THE ROCK-SHOTS INTERVIEW KIRK CAMERON— GROWING FAST

THE ROCK-SHOTS INTERVIEW KIRK CAMERON— GROWING FAST

Karen Levitt

Kirk Cameron, star of the hit TV series Growing Pains and the new feature film Like Father, Like Son, is a typical American teenager, yet he stands apart from the rest. He is a genuinely nice guy who thinks about the things that concern all teenage boys: buying a car, staying in shape, hanging out with his friends, and (naturally) girls. Yet he is different: not only has Kirk set his mind to reaching a goal, he has been continually achieving it. At the same time, he is balancing the many areas in his life and keeping things in perspective. It seems impossible that anyone could make a movie, star in a TV show, go to school and have time for himself all at once, but Kirk Cameron does all of this and still manages to have fun! .

ROCK-SHOTS caught up with Kirk at a press conference on the set of Like Father, Like Son, where many interesting questions were answered by Kirk, and some by his co-star, Sean Astin. Kirk, dressed in tan pants, a light blue shirt and white Reeboks, walked into the press conference in a friendly mood. Kirk greeted everybody, sat down, and the conference began.

What can you tell us about your character in Like Father, Like Son?

Kirk: I play Chris Hammond, son of Jack Hammond, and basically, he’s a teenage kid who doesn’t like school too much. He does well in school but not well enough for his dad. His dad’s a surgeon, played by Dudley Moore, and basically what happens in the middle of the movie is we end up taking this Navajo potion and switching brains. So for half of the movie I’m playing Chris Hammond, the son, and the other half I’m playing Chris’s father, Jack.

What about the relationship between you and Sean?

Kirk: We’re best friends.

Were you intimidated at first to be working with Dudley Moore?

Kirk: A little bit, but Dudley’s a real nice guy and after a few days of being with him, I was real relaxed and it was just a lot of fun.

Sean: He works hard at making you feel comfortable. That’s when he says he works the best—when everyone is comfortable with each other.

When does the film debut?

Kirk: September 11.

Did you have to do a screen test or an interview for this role?

Kirk: No, this is the first time I was actually offered a part without having to in-

terview for it. It was great! I was looking for something to do on the hiatus, after Growing Pains was over, preferably a film, and I was reading scripts and trying to see which one I liked, and then at the last minute, Like Father, Like Son came around.

is this character similar to Mike Seaver?

Kirk: He’s not quite as arrogant and cocky—not such a wise guy. Plus, it’s real different: I’m not playing the same character; I’m playing the father for most of the movie.

How are you like Mike Seaver?

Kirk: Well, I’d say we look pretty much alike! Mike’s cool with the girls and the lines and all that kind of stuff, and that’s not something I particularly want to do. But Mike likes to have fun. People like him. He gets along with his friends, and that’s what I like to do.

Sean: That’s Kirk. Everybody gets along with Kirk. You always bring something of yourself to a role, and Kirk does that.

How does it feel to be making the transition from TV to film?

Kirk: There’s not a real obvious change. The only change is in the timing. A lot of comedy is timing, and on a sitcom you have to wait for laughs after a joke. In film you don’t really do that—you kind of just plow ahead and go right through it.

Is it hard to do it without feedback from the audience?

Kirk: At first it was kind of uncomfortable, but you get used to it.

Is it harder for you to do drama than comedy, since you’re used to comedy?

Kirk: No, they’re just really different. Comedy is all timing. Anybody can say a funny line, but you just have to kind of be able to do it. It’s not something that can be learned.

Are there any actors that you admire?

Kirk: I have a lot of respect for Dudley. He’s great—he’s such a nice guy, he’s fun to be around, he’s got his head on his shoulders, and he’s a real sincere guy. He likes to have fun.

Sean: He’s taught us to have fun when you do a comedy. I’ve really learned to laugh hard.

Kirk: And he doesn’t hold back either. He just goes for it.

Can you relate any funny stories to us?

Sean: Do you have about six hours?! This show has been one laugh after another. Thanks to Kirk and Dudley. Here’s a funny thing that happened: We were working at a naval hospital in San Diego. We were sitting in school, thinking “What can we do?” We weren’t even working on the screen that day. I got one of the hospital gurneys and Kirk pushed me down and out and they were working out

in the parking lot; and in the middle of one of the shots we came zooming around, screaming “Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog!”

Name:

Date of birth: Place of birth: Residence: Family:

Height:

Eyes:

Hair:

TV Credits:

Movie credits

Special

interests:

Kirk Cameron October 12, 1970 Panorama City, CA Canoga Park, CA Parents: Robert and Barbara; sisters: Bridgette, Melissa and Candace 5’S”

Hazel Brown Currently Mike Seaver on Growing Pains; formerly appeared on Brett Maverick, Code Red, Lou Grant, Children In The Crossfire, Goliath Awaits, Starflight I

Currently Chris Hammond in Like Father, Like Son; Formerly appeared in Beyond Witch Mountain, The Best Of Times

Racquetball, gym workouts, tennis, skiing, Pritikin diet

Kirk: He was lying down on the gurney and I was pushing him out there, right through the middle of the shot! It was great!

Sean: Dudley laughed, the director looked at us and said, “It’s the kids again,” the crew kind of threw up their hands and said, “Well, they’re at it again.” We tried to establish that sort of thing with the crew. We get along with everybody. Now they’re starting to play pranks back on us.

How?

Kirk: Taping things to our backs, foodfights. We just had a foodfight a little while ago—the propman was throwing cookies and tomatoes at me.

What are your upcoming plans?

Kirk: We’re going to Hawaii for Growing Pains, so I should be there for about three weeks.

What about your diet—how do you eat when you’re on location?

Kirk: The caterers are really cooperative; they adjust to what certain people want to eat. They always have vegetables, fruit, fruit juice, and all that kind of stuff, so you let them know what you like. It’s not too bad; you can always find something somewhere.

Sean: Kirk doesn’t push it either. He just goes with the flow.

How did you become interested in the Pritikm diet?

Kirk: I read the Pritikin diet book and liked it.

Does the rest of your family follow it?

Kirk: No.

Do you like having a tutor on the set when you work, or would you rather be in school?

Kirk: I enjoy this business so much that I would never want to quit just because I’m not in school. But I do miss my friends, and I do miss going there and being part of all the little things that the kids do, all the social events and stuff like that. What are your worst and best subjects?

Kirk: History is my worst, and math is my best. I’m taking pre-calculus right now.

What is it like to be in a setting with other kids when you are in school? Is everybody looking at you?

Kirk: Yeah, people do look at you, and they say, “Hey, he’s the kid on TV.” But after awhile the image of the “star” wears off, and they eventually get to know you and it’s no big deal. My friends at school, the people that I’ve just recently met, don’t think of me as a big teen star anymore. It kind of wears off after awhile. How do you know if a girl wants a date with you or with your character?

Sean: She says “Kirk who?” and then you know she’s alright.

Kirk: Yeah, you can tell.

What kind of girls do you like?

Kirk: I like someone whose life is kind of together, and has goals set, and has somewhere that she think’s she’s going; someone who has other things to occupy her time than just hanging around the movie set, watching me film a movie. Where do you like to go on a date?

Kirk: The movies, dinner, the gym—I live at the gym.

What’s your favorite sport?

Kirk: Racquetball.

Do you have a car?

Kirk: Not yet. I’m looking to get a car, probably a sports car.

If you weren’t an actor, what would you be doing?

Kirk: I’d probably be going to school, just goofing off with my friends.

Would you like to remain an actor as an adult?

Kirk: I’d like to stay in this business. I don’t know whether it will be acting or not; I really love acting, but some time I may change to some other area, like directing, writing or producing.

How do you balance being an actor, a student, a teenager and having time just to be yourself?

Kirk: Well, I just do it. I just make time for everything.