Would you care to introduce yourself?
My name is Kevin Schmidt, I’m an actor in Hollywood and you know…surviving! Doing the movie business thing…
What got you into acting?
My older brother Kenneth got me into it. I was born and raised in a little town in Kansas and when we were there, we used to do little adverts. Then we started doing print work for a while and we got in contact with an agency out in New York to start doing commercials and that’s eventually how we got into the business. From there we started doing TV shows and little movies in New York. One year we made the big trip up to California and just haven’t looked back since then.
Any upcoming projects we can expect?
No, I actually kinda took last year off. I was working so hard these last 3 or 4 years, going from project to project. I needed a break so I kinda did the whole teenager thing and I have a girlfriend now; that’s fun and entertaining. I’m actually writing a lot though. I have a screen play that’s finished and I’m shopping it around with some really really nice production companies that I would love to have pick it up and get it going. That’s my main thing that I’ve been doing, writing a lot. I started another project that I’m going to include a lot of my friends in that are actors and some people we know. So yeah, I’m doing the writing deal now!
Have you given up acting or is it on a break?
No no no! I haven’t really given it up at all! It’s just, when it got slow, I kinda went a little bonkers and had to do something to keep me occupied. My goal in the business is to start directing, so yeah. The problem is that you can’t really go into many companies and say, hi I’m 18, I’m an actor but I’d like to direct. So I kind of attach myself to my script as kind of a producer and then when I get on set and it gets made, I will shadow whoever I choose to direct and kind of have my own little schooling process happen there.
What are your hopes for 2007?
To get my screenplays noticed and running. That would be the absolute best case scenario! I haven’t given up acting! I guarantee you in the next month or two, I’m going to have project after project. Hopefully I’ll get one of them! There’s a lot of people out here but I’ve done fairly well so I’m pretty confident so we’ll see what happens.
What are your passions and concerns for the world?
The biggest issue that I’m faced with every day living in southern California is our air quality. The thing about it is a lot of people think of sunny California and it’s this beach scene that you see in all the movies. But what they don’t show is this thick layer of smog that just hangs over downtown Los Angeles and is just sicker than sick. It’s disgusting! The main thing I’m worried about is not taking care of our atmosphere and these wars that are happening in the Middle East. I don’t really agree with them. I’m involved with as much of the environmental aspect as much as possible. I have my own opinions about it.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Funny. Outgoing. Personable.
Who are the coolest people you’ve met and why?
The one that has really stood out is Bonnie Hunt who plays my mum on Cheaper By the Dozen. She’s incredible! Really! I’ve worked with so many people in Hollywood and she’s the most genuine, sweetest, most influential person I’ve ever met! Then I have some friends that their careers have grown around me and they’ve become large actors. Hilary is another example. She’s a really good friend of mine that I can always count on and I’m good friends with her family. We were there last New Year’s and it was great! Also probably my friend Sean, he’s on desperate housewives and he plays Andrew. He’s actually one of my best friends! I’ve known him since I moved out here, so he’s definitely one. When I go to the gym, it’s actually his gym. I see him all the time!
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If you could do anything for one day, what would it be?
Probably be a doctor in a children’s hospital. I was pretty blessed last year, I was able to go and do a charity event for this little company called the Lolleepop Theatre. I’ve done a lot of charity events over the years but this one was by far the most meaningful event that I’ve ever done. If I ever had a chance to do anything else, it would be to help those kids with what they’re going through.
What’s been the scariest thing you’ve had to do on set?
The first thing that really shook me to the bone was when I shot Butterfly Effect, it was me and Jesse James and others and it was our first really big, dramatic, emotional scene that we had to do, which was his dog was killed by Jesse James. What happened was that we spent all day on that scene to where we kinda had to have our emotions up the entire day and that was the first time I was so drained working because I had to be so freaked out and so out of my mind. We were crying all day and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences for me, but it was by far the hardest. The scariest was keeping my emotions up all day and being vulnerable to every person that I came across. There was one time we all finished a take after our fourth or fifth. All of us kids ran to our parents that were sitting in our chairs and just started crying.
What has been your most embarrassing moment on set?
I look back on it and it doesn’t really bother me now but at the time it was really embarrassing. When we were shooting the second CBTD up in Canada, there was a scene that I had to get on the diving board and kinda show my entire body to the world. Actually that part, Carmen Electra goes on the diving board and of course Carmen is beautiful, she gets up there and she shows off her stuff. Everyone on set was going ooh and aah and watching her scene. And then it was actually supposed to go to a couple other cast mates who didn’t feel comfortable doing it. They came up to me and asked me if I would do it and I said yeah sure, I’ll strip off to my swim suit and jump into the pool, big deal. But when I got up there and did it, I was like wow this could be stressful! But okay, although I was embarrassed I did it and I ended up getting something from it once again. That’s the main thing, if anything is really embarrassing or scary, as long as you can draw something positive from it in the end, it was worth it.
Have you kept in contact with your fellow co-actors?
With most people, it’s been a strictly job relationship so you don’t bother keeping in contact. However with the people that I got close to, I kept in contact with just like anyone would do in a normal situation. I have phone numbers and e-mail addresses. When they’re in town, we go out and have dinner; we go see movies, just like anyone else would.
Describe your daily routine.
I get up, I get on my computer and check my e-mails because they either have to do with business stuff or personal stuff, if I have auditions I end up going over my lines, I’m still in school, I have one class left, so I have to put away some time to get my schooling done, I still got to run errands, my mum works so if my mum doesn’t have a chance, I have to run her errands, take care of some of the animals around the house, go on my audition, do that thing and then every other day I go to the gym with my friend Sean. I very much live my life by a schedule. It’s entertaining.
If you could change something about your life, what would it be?
I don’t know if I would change anything; I don’t think I would. I’m thrilled with everything that’s happened and is happening with me and around me. It’s made me the person I am today so I don’t think I’d change anything.
What has been the toughest thing to do in your life?
It’s probably the business itself. Acting, writing, producing, directing; it’s ever changing. It’s something that you think you have your part figured out and then all of a sudden the business takes a turn to a more political side or takes it more towards the fantasy side. You have to evolve with that; the roles you get won’t be the same; the stuff you go out for you gotta change. So probably acting. I mean there’s a reason why actors aren’t working their entire lives! It’s because it’s ever changing and your goal is to keep changing with it and keep working. So it’s probably my acting career that’s been the most difficult thing.
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How does it feel to be a role model?
That’s deeply flattering but I don’t know. I just try to be the person I am and all the role model is someone taking something from someone else and applying it to them. I have role models and hopefully people who look up to me and role models, who have their own role models. We all have to feed off each other and I don’t have a definitive stature about it but I’m just trying to be the person I am, and keep people happy and entertained.
What’s the nicest thing a fan has ever said to you?
The nicest thing fans can ever say to me is when they come up to me and say that they’ve enjoyed my work. The best thing fans have ever said to me is when they say that they’ve watched a scene I’ve done over and over again because they find it so funny or they find it so heart breaking. If somebody takes time to watch my work over and over again like I do with my favourite actors and directors, that’s probably the nicest thing anyone could do for me.
Tell me random facts about you.
I’m kind of a hat freak. I’m all about hats. Actually I shouldn’t say hats; I’m very particular about what hat I wear. I’ve got two or three hats that I wear and have had for ages. I think my newest one is a year old! When the hair’s not doing good that day, I can always rely on my hats. I guess I could say I’m a hat freak!
I also play a computer game that I can get on and mess around with for a while. (World of Warcraft in case you’re wondering)
What do you look for in a girl?
I tend to look for a girl who’s not caught up in everything whether that be if she’s an actress. I’m very into a girl who’s not drama-related; that’s one thing. Also she’s got to be able to laugh, laughing is a big thing. I love to make people laugh so if she can’t keep me entertained or she’s always wanting to talk about something else, that’s a big turn off. As far as looks, I don’t have one particular preference from blondes to brunettes to red heads. If I’m attracted to you and you’re attracted to me, then hey!
If you could be a super hero, who would you be?
Batman for sure, because he doesn’t have super powers so at least he’s more human that everyone else! He’s just good at kicking some butt! And also I loved batman as a kid! Just because he’s human but can really complicate his life.
How can people contact you?
I get fanmail every once in a while. Probably the best way to get it to me would be through my manager, seeing as I’ve been with my same manager for six or seven years now so I’m pretty close to him and he’s 15-20 minutes from my house. So yeah, if people want to contact me with fanmail or requests etc, I love to keep in touch with my fans! I know a lot of people have problems doing it but I usually can stay on top of it. Send it to my manager and it’ll get to me! Whether you want an autograph or just to send me a letter or write to each other back and forth. I’m going to try get a website going again. I had one but it fizzled put so yeah. We’ll see what happens. But as for now, send it to my manager and it will get to me, I promise. I don’t have a myspace. Also I recently made an IMDB account, so you can talk to me through there. The screen name I use is KGSforfans.
