Caffeinated Clint
It’s strange how things work out, as Newcomer Nicholas Braun is glad to attest to. CLINT MORRIS talks one-on-one to one of the stars of the hot new film, "Sky High".
Braun – whose few credits include an acclaimed episode of "Law and Order : SVU" – auditioned for four roles in Disney’s new adventure hit "Sky High", but was rejected for each part. Instead? “The one audition that I didn’t do in person – I taped it in a basement at my boarding school – was the role that I got”, he laughs, referring to the role of Zach, one of many pupils at a special school for the descendants of super heroes.
Braun soon realised that he had been cast in the right role though.
“[It] was the best fit”, he says, “Me and ‘Zach Attack’ are definitely similar. We don’t dress the same, but my clothes get some attention just like him. Zach is a little bit more cocky, a little bit more outspoken. But, like Zach, in school I’m looking to get some respect, looking to find my place. I went through a similar sort of deal when I was entering my freshman year. I tried to come in, make some noise, and put myself on top of everyone. But, I was humbled quickly by some of the seniors. I was kind of put in my place just like my man Zach”.
Like Zach, Braun’s also super-tall – and his height has posed its problems.
“Height has really taken me out of the running for a lot of roles. You know, I got this sort of baby face going on, the 6’5 lankiness maybe scares casting directors. They’ll bring me back for producers and directors, but in the end I lose the roles because of the height”, he admits. “There’s always a parent they have to match me with, or a brother or sister. And, obviously I can’t tower over them. Actually, Vince Vaughn has a career I’m aspiring to, because he is rocking the 6’5 vibe and doing real well with it”.
Braun, who admits to not being a fan of superhero comics himself, had a marvellous time working on the film – especially with a cast that includes Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston. “I’m sure you hear it all the time about the cast being great…but this cast was awesome. I got to work with all the adults – Kurt, Kelly, Lynda (Carter), Bruce (Campbell), Kids in the Hall- everybody. You really have to step up your game to work with these guys. I mean, I’m still a kid, and so I still kind of get starstruck, you know?”
Braun was most intimidated by the legendary Kurt Russell. “When Kurt walked on set my first day of shooting in his "Commander" suit, it took a lot of mental prepping to get myself focused. My nervousness worked for the scene though – the one where we’re all doing homework in the living room.
“Dave Foley was another guy who was real cool to work with. It was a real challenge to keep a straight face in scenes with him. No matter how many takes he did, he was hilarious. He changed the rhythm of the scene every take, he took a new look, a different view on the scene every time.
“And, the kids of the cast were awesome. Mike Angarano, Kelly Vitz, Deejay Daniels, Danielle Panabaker- that was my crew. We were together all the time. The "sidekicks" stuck together. We went to school together – everyone except Danielle, we ate together, and we hung out off set. We got real tight working 10-12 hrs a day together. Everybody was really great”.
The popularity of "Sky High", the movie, has the studio toying with the idea of a spin-off TV series now, but Braun’s not sure he’d be involved.
“The last I heard of a series was last spring when they released breakdowns for the parts. It wasn’t in the contract for me and the other kids. I’m not sure if I’d do it. I have a weird fear of series (Television) to tell you the truth. Because, I know if it was one of those long running series I would get so sick of the repetition. Same schedule, week in, week out. And, I believe that they sign people on to a series for 5 or 6 years when they first sign you on. I couldn’t plan out the next 5 years of my life like that”.
Braun says it’s not a good time for him to jump straight into anything else, just yet, anyway.
“The thing is, I go to this boarding school in Massachusetts, and they are very insistent on me not leaving to do more work. It’s my senior year, and I have a lot of leadership positions, so they will probably not let me go out for parts until the spring”.
When he finishes school, he has an idea about the kind of films he’d like to be involved in though.
“If there was one type of movie I would do, it would be something like Hustle & Flow or American History X. I want to do a film that is about a person’s transformation. It doesn’t have to be a drama, I love doing comedy. But, I want a part that is nothing like me, where I have to leave myself completely for the performance. Not only would this type of film help me find my own craft, but it would get people talking in the industry. I know I have a new, intelligent mind to offer to today’s film industry, I’m just waiting for the roles to prove it.”
SKY HIGH Commences September 8 across Australia
