Amazon Studios has a new original series that's smart, winsome and definitely worth your time. Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street is about a trio of tween-aged friends who live in a fairly...well, normal neighborhood, except for one thing- there seems to be something magical brewing just under the surface of their idyllic town. Houstonian Drew Justice plays Ranger Bowen, a feisty, imaginative kid who investigates strange happenings with his friends. Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street is a show that we've all been begging for; it's intelligent and entertaining, with likable young actors and engaging story lines. There is no laugh track, no ridiculous stereotypes or obnoxious child actors mugging into every scene. It's a breath of fresh air, and I was happy to talk with Drew about the show and his experiences in L.A. as a young actor.
BWW: So, tell me a little bit about your character, Ranger Bowen.
Drew Justice: Well, Ranger has been best friend's with Gortimer since they were born, and he's funny, crazy, adventurous.
BWW: Do you like playing characters that are more funny than serious?
Drew Justice: I do, actually. I think it's a lot of fun.
BWW: Looking at the other roles you've done- you played Alfalfa in Little Rascals Save The Day, you were on the TV show, Enlisted- would you say you prefer doing comedy over more serious projects?
Drew Justice: I definitely like doing the funny stuff.
BWW: On Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street, you get to do a lot of physical comedy. There's an episode where you trip and fall and another scene where you're rolling across the grass like a spy on a mission. Are you a pretty physical kid?
Drew Justice: I am. I play baseball, actually. I like sports. I'm a fan of the Texans, and sadly, the Astros.
BWW: Is there anything that makes you nervous as an actor? Do you ever get nervous before a scene or at an audition?
Drew Justice: Umm. Hm. Actually interviews make me nervous.
(Laughing.)
BWW: Gortimer is filmed in L.A. How do you work that schedule with your life here in Houston?
Drew Justice: Well, the show was filmed in the summer for the most part, but there were a couple of weeks when we needed an on-set teacher.
BWW: Do you get along with your co-stars?
Drew Justice: I do. We have a ton of fun filming the show.
BWW: What was the audition experience like for this show?
Drew Justice: I knew I was up for the part of Ranger, and I thought it was really cool. I really wanted to play Ranger.
BWW: You're thirteen now. When did you start thinking about getting into acting?
Drew Justice: I was about 9. My agent in Houston has kids who go to my school, and whenever I saw her she'd say, "Hey, you should really try acting." So, I was like, "Okay," and I took an acting class and really loved it.
BWW: The Little Rascals Save The Day was your first project. You got to work with a ton of other kids on that film.
Drew Justice: That was crazy fun. I was excited, but then I was nervous because I didn't know what it would be like, but it ended up being a ton of fun.
BWW: The show, Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street is about a typical neighborhood, with typical kids, but there are all kinds of magical and unexplained things that happen. What's one of the things that happens that's a little weird?
Drew Justice: There this episode about a kid who has a ton of unlucky things happen to him and it's all because of some mobile in the library.
BWW: What do you like to do when you're done filming for the day?
Drew Justice: Well, where we were staying in L.A. we were really close to some batting cages, so I got to practice baseball after we finished filming for the day.
BWW: Awesome! That sounds like a great way to relax. Drew, thanks for talking with me today, and I wish you luck with the show.
Drew Justice: Thank you.
This is a perfect show to watch with the whole family. To tune in to Gortimer Gibbon's Life On Normal Street, go to http://www.amazon.com/Gortimer-Gibbons-Normal-Street-Exclusive
Photo #1 Credit: Amazon Studios
Head Shot Photo Courtesy of The Outcast Agency
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