Interview with Jeremy Sumpter

In the football drama show "Friday Night Lights" Jeremy Sumpter plays J.D. McCoy, a character that copes with the difficult job to win over the viewers' sympathy only to lose it again very soon. In this interview Jeremy talks about working on the show and other experiences he made in the world of film and television. He also speeks about a charity organization he supports.

Foto: Copyright: 2010 JeremySumpter.com

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1. You won the Youth For Humanity Award 2009 for working with the Ready Or Not Foundation charity. What is this work about?

The Ready Or Not Foundation is a great charity run by an amazing lady named Barbara Canales. The organization promotes pediatric brain cancer awareness and raises funds for research. One hundred percent of the money raised goes towards research. When I went to visit the children at the hospital in Texas last year, it really made a big impact on me. Although they were suffering they still had smiles on their faces. Please check out the RON website: readyornotfoundation.org for more information and please consider making a donation. They are making a big difference and you can help.

2. When and why did you get started in acting?

My father heard about a talent competition on the radio and my whole family entered. I was the only one chosen to go to Los Angeles. I didn't really want to do it at first since I thought it was to become a model and I didn't want to do that. Once I found out acting was involved, I was more interested. I was ten years old at the time and didn't know much about the entertainment business so I asked if I would be able to meet Sammy Sosa if I went. Everyone said "yes", so I agreed. Although I haven't met Sammy Sosa, I have met and worked with a lot of great people.

3. If you could put together an entire crew for a movie: Who would be the director? Who would be the writer? And who would be in the leading role(s)?

Joss Whedon would write it. I would direct it. The cast would depend on what type of project Joss wrote.

4. What was the hardest scene you've ever done and why?

The hardest scene I have ever done was the Peter Pan/Captain Hook fight scene in the sails of the pirate ship near the end of "Peter Pan". It was so physical and took a long time to shoot. Jason Isaacs and I were either on wires or in stunt rigs the whole time, which can become exhausting.

5. Your first TV-show was "Clubhouse", a show about baseball. Now you're in a football drama and you like surfing. Is sports the aspect that drew you to audition for "Clubhouse" and "Friday Night Lights"?

Pete from "Clubhouse" was unlike any character out there at the time so I loved the role. I've always played baseball or softball so I thought a show about baseball would be a lot of fun to work on it and it was. I'm athletic and have played sports most of my life so when "Friday Night Lights" came along, it was not too difficult to step into the JD role. Since I surf as often as I can, working on "Soul Surfer" was a dream come true.

6. You play J.D. McCoy on "Friday Night Lights". When did you learn about the change in J.D.'s character after season 3? Did you see that coming?

I didn't know about it until the start of the 4th season so I didn't see it coming. I was disappointed in the direction they took the character but I have to admit that it is always more fun to play the bad guy and have everyone hate you then it is to play the good guy.

7. On FNL you've got a lot of freedom to improvise in front of the camera. For you personally is this an easy approach to acting or is it more challenging?

You have a lot of freedom to improvise but you can't stray too far off the storyline otherwise the show would not make sense. Fortunately all the actors have read the scripts which were always well written and know what direction the show is heading.

8. After 3 seasons of rooting for the Panthers FNL accomplished the impossible: The viewers turned their backs on the Panthers and rooted passionately for the Lions. Was it hard to be the poster-badboy for the new Panthers or did you have fun playing the antagonist?

It's always more fun to play the bad guy.

9. Coach Taylor turned football amateurs into a team - the Lions. Is it realistic that the Lions were able to win against a well-experienced team like the Panthers?

You have to remember that on the show, Coach Taylor is a great coach. Since he used to coach the Panthers, he knows their strengths and weakness. So, yes I think it is possible to have the Lions win if they have the heart to do it.

10. Was it difficult for you as the new guy in season 3 to join the cast that had already been working together for two years?

Yes, it is difficult to fit in with a cast that has been working together for three years. Everyone was nice to me but they all had a history with each other. I was close to Aimee but I spent a lot of time with the extras who were playing football players since that allowed me a lot of time to play football.

11. Which is your favorite FNL-moment or episode?

I would say when JD played his first game and threw the first big pass which allowed him to become a starter. I think a lot of people have the dream to do something like that where they can step in and make a big positive impact.

12. Is there anything you can tell us about the fifth season?

Since I left after the fourth season I don't know anything that goes on in the fifth season. The only thing I can say is that I look forward to watching it when it airs along with everyone else.

13. Is there a show currently airing which you would like to play a part in? What kind of part would you like to play if you could choose?

When I was in Hawaii shooting "Soul Surfer" I ran into some of the cast from "Lost" which was filming at the same time. It would have been interesting to be on that show. I think the cable series are really good so I would love to be on "Californication".

14. You worked with Bill Paxton on the film "Frailty" and with Danny Glover in "Just a Dream". Can you tell us a little bit about the experience?

"Frailty" was Bill Paxton's directing debut. Matt O'Leary and I liked to fart around on the set, literally. We both tried to see who could fart the most. I think Matt was the big winner. Eventually Bill told us to stop farting. I think the crew thought that was really funny that he had to do that. I learned a lot from Bill so I'm lucky that "Frailty" was my first film. It's also amazing to look at the film today and see how scary it is when most of the time we were filming, we were just having a great time. I don't know if "Just A Dream" was the first project Danny Glover directed. If so, it certainly didn't seem like it was. Danny is a really great guy. He's very classy and kind. I really enjoyed working with him.

15. You've been working on two new films "Soul Surfer" and "Prep School". What can you tell us about them?

"Soul Surfer" has already completed filming and should be released in theaters next spring. It's the story of Bethany Hamilton, the surfer the lost an arm to a shark. She has become very inspirational to a lot of people. It has a great cast and I look forward to seeing it when they have completed post-production. I am one of the producers of "Prep School." It is currently in pre-production and it looks like it will film in March of 2011. There are some great actors already cast in the film and a few well known actors that have not been announced yet.

16. Do you have any other upcoming projects you can tell us about?

"You're So Cupid" was a fun film I shot in Utah. It's now available on DVD, itunes, etc. It's a film the whole family can watch. Recently I went to the premiere screening of "Death and Cremation" which is a horror film I did with Brad Dourif. "Jarod" is unlike any role I have ever played and Brad is great as Stan. I would expect that it will be released sometime in 2011. I have a couple of films that are in development. I can't talk too much about them yet. One is based on a book with an amazing story. There hasn't been any information released about this one yet but hopefully I will be able to talk about it soon. I am attached to a baseball film called "The Boys of Summer" that should shoot in 2011. I'm also attached to film which is a smart, science fiction story with great characters and action that I am looking forward to shooting. Again there will be more details soon. You can always go to my official web site (jeremysumpter.com) for updates on my projects.

17. Since myFanbase is an online magazine about TV series, do you have a favorite show?

I have quite a few favorite television shows. Some are old and off the air but I have purchased full seasons on DVD. They are "Angel", "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer", "Lost" and "Heroes".

Nicole Oebel - myFanbase