BSCkids recently sat down to talk with young actor, Ian Patrick, who is set to star in the upcoming ABC series, “The Neighbors.” He spoke with us about working on the show as well as what was like on the set of his film, Wanderlust.
Along with his upcoming debut on “The Neighbors,” Patrick also appeared opposite Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd as Grisham in Judd Apatow’s 2012 Comedy Wanderlust. In “The Neighbors” Patrick plays Dick Butkus, he main kid alien among a neighborhood of aliens (Zabvronians) who have been stationed on Earth for the past ten years disguised as humans. A new family, the Weavers, move in next door and their average human characteristics stick out among the Zabvronians, who have never interacted with real people before. As a newfound friendship begins to emerge between the Weavers and their neighbors, it turns out the pressures of marriage and parenthood are not exclusive to planet Earth.
BSCkids: Ian Patrick
Tell us about your upcoming show, “The Neighbors.”
It is about aliens who come to earth to find a new home because their home planet temperature keeps increasing. When they first get to earth they take on human form and buy every unit in an expensive and secluded New Jersey housing development. Then after waiting for ten years and not hearing anything from their home planet, one of the alien families decides to leave and go back to their home planet. This leaves one of the units available and the human Weaver family buys it without knowing that everyone else in the housing complex are aliens. When the Weavers first find out about their secret they are really scared, but decide the aliens are friendly and decide to stay. The aliens then begin learning and experiencing everyday human life and events in New Jersey.
Do you share any similarities with your character on the show?
I have really great parents like my character does in “The Neighbors” and we also both enjoy science and math. There are some big differences also, I guess the biggest difference is that I am a human kid and the alien Dick Butkus that I play receives his nourishment through his eyes by reading and cries green goo from his ears.
You recently appeared in “Wanderlust” with Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, did you learn anything from them while filming?
Yes, I learned that even super stars miss their lines and cues sometimes, and that you just stop and, apologize and start over. I also learned to immediately stop talking and get ready to do the scene when you hear the AD yell “rolling”
Tell us about your character in that film.
I was a young carefree little boy living in a commune, where everyone took care of me.
Do you have any funny stories from the set?
Well, One funny scene in “The Neighbors” is when I transform myself to Alien form in front of my friend and other students. A funny scene in “Wanderlust” was when Paul Rudd kills a fly, my stage mother in the movie (Kathryn Hahn) and I buried the dead fly in a fly cemetery. Also, I don’t remember doing it, but I was told that on the first or second day of filming Wanderlust, I was watching the scene and during a break I went up to the director (David Wein) and told him “don’t you think it might work better if we did this…”
Is it hard to act and go to school at the same time?
No, I have a teacher on the set with only two other kids, so if anything, it is easier than regular school.
What do your friends think of your acting?
They think it is neat to be in a TV show, and my friends all want to watch the show.
What are your other hobbies outside of acting?
I like playing Video and Computer games.
If you couldn’t be an actor, what would be your dream job when you grow up?
A Scientist.
How supportive have your parents been about your choice to be an actor?
My parents have been super supportive with everything and I am so thankful for what they have done for me.
You have acted in both television and movies, which do you prefer more?
That is a hard choice, I like them both.