AL THOMPSON (Eric)
Can you describe your role in this film?
I play Eric, Shane West's character's best friend in the film. Basically I'm a funny character in the film. You know we're all basically knuckleheads in the film. Shane kind of gets turned around by Mandy. It's really a good project and I'm really proud of my work in it.
What do you think teenagers will like about this film?
There's definitely a great tone to it. Some of the teens might drop a tear in this one. The guys might drop a tear, too. I'm like “Let me start selling some tissues out here in the theatre.” I'd make me some money (laughing).
How does it separate itself from most teen movies?
The big difference is that it's really not like a teen movie, per se. It has a mature tone to it. It covers a lot of cool things, more than the average teen movie. It's definitely more of a drama than a comedy, but it has a little pinch of comedy in there - and that's me.
How was working with Shane and Mandy?
Shane and Mandy were awesome, and Clayne Crawford and Lauren German. For us, it's like all of us are just kind of evolving right now. Clayne and Lauren are doing their thing; they're like the sizzling sweet sixteen. It's really an exciting thing.
What's next for you?
Next for me is March 10th, the first made-for-ESPN movie, “A Season on the Brink.” I star opposite Brian Dennehy in that. I play Delray Brooks, an interesting character. He's the top recruit out of Indiana. I'm “Mr. Indiana” come to Indiana to play basketball and you know how it goes when you go to play for Bobby Knight.
It's crazy.
You might get a chair thrown at you; you might get put in a headlock. But they really portray him in a decent light. They show a lot of good things about Bobby Knight and his relationship with his son Patrick, stuff like that. I'm really excited.
Everything for me is going so smooth right now. I'm on cruise control in a BMW.
