There isn’t too many non-children oriented films out there that showcase the talent of up-and-coming kid actors out there nowadays. They normally don’t put children in front of the camera in that kind of setting anymore, but that’s not the case with J.J. Abrams’ new science fiction film “Super 8.” The main cast is nothing more than child actors who all shine in their own ways on the big screen.
One of those actors that we’re centering on today happens to be Riley Griffiths. After watching “Super 8,” it’s probably hard to believe that this is the first role that the young actor took part in. Regardless of that, he had the help of J.J. Abrams and crew in order to give a very solid performance on screen.
We were able to quickly chat with the young actor about working on his first ever film, being buds with Joel Courtney and what kind of actors he’d love to work with one day.
ShockYa: Hi, how are you doing?
Riley Griffiths: I’m doing great, how are you?
ShockYa: I’m doing good. Congratulations by the way. I’m sure it’s been a very busy time for you ever since this came out in theaters.
Riley Griffiths: Oh yeah, it’s been so crazy and — and it’s been really crazy.
ShockYa: So what’s been the best thing about this newfound fame that you’ve been getting? Have any of your friends geeked out over the fact that you’re in a J.J. Abrams film?
Riley Griffiths: The best thing that’s happened is probably just all of the opportunities that have been opened by being in this movie and all of the doors that have opened that give me the opportunity to possibly be an actor for the rest of my life. That’s a totally cool thing for me.
ShockYa: So I can assume, for the time being, that you won’t be going the same route as your character and just try to become a director later on?
Riley Griffiths: No, acting is my number one passion. (Laughs)
ShockYa: Cool. So how did you end up getting the role?
Riley Griffiths: Well it was a nationwide search for me. I sent in the tape and they called me back for a call back and everything just kind of went from there.
ShockYa: Awesome. I talked to Joel Courtney a couple of weeks ago and he told me that out of all of the people on set next to J.J. Abrams that you were the one he connected to the most just because the experience was new for the both of you. What was it like just being on set since this was your first big film? Was it very overwhelming? What was the initial feeling?
Riley Griffiths: The initial feeling was — I feel like a total idiot because I had no idea what was going on anywhere, I just went where I was told. With all of the movie lingo that was going on, I had no idea what any of it meant. Joel and I would get so confused when people would call for a “half apple” because it’s a box. They come back with a box and Joel and I would say “Didn’t he ask for half an apple?” I’m glad that Joel went through it with me that way I didn’t feel like the only idiot on set.
ShockYa: Well it didn’t look like you guys were idiots when you guys were on the screen so that’s obviously a good thing!
Riley Griffiths: Yeah! It was pretty much — I had no idea. When we were doing the scene we knew what we were doing but when they yelled cut, stand on our mark and everything, I had no idea what standing on the mark meant. I had never been on a movie set before so I had no idea what they meant by “stay in frame” and it was just pretty crazy.
ShockYa: So I can assume that you learned a lot from Abrams and company when you were on set, learning the lingo and everything like that.
Riley Griffiths: Oh yeah, J.J. (Abrams) really took us under his wing and taught us a lot about the writing, directing and producing side. It was really just like one big acting class for me. It was just amazing just all of the stuff that I learned while filming this.
ShockYa: So when it comes to “Super 8,” you also have a lot of screen time interaction with the rest of the kids especially Elle Fanning and Ryan Lee. What was it like working with the rest of them? Did they give you pointers?
Riley Griffiths: I mean, none of the kids really gave us pointers because as actors we all have kind of a mutual respect for each other. We all got cast for a reason, we’re all professional actors and we all know how to do our job the best that we can. J.J. taught us all the stuff while with the rest of the kids we didn’t see ourselves as actors, we saw ourselves as friends.
ShockYa: And I heard that you guys pulled a few pranks on set too. I believe Joel told me that you and Ryan hid in his trailer, turned off all the lights and scared him.
Riley Griffiths: Yeah, we hid in his trailer while he was getting his hair and make-up done. We turned off all the lights and when he walked in we jumped out and scared him. Really, we’re fourteen-year-old boys, there has to be trouble on set.
ShockYa: Yeah, that’s for sure. I have a little brother that age and he’s a bunch of trouble, I know what that’s like.
Riley Griffiths: Yeah, we play like tag, hide-and-seek in the hotels. I’m not going to say we didn’t get in trouble. (Laughs)
ShockYa: (Laughs) But it’s just the nature of fourteen-year-old boys. Now that “Super 8” is done, what other projects are on your plate?
Riley Griffiths: Yeah, definitely. I’ve got some scripts right now and I’ve been going on some auditions. Nothing’s really set in stone, I haven’t signed any contracts yet but acting is something I definitely want to do for the rest of my life. I definitely have some things that I’m looking at.
ShockYa: So then, who’s your dream director that you’d love to work with one day?
Riley Griffiths: J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. (Laughs) It really doesn’t get much better than them. Not only are they great directors but they’re great people as well. And actually it’d be really cool — I met Michael Bay at the after party so it’d be really cool to work with him.
ShockYa: Is there any actors that you’d love to work with one day as well?
Riley Griffiths: Yeah, I mean there are so many I’d love to work with. Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Bradley Cooper — all of them are so diverse and they can all go from action to comedy to drama so easily. I think, as an actor, I just want to be really diverse.
ShockYa: Good, that’s really great to hear. We’re in the middle of the summer movie season, what film other than your movie, did you like a lot that you’ve watched this year so far?
Riley Griffiths: The movie I liked a lot this year was — let me think. A movie I didn’t think I’d really like too much — when my mom rented “Tron Legacy” I didn’t think I’d like it too much because it’d be all about the special effects, but actually I liked it a lot and Garrett Hedlund is one of my new favorite actors so I really like that movie.
ShockYa: Is there any movies that you’re looking forward to watching this summer that haven’t come out yet?
Riley Griffiths: Definitely the last “Harry Potter.” I’m super excited about it.
ShockYa: Nice. Are you going to watch it in 3D?
Riley Griffiths: I don’t know. I don’t really watch 3D because I find myself getting distracted like taking the glasses off and seeing the screen without them. So I distract myself with 3D.
ShockYa: So we can assume you’re not that much of a 3D fan?
Riley Griffiths: Well, I saw “Avatar” in 3D and that was really good, but I haven’t seen many movies in 3D so I don’t really — I haven’t seen many of them in 3D.
“Super 8” is currently out in theaters. Check your local theaters for show times.
