from The Magazine Not for adults B-Side
BEHIND THE SCENES:
DEGRASSI THE NEXT GENERATION
Interview conducted by: Missa - 10/15/03
*= text that was removed from the published version of the interview!!!
Photos: Emily Christie
The Mag caught up with Andrea Lewis "Hazel Aden", Aubrey Graham "Jimmy Brooks", Cassie Steele "Manny Santos" and Jake Epstein "Craig Manning" on the set of DEGRASSI THE NEW GENERATION (and no it's not a real school), to chat about the show, music, movies, school, Halloween. You name it, we talked about it!
Do you think your character on the show is similar to any of the old characters?
Andrea: I don't think so. Actually, I think she's a new kind of character. I know in the old DEGRASSI they didn't have someone who was Muslim or Somalian, I don't think. That's my character, a new made up character.
Aubrey: I would agree with Andrea. This time around we have a very diverse cast. The ethnically diverse cast hold prominent roles in this one.
Have they given you any tips?
Aubrey: They did in the beginning, but now they work with us. We enjoy working with each other. It's cool to kind of collaborate with the original DEGRASSI. I find it interesting to hear their points of view and their stories from when they were on the set.
Are you a heartbreaker in real life?
Jake: No, I'm a dumpy. Meaning, I sometimes get dumped, mutual dumping.
Because you're working in an industry dominated by adults, does it force you to grow up quickly?
Aubrey: For sure. I don't even want to know what I'd be doing if I wasn't acting. I'd probably be out partying and stuff. That kind of stops because you know you have a responsibility to live up to and you can't do things that other kids are doing. It's cool because we get to live it through the show which I think is a really cool aspect of doing the show. I think if we weren't doing a highschool show, it would be a little stressful because sometimes we can't see our friends or an event you want to go to. But you get to live your teen experiences through a plot. I think that's pretty cool.
So you're not getting any negative feedback?
Jake: Not to my face (laughing). People have been really cool about it because it deals with real, a lot of teen issues and a lot of people can relate to that. They're not making fun but rather, "Hey I watch the show, that's a cool show."
I guess it's different for guys. For girls you must get a lot of jealous girls who are like, "Oh well, she's DEGRASSI. She's this and that!"
Cassie: Oh yeah, I get a lot of that. I guess for girls it's different just because girls compared to guys are really insecure about themselves, especially at this age. It's like, "Am I too fat?" "Am I too thin?" "She's on a TV series, so she thinks this." I think it's normal.
How do you balance school and work?
Jake: That's hell. Before I got into the acting business I realized that you have to be self-motivated because school is entirely up to you. We have tutors that are on the set but it's our responsibility to get our homework done and call up people. So if you're not an independent focused student, then you can get in trouble with stuff. But most people on the show take their real life seriously.
Cassie: Well, past years I've been in grade school. I'm just going into highschool this year. When I was in elementary school it wasn't that hard. I'm in elementary school, I'm not in highschool and people don't expect so much from you. It was really easy. I didn't really have to do work. I would colour, but I think that I'll have to strap down.
Aubrey: I'd have to have Pharell "Frontin'" on there. I'd have to have the new Lenny Krativz, Pharell, P. Diddy, Loon "Show Me Your Soul". I'd put some Al Green on there, Frank Sinatra, I like Frank. I don't know you'd have to give me some time to sit on that one, but I'd make it good.
Andrea: For me right now, I'd put for sure Beyonce's "Crazy In Love," Mya "My Love is like....Wo," for sure.
Do you have Mya's new album?
Andrea: No, why? Is it good?
So good! If you like Beyonce's album, this one's way better.
Andrea: Oh, gosh I can't wait to get it. Ummm, what else would I put on it? I'd for sure put some oldies, so everyone would have some old songs to listen to, Whitney Houston "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." I'd probably put on every Jay Z song there is because I love Jay Z.
Did you get to see Jay Z while he was in town?
Andrea: I did get to see him, it was amazing! It was incredible, I love Jay Z so much!
It's incredible how he steps on the stage and the audience follows every command he makes.
Andrea: I know.
Aubrey: He controls the crowd.
Andrea: He has amazing control.
Aubrey: Did you see the MTV Jay Z Unplugged?
No, but I have the actual album.
Aubrey: It was amazing. He did every classic song and it was remarkable the way he performed.
Andrea: Live band, it was really good.
Have you been to any other concerts this summer?
Andrea: I saw B2K because I like B2K. I like B2K a lot. Those are the only concerts I saw this summer, but in the winter I saw Nelly.
Jake: I went to The Stones concert. It was definitely an experience. The stage was microscopic from where we were but it was cool, it was fun. I was with my friends. Angus Young from AC/DC blew me away, he's crazy.
I know what you mean, he looked great on my TV.
Jake: I probably would of have enjoyed it more if I was in an air-conditioned house with a nice couch and a TV. We could probably see it much better on TV than over there. We couldn't see anything.
Please don't tell me that you were one of the people who booed Justin Timberlake.
Jake: (Laughing) Noooo!
Cassie: Justin Timberlake is the best!
Jake: (Laughing) We just threw things at him.
You didn't!
Jake: I don't know, he's alright, I respect him. Although he had no right being up there with The Stones.
What was the guy to say, "Well umm, sorry Mick, but I'm going to have to pass."
Cassie: He's brave. Me and Justin are going to hit it off.
Did you get to see him when he was in town?
Cassie: (Disappointed) No.
Jake: A few people went from our show.
Cassie: Like Lauren, who else? Ahhh, he's so beautiful.
Aubrey: The last concert I've been to was the "Up In Smoke" tour.
Wow, that was a long time ago!
Aubrey: Yeah, it was a great show though.
Could you see yourselves on SURVIVOR?
Andrea: I don't know if I could handle it. I'm afraid of bugs, so I couldn't stand to be outside (laughs).
Aubrey: I only watched the first season of the show and I remember when the guy fell in the fire. That turned me off, so I haven't watched it since then (laughs).
Cassie: Yes, I would. I'm too young to go though.
Jake: No. (Laughing) I enjoy watching other people go through pain and suffering, but I don't think I'd survive. No, no way.
Best movie you've seen this summer?
Jake: Matrix 2, I saw that with Jake Goldsbie who plays Tobey on the show. That was awesome! I love the Matrix so much.
Cassie: The second was horrible, the first one was a classic.
Jake: What?!?! The second one contained the meaning of life, that's why I liked it. I saw AMERICAN WEDDING a couple of days ago. I liked it. I thought it was better than the second one.
Cassie: We saw THE ITALIAN JOB, me and Jake. He took me out on a night on the town (laughs).
Was it a date?
Jake: No, we met up. We actually didn't mean to meet up.
Andrea: BAD BOYS 2 was incredible, fast and amazing. That was probably the best movie I've seen all summer.
Aubrey: I also saw BAD BOYS 2.
Did you go together?
Andrea: Yeah.
Aubrey: Yeah.
Did the whole cast go together?
Andrea: No, just a couple of us.
DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. EST on CTV.
Keep yourself updated with the latest DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION news, log onto: www.degrassi.tv.
Get to know Andrea Lewis as a singer, log onto: www.andreadesireelewis.com