Craig Hurley: Interview with former child actor & Author of ‘27 And All Washed Up’

Actor Craig Hurley writes a tell-all book about his career in Hollywood and the many stars he came into contact with along the way. From legendary film directors: John Hughes and Oliver Stone to former teen idols: Rob Lowe, Shannen Doherty, and Luke Perry.

Craig also made appearances on various TV shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation and 21 Jump Street. He is also best known for his role as Kent from Life Goes On and as Danny Larsen from the short-lived TV series, Nasty Boys. TheCelebrityCafe.com spoke with the former child actor, whose career first started at the tender age of four after appearing in a Chevrolet commercial, about the harsh truth of working in the entertainment business and how young hopefuls can learn from the experiences he went through in his acting career.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: How many celebrities contacted you regarding the uncensored, candid statements you made about them in your book, 27 And All Washed Up?

CH: I had a couple of celebrities call me and they were all very happy that I even mentioned them in the book. It didn’t really matter what I said or didn’t say about them. They were actually happier about the things I didn’t talk about. I took a lot of things out that I think wouldn’t have been good for anybody to hear. But, so far, I have gotten great reviews on 27 And All Washed Up. Everybody liked it.

I originally never intended to write this book. The idea all started a few years ago when I was in the play, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at the Wheaton Drama Playhouse. My co-star, Zak Wilson, always wanted to hear my stories about what it was like working in Hollywood. He would ask me, ‘Can you tell me about Luke Perry? Or, what was it like meeting Adam Sandler or Johnny Depp?’ There were 18 cast members in that play and inevitably all the cast members would be standing around listening to every story I was telling them. Zak would say to me, ‘You have to write these stories down in a book.’ But I was adamant on not doing that. He followed me around for three to four months bugging me about writing a book. So then he thought of the idea to interview me and transcribe it into a book, which I finally agreed to go along with it. During the three years we got together about 20 times recording the interviews and about a year to transcribe them. The book also includes various images that I collected throughout the years as an actor.

TCC: In regards to the title of your book, 27 And All Washed Up, why do you think it is difficult to go from being a child actor to now a grown up actor?

Craig Hurley: Mostly because people don’t accept child actors as they get older. Part of it has to do with the transition not working for some. When I hit 27 and realized I wasn’t going to be on film anymore, I shifted gears and got into another facet of the entertainment business, doing voice over work in radio and television.

TCC: Like you mentioned you haven’t work much in movies or television in the past decade, was that intentional or was it just more difficult to find work as you got older?

CH: For the entire lifespan of my career, I have been on 10,587 auditions. But as I got older it was more difficult to find work. I wasn’t booking any on camera jobs so I was like, ‘I can’t continue to go through with this. Artistically speaking, I’m wasting my talent.’ So that is when I started to do voice over work for about 506 commercials.

TCC: Do you believe the old saying is true, ‘It’s who you know that makes you more successful in the entertainment industry’?

CH: It definitely helps to travel in a circle or pack in the entertainment business. It helps to hang out because this person knows that person and that person knows this person. There are literally zero degrees in separation when you’re in the industry. I can contact anybody I want just from being a part of it.

But then again it also depends on how talented you are. For example, if you wanted to be a director and in film school you shine, there is a strong likelihood your career will take off. That’s when it doesn’t matter what connections you have, but rather the amount of talent you have. So it’s good to pay attention to the people around you that are particularly really good because they are going to be working in the entertainment business.

TCC: Do you think there’s a point when a person should stop pursuing an acting career after they have tried everything and now consider it a waste of time?

CH: If an individual ever gets to a point like me when I was 27 and realized I wasn’t going to be in film anymore it’s best to find something else that you would love to do in the industry. My girlfriend, Katie Barberi, once told me, ‘If I never made it as an actress, I would love to have been a casting director.’ In her heart she loves the casting arena, but fortunately she never had to go down that avenue because she is doing well in her career path as an actress. In fact, she was recently nominated Best Supporting Actress on Telemundo. So that is the best advice I could give, just go into another facet in the entertainment business.

TCC: In your book you encourage actors to embrace stereotypical roles in order to be remembered. But don’t you think that cuts both ways because you can be a typecast by always playing the same type of roles, or maybe you’ll get limited roles because of playing a memorable character?

CH: I say take any role that is offered to you, but up to a certain point. When I was doing commercials, I just didn’t like pitching products I did not believe in. But as far as stereotypes are concerned I’m sure Christian Bale loves the fact that he’s known as Batman and thus stereotyped into that character. I personally would have loved to have been stereotyped into something. Everyone should accept exactly what they are given and then move on from there. But if you are talented enough you can move out of whatever stereotype role you’re put into.

TCC: Lately stars that have been in the industry for decades have stated in interviews that Hollywood has dramatically changed and it isn’t what it used to be. Some are even considering retiring because of this. Do you agree with them that Hollywood has changed?

CH: Yes, and I think reality shows have a lot to do with that. First of all, these types of shows like Jersey Shore are not real, in fact, not one cast member is even from Jersey - I mean, what the hell is that? To me that’s fake. The only exception are reality shows that involve helping people like the Dr. Drew show, now those shows I get, but if your going to be sitting there letting the cable T.V. wash over you for half an hour at least watch something that is real. People that are on these shows become famous so quickly like Snooki nobody knew who she was a couple of years ago and now she has become a household name. I’m like, ‘Who is she? She’s not talented. There is nothing to her.’ These types of shows only focus on building drama that is just fake.

I can see why people think Hollywood has changed because you can be a celebrity almost instantly but you can drop out just as quickly. Look at the show The Bachelor. Nobody remembers the names of the people on the first season of that show and they were huge 10 years ago. In a few years no one is going to give a sh*t who Snooki is, but they will give a sh*t about (excuse my language) Robert Downey Jr. Even if he screws up again, even if he starts taking crack again and does something stupid people will care because of who he is and how talented he is. So I could understand the frustration that talented actors would experience when they have to work along side someone with little to no talent at all. They would be like, ‘This really sucks that I have to be in a movie with this person that pretty soon won’t even be relevant anymore.’

TCC: I agree, but I also think there is more popularity for bad behavior rather than actual talent.

CH: Yes! (Laughs) though bad behavior has always been publicized in Hollywood, it’s more about who’s throwing which glass of wine in who’s face. It’s gotten pretty lame how someone can spark a drama that makes no sense at all and for no reason. That is something I just don’t understand.

TCC: If you had to do it over again would you have still continued to pursue an acting career as a kid?

CH: I believe so, but I had other passions besides acting. Growing up I was really into singing and playing drums. Which is why I’ve have been so busy focusing on the soundtrack of an independent film, Crazy, which my production company, Scrappy Co. Productions is right now editing. To me, the music in this film is so important. That is why I would highly recommend actors to rely on their other talents so you can use them at any time in their career.

For information about ‘27 And All Washed Up’ as well as Craig Hurley’s other film projects please visit his website:.

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/09/craig-hurley-interview-former-child-actor-author-27-and-all-washed





Book Cover
Image Courtesy of Scrappy Co. Publication  

Sarah Lee Guthrie: Interview with the Granddaughter of Legendary Folk Singer Woody Guthrie

Iconic folk singer, Woody Guthrie, defined the depression-era through the songs he penned and the stories he wrote. As a political activist, his clever outspoken words exposed social injustices and challenged the traditional viewpoint of the American Dream. Guthrie's lyrics set the standard of speaking up for the average Joe and thus redefined the genre of folk music.

Many artists, including legendary singers Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Joan Baez praise Guthrie for paving the way for them in their music careers. But Guthrie’s real legacy comes from passing down his musical talent to his children. His son, Arlo Guthrie, better know for the 1967 song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” is considered a legendary folk artist in his own right. Even Woody’s granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, along side her husband/music partner, Johnny Irion, have built a strong fan base by defining their own musical style of country-rock, while still respecting the Guthrie family’s strong roots to folk music.

Though Woody passed away in the late 60s from a debilitating illness, known as Huntington’s disease, his fans to this day still attend various festivals and museum exhibits each year to commemorate the life and music of the singer/songwriter. For this year, the Guthrie family has come together in a special tour across the U.S in celebration of the centennial year of Woody Guthrie’s birth. TheCelebrityCafe.com spoke with Sarah Lee Guthrie to give us a glimpse of what it is like being part of “folk music royalty.”

TheCelebrityCafe.com: Since the Guthrie Family Reunion tour kicked off last month, how is the tour going along so far?

Sarah Lee Guthrie: It’s going along very well. We actually had a few shows that are close to home (in California), which is really nice. It feels good to get back on the road with the family again.

TCC: Is there anything special your family has done to celebrate Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday, besides the tour?

SLG: Since we have a big family each member plays at different places, but it’s only Johnny and I that make records and go out on the road. It seems like every festival or event we’ve done this year has celebrated Woody’s 100th birthday. We first started out in Scotland at the Celtic Connections festival. Then we did a show at the Nokia Center featuring Jackson Browne, Crosby & Nash, Tom Morello, and many others. After this family tour, Johnny and I will be going on a six week tour in Germany to celebrate Woody over there. It’s really incredible to see the impact my grandfather has, not only on Americans, but everyone around the world. People are still receptive to the spirit of Woody.

TCC: How does it feel to be born into a legacy that your grandfather has left behind?

SLG: I feel a lot of times like it is really overwhelming. [Laughs] As a third generation singer/songwriter of this family, there are people that have these high expectations of me. As if they want me to be like Woody and in the past I had a tough time with that. But I’m not like my grandfather and I don’t think anyone should expect that from me. However, when I step back and look at the big picture, I feel like I have been blessed with a gift of music and having a grandfather who made such an impact on our culture. So I intend to do the best I can with this gift of mine.

TCC: Are there any interesting stories about Woody you would like to share?

SLG: Though I never met my grandfather, since he died years before I was born, I would listen to stories about him from my dad whenever he would do interviews or talk to the audience during shows. There was this one story when Woody was at a store and there were these black children that came in, and at the counter of this store, drinking sodas, were two Ku Klux Klan members. Woody knew they were such and so he made a big fuss about how beautiful and smart these kids were and was being as loud as he could. The KKK members were so mad at how he was elevating these children that they chased Woody out the store. During that time the war on racism was a big issue. But Woody loved all people and that is why he would poke fun at this racist group. What I admired so much about Woody was the guts he had to stand up to people.

TCC: Do you follow the same songwriting skills like Woody or more like your father, Arlo Guthrie?

SLG: I have my own way of writing that is different from the both of them. I think if anything I was more inspired by their lifestyles rather than their song writing skills. In fact, I think I am more influenced by Johnny when it comes to song writing. That is one of the reasons why I fell in love with him. He sings beautifully and writes wonderful lyrics. That’s what I admired the most about him when we first met in Los Angeles and started making music together, because during that time I couldn’t do that. But I’ve learned how to over the years.

TCC: How would you describe the music style of you and your husband, Johnny Irions? Is it similar to your family’s musical background?

SLG: Johnny and I are very different and so we make different music. We’ve been influenced by just about every single musical talent such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and many others that have come before us. And so here we are in 2012, there are a lot of different things that have evolved over time, including melodies and how music is recorded. It’s a different generation with a different melody. It’s just the way the world has turned.

TCC: A couple of years ago, you released a children’s album, Go Waggaloo, featuring unreleased songs from your grandfather. How did it feel using his lyrics for your album?

SLG: The experience brought me closer to him and his creative process. Woody lyrically works with words so well. By reading his lyrics and the rhythm of them, I anticipated where he might go with the melody. The songs are very traditional sounding because the way the tune goes; they mostly contain three cords and are very simple. So I loved the experience of singing these songs with my kids and they loved it too. It was like sitting down with my grandfather in a way and uncovering a piece of him that nobody has seen before. That was a bit of a revelation for me looking through Woody’s archives.

TCC: Are your children interested in singing? If so, would you like them to carry on the family legacy of folk singing?

SLG: Yes, my five and ten year-old perform on stage with the family and they are amazingly poised. I sometimes can’t believe it. They, as well as my nieces and nephews, are serious about music, but also have fun with it. In fact, my little 10 year-old girl just recently got a real guitar, since she has outgrown her old Harmony toy guitar that we first bought her in Nashville when she was two. Woody would always say, ‘Never get a child that’s serious about music a toy guitar.’ So she now has a beautiful little guitar that was made for her and she loves it.

But I don’t know what musical path my kids plan on taking. My dad never pushed me into having a music career, so I’ll just let them figure it out themselves.

TCC: On your grandfather’s famous song, “This Land is Your Land”, he gave permission for anybody to use that song regardless of the risk of copyright infringement. Lately, quite a number of people are quick to sue artists for sampling their music w/o permission, or even accusing them of stealing their song because the melody sounds remotely like something they created. What do you think about this?

SLG: I think that is totally absurd! [Laughs] I don’t think melodies belong to anyone. In Woody’s case he never made a penny in his life, so it didn’t matter to him whether people copied his music or not. He just wanted to get the song out there and have people sing it no matter what. If you look back in the beginning of recorded music, it has only been around for more than a hundred years. Before that time people were for generations after generations singing melodies that didn’t belong to anyone and nobody got paid for it. I tend to think that as far as folk music goes it is a melody that belongs to the people. When I write a song I don’t expect to keep it. It is not my song to keep. Woody believed that too. He copied music all the time. That is what you did with folk music. You copy old melodies, and then you put new music to it, then you evolve it and then change into something else. In fact, there is a great quote from Woody. He said, ‘I never made an original melody on purpose.’

I think the music industry started booming around the 50s and through the 70s. It changed a lot about how we think about music or at least used to think about it. For me, music is so much more than a paycheck or a copyright that you can sue people for something you think is yours. It has the power beyond what we think it does. Music is magical because it moves people and at times can help them cope with life.

For more information on the life and music career of Woody Guthrie, please go to his official website at: www.WoodyGuthrie.org

Written by: Bridget Campos                                                     

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/08/sarah-lee-guthrie-interview-granddaughter-legendary-folk-singer-woody-guthrie

Interview with Hip-Hop Artist Jared Evan

New to the hip-hop scene, Jared Evan, has taken the music industry by storm with his mixing of various genres, including rock, soul and R&B into one unique sound that has many expecting a promising career for the 22-year-old native New Yorker.

This has lead the young artist to work alongside several heavy-hitting musicians and producers, which include Pharrell, Timberland, Polow Da Don, and Dr. Dre just to name a few. The multi-talented singer/songwriter talks with TheCelebrityCafe.com about his diverse musical background and the recent release of his first EP album, The 4th Chapter.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: First of all, what made you want to have a career in music?

Jared Evan: Ever since I was little I always loved music. That’s really the only thing I ever wanted to do. I’m naturally gravitated towards it.

TCC: How would you define the music style in your new album?

Jared Evan: The sound of the album is definitely fusion - kind of like a hybrid sound that covers both hip-hop and soul. The production is also heavy in alternative pop, which I think is a relatable sound that everyone can feel.

TCC: A while back in your career you started off as a drummer. Was it a tough transition to go from being in a rock band to now being a hip-hop singer/rapper?

Jared Evan: Actually, no it isn’t. You would think it would be because they are completely two different aspects of music. In order to be a drummer in a rock band it takes vigor and passion because you’re playing an instrument. The same can be said about being a singer (or rapper). But your voice is the instrument.

Starting off as a drummer was a real advantage for me. It gave me a head start when I started writing songs and singing, because I developed a rhythmic sound. Using my voice alone I still feel like I play the drums though not on an actual drum set.

TCC: Do you miss being a drummer or do you like being center stage as a performer?

Jared Evan: I’ve always wondered where my career would have taken me if I had continued being in the background as a drummer. But it was hip-hop and rap that really helped me become a lead vocalist and brought me to the forefront of the stage as a solo artist.

TCC: Do you think some listeners might see this transition to another genre as a form of reinventing yourself rather than evolving as an artist?

Jared Evan: Some people might think so. When I started off in my music career, I went back and forth between hip-hop and rock. As I matured as an artist, I felt hip-hop was the style that stuck with me. But this album shows me evolving as an artist, taking every genre I’ve ever done in the past.

TCC: In the single, “4th Chapter,” you basically give the history of your music career w/ each chapter (from 1 to 3) referencing artists from the past that have made you the artist you are today. What does the song’s final verse (chapter 4) refer to?

Jared Evan: Each verse, or chapter, talks about the melting pot of diversity in music. The “4th Chapter” is the album itself. But in the song, I also explore my musical background. By the end of the song people will understand that I’ve created a new chapter of music. My album is that new chapter.

TCC: Are there any current artists you are influenced by?

Jared Evan: Yes, most definitely Drake and Kanye West. I also like Riff Raff. He’s pretty interesting.

TCC: What would be your dream collaboration?

Jared Evan: For any artist that’s ever lived, my dream collaboration would have to be John Lennon. Drake is another artist I would like to work with. He’s dope.

TCC: Now that the album is out, what are your plans? Will you be going on tour?

Jared Evan: I’m really focused on getting The 4th Chapter out to as many people as possible before going on tour. That’s why I’ve done a couple of shows in L.A. and New York to promote the album. But yes I’m planning on going on tour in the fall (Sept.) for a month or two.

TCC: By any chance are you working on your next album? If so, can you talk a little about it?

Jared Evan: It’s funny because when The 4th Chapter came out I was in the studio working on my next album. I don’t have a title and the album’s concept hasn’t been formulated yet. But I’ve already recorded a few songs for it. This will be my second EP album. I’m really looking forward to putting that out in late September or maybe early October.

I’m also working on a collaborative album with a really dope hip-hop producer. He’s worked with everyone from Jay-Z to Eminem. That album is a separate project. So fans can expect a lot more of my music coming out pretty soon.

To purchase Jared Evan’s new album, The 4th Chapter, click on the link here.

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/07/interview-hip-hop-artist-jared-evan

Interview with Indie Artist Shawn Colvin

Three-time Grammy Award winner, Shawn Colvin, broke into the world of mainstream music with her popular song, "Sunny Came Home." Shawn Colvin's 22 year career span has continued to thrive due to her loyal fan base and staying true to her grassroots sound of contemporary rock music, which is beautifully displayed in her new album, All Fall Down. For this album Colvin collaborated with several renowned artists such as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Jakob Dylan. The singer/songwriter talks with TheCelebrityCafe.com about her latest artistic work as both a singer and recent publisher.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: You have a new book, Diamond in the Rough, coming out next month (June 5th). Can you tell me what it’s all about?

Shawn Colvin: It’s a memoir. It basically covers parts of my life that I wanted to share with readers.

TCC: I have a few questions in regards to excerpts from your book. The first one is your view on alcohol abuse. You stated, ‘I wasn’t drinking because I wanted to, I was drinking because I had to.’ Could you elaborate on that?

SC: Well, I was addicted to alcohol and needed it for various reasons in order to function. I don’t know if every addict is the same in terms of how they started. But for me it was just to calm the anxiety, calm the voices, and my depression. It was like a medicine. That’s why I had to take it.

TCC: You also stated in your book that ‘You contemplated suicide daily.’ Why do you think there is a connection between suicide and being an artist?

SC: That’s a very good question. There is a level of sensitivity to artists. I don’t know why we are born this way. I think with some people it is congenital. But, in some cases, it is a misconception. Several artists that I know are not suicidal at all. The truth is I’ve been the most creative and done my best work when I wasn’t feeling depressed. So artists can be happy, well adjusted people and still be creative.

But the comment I made was a bit of a joke. I was describing my relationship with my friend, Roy Stokes. It was the despair that Roy understood and not something everyone else got. It’s not like we would actually go through with it.

TCC: So it was more of a not-too-serious, off-the-cuff statement?

SC: Yes, it was a message of how Roy and I understood the darkness we had in each other.

TCC: Another statement you made in Diamond in the Rough is that ‘I worked too hard to fulfill this dream that so caters to my ego. The attention of an audience is still paramount to my well-being.’ Do you feel fame in general equates with a person’s desire to be accepted and loved by others?

SC: The desire to be famous? Yeah, I think it does. But anybody’s profession caters to their ego if they have a stake at being good at what they do and are proud of that. Hearing an audience applauding for me does cater to my ego as a singer. But at the basis of the attention I get I desire to move people because I’ve been moved by other artists that mean the world to me.

TCC: At concerts do people still ask you to sing “Sunny Came Home”?

SC: Oh yeah! I really like that song. I think it is really cool what happened with it.

TCC: Do you think it is tough for an artist or band to break out of the mold of being labeled a one-hit-wonder after having a successful song or two?

SC: There are fans that got brought in because of the hit song and chances are if you didn’t have another hit song you kind of lost them. In my case, when I first started off as a singer I didn’t come out immediately with a hit song. I built a real loyal following over the years. So they don’t ask for “Sunny Came Home” that much. They want to hear all kinds of other stuff. I’m really lucky that way.

TCC: What’s your favorite song on your upcoming album, All Fall Down?

SC: I know that it is such a tempting question to ask. I do like the title track “All Fall Down” it’s certainly one of my favorites.

TCC: I like that one too. I also like “American Jerusalem”. There are a lot of metaphors used in it. Why was that song put on the album?

SC: It was put on the album because it’s a great song. It really describes the New York vibe that I grew up in. I’ve spent 13 to 14 years here, mostly as a struggling artist. I learned about this song back in the early 80s from a writer named Rod MacDonald. He was current among all the struggling singers and songwriters that I knew at that time. The song is a great poetic description of life in New York then and now.

TCC: Back then in the 90s indie music dominated the radio, especially female artists like Sarah McLachlan and Jewel. Nowadays we mostly hear Pop music. What do you think about Pop dominating music today?

SC: I think it is the inevitable. Change in music always happens at some point. It goes along with whatever is trending. It is what it is. My parents thought some of the stuff I listened to growing up was crap. Some of the stuff I think my daughter listens to is crap. Even though she might not think so I have to respect that.

But every now and then you have artists come out that are ridiculously talented, like Adele. She has transcended music that fits with the current trend of Pop. I do like some of that type of music, but certainly not all of it.

TCC: Besides Adele are there any other new artists you currently like?

SC: I could only speak for some of the singles I’ve listened to, like Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks” and Gotye with “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Those are just a couple of examples.

Shawn Colvin’s eighth studio album, All Fall Down, will be released the same day as her published memoir, Diamond in Rough, on June 5. Be sure to go to her website, ShawnColvin.com , for her upcoming concert dates as well as her scheduled book and CD signings.

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2012/05/interview-indie-artist-shawn-colvin-1