Tyler James Williams – Unaccompanied Minors

Q.  What are some of the recent projects that you’ve been working on?

A.  I’m working on a movie called Unaccompanied Minors.  It’s about five kids that are stuck in the airport by themselves on Christmas Eve. They have to make Christmas for themselves, and then there is a new season of “Everybody Hates Chris.”  We’re almost done with that.

Q.  What can you tell us about your character in Unaccompanied Minors?

A.  My character’s name is Charlie and he’s a witty, awkward kid.  He’s about thirteen years old and he’s just dancing to his own drummer.  He dresses differently from everybody else and dances differently.  He’s been home schooled his whole life and has been around nothing but adults. 

Q.  What was it about the film that really made you want to be a part of it?

A.  It just sounded really fun when I read the script and that really attracted me to it.

Q.  Do you have a really memorable moment from filming?

A.  There were a lot of kids on the film so most of the time we were shooting together.  We had this one scene where we were riding on a golf cart.  We had all of these different stunts to do and I think that was one of the things that I’ll remember most.

Q.  What is it about your role on the show “Everybody Hates Chris” that continues to challenge you as an actor?

A.  This role changes a lot, it changes a whole lot.  He goes through different things and he gets older.  I think as the character gets older; I also get older.  The same thing that he’s going through, I’m going through as well.  So, it’s always challenging me to become a better actor.  I’m working with new people, new celebrities who are really funny.  It really is challenging me even though it may not seem like it because it’s the same role over and over again.  But, it is challenging me. 

Q.  What do you think it is about the show that continues to draw viewers in?

A.  It’s a family show, it’s a reality.  It really happens to people, it’s not something that you have to imagine happening.  It really happens and it happens to almost everybody.  It takes place in the 80s, a time when most people can remember, it was a good time in life.  It’s funny, I think it’s one of those shows that doesn’t need to struggle to be funny.  It just is funny.

Q.  Since the show does have a lot of comedy elements to it, does comedic timing come naturally to you or is it something you constantly work at?

A.  I have had to work at it for a while, like in the first season.  Now I think I’ve got it, it’s a lot easier to me.  Once you start to learn something, the more you practice it, the more it comes naturally. 

Q.  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A.  I like going to the mall, I like hanging out with friends playing basketball.  I like to go swimming, stuff that any normal fourteen year old boy would do.

Q.  Do you have a latest obsession? Are you into any particular book, sport, music group or activity?

A.  I do listen to a lot of music, one of the people I’m really into now is Alicia Keys.  I’m listening to a lot of her work, I’m looking forward to her new album. 

Q.  What would you like to say to all of the fans and supporters of the show?

A.  There are so many things I want to say that I don’t even have the words to say.  I really want to say thank you, thank you for everything that you’ve done for the show, because without you we would be nothing.  We wouldn’t be here right now!  Thank you isn’t even enough, I need to say that we work really hard and we try really hard to make you happy and help you out.  Take some stress out of your day even for half an hour just to laugh.