Sept.13, on Teletoon on Sept.26 & Oct.3 and on DVD on Sept.22! The movie is a prequel to the other Scooby Doo films so it has all new actors! I was able to meet the gang: Robbie Amell, Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft, Nick Palatas and Kate Melton! My article has come out on the youthink website so please check it out at:
http://www.youthink.ca/yt/fun/movie-reviews/scooby-doo-newcomers-fill-mystery-machine
(it wont let me add the link to click on it, so just copy & past it!)
This is part 1 of my Scooby Doo posts so keep checking back for more pictures, video clips and interviews with the cast!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)