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Close-Up: Michael Angarano
Posted by Rob Ortenzi on 04-Jun-08 @ 02:36 PM
For a while there, it looked like MICHAEL ANGARANO was going to make a killing playing younger versions of lead actors in films like Seabiscuit (as a young Tobey Maguire) and Almost Famous (as an even younger Patrick Fugit). Fortunately for us, it wasn't long before Angarano became a lead actor himself, starring in films like Sky High, Lords Of Dogtown and The Final Season. This month, we'll see him flex his muscles in the intense indie drama Snow Angels, alongside Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell and newcomer Olivia Thirlby. "Throughout the whole movie, [director David Gordon Green is] balancing these really light-hearted, beautiful moments with these cruel and crude moments," explains Angarano. Sounds like something we've gotta see.INTERVIEW: Leslie Simon What goes through your head when you're trying to figure out your career trajectory? That's the first time I've ever been asked a question like that! [Laughs.] When I was a kid, if I could've picked one word to describe myself as an actor, it would be "versatile." I don't want to do anything just because I have the opportunity to. I think, ultimately, I have to feel very passionately about the movie I'm making because if I'm not, then I don't think it will turn out well for anybody, you know? It seems like you've stayed away from the route of teen comedies, unlike many of your peers. If you say no too often, do you worry that people will stop sending you scripts? You know, I enjoy your run-of-the-mill teen comedies. Those are fun to watch. They get a little repetitive and redundant, but if they're done well, then they're the movies that you live off of. They're comfort movies. When I was a kid, I didn't really want to do stuff on the Disney Channel, not that I had anything against it. Now that I have an 8-year-old brother, it's probably the channel that's on most in my house. Well, just think-you could've been the fourth Jonas brother if you reconsidered your stance on Disney. Hey, and there's nothing wrong with that. [Laughs.] When you were growing up, how did you balance acting with normal life? That was pretty easy to do because when I wasn't on a set filming somewhere, I was at a normal school. I never went to home school, which I'm really proud of and I'm really happy I did. I was able to maintain a core group of friends so whenever I was back home, I'd go to school and fit myself back in. That's really what I did my whole life, and I've been acting since I was 5 or 6. Always staying in school helped me out because I had a life outside what I was doing [with acting]. You had to revisit those tenuous high school years for your role in Snow Angels. Tell me about your involvement in the film. I really wanted to work with [director] David Gordon Green because I really liked his movies and knew a bunch of people who had worked with him. I read [the script] and the first time I met with him, he says to me, "I think [your character] Arthur has an oral affectation." I had no idea what he was talking about, but that's the type of sense of humor [Green] has. He has a very free-roaming imagination and makes it a very intimate and personal experience for you. When you're onset, it feels like you're making a movie with a bunch of your friends. Next up for you is The Forbidden Kingdom, an ass-kicking action flick co-starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Have you always wanted to do an action movie? For any kid, really, it's a dream-come-true movie: You're riding horses, you're learning martial arts, and you're off in an ancient land. In a small way, that's the reason why I want to make movies-so I would have the opportunity to make movies like The Forbidden Kingdom. You only get to experience an adventure of that sort by making a movie, unless you're an extremist yourself. How an actual trip or a journey on your own would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this experience was that [for me]. I can't even put it into words. As I was experiencing it, I was trying to lock it into my memory so I could look at it in retrospect five months from now and really be able to describe what I was truly feeling at that time. You must've done a lot of kicking butt. Ironically enough, child actors often seem to recount getting bullied when they were in school. Did you ever encounter kids who gave you a hard time because you were an actor? Only once when I was in sixth grade. I was always called "Shorty" growing up, so whenever anyone would call me that, I would tackle them or something. Some kid called you "Shorty" then? Actually, he just stole my french fries. It was lunchtime and I was walking with my tray. He must've been in seventh or eighth grade and was a good bit bigger than me. He just came over and stole my french fries. It happened in the matter of a second, and it flustered me more than anything else. Then you pummeled him, right? No, then I went home and wasn't happy about it. You cried because he stole your french fries. Admit it. No, I did not cry. [Laughs.] I don't think I cried, anyway. ALT CHEAT SHEET >> After filming tons of commercials when he was a mere tot, Michael Angarano eventually stopped pushing Sudafed and Hallmark cards to play Jack's long-lost son Elliot on TV's WILL & GRACE. Angarano then transitioned to starring roles in films like LORDS OF DOGTOWN, as wheelchair-bound Sid, and SKY HIGH, as budding superhero Will Stronghold. This month, he'll play wide-eyed teen Arthur Parkinson, in the hard-to-watch indie drama SNOW ANGELS alongside Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell. ALT THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE "When I'm making a movie, I make my own soundtrack for it," explains Michael Angarano of his onset musical antics. "It helps develop [the character] a little bit more and add more layers. It gives you something to think about, you know? It's nice to have music that could get you into the mood of your character or idea of the story [you're filming]. It's like instead of having sense memory, you actually have music to take you where you're going." What has the New York City native been rocking as of late? "I'm a huge Beatles, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin guy," Angarano admits. "Oh, do you know the band Badfinger? I'm on a huge Badfinger kick. Very sad story about that band, actually. Three out of the five bandmates killed themselves, I think." [It was actually two. -ed.] More like Badluckfinger, eh? C'mon, Angie, any acts under the age of 60 that are wetting your whistle? "You mean ones that you can actually see live?," he asks, laughing. "The most recent thing I've been listening to lately is Pearl Jam. Oh, and I like Spoon and the Shins, too." Well, it's a start. ALT |
