Covering Atlanta's booming entertainment community means all sorts of high-profile interview situations. We talked to Paul Rudd at Pinewood Studios' new Fayette County facility when "Ant-Man" was filming there and got a few moments with Billy Crystal when his movie "Parental Guidance" was shooting a fun skateboarding scene in Piedmont Park.
Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson and author Nicholas Sparks met up at Chastain Horse Park to talk about the bull riding themed "The Longest Ride," and Dolly Parton, Diddy, Joel Edgerton, Reese Witherspoon and Brad Pitt have given interviews at locations ranging from hotel suites to a military base.
But none of these encounters were half as charming as the meeting we took with young actor Owen Vaccaro in the library at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, where he is in third grade. Several of his classmates high-fived him before we repaired to our official interview location — a reading nook outfitted with cozy, oversized teddy bears.
“All the teachers are really nice. A lot of nice people go here,” Owen said, setting the record straight right away.
He became interested in acting after performing in a play in the first grade, and started pursuing it with the help of an agent. After landing roles in indies “A Product of Me” and “Rom,” he’ll be seen in the feature film “Daddy’s Home,” a comedy with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, this summer.
The movie, which filmed this past winter in Louisiana, is about the high jinks that can ensue when grown-ups get divorced and remarried. Owen plays one of the kids caught up in the middle.
“Two dads — Mark and Will — they are fighting over Linda (Cardellini), that’s the mom, and they’re also arguing over the kids. It’s hard to compete with Mark Wahlberg because he’s all cool and he has a motorcycle,” Owen said by way of a film teaser.
Off-set, he enjoyed getting to know all the big-time actors.
“Will Ferrell is really, really funny! Mark Wahlberg is very friendly. If you walk up to him, he’s easy to talk to,” he said.
Owen’s among a growing group of Holy Innocents folks with Hollywood ties. Fourth-grader Katie Fryburger landed a role in the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Michelle Darnell,” which is filming now in metro Atlanta.
The school’s alum roster includes Brian Baumgartner, known for his role as Kevin on the long-running television comedy “The Office.”
Colin Ford, who attended primary school and part of his Lower School years at Holy Innocents, made his acting debut in "Sweet Home Alabama" and appeared in "We Bought a Zoo," starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. He's known more recently for his role as Joe on CBS' "Under the Dome," which returns on June 25.
Gene Wilder, whose step-grandson is a Holy Innocents student, has visited to discuss all things Willy Wonka, and alum Freedom Wright worked with actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, the founder of Kamp Kizzy in Atlanta, a nonprofit that works with young girls, during her time there.
Film-broadcast teacher Joe Conway’s movie “Things People Do” debuted last year at the Berlin International Film Festival. He co-wrote the film with Saar Klein, who also directed and is known for work on films including “The Bourne Identity” and “Almost Famous.” Sarah Green, known for work on “The Tree of Life” and “Mud,” served as a producer.
Conway just signed a contract to serve as executive producer for another movie and said the school’s commitment to fine arts serves students well, especially given the metro area’s growing filming industry.
Owen, then, feels right at home and would like to continue acting. He said he’d consider auditioning for future roles in projects shooting in metro Atlanta.
“I kind of want to do a Harry Potter-like movie,” he said. “It would be fun to do all the wizarding. I know it’s all cameras but it would still be fun. Or either a smarty pants role or someone clumsy. That would be funny!”
For now he’s excited to see “Daddy’s Home” this summer and looking forward to reconnecting with his on-set colleagues including Scarlett Estevez, who plays his on-screen sibling.
“I’m really excited to see everyone again,” he said.
