QQ) What are the recent projects that you are working on?
A) A few weeks ago I shot an episode of "CSI: New York" and most recently have been working on the ABC Family series "Pretty Little Liars."
Q) Please tell us the premise for the show "Pretty Little Liars" and about your character Ben.
A) I think the best description of the show that I've heard is that it is kind of a cross between "Gossip Girl" with "Desperate Housewives" and maybe the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer mixed in. The show itself is based on a series of books by the same name. The story focuses on four high school girls that at one time were best friends, but have become estranged when the queen bee of the group mysteriously disappears. The show picks up about three years after Alison's (Sasha Pieterse) disappearance when the four girls start to receive strange text messages from someone named "A." The show follows the four girls as they try and navigate the high school. It plays out like a mystery when the texts from "A" start to reveal some dark secrets about the past. The girls start wondering if Alison is back or if someone is messing with them. My character is the boyfriend of one of the four girls, Emily (Shay Mitchell). He's a typical high school jock because he's popular and the star of the swim team.
Q) What made you want to be a part of the show?
A) I kind of fell into the show. I got the audition at the eleventh hour. I didn't really have time to do research on the show like I usually do for an audition. When I booked the job I started looking into it. I kind of quickly realized what I had fallen into and was pretty excited about it. I think the show is one that any actor would really love to work on. It's a great storyline and the writing is very sharp, witty and fast paced. We also have an incredibly amazing ensemble cast so I think it is kind of an actor's dream as far as television goes.
Q) Where do you draw from for your portrayal of Ben?
A) That's been something that's been a little bit of a challenge. One thing I've drawn on is my own experience as a high school student. I really tried to sit down and remember what I was like back in high school. As much as possible, I've really been trying to capture that naivety that every high school student has. I think once you've grown up a little bit and gotten more worldly (as I like to think that I have) since high school, I think it can be tough to remember back to that time when you thought you knew everything, but you really didn't know anything. That's what I've been really trying to draw on to capture this character.
Q) Was that the most challenging aspect of the role for you or was there something more difficult?
A) That was one challenge. I'd say the biggest challenge with this character is that at first glance Ben can come off as a jerk and even kind of sleazy. Each time I am reading through a script for the episode my first thought is, "How am I going to make this guy likable?" If you just play him on the surface then he's really going to come off as extremely unlikable. I really spent a lot of time trying to figure out where Ben is coming from, why does he say some of the things he says and why does he do some of the things he does. Once I could kind of justify those things in my minds then this other side of Ben kind of started to shine through and I really started to see the character in a whole different way and a whole different light. Of course, that's what being an actor is all about. I am sure every actor has that challenge with a specific role.
Q) Was there instant chemistry when the cast began working together or did it take time to develop?
A) I expected it to take a little bit of time for everybody to gel, but I have to admit I've been very pleasantly surprised by that. For such a big ensemble cast, everybody has really gotten along great. Of course, the funny thing is that there are so many people in the cast and there are so many different storylines that are going on throughout the show that a lot of times individual members of the cast don't even get to work with other members of the cast. There are plenty of people in the cast that I've never worked with that I only see at table reads since we have everyone assembled together. It's a little bit interesting, but the people I work with on a regular basis are phenomenal. The whole cast and crew seem to be gelling together really well, especially since we're on the first few episodes of a brand new show.
Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming "Pretty Little Liars?"
A) We just finished our third episode so there hasn't been a ton, but I would have to say that at the end of this last episode (without giving away too much) has my character going through a fight scene with one of the other characters. I have never filmed a fight scene before and I have to say that it was a pretty cool experience. We had a stunt coordinator on set the whole time and we really choreographed out the fight scene. There was blood involved and all that good stuff. It was very cool! I was trying to picture what it would be like before we shot it and I have to say it was a cool experience. I have a new respect for actors that do a lot of action movies. They have to focus on the acting as well as the fighting and the stunts. That was pretty cool because I've never done anything like that.
Q) Why will people want to take their time to tune in to see the show?
A) It's damn good television! I think that certainly anyone that read the books is going to be amped up about the show and I also hope it is going to draw in an even bigger audience than that. I think the story speaks for itself. I think the way the writers crafted the plot for the small screen is pretty amazing. It's got great drama and a hardy dose of comedy. There is certainly a lot of mystery mixed in. I am not sure what else you could ask for!
Q) Where can people go online to learn more about you?
A) The Internet Movie Database is certainly the best place to see my credits and a little bit about myself.
