Disney’s
comedy SKY
HIGH features two fresh-faced talents, Michael Angarano and Danielle
Panabaker. Angarano plays Will Stronghold,
adolescent son of the famous superhero duo Captain Stronghold and Josie
Jetstream. As if puberty isn’t hard
enough, he’s starting high school and doesn’t yet have any superpowers.
Playing his hot/geeky pal is Danielle Panabaker.
Panabaker has a young Heather Graham thing going that makes me feel
naughty. Angarano make me feel naughty,
too, but I’d prefer not to talk about that.
They both
stopped by the Four Seasons in
Beverly Hills
last week to talk about their experience making Sky High.
| Michael
Angarano |
Danielle
Panabaker |
 |
 |
How
much does the high school experience of Sky High mirror that of high school in
the real world?
Panabaker:
I would say that it’s really significant.
That’s what attracted me to the movie so
much in the first place is that sort of John Hughes feel the movie has, of these
teenagers going through high school dealing with bullies and pressure from their
parents and unrequited love. I think it’s pretty similar, you know, a part of
growing up.
How
closely do you resemble your character in the film?
Panabaker: Pretty
close. I was the biggest nerd in high school, so that’s kind of
why I kind of felt Layla’s pain.
Angarano: My
whole first month of high school was me trying to get friends, just trying to
get people to like me, really.
Does
being in the industry work in your favor or against it?
Angarano:
People don’t really care that I’m an actor, which is great. I love
that. When you go to an all boys Catholic high school in the Valley nobody
really watches TV or sees too many movies, so nobody really knew who I am, which
is great.
Do
you have a nickname?
Angarano: Nobody
could pronounce my last name, so my Spanish teacher gave me the name
“Angie.” And everyone on the
soccer team would all me “Ango,” which I hate. Call me Angie but don’t
call me Ango. That’s just bad.
Do
you guys have any special powers?
Panabaker:
None whatsoever.
Come
on, there’s gotta be something you’re good at.
Angarano:
I like video games. (laughs) I
don’t know; I listen to a lot of music, watch movies.
I’m very boring. I never go
out, really. I skateboard now.
That’s really it.
Prior
to making Sky High, did you have any experience working with CGI?
Angarano: I
had very little experience with CGI and green screen.
What I loved about it was that there were just as many stunts as there
were effects (in the film). So, a lot of it was very hands-on. If I were to take
somebody and throw them fifty feet into the air, I would actually be throwing
somebody and they would just be on wires and I would have to look like I’m
throwing them. So it was very
hands-on, a lot of it.
Panabaker: There
was a little bit, all the stuff when the bus flies was green screen. We were in
a bus that was actually shifting and rotating and moving, and that was pretty
terrifying. And there was a little
more at the end.
Danielle,
what’s it like having a sister who’s also an actor?
Panabaker: It’s
wonderful. If anything, this business has brought my family together because we
can sit at the dinner table and say, “Oh, my gosh, wait till you hear this
crazy story.” And my whole family
always comes to sets with me, so it’s something we can share as opposed to
tearing us apart.
So
you and your sister share a lot of stories?
Panabaker: We
swap stories all the time. There are so many different aspects of this business.
We’re always trading tips, “Hey, guess what I learned today?” It’s
wonderful. I love it.
In
these types of movies, how come the guy never realizes that his best friend is
the hottest girl in school?
Panabaker: Good
question!
Angarano:
Good question. I have
no idea. What I feel bad for Will about is that he’s so confused at that point
by the fact that he has no powers whatsoever and he would do anything to become
a hero, to get into hero class and have nothing to do with sidekicks. But her on
the other hand, she has this awesome power, but she chooses to be a sidekick. I
think Will’s way too confused at that point to realize that she’s crushing
on him but she probably has been for the last five years. So I don’t know how
he can explain himself. (Laughs)
What
was it like working with Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston?
Angarano: I
know Kurt as Snake Plisskin. I think everyone does. Working with them was so
great. They’re pros. There was never a time that they were looking down on us.
A lot of people ask, “Did he give advice?” He’s not the kind of guy that
gives advice. You could just look at him and learn. He kind of lets you do it on
your own, in an encouraging way.
Panabaker: He’s
the kind of guy where everyone gets excited when he comes on set because it’s
so much fun. He has such a great sense of humor. Everyone from the crew was
shaking with laughter because you are just enjoying yourself so much.
Angarano:
Yeah. Working with him and
Kelly together, they’re such a perfect match. It’s kind of scary and
intimidating because they’re so spontaneous and they approach each scene like
it’s a blank slate, like it’s empty and we need to fill it up. It could be
the funniest scene but they always add new things to it. Just kind of picking
that up and rolling with them and adding your own input, there was a very
collaborative spirit on the set.
If
you could choose any superpower, what would it be?
Panabaker: I’d
love to be able to multiply because then I could be in lots of different places
at once. One of me could be sitting here, one of me could still be in bed and
one could be vacationing in
Hawaii
. Just be lots of places at once.
Angarano: I
would fly, just to beat traffic. Just to not have to go on planes. How cool
would that be. I would love it.
Questions?
Comments? Manifestos? Send them to me at thomasleupp@joblo.com.
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