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Star Spotlight
Josh Flitter is no stranger to performing in front of a camera. This showbiz whiz got his start at the age of 5, and since then, he has appeared in more than 80 commercials and TV shows. Now, he's getting a shot at big-screen stardom with a role in the new movie The Greatest Game Ever Played. The movie is based on the true story of golf legend Francis Ouiment (played by Shia LaBeouf), and Josh plays Eddie Lowery, Francis's caddie. We caught up with Josh recently and asked him about the movie, his career, and acting with Shia. Oh, and we also got the scoop from Shia himself, so keep reading!
Q & A
Q:
You've starred in more than 80 commercials. How did you get started?
Josh: The first commercial that I got was for Delta. They wanted someone who was really short, small, and funny. You know when you wait in line at the airport and they have those things that come out of the poles so you stay in the line? I was so short that I could fit under them, so I would put one of my arms on the pole and the other arm stretched out and I would spin around making a plane noise and they would say, "Tired of waiting in line? Use Delta Airlines."
Q:
Did you always know that you wanted to act?
Josh: Actually, no. My mom had a friend who was an agent. The agent loved me and said, "You have to do commercials!" And now look where we are!
Q:
You have worked with Jim Carrey. What is he like? Did he crack you up?
Josh: He's really, really nice. He's very funny, too. He would tell us jokes and just make funny faces and things.
Q:
Did you know how to play golf before The Greatest Game Ever Played?
Josh: My grandpa really made me like it. He lives in Florida, but when he visits us, we go to the driving range and he'd teach me how to golf and we'd mini golf.
Q:
Were there golf pros on the set to help the actors?
Josh: Yeah, I think there were three. One was for Shia. I'm not saying anything bad about [Shia], but I think he needed more training than the other guys.
Shia: I knew nothing about golf or Francis's story. When I first read the script, I thought this couldn't be real—[with all of the] unusual characters and ironic twists to the story. My swing looks okay now. I'm definitely better than when I started out!
Q:
Many kids today might not know who Francis Ouiment was. How would you describe him?
Shia: Francis was a gardener at a country club and he was fired, which hurt Francis. The only way Francis could get back was to win. He was quiet and gentle, and went and beat everybody in the world. The best way to describe him was that he was a gentleman.
Q:
What was your favorite aspect of the story?
Shia: It's almost a Robin Hood story. The poor people or middle class weren't allowed to play golf. This is the year before the Titanic, and money was a humongous issue. You have all these immigrants, especially in Boston, colliding at one place, and Francis's family was no different. His father was an immigrant; his mother was an immigrant; yet he was the picture-perfect American.
Q:
What was the most difficult part about playing Francis?
Shia: I went to the Francis Ouiment museum, and his clubs and bag are there. Seeing that, plus the pictures of him and his family, makes you realize you're reviving somebody's life, which adds an extreme amount of pressure. There are people who are still fascinated by Francis. If you golf, you know about Francis Ouiment. He was truly the first American champion. It's like baseball players not knowing about Babe Ruth. Tiger Woods is one of the richest, most successful sports heroes in our world today. Francis got even more recognition than Tiger did.
Q:
Did you pick up any tips from watching the pros?
Josh: Yeah, I figured out how to swing and how to do it when everyone's quiet, and to be quiet.
Q:
You've done commercials, TV shows, and motion pictures. Would you like to continue working on all three?
Josh: I guess they're all really good, but I like doing movies.
Q:
What advice do you have for kids who want to pursue a career in show business?
Shia: Just like Francis Ouiment, you have to try and believe in yourself.
—Interview by Marie Morreale
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Josh Flitter
(Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures)
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STAR STATS
Star Calendar
The Greatest Game Ever Played opens in theaters nationwide on September 30.
Look for Josh in Big Momma's House 2, which opens in theaters on December 15.
Star Stats
Birthplace: Ridgewood, New Jersey
Birth Date: August 25, 1994
Parents: Steve and Carla Flitter
Sibling: Scott Flitter
Pets: two dogs, a beagle named Richter and a bichon frise named Lucy
Star Faves
Actors: Jim Carrey and Chris Rock
Sports: hockey, baseball, and bowling
Sports Team: New York Rangers
Musicians: Led Zeppelin, Bruce Springsteen, and the Allman Brothers
Book: BFG by Roald Dahl
Pastime: playing video games
Can't Live Without: his iPod
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