Brandon Smith StarStruck Interview

Brandon Smith StarStruck Interview

Brandon Mychal Smith plays super-suave Nico Harris in the Disney Channel sitcom 'Sonny With A Chance.'

He also recently starred as Stubby in the Disney Channel Original Movie 'StarStruck.'

In 2006, Smith won a Family Television Award and a Young Artist Award for his portrayal as Tayshawn in the Emmy Award-nominated television movie 'The Ron Clark Story' opposite Matthew Perry. His other film credits include 'Gridiron Gang' opposite Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and 'Weapons' with Nick Cannon.

Smith landed a role in the 2002 season finale of 'The District,' and has since guest-starred on several popular television shows including ABC's 'The Forgotten,' Disney Channel's 'That's So Raven' and 'Phil of the Future,' 'The Shield,' 'Bones' and 'Without a Trace.'

Born May 29, 1989, Smith is an avid roller skater. He makes his home in Los Angeles and is very close with his parents and younger sister Kimberly.

Interview with Brandon Smith

Can you tell us about your character, Stubby, in StarStruck?

Brandon Smith: My character in StarStruck is Stubby, Stubbons or the Stubstar- there are a lot of nicknames I acquired through filming the movie. His a very vivacious, energetic, smooth guy and he plays the opposite of Sterling Knight, as his best friend, his mentor, his advice-man, his wing-man and we both rock the house from clubs in LA to Paris and Milan- we've been around the world together. I really provide Sterling's character, Christopher Wilde, with a very realistic view of this entire Hollywood-world. At the same time, we know how to have a good time, whether it is driving around in the Ferrari or rocking the stage doing a performance.


What did you enjoy most about filming StarStruck?

Brandon Smith: What I enjoy most is working with Sterling and being able to work with someone who you actually hang out with, off set and have worked with before; it makes the experience that much more enjoyable and fun. When they yell "CUT!" it's really still action because we are having a blast. Also, it doesn't hurt to be driving around in Ferrari's, performing at the hottest clubs and shutting down Hollywood Boulevard.


How similar are you to the character of Stubby?

Brandon Smith: I am very similar, except for the fact that I haven't sold 30 millions records (laughing). But my character, Stubby, is very similar to me, Brandon Smith, in the way we both like to get fly and get dressed up and put on cool clothes and scarves and rock really cool shades. We both like to perform, we are both natural entertainers. I, as well as Stubby, love to be with my friends and give them a realistic perspective about this whole Hollywood-life and entertainment-life because a lot of my buddies are entertainers, actors and models. I grew up in the entertainment world and our characters are really the same in that regard.


Do you see other Disney co-stars outside filming?

Brandon Smith: Yes, actually it is funny because the way the world sees Sterling (Knight) and Demi (Lovato) and all of us, is in this kind of star/celebrity life is a media thing, we are not celebrities. I don't know what the word 'celebrity' means; it is a word that has been conjured up by the entertainment industry. We're just regular people trying to peruse a career and trying to have a stable lifestyle whilst having fun. We all do hang out; Demi (Lovato) and I hang out, Joe (Jonas) and I hang out, Chelsea (Staub) and I hang out- we all just do regular stuff like everybody else; we go bowling, we go get pizza, we go to comedy shows, we just like to have a good time. Everybody hangs out, it is like a big family over here at the Disney Channel, it is really a blessing to be apart of the channel.


How different was it filming the movie, StarStruck, compared with the television show, Sonny With A Chance?

Brandon Smith: The difference is in StarStruck when we were filming we were allowed a little more time to analyse the scenes and come up with really cool ways to film the scenes, because it is a longer process. Opposed to Sonny With A Chance where we would film five scenes in one day, on StarStruck we'd film one scene, in one day. We were able to get a lot more shots, angles and you really get that cinema feel to the movie, with the big cool shots with the crane or the big opening sequences on Hollywood Boulevard. Whereas with Sonny With A Chance we have more work to do, in a shorter period of time. There is a little more comfort in doing a film, like StarStruck.


In saying that do you prefer acting for television or a movie?

Brandon Smith: I definitely prefer filming a movie because, like I said, it does provide the comfort ability and being on a set for longer periods of time which allows me to analyse the work at hand and figure out my character, even more, with the movie. The shots are cool and you become closer with the director too, because it is one director for three months, opposed to Sonny With A Chance we have a different director every week. It does become more personal and you become more attached to a film, therefore you want to invest more time into it; not saying, I don't want to invest more time into Sonny With A Chance. You have the ability to really get to know a director, really know your crew, really know your co-stars, even more than you would on a TV show, when it is a different director or writer every week. It is a more in-depth experience with a film because of the longer filming process and you are able to do smaller scenes, with more time allowing you to focus on each scene more, which is really cool.


Are you able to relate to the character you play in Sonny With A Chance, Nico Harris?

Brandon Smith: It is funny because I see Nico as Brandon Smith at 15 and I see Stubby as Brandon Smith at 18 or 19. It is really cool to be able to do these roles that allow me to reminisces, on the young, fun and energetic time in my life, where I was pulling pranks on my Dad, Mum and on my buddies and having a blast with Sonny With A Chance. It is really cool to also see Stubby, which is a character that is very successful and he is touring around the world, with Sterling Knight (Christopher Wilde) and that is where I want to see myself one day, comfortable and with cool cars. I just really love the cars!


What is the next project you are working on?

Brandon Smith: Right now I am working on a project with a major fast-food/restaurant company, which I can't name. I am filming a rap about exposing kids and raising awareness by showing you can grab an apple or grab a pineapple, kiwi or strawberry that you can replace candy and junk food with. We do it in a really fun, energetic rap format and the songs are really catchy and remind you of Black Eyed Peas mixed with T-Pain. It is a really cool, new sound that allows kids to rap and get the message, that fruit and vegetables are cool, into their heads.

I am a spokesperson for the campaign and I am excited to go The White House and do a spot promoting healthy eating habits and ways for kids to get into the kitchen and cook healthy food alongside Michelle Obama. I am really excited to be doing that as well. It is truly a blessing to be able to raise awareness. Michelle Obama is awesome, but really just showing kids that this is cool to eat vegetables or that it is cool living a healthy lifestyle. I want to show that you don't just have to eat candy, because all your buddies are eating candy, you can grab a piece of Broccoli, it tastes just as good!


When you are in the kitchen, what is your favourite meal to cook?

Brandon Smith: I would definitely have to say crab! I loved boiled grab, so good!


If you could work with any actor, who would you choose to star alongside?

Brandon Smith: I would have to say Jamie Foxx or Will Smith because I truly love their transition from mainstream comedy shows like the Jamie Foxx Show or Fresh Prince of Bel Air and me being on Sonny With A Chance and the way they have successfully transitioned to doing drama and other comedy roles in film; which is exactly the career path I would like to go down and possible do even more drama and comedy than I have already done. I would like the diverse career that those two actors have.


How does it feel to watch yourself on the big screen?

Brandon Smith: It is really cool. I really get interested and involved in watching myself and seeing what I did, I never know what take they are going to use. For a scene we may have done five or six takes so it is really cool to see which one they liked and which one actually made it to the big screen. I like to sit back and say 'Oh! They used that one,' when I did my face like that or when I did a funny joke, like that; it is funny to see which takes they used and how it all comes together.


What's a typical day like, for you?

Brandon Smith: A normal day for me is waking up at about 7:30-8am and the first thing I do, everyday, I've done it for the past two seasons, is get a Jamba Juice. I get Orange Dream Machine added strawberries, protein, immunity, daily vitamins, and recharger- that get's my system going. I normallyfollow that with apple and cinnamon oatmeal. Then, I get to set and Doug (Brochu) and I go and grab yoghurt, together, and we get berries and all types of cool things in our yoghurt.

Then, after that, we do rehearsal from about 9am to 1pm; it is really fun, all the cast comes together and we try and figure out which joke is funniest and how to make the scenes funny by adding things. Whether it throwing a pie or tipping a cup of water over Demi (Lovato)'s head. We try and think of ways we can make each scene funnier. Then, we all come together at lunchtime and reminisce and have a couple of good laughs before it is back to work and Disney comes down to the set. Disney watch the show and give us critique and ways we can make the show even better.

On Thursday and Friday we film. Friday is the best day ever because the live audience comes in and the kids are there and they are screaming and we are throwing candy and signing autographs and they are screaming even more! Then Joe Jonas may walk on the set and they scream even more. Miley Cyrus might come on the set and the scream even more. Zac Efron may come on the set and they scream even more! Every Friday is a star-studded event and we all do hang out with the people that the world sees as stars but we see as regular, cool and down-to-earth individuals.

StarStruck

Cast: Sterling Knight, Brandon Smith, Danielle Campbell, Maggie Castle, Chelsea Staub
Director: Michael Grossman
Genre: Drama, Family
Rated: G
Running Time: 90 minutes

In a musical romance featuring rising pop stars, prying paparazzi and the highs and lows of fame, StarStruck is the all-new Disney Channel Original Movie.

When Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell) and her older sister Sara (Maggie Castle) embark on a family trip from their small hometown of Michigan to Los Angeles, they no sooner find themselves in the sparkling star-studded lights of Hollywood.

Sara is obsessed with gorgeous Hollywood pop star Christopher Wilde (rising star Sterling Knight of Sonny with a Chance), and so takes Jessica on the hunt to track down and meet the leading man face to face. However, unpretentious Jessica is not impressed with the lavish celebrity driven world and would rather go sightseeing.

On the search for her star-obsessed sister, Jessica has a chance encounter with Christopher and is reluctantly thrown into his rock-star lifestyle involving a Californian adventure with celebrity chaos, paparazzi madness and disastrous mud bath!

StarStruck is released to DVD on 2 June; Sonny with a Chance Season 1 Volume 2 is released to DVD on 2 June.
www.girl.com.au/jonas-sonny-wizards-of-waverly.htm

Sterling Knight StarStruck - www.girl.com.au/starstruck.htm