QQ. What are some of the recent projects that you've been working on?
A. The weekend of June 8th, I think, there will be a one hour episode for my show "Ned's Declassified." It's the first episode where we leave the school and it's an hour long and an hour crazier. That premieres the same weekend as the Nickelodeon movie I did called Shredder Man. They're calling it a "Ned Shred" weekend and it's going to be great and huge. It's going to be two nights of two movies of mine which is going to be exciting. I'm going to be shooting a movie called The Greatest Escape and that is a big summer camp movie. Mitchell Musso is playing my brother and I am in the process of signing a record deal.
Q. You mentioned the "Ned's Declassified" movie, what made you all want to shoot a movie in the last season of the show?
A. We wanted to do it because for one, it meant getting out of the studio, to be able to shoot off set and on location was really cool. After three seasons it was a change of pace and we'd be able to do a lot more with the episode.
Q. What is the premise for the "Ned's Declassified" movie? Is it the same as the show or something different since you're out of the school?
A. It's still the same premise it's just the field trip episode so we go on location. We filmed it in Glendale at Descanso Gardens but in the show we call it Hoppington Gardens. It's got a museum, botanical gardens and a Japanese garden with samurais. It's a crazy episode and I end up wearing nothing but a grass skirt. Cookie pretends to be a superhero, there are art thieves, there are samurais, it's just crazy.
Q. Is it a school survival guide to a field trip or a guide to getting older? What kind of guide will it be?
A. This one is a lot of it, it's definitely got the field trip tips but in this episode you also find out if Ned is going to Suzie or Moze. So, it's definitely got a lot of that getting older stuff too.
Q. What is it about the role of Ned that really continued to challenge you?
A. Ned is always getting into crazier situations which was always fun to play. Then towards the third season he starts to have those personal battles with himself. Half way through the season he starts to think, "Do I like Moze now?" So then all of the situations between Suzie, Ned and Moze got more difficult to play and more crazy. It was just always a fun character to play.
Q. Is that a situation that you can relate to at all?
A. Yes, yes I can. Lindsey and I were best friends on the show and then once the show ended we actually went out for a while. Now we're just back to being friends so I can relate.
Q. Do you have a fondest memory from working on the show?
A. All of the people with the show were my second family because filming the show for three years, nine and a half hours a day, five days a week, every one of us bonded so well. The executive producer, Scott Fellows, kind of set the tone for that, he's such a great guy. He got everyone together and we all became best friends and I have so many memories from that show that I will always cherish. It was an amazing three years and especially not going to school out here, I was home schooled. I couldn't really meet friends, because where else would you meet them other than school? So, on set, all of my best friends became all of my friends on the show.
Q. After playing Ned for three years, do you feel like you've grown and matured along with him?
A. Definitely, also because on set you're kind of hanging out with adults all day. It matures you faster because you're hanging out with crew members and the producers. The kids are the minority on set so you kind of have to keep up with the adults and stay mature and not just be immature little kids around them.
Q. What do you think it is about the show that the fans will miss the most?
A. I think the combination and the balance between helping them, giving them tips, and making them laugh with all of the ridiculous situations that we get in. I really enjoyed it, it was a blast to shoot, and I think kids relate to it because it shows them how to get through school and maybe exaggerates the situations but if you tone them down to a kid's show and real life, the situations can compare to each other and they help you get through them. On the show they show you them in a funny way that makes you amused all of the time.
Q. The show is so wonderfully funny, has your comedic timing developed from working on it?
A. Oh, definitely! Being on the show, I don't know, you can just see the first season compared to the third season. In the third season we're so comfortable with our characters that it kind of comes as instinct to us by the third season. We're so used to the pacing of the show, we're so used to the timing and it really helped my comedy develop. The problem that I am seeing now when I go to auditions, I'm used to the crazy Nickelodeon timing, and now I have to act real in auditions.
Q. Are you seeking out more dramatic roles now or will you still be doing comedic roles?
A. The Greatest Escape is going to be a comedy and I'm just looking for anything. Anything that looks appealing, looks like a great character, whether it is comedy or drama I am ready to do it. Whatever comes at me, whatever I can book.
Q. You mentioned working on an album, what kind of genre of music can fans expect to hear from you?
A. I'm a fan of Rock and all of my background of music is with Rock. I really do like all types of music, except Country, I never became a big country even though I'm from Georgia. Most of my background is from Rock, even though I like everything. My music is kind of interesting because I'm kind of figuring it out as we go because every song turns out a little bit different. It will be rock with acoustic background, kind of Pop/Rock, Goo Goo Dolls-esque. I have a writing session later tonight and it's a blast, music is a blast, it's a second passion of mine. I'm just so happy and I appreciate it so much that acting has brought me to be able to do music.
Q. What would you like to say to all of the people who have been fans and supporters of your show?
A. The fans are the reason our show was in existence so thank you so much for supporting us through all of the seasons and thank you for laughing with us. The reason we did the show is for you, you're the best.
