Zach Callison Interview

Zach Callison plays Matthew Parker in the popular Adventures in Odyssey series! At the recent Get in the Show finals, we were able to ask him a couple questions…

Q: Everyone seems to have a “how I got discovered” story. What is yours?

I still feel like I am yet to be “discovered”.  I have been performing and acting since the age of seven.  A family friend heard me sing when I was five or six and told my parents that I had a gift.  She was a professional singer/song writer and so my mom began to search for a vocal coach when I turned seven.  She found one at a local college but the coach didn’t hold recitals for her students.  My mom wanted me to have some stage/audience experience and had noticed that the college was getting ready to hold auditions for a musical (The Music Man) and needed kids.  The age on auditions was for 8 and up and I was only seven.  After gaining encouragement from the vocal coach even though I was ‘under-aged’, I auditioned and got the leading ‘kid’ role in the show.  Winthrop!  The character has a lisp and it was fun to do.  It is the only time I could spit and not get in trouble!

Q: When did you realize you wanted to become an actor?

After performing in The Music Man, I went on to do several more plays and even performed on the famous St. Louis MUNY stage for two seasons.  My parents thought that maybe I could stretch my acting wings and I landed an agent in St. Louis.  There is not a whole lot of work in St. Louis for kids, but I was lucky enough to book a local commercial and a SAG independent film.  It was after doing the film that I found my true passion.  I knew then that TV and Film was what I wanted to do more of.  It was shortly after that that we began the process of moving to LA.

Q: Tell me a little about what you do?

I thought when I got to LA that I would be doing just on-camera acting. I have worked on shows like Hannah Montana, I’m in the Band, Little Brother and as well as films.  I didn’t know anything about voice over.  While I have had success in working on camera jobs, I have truly excelled in the voice over world.  I have worked for not just Adventures in Odyssey but for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Disney and more.  I have had the good fortune to have played Matthew Parker for a little over three years now and it was my first voice over job!  I also am doing a regular role in Disney’s new show for their Disney Jr. network titled ‘Sofia the First’.  It is a fun role also and I get to sing for it. In addition to acting I am working hard at my music.  I am in a rock band ‘Delirium’ and we are working on developing originals and just making the best music we can.  Our emphasis is on quality and I love working with others who think the same way as I do about that.

Q: What’s a normal day like for you?

A normal day consists of school work first even if I am working a job.  The production is required to make sure kids have time for their school work and I have never been on a set that didn’t put that as top priority.  If not working I may have a vocal or piano lesson, an acting class or coaching session, one to two auditions during the busy times.  I attend 1-3 events a week, usually supporting a charity.  I love video games so I try to play when I can.  I will also when I can skype with friends while we are playing our games.  I also like to Freeline skate with friends or by myself.  I am getting better at it, so of course I like to do it more and more!

Q: What is the coolest project you have worked on?

Adventures in Odyssey had been so fun for me. I have made awesome friends and the work doesn’t feel like work.  For on camera projects, I’d have to say ‘I’m in the Band’.  I played a LARPer (Live Action Role Play) and we dressed in medieval clothes and fought with foam swords.  It was a blast!

Q: Where is the farthest you have traveled for a job?

Dallas, TX for the AIO show.  I moved from St. Louis, MO to Los Angeles, CA to pursue my career, but this is my first acting job that I had to travel for.

Q: What is your favorite book?

The Hunger Games series.

Q: What is the one person, living or dead, who you would like to meet or have met?

Captain Paul Watson.  I was recently named a youth ambassador for Sea Shepherd.  I really respect his commitment to saving our oceans for future generations.

Q: Describe your feelings when you heard or saw your first performance?

Ugh!  I hate to watch myself!  I always critic myself and think about how I could have done it better.

Q: What are your hopes for your future as an actor?

I’d love to be known as a versatile actor in feature films for both on-camera and voice over.

Q: What inspired you to act?

I think I may have been born to act.  I have always used my imagination to create characters and do ‘scenes’ while playing as a small child.  One year my mom made me a Luke Skywalker costume for Halloween and I would put it on every day and pretend I was saving the universe in my backyard. The ‘Force’ was always with me!

Q: Have you ever turned down a role, because it ended up not fitting your personality?

Absolutely.  My parents and I have turned things down because the content was not something they or I felt I should do.  It went against my moral code.  I believe that even while I am portraying another person, I still have to be true to myself and my beliefs.

Q: Most embarrassing moment acting?

It wasn’t during a performance, but during wardrobe check for The Music Man for the director. My pants fell down, right there on stage.  The wardrobe crew hadn’t done alterations yet.  I was only seven and small and the pants were for a man.  Fortunately I was wearing the band uniform jacket and it was long enough to give me coverage! lol

Q: What can you tell us about any future projects you have planned?

Sofia the First is an ongoing job and the movie aired last night with the series beginning in 2013. (You can watch it by clicking on the banner below.) I also hope to continue working with Adventures in Odyssey.  I just did the most amazing episode written by Paul McCusker and I can’t wait for the fan response to it.  All I can say is that it involves the imagination station and early Christian life.

 

Q: Coke or Pepsi?

I have never had either.  My parents have never wanted me to have caffeine.  I do love Zevia.  It has no sugar or calories and is sweetened with a natural sweetener called stevia.

Q: Soft shell or Hard Shell tacos?

Both!

Q: Favorite place to vacation?

So far it has been Sydney, Australia.  I went there on a People to People Student Ambassador trip three years ago.  It was amazing. This year I am going to Switzerland for summer school in order study Italian.  You might have to ask this question again when I return!

Q: Favorite season?

Winter

Q: Favorite color?

Black

Q: What’s your favorite holiday memory?

I love all my Christmas holidays.  I get to go home for about 2-3 weeks each year to see family and friends and enjoy spending the Christmas celebration with them.  I also enjoy the winter weather while at home and on occasion I have been lucky enough for it to snow while I’m there.

Q: Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

Not a verse in particular, but I always enjoy reading the book of Proverbs.  It contains so many good bits of wisdom to fit any situation.

Q: Favorite pasta dish?

Vegetable penne pasta.

Q: What music do you listen to?

My favorite band is Muse.  I like alt rock, indie rock, electronica and dub step among many others.

Q: I hear you are in a band, tell me about it? Anywhere we can go and listen to some of the music or download it?

‘Delirium’ is a very new band.  My friend Hunter Craig (bass) and I came from another band and formed this one to pursue the quality of sound that we both believe in.  We are definitely rock n roll.  We hoped to record the original soon and get it on iTunes.  Our first song is definitely influenced by Muse.

Q: What is it like working with other actors, any one in particular you really enjoyd working with?

Jess Harnell has to be one of my favorites.  He is so good at what he does and a super human being as well!   I also really enjoyed working with Jeff Foxworthy on ‘Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader’.  He is so funny and fun to be around.  Both of these guys are kind and positive and make the working environment more enjoyable.

Q: You recently did a video to support the release of CPT. Paul Watson. Can you tell me what about his cause inspires you? How can other young men and women stand up for what they believe?

I think the cause is just and he protects our oceans and the intelligent species that live within them.  I feel strongly about this cause because protecting our oceans ultimately is protecting ourselves.  God expects us to be good stewards of this earth and I think Captain Paul is doing just that.  I would tell other youth to be confident, stand up for yourself when the need arises and spread the word about your cause. Don’t back down if you are outnumbered. Stay true to yourself and your beliefs.

Q: What’s it like working in Hollywood?

It’s not the image that is portrayed by the media as glamour and glitz.  Working in Hollywood is probably no different than working anywhere else.  It is hard work, and even though I’m a kid I am expected to be as professional as any adult on set.  The difference is probably that my work brings me a lot of joy because it is something I love to do.

Q: I noticed that you have lots events you attend via your Facebook pictures. How do you balance work, school, life, and play?

School definitely comes first. I just finished the year in a CA Charter homeschool program and received my report card today and have a 4.0 GPA.  My parents require that I maintain my grades in order to do all the other stuff I do. It may seem to outsiders that I go non-stop, and yes I am busy, but I also have down time.  Sometimes I have to give up free time to work on an audition or band practice (which is fun for me), but it pays off when I am rewarded with an acting job or asked to perform out live.  My acting career has afforded me so many amazing experiences that the sacrifices don’t seem like sacrifices at all.