Giovanni Spina: Camp Rock and 'Role'
By: Eddie Varley Aug. 01, 2008
It all started with a phone call from his agent for young actor, singer and dancer, Giovanni Spina…
He was just about ready to begin theatre classes at Ryerson,
where he beat out 2,000 aspiring actors for a spot in the program when he got
the call about an audition for a small role in a little something called…
Disney Channel's "
So with one phone call and a few auditions later Giovanni Spina found himself winning the coveted supporting role of Andy, the camp's skilled drummer and becoming a part of television history. The young triple threat spoke to BroadwayWorld.com about being a part of an entertainment phenomenon, the importance of making the right choice and the power of following your heart, while thinking with your head.
Eddie Varley: It has to be an incredible time for you, to
leap into an international success like
Giovanni Spina: Thank you, I feel great, it's wonderful how well the movie has been received, seeing the amazing support of the fans, it's been an honor being a part of it all!
EV: It been a wonderful time for these films as they are connecting in a very big way to an eager and youthful audience, but in truth they are a throw back to the old Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland MGM productions.
GS: There was kind of a lull, with musicals, to get to the general population, the younger generation especially, but Disney's stepped in, with High School Musical and Hanna Montana, adding that musical aspect to entertainment again, and making it fun and popular.
EV: What I find so hopeful is that by watching you and the other talented actors perform, the young audience who've embraced it can aspire to it themselves.
GS: Exactly!
EV: Tell us how the "trip" to
GS: Last summer 2007, I just came out of Ryerson University, I went there for senior performance and in JuneI was getting calls for an audition, I had told my agent before I am sent out that I really want to finish my training, it's very important, so with this understanding, she sent me out. It was described as a very small part, a very small character, so that was fine, I went in and did the audition, and basically forgot about it, didn't really you know think about it after, I moved on to the next audition, the next opportunity, but they liked it, I could tell they liked it. Then around mid-July I was called for another audition, this was my call back, so I went in again, and read some lines from the script and sang, and played the drums a little bit too. And then in the audition, they asked me to rap, off the top of my head, and I had… nothing, hah, I was focusing on my singing, so I was like, "Oh No!", when I got this curve ball thrown at me.
EV: Switch off and rap, now!
GS: Hah right! So at the end, I said I'm sorry I just can't think of rap, I'm at a loss, so that audition, I thought went whatever, there goes that one, but I got a call back again, in the beginning or mid August. Now at this one the director was there, the head casting people, I did pretty much everything I could do, I even free styled to Janet Jackson! Once it was over at the end of that I felt really good about it, and the producer said, "I guess you have to take school off if you get this…"
EV: Which is just what you feared.
GS: So I said, I guess, I didn't think it was going to be a long time, but you know in Ryerson, in any theater program, it's very difficult to take at time off, when you are working on a performance, and what happens is you get docked for every day you miss, but I thought, it was only one day, so like I said, I my reply was "I guess". There was a big, big break and I hadn't heard anything so I was getting ready for school, getting my supplies and everything ready, and then about a week before school starts, I got a call saying, "You got the part!"
EV: Uh oh!
GS: Right! I then asked, for what part? And how long, how many days, the answer was "about a week of rehearsal, and this many days of shooting"…and so on.
EV: Again not the answer you were looking for in regards to balancing everything.
GS: My answer was I definitely can't do that! So they said,
just think about it, so you know my choice is obvious now, and I decided to
take a year off and I joined
EV: By taking that break you are opening up a huge creative door and you'll bring this experience with you as you continue your studies.
GS: That's just what I was thinking, just making this movie, I have learned so much, I learned practical things, things about the business, things they usually don't teach in universities!
EV: That's something many students ask about all the time, the realities of the business.
GS: And it's such a big side of it, it was something that I didn't ever realize, but the business side of the acting "business" is really something that's important to know, especially as a young performer.
EV: Right, they don't teach you that you'll be talking to someone like me on the phone at 10 in the morning!
GS: Hah, that is true, it has such a reach. This whole thing is so big it's an international platform, it's a great opportunity, it's really an honor, I do feel that way about it all.
EV: How was it once you were on the set, that's a whole different level of performance isn't it?
GS: So different, the energy is different, as well as the style, is very different it's much more contained in film the focus can be on the smallest movement of your face, you know, your arms can't be flailing all around, or you'll look ridiculous, it was def a shift, which why it was good that I auditioned in the summer, for this role, because I was able to continue to hone my skills in theater class too, which helped me.
EV: Having done different media such as stage and film, which is the one you are most passionate about now?
GS: I have to say, with what I've learned through Ryerson, just that basic power of acting.It's opened up my eyes, my mind, that's why it's so important to me to make sure I have, I think everyone should have that training. And when you have that chance to learn to actually being a character as opposed to "acting" a character, which I'd never experienced before that, and since then, it's made this passion for acting so much stronger, I never knew I had that, I never knew what it meant, but it's kind of like opening a trap door in a room and all of a sudden feeling that the house is that much more exciting, like 'Wow, look at this!" It very similar to that, I learned and appreciated that style of acting, to just be the character, and that's really stoked my fire for acting.
EV: Working with the Jonas Brothers also had to fuel your musical desires too.
GS: When I'm not acting, I also love doing my own music. I produce my own music, I write my own music, I'm actually recording my own music right now, it's these creative things you do that you know just you can't control!
EV: As a young actor starting out and one who's become an inspiration to audiences worldwide, is there someone in the world of entertainment that you've found inspiring yourself?
GS: I have to say one film actor who made an impact on me is Daniel Day Lewis. I first saw him when I was quite a bit younger in the film, My Left Foot. Oh my that performance, I thought he truthfully had that disability, I thought it was so pure, so real and to see that he was able to act in that way, I was blown away. His skill comes through in all his films, it's just incredible, and he's an inspiration for sure!
EV: Acting can be limitless if you have that ability, freedom and inspiration. You've got a wonderful road ahead of you, keep being inspired!
GS: Thank you very much, nice speaking to you!
Camp Rock will be released on Dvd by
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on August 19th 2008.
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