posted
June 1st 2008, transcript by
Jets,
done at the Newport Beach Film Festival April 30th. B: My guest today on On Screen and Beyond is Alyson Stoner. Hello Alyson, how are you?
Alyson: Hello how are you?
B: Good. You're so young, and I was looking on IMDB and saw that you've done a lot more than a lot of actors who have been around a long time.
Alyson: Well thanks. I think I've been given a lot of great opportunities, and it's something I have such a passion for so to be able to work with so many directors and producers and actors and actresses, it's really a true blessing, so I hope to continue to just keep working hard and you know, try new things everyday.
B: Now did you start out with Disney, or where did you start?
Alyson: My first big project was the Missy Elliot music video, because I started dancing first, and that kind of opened up other opportunities with Disney, because they saw that I had the attitude and flavor with my dancing, so I could do that also with my dancing, and they gave me that chance on Mike's Super Short Show, which was an interstitial which I worked on for five years. So Disney sort of got my name out there but I have to give Missy Elliot some credit too.
B: Now you are quite a dancer. Before you got to performing on shows, was dancing your main concern at that time?
Alyson: Yes I'm originally from Ohio so there weren't many acting opportunities there; their was definitely a core dance training center that my family was involved in, and my sister is a phenomenal dancer so I always looked up to her and she was a role model, and I wanted to be just like her, so I enrolled in a bunch of classes and that took me to a convention where there were actors and models there, so it was kind of just a coincidence that it all blended together, and now I'm doing it all!
B: How did you get Missy Elliot? I mean that's quite a thing to start out with.
Alyson: It's amazing I have a great agent and she got me the audition and I actually was the only girl there that was, you know, the little white girl, and no one else had seen a white girl dancer before, I guess, apparently, so that was definitely interesting, and we weren't aware what the lyrics were about, and we didn't know that it wasn't so much of a kids song, but Missy was great, and she put me in all the clean parts of the music, so it gave my mom a breather. (laughs).
B: Well I remember seeing the video and going, did you see that girl dance? I mean it was amazing.
Alyson: Thank you. I think when you love something so much it just..you get lost in it, and you just feel this rush and when you're performing you forget about anyone who's watching and I think my love for dancing kind of shines through on camera so I'm very lucky.
B: Now for a long time you've done Mike's Super Short Show, and I have daughters and they watched it, and how was it doing that? You met a lot of different people on that didn't you?
Alyson: That actually prepared me for a lot of my projects I'm working on now, you know, because I was always the one interviewing people, so I had to be organized and well prepared for the premiers, and now I'm the one being interviewed, so I can kind of second guess the questions I'm going to be asked, which really pays off. And that was a great experience for me. I grew up doing it so I met a lot of really great people and it was just basically the time of my life getting to do what any kid would want to do, which is being on red carpets and interview the stars.
B: Yeah it was quite an experience for you I'm sure. You sing on Holly Hobbie?
Alyson: Yes I got to do a couple songs on Holly Hobbie, that was actually in the way beginning, before I had an interest in singing or pursuing a singing career. That was just something they threw together and thought it would be fun for the kids to sing along to the songs. And now after doing that, and recording a song for Camp Rock which is my newest Disney Channel film, I'm actually loving music more and more everyday and I've been training vocally for a year now and hope to pursue that.
B: So is there a possibility we're looking at another Hannah Montana up and rising here?
Alyson: I think that would be an honor and a blessing because Hannah Montana has done so well and is so successful with the kids, so just, you know if I have a chance to reach out and share my gift and be able to connect with people, that's all I really want to do. So.
B: So you enjoy singing?
Alyson: Oh I love music. I've grown up dancing to music, and now I can use my voice to send powerful messages to people. There's nothing better.
B: Now a lot of people may not have seen all that you've done. They've seen you grow up on Mike's Super Short Show and everything, but you've done a lot of voice over's too.
Alyson: Yes. I actually started doing voice over's at the same time I started acting and singing and dancing. And I actually was on Lilo and Stitch first, and then that led to other projects. I think it's fun because it's a different process. You have to use your voice only to communicate to the audience. You can't show any expressions on your face because they can't see it. So you can definitely wear your PJ's to the studio and record which I definitely enjoy.
....And there's a lot of great cast members I've worked with on animated projects and it's something that you can just go into the studio and lets loose and not care about anyone watching you, because it's just your voice, so you can play around with it.
....it's a challenge but I like it.
B: Now you've mentioned your new movie Camp Rock. Can you give us a idea on that?
Alyson: Yes. Camp Rock is Disney Channel's newest original movie. And it will be airing on June 20th. I don't know what time, but it stars the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, who is kind of Disney's new up and coming starlet and there's great music, there's a great family message about standing up and believing in yourself and raising your voice. And I play Caitlyn who's an aspiring music producer and she immediately befriends Mitchie who is the main girl, but she has to watch her make friends with the mean girls, so it's all about, you know, hanging with the right crowd, because you are who you hang out with. So yeah, it's great.
B: Sounds like it will be a good one. And you also have a project you're working on which is the Alyson Stoner Project. Can you tell us about that?
Alyson: Yes. The Alyson Stoner Project blends a bunch of different elements of entertainment into one. It has dancing, and a dance instructional section where kids can learn some of the actual moves I've done in shows and movies and in the end there's a full blow music video where different celebrities make an appearance. We have David Henry from Wizards of Waverly Place, and we have Bonnie Hunt who was my mom in Cheaper by the Dozen, and also there's a behind the scenes feature, where you get to learn about the dancers themselves and you kind of get to pick my brain, and ask me any questions you want, and I answer them for you. So it's a great way to get out, be healthy, and dance and do something productive. So. Yeah.
B: Any other things that are in the works that you know about?
Alyson: Gosh, well I'm designing my own dance shoe. It's a dance sneaker with the Bloch dance corporation. So hopefully that will be released this summer. As well as Camp Rock, Alice Upside Down, Phineus and Ferb.. gosh I forget, what else is there? There's one other thing, but I can't remember... Oh and my singing. There we go.
B: Now we're going to play a game. I say a character and you tell me where it's from. The first one is Sarah Baker.
Alyson: That's Cheaper by the Dozen.
[they play this "game" a little longer]
B: That' s right. I'm amazed...
Alyson: You saying all these names, just reminds me of how grateful I have to be, to have worked with all these great people. So.
B: Oh, the other question I wanted to ask is.. you went to a school yesterday and from what I understand, it was like from back when I was a kid and The Beatles were coming, and everyone was screaming and yelling and how does that make you feel, when you see things like that?
Alyson: It's so rewarding, and it's inspiring because you're watching kids look up to you which makes you feel responsible and like a role model and also it's very encouraging to see that kids are watching what you do, and they're watching the shows and keeping in tune with what you like to do, so ....um, I also went with Taylor Lautner and Dylan McCloughen, and they're the two "hot guys" so I think that's what the girls were going crazy for, but we got a great response, and I'm hoping they attend tonight's screening, because that's what we went there for so it's a chance for us to connect.
B: And can you tell us something about this movie?
Alyson: Yes, Alice Upside Down...
B: You're just so busy..
Alyson: You know what, it's been a hectic year, but it's been the time of my life. Even though I'm only fourteen, but, you know.. Alice Upside Down is a family oriented film, and it's kind of a comedy and drama. I guess they call that a dramady. And I play Alice who is trying to find her way through moving to a new town, moving to a new school, and she's forced to grow up without a mom because she passed away awhile back. So it's all about finding yourself. And there's great cast members. We have Luke Perry from 90210 and Penny Marcial who's from everything, and Lucas Grabbel, who's you know, the High School Musical star, so it's just a great way for families to go, and watch and see that you don't have to be perfect, and you can still learn about yourself through watching Alice and her ups and downs.
B: Any websites that you have?
Alyson: I have a website. www. alysonstoner. com I know it's original. Then I have my Myspace which is for The Alyson Stoner Project, which is just www. myspace. com/alysonstonerproject and I actually developed my own Youtube where I can go and talk to fans personally. And that's www. youtube. com/user/TheRealAlysonStoner and the website for Alice is I believe AliceUpsideDown. com
B: Well that's good. Well thank you very much for taking the time.
Alyson: No Problem.