If you missed the season premiere of MR. YOUNG, it was an hour long special packed with action, laughs and a cool new location! With the show in its second season, it was high time that we got an update from the teacher himself, Adam Young actor Brendan Meyer.
What was it like shooting the premiere episode?
It was great! It was definitely a different experience and different from a typical MR. YOUNG show: it was longer and we kind of went outside the school and went on all these new sets, like a beach and a jungle, which was really cool. It added a sort of freshness to shooting the show and we had some awesome guest stars like Victoria Duffield. So all in all it was probably one of the most fun episodes we’ve ever shot.
What was it like working with Victoria Duffield?
Well, first of all she’s a great singer and sings a little on the show, but at the same time she had a couple of great comedic scenes and it was cool that she showed her acting chops too; she was really funny.
What other crazy stuff is in store for this season?
The biggest thing that will really up the edge is that there are big new gags. The second season is a lot bigger; we have crazy new costumes and we even have things like the supernatural and mythological…I hope everyone enjoys season two because we’ve put a lot of effort into it and I think it’s even better than the first!
Is there any upcoming episode that you’re excited about?
There was one with a poetry teacher that was really interesting; I really liked that one. There was also one involving invisibility which was really cool to do. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil the surprise!
Are you reading anything right now?
I’m actually reading a book about the film industry called “Making Movies” by Sidney Lumet. I’m not reading fiction right now, even though I normally do. The book is about Sidney Lumet, who was a director, and it’s about how he [made] movies and it’s really interesting.
Is directing something that you would like to go into?
Yeah, at some point I would definitely want to go into that, but for now I’m just focusing on acting. But in the future I’d love to get into that, too.
If you could play any character, who would it be?
I’d love to play a great Shakespeare role. I think, for my age right now, I could play Romeo pretty soon and then when I’m older I’d love to play Richard III.
We hear that you really love Shakespeare. Why are you so interested in him and his work?
I think the main reason why I’m so drawn to Shakespeare is that they’re such great stories. Even though they were written all that time ago they’re still as exciting, romantic suspenseful, funny as anything we have out right now and that’s why they continue to be performed. So, first and foremost I like them because I’m a fan of the great stories. Also, they pose a unique challenge to an actor that other things don’t, first of all because of the heightened text. You have to understand what you’re saying and become comfortable with this new language and then add on top all the normal things that you have to do as an actor. So I just think it’s endlessly fascinating and you can do the plays over and over again as an actor and still find something new.
On MR. YOUNG, do you find it hard to play a character that is younger than you?
I don’t find it too bad, considering it’s not that much of an age gap you know, 17 to 14-15. I don’t find it too difficult. I mean, I’m 17 so I’m still in school, so I’m still in that realm, that age.
What sort of “teenage stereotype” would you most associate yourself with?
I think I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to movies and stuff and I don’t consider myself really a jock, but at the same time I don’t think that I’m super antisocial or anything like that. Like some people might say that nerdy people would be [anti-social], but I’d say that I’m just kind of a class clown. I’m always having fun and a bit out there, but not too out there!
Is there anything that you think would really surprise your fans about yourself or about the show?
I don’t know how many people know about how we actually shoot the show. We shoot with four cameras in front of a live audience. What’s really interesting about that is that’s how they shoot all the shows in America, like THE SWEET LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY, HANNAH MONTANA and THAT’S SO RAVEN. MR YOUNG is the first to be shot that way in Vancouver and one of the first in Canada.
Do you like performing in front of a live audience?
It definitely gets your nerves up, but that’s almost a good thing, you know? I like performing live because you get that extra boost of the audience and that theatre buzz, which is so great and focuses you and gets you into the zone. It’s really invaluable and I think it helps everyone on the cast and crew to have that live audience and that feeling of creating a show on the spot.
Have you done theatre work before?
I’ve done a fair amount, yeah. I’ve done a lot of Shakespeare in the Park in Edmonton and I’ve done a lot of plays with my friends and stuff like that. I’ve done a lot of acting classes where it ended with a final show on stage. So, I’ve had a lot of experience in theatre, I think. So yeah, I’m used to it. But I mean, you never fully get used to it!
Thanks, Brendan! We can’t wait to see what season two has in store. Don’t miss MR. YOUNG, Mondays at 6:30 p.m. on YTV!