› Lycos Chat Interview - January 2000
Kerr_Smith: Hey everybody!!
rand_al_th0r: Kerr, what elements do you look out for in a script when you're reading them?
Kerr_Smith: I look for a different role for each project, and a good art for the character.
LaurenAllie: Hi, Lauren from South Australia here...Dawson's Creek has a huge following over here...is a promo tour down under a possibility?!
Kerr_Smith: Definite possibility , the show is pretty big in London as well, and I have been trying to get out there for the last 6 months, but I haven't been able to yet. Just send me an invite and I will be there! : ).
rainbowbrite19: hey kerr! U may remember me I was an extra a lot and have red hair.. but I was wondering what inspired you to act?
Kerr_Smith: I have always loved movies, and I knew that I wanted to chose a career somewhere in the industry either in front of or behind the camera. So about 6 years ago I decided to give it a shot.
want....what's your ultimate dream team for a movie, ie director, leading lady?
Kerr_Smith: Hmm...tough question, I would say that the ideal role for me, if any of you have ever seen "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" Leo DiCaprio's role is the king of role I would like to play. I really respect actors like Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, and Meg Ryan, directors like Spieldberg, Lucas, I guess in 10 years hopefully I will be able to work with those kinds of people. That would be nice, if all goes well anyway, so keep watching the show, and go see my movie!!!!
SebastianX: When is your new movie going to open?
SPEAKER_Kerr_Smith: March 17, 2000, it's called Final Destination, it also has Devon Sawa, and Ali Larter, and Sean Williams-Scott, and it's a movie about cheating death, it's really cool. It's 2 hours of non-stop action! You guys are going to love it!!!!
rand_al_th0r: as a resident of London.....we'd love to see ya here!! what important things did you learn from filming final destination?
SPEAKER_Kerr_Smith: Hmm....that it is really tough to shoot in freezing temperatures, and wind and rain, specially when you are trying to make it look like spring time in Paris, I think my next project is going to be some place warm, like Hawaii or Australia, I definitely want to get out to London in the next 6 months, and I hope to see you guys!
cruecke: I will definitely see the movie, being a fan of X-Files as well as DC, but which do you think is harder to do, a movie or Dawson's Creek?
Kerr_Smith: Definately the movie, things move much slower, you take many more takes, as opposed to TV because of the time constraint, your face is very large on a movie screen , and the camera is very close to your face, so you really have to be feeling the appropriate emotions of the scene when you are doing a movie. Movies are much more intense.
AbbyFan: Now that you've been on Dawson's Creek for a while, What would you say your favorite episode was to film?
Kerr_Smith: Episode 214 and 215 of last season when Jack comes out to his father and friends, it was an emotionally draining material for me which makes it very exciting!
scottarooo: Do you respond to fan mail?
Kerr_Smith: I do, anybody that writes I send an autographed picture. =).
8ecky1: Would you ever go back to a reoccurring role as Ryder on 'As the world Turns'?
Kerr_Smith: You know I might! Day time TV was a lot of fun for me, and I think it would be fun to do a cameo on "As the World Turns". You know I was actually asked to do an appearance on "Another World" but I ended up not doing it because of schedule conflicts. ? please.
DawsonsCreek001: Where would we send fan mail too?
Kerr_Smith: You can send it to Colulmbia Tri Star in care of Dawson's Creak or Screen Gems studio in North Carolina, or to my publicist Sharp & Associates 8721 Sunset Blvd. Suite 210 . Los Angeles, Ca 90069 care of Kerr Smith.
llerruD: Where you reluctant to play the Jack character when you found out he was gay.
Kerr_Smith: Nope! It's the kind of role that I have never played before, and as an actor there is a challenge in doing roles that are different from yourself, so I was very excited to play Jack!!!
flamesfan_1: Thank you for taking the time to talk to us Kerr. Of all the cast members on Creek who do you get along the best with?
Kerr_Smith: I would say that I am closest with Meredith, we came on the show together at the same time, we were neighbors for about 4 or 5 months when we first started, she's s very cool girl, and she really is like a real-life sister!
fouricu: Hi kerr, greetings from new jersey! Do you plan to have a offical site on the internet?
Kerr_Smith: There is going to be an official site in a few months, so just make sure to keep doing a search and keeping and eye out for it, in the meantime you can check out the site by Kelly Vaun (sp? ) you can do a search on my name, she put together a nice website that you guys might enjoy!!!
jace17: Hi, Kerr. What's the hardest part about being a celebrity?
Kerr_Smith: Loss of privacy! It's very difficult to go to the supermarket or the mall , it takes longer than usual because people keep coming up to you, I do enjoy it, it's just that sometimes, you know , you just want to be alone.
Kerr_Fan1: Thanks Kerr! : ) Tell everyone I said hey. Hope to see you all soon.
skeefer: Hi Kerr, greetings from sun valley, Idaho... do you still enjoy skiing?
Kerr_Smith: Yes, very much, try to get out a couple of time during the season but it is kind of difficult these days!
8ecky1: Kerr-whats the weirdest thing a fan has done to talk to you or get your attention?
Kerr_Smith: Hmm....I was asked to sign someone's chest. Last week in Canada these two girls came up to me and asked me to sign there chests! That will always get my attention!
tbayus: Do you like shooting the show on the East Coast, or do you feel that hinders your ability to secure roles in L.A.?
Kerr_Smith: I grew up on the East Coast, so I love it out here , but it is more difficult to secure movie roles from Wilmington, I do a lot of flying back and forth between here and L.A.
enchantedstarr: Hi Kerr huge fan Howard Stern says he is a huge fan of the show are you ever going to his radio show.
Kerr_Smith: Funny you should ask that, I am currently trying to get on his show, so hopefully it will happen sometime in February before the movie!
Katrina1778: Where did you grow up on the East Coast?
Kerr_Smith: Exton, Pennsylvania, it is about 40 minutes outside of Philly and NO! the Eagles are not my favorite team, They Suck!!!
tbayus: I have to say, I detected a PA accent before I knew you were from Exton! I grew up ten minutes from there in Elverson. Do you enjoy visiting home?
Kerr_Smith: Yeah, I do I try to get home a couple of times a year to see my parents and family.
SMILEYMOE21: If there was one thing you could change about yourself, what would it be?
Kerr_Smith: Hmm.... I think that I am not a confrontational person, and I don't like to argue with people , and I am not very good at it, so I would like to be better at confronting people, if you know what I mean!
Katrina1778: How long do you plan on doing DC?
Kerr_Smith: As long as they will have me!
KayTxx: Kerr, did u ever think in the past you'd ever be as famous as you are?
Kerr_Smith: Well , when I first started acting, I was going to give myself 5 years to get to a certain level, and with a bit of good timing and luck I reached that goal. To answer that question, then it is yes and no. It is a tough business, and I have been lucky!
skaterchick1A1: What are your future projects?
Kerr_Smith: Well after Final Destination, I am going to continue to concentrate on DC, I am currently auditioning for other movie roles to do over hiatus, over the summer, but nothing is tied down yet. What would you guys think of a film about the actor Montgomery Clift, would you guys go to see it?
MODERATOR: I would!
frontierboy: absolutely!
enchantedstarr: no.
Babypixi: Yeah I'd go see it.
KayTxx: i would.
LimpBizkitSucks: totally I would be first in line!!!!
iluvdawsonscreek: any movie that you were in i would see it.
Kerr_Smith: Hopefully I will be able to get that project going in a few years, thanks for the input guys!!!! Thanx "iluvdawsonscreek" !!!
seadoc25: Is there any place in the world that you would like to visit.
Kerr_Smith: Australia!!!! Give me an excuse to get down there guys, and I am there!!!!
Kerr_Fan1: We know you like to like to play jokes on the cast and crew... what was the most recent joke/prank you've played?
Kerr_Smith: Hmmm.... I played a joke on Katie that was funny, I don't know if you guys remember last year's episode where Katie is sketchin me naked, but during rehearsal for that episode, I had wardrobe stuff a sock for me, and at some point during the scene my towel falls off, and this 3 foot sock kind of slinkys out of my shorts, I think that I scared her half to death with that one!!!! =P.
7teenfem: LOL Good one!!
Katrina1778: Is and has your family been supportive of your career?
Kerr_Smith: Um, yes my family has been supportive, both of my parents are very much involved in my career, my dad is actually my business manager so it's nice to have your parents involved, it keeps everything real!
goddessofjoy56: Is there any hints you can give us on what's in store for Jack?
Kerr_Smith: To be honest, I have absolutely no idea. I take each script as it comes in so I only really know about a week in advance!
bamaguy20: can you give some pointers on how to get started acting?
Kerr_Smith: Commit to it fully. Put yourself in class, and just stay focused and be persistent, and if you really want it , then it will happen.
iluvdawsonscreek: I was just wondering if you are single at the moment.
Kerr_Smith: No, I'm still going out with my girlfriend, who some of you know from Felicity, Ali Hillis.
nouf1: How did you spend your new years?
Kerr_Smith: With my family, it is the first year I have actually not gone out and partied with all my friends, I just kind of laid low, and had a get together with my family in Philly.
8ecky1: Do you ever get negative feedback about you role on DC? I think you're doing a great job...
Kerr_Smith: The role has caused some controversy, but as far as me personally with fan mail, I have not received any negative feedback at all.
amandalyn: Do you ever chat in your spare time?
Kerr_Smith: No, I don't. I do go online quite a bit, spend most of my hours on etrade. LOL.
KayTxx: Do u read any of the fan pages, or message boards? like fanforum.com or any of the other ones?
Kerr_Smith: Yeah every once in a while I check out the message boards to get an idea about what people think of the story lines.
chablis69: If you could change one thing about your character, Jack, what would it be?
Kerr_Smith: I think I would like to make him a little bit more outgoing. He's a very mysterious kind of introverted character, I think somewhere in between Dawson and Casey.
DawsonsCreek001: Greetings from St. Cloud, Florida! I was wondering if you get along with the cast as well off screen as you do on screen?
Kerr_Smith: We are all friends, it is a unique situation in Wilmington, because we are stuck out here all by ourselves, it's kind of like Camp Dawson's Creek.
iluvdawsonscreek: Where can I get information about the set and tours?
Kerr_Smith: Hmm... I think Screen Gems Studios has a website, there is probably information about studio tours on that, or you could just come down and try to find us on location, a lot of people do that!
8ecky1: How many shows do you tape in advance?
Kerr_Smith: It varies, if we are on schedule , I think that we are about 3 shows ahead, currently , I think that we are about 2 shows ahead.
leap68: What do you find is the age range of most of your fan mail - I'm 31 and I love the show.
Kerr_Smith: It goes from about 12 - 31!!!! Just kidding, it's really for all ages, I receive fanmail from people well into their 40's, I think that my grandfather is my biggest fan and he is 82.
awsumdawsnluver: Kerr, which episode has been your favorite to do, and why?
8ecky1: What do you do when you're just relaxing or letting off steam?
Kerr_Smith: Hmm....if it is the summertime I will go out in the water and do some jetskiing, or take a drive, watch tv, anything really.
Katrina1778: have you or do you plan to attend college and if so what for?
Kerr_Smith: Yeah, I went to the University of Vermont for accounting and finance.
s dunnigan: what kind of car do you drive?
Kerr_Smith: I have an Isuzu Rodeo, it's a truck, I also have a Ford Focus, which you guys should check out , it's brand new, and it is a very nice car. I have one car on each coast! =).
skeefer: whoaa Kerr... too much Sega on the couch! How do you keep your physique? Do you work out at the gym?
Kerr_Smith: Yeah I do, I get to the gym about 4 times a week, I think that I am a gymaholic!
LaurenAllie: is it weird playing someone so much younger than yourself (Jack)?
Kerr_Smith: No, I have always played younger characters, it's fun, it takes you back to your high school days.
KayTxx: have u ever become friends with an extra or fan?
Kerr_Smith: Um...yeah there are a lot of extras on the show that come back episode after episode, there are also a couple of fans that I know really well. You guys are the ones who make the show what it is, and we definitely appreciate that!
chablis69: Did you think of yourself as a role model on the show, and is so, how to you try to uphold that image?
Kerr_Smith: I think that all the characters on DC are in one way or another a role model, and the way you treat that is that you realize that with this job comes a certain amount of responsibility, so you just try to set a good example, be a good person, have morals, work hard, and kind of live by the golden rule.
MODERATOR: Thank you so much for spending this time with us, Kerr! Your fans truly enjoyed it : -).
Kerr_Smith: I gotta go, but thanks everybody for stopping by to talk !!! Don't forget to see "Final Destination" in March, and to you guys in London in Australia, hopefully I will see you soon. Thanks again!!!
iluvdawsonscreek: Thanks for chatting and keep up the good work and i'll continue to watch! I luv the show!
s dunnigan: thanks Kerr...it was fun and interesting!!!!!
Kerr_Smith: Thank You!!!
bamaguy20: had a great time man!
Kerr_Smith: Goodbye!!!!
DawsonsCreek001: thanks Kerr.
tbayus: hope to see you in Exton!
AbbyFan: Thanks for chatting, it was funny and much appriciated!! : ).
LaurenAllie: thanks remember to visit Australia!!