Tag Archives: interview

INTERVIEW WITH HARRISON HOUDE WHO PLAYS BOWIE ON YTV’S NEW SERIES ‘SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED’

Some Assembly Required is comprised of great characters, funny dialogue, hilarious situations, big physical comedy, and relationship-based stories with heart. The multi-camera show is shot in front of a live studio audience and will be premiering on YTV Monday, January 6 at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.

Harrison Houde has been busy creating an impressive film and television resume, most recently playing the role of Bowie Sherman on Some Assembly Required. His character Bowie excels at math and science, allowing him to quantify and explain why people don’t want to be around him. He wants to use his skills to design and engineer new toys, but unfortunately, his ideas range from bad to dangerous.

Tell us about your character.
My character Bowie Sherman is a little bit socially awkward and very quirky. He celebrates all of his holidays in August because it’s just way more efficient that way. He has some weird outlooks on life, but maybe it’s a good thing. We need weird people to have new ways of seeing things, and Bowie is the guy. Exploring the world one awkward step at a time, Bowie only has found one friend. His best friend; Jarvis Raines, probably his only friend, whereas Jarvis has many. Bowie does get along with the other kids working at Knickknack, but he definitely is a little bit of an oddball at the office.

How did you first get into acting?
Well, my older sister actually did it first for a few years but she is more the academic one, so she quit to focus on her studies in high school at the time. A couple years later when I was going into middle school I wanted to give it a try, mainly because I was really enjoying making YouTube videos and acting in them. I went to JRP in Vancouver for 2 years, travelling from the island every Sunday for 6 hours of classes. I loved it, and the next step was getting an agent (which was relatively easy), and then I started auditioning when I was about 12 or 13. My first role I booked and arguably one of my most famous ones so far into my career is Darren Walsh (the kid who started the famous ‘Cheese Touch’) in the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was a small role, but was my first and in a feature film. It was quite exciting !

What attracts you to music?
I have been into music my whole life, me and my sister would dance around crazily to all her favourites as kids. Spice girls, N-Sync, BSB (backstreet boys), also I remember loving Simple Plan, Weird Al, and the Arrogant Worms. Yes, I was a weird child from the start. I started playing piano when I was 4 years old, and I was asking to play guitar shortly after, which didn’t go so well. I was also always asking to play the drums, which I surprisingly received as a gift on xmas when I was 12 years old. I have always loved electronic type music, and have been quite tech-geeky as well since a young age, so I have been playing around a lot in the past couple years with synthesizers, drum machines, and other weird (maybe QUIRKY) electronic instruments… hah oh man.. I am too much like my character sometimes.

How are you enjoying the experience of being on “Some Assembly Required?”
As cheesy as it sounds; It is honestly, a dream come true. I have always wanted to work on something like this. Comedy is where my heart lies, (which I discovered shortly into my career, and always being a class clown in school). Some Assembly Required’s storyline is amazing first of all, haha. What kid didn’t dream as a kid, their best friend taking ownership of a toy company and being their boss? Oh, that was just me.. well then. This is another stellar kids sitcom we all watched as kids, rushing home to catch the new episode. So far, the insane things I have worn, and have been doing on the show has been a blast. I absolutely love working on this show.

What do you enjoy most about being an entertainer?
I love to make people laugh, and smile. I also will admit I am full of way too much energy all the time and being an entertainer is one way of getting rid of my crazy amounts of it. Not ONLY that, but I will admit that I love the attention. Most performers don’t admit this, but we all dig the attention haha.

What are your favourite albums right now?
I am loving Said The Whale’s new album ‘Hawaii’ ! (Vancouver based band, Van City represent !!!).

Also, I am really loving The Naked & Famous brand new album, ‘In Rolling Waves’. I went and saw them live at the Vogue downtown a month or so ago, and it was amazing. I love that band to pieces haha. Also, I have to shoutout Selena Gomez, I have a celebrity crush on that girl, and her recent album is perfect. These three artists I jam out to in the car on the way to set all the time. Anyway I could ramble on for pages about all the new music and favourite artists I am listening to right now, so I will just stop here.

Do you have any favorite actors and musicians that you look up to?
I love Adam Sandler, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz Plasse (McLovin), Chloe G Moretz, Steve Martin, and Brent Butt. These are just a few of my favourite actors.

One musician/artist I really look up to is George Watsky, or just known as Watsky. He is a rapper and poet and I absolutely love his stuff. Also, other musicians I have to mention.. The Brecker Brothers, Selena Gomez, Pentatonix, Naked & Famous, Said the Whale, The Zolas, Mother Mother, Brite Futures (previously known, Natalie Portmans Shaved Head), The Beatles (cant forget them), and Ratatat. Stopping myself once again before this goes too long..

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Stepping out of my Lamborghini, walking up to my penthouse suite in Vancouver, only to catch a helicopter to my other penthouse in LA. Hahahaha… but seriously.

Honestly other than that, I want to be working on some comedic features, and/or new shows, maybe writing some stuff. That is something I will be making sure is happening (can you feel my insane confidence yet?)
Possibly my music career can start somewhere in the next 5 years, as I always have wanted to play synths/drums and start a band.

What do you think that the audience will like most about “Some Assembly Required”?
The writers are great and pick up on really funny things a character will do, and then keep calling back on it, it’s so prime in my opinion haha. I also want to say, watch out for the ‘Phineas and Ferb’ effect, at least thats what I call it haha. I don’t want to spoil anything in the show yet, but I think that is the best way to describe it.

Social Media Handles

Website: HarrisonHoude.com
Twitter: @HarrisonHoude, @someassemblytv
Instagram: @HarrisonHoude
Facebook: Harrison Houde, Some Assembly Required
YouTube: youtube.com/xTurnipTimex

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

INTERVIEW WITH KOLTON STEWART WHO PLAYS JARVIS ON YTV’S NEW SERIES ‘SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED’

Kolton Stewart is thrilled to begin a new chapter in his life as he recently moved to Vancouver to play Jarvis Raines in the YTV series, Some Assembly Required. On the show, Jarvis is a passionate dreamer with a lot of big ideas. He’s a born leader with a winning personality who can charm anyone into doing anything for him, a trait that will come in handy as the new owner of Knickknack Toys.

Tell us about your character.
I play Jarvis Raines who is the owner of Knickknack Toys. Jarvis is a goal driven guy with a lot of big dreams and ideas now that he owns a toy store. Jarvis is very passionate about his company and co-workers and he wants to do whatever he can to run a successful toy company. He is smart, loyal and keenly aware he needs great skilled staff to make his toy company a huge success. He handpicked his staff because he knew they were the ones to make a successful team at Knickknack Toys.

How did you get involved in this TV series?
Last year I took some time off of auditioning as I was working on competitive dance and music. My agent knew I was not auditioning a lot but she got in touch with me and said this audition looked perfect for me. I went to the audition and then got a call back. I loved the script and Jarvis. I was pretty excited and hoped to get the role. I was completely blown away when I got told I was being invited to a Chemistry Read in B.C for the role of Jarvis. I had just graduated grade 8 two days earlier, but I packed my stuff and learned the script on the plane because it happened so fast! It was one of the coolest experiences of my life because I had never been flown to an audition! I knew I wanted this role when I auditioned in Toronto, but as soon as I did the Chemistry Read I just knew I had to get the role of Jarvis! I waited and waited and waited…then while I was at a camp in Seattle I got a call from my mom. She told me I got the role of Jarvis! I could not have been more excited! I couldn’t wait to move to Vancouver because I loved it there! I still feel really lucky to have been chosen for the role of Jarvis and I love working with the entire cast and crew of Some Assembly Required!

When did you know that you wanted to be an entertainer?
I have been performing music as a drummer since I was about 3 years old so I played infront of audiences before but didn’t know I was performing really. I just did it because I loved music. I joined a few competitive bands that travelled around North America but I never really thought of myself as a performer – I just loved to drum!

I also loved football and when I was 7 years old I was the starting quarterback for my football team. At a practice I got tackled and broke my leg. I decided to audition at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for The Music Man because I knew I couldn’t play football and Ioved performing as a drummer. I went to the audition with a full leg cast and played my snare drum and sang. After three long months of intense auditioning and a full leg cast, I was so excited to hear I got the role! By the time the rehearsals started my cast was gone and I was hooked! From the time I stepped up on that stage I never wanted to step off. It was truly the best feeling ever. When I saw all of the adult professionals acting, singing and dancing I was truly inspired and knew that I wanted to be an entertainer for the rest of my life! The following season at Stratford Festival I was offered two roles in two plays. I was cast in West Side Story as a soloist and cast member and then was McDuff’s Son in MacBeth.

I was approached by an agent to audition for Lion King while doing West Side Story in Stratford. I auditioned over a three-month period and was hired as Young Simba for the North American Tour of Lion King. Travelling all around North America with so many talented actors changed my life because I knew this is what I had to do for the rest of my life. I still loved sports, but this is where I wanted to be. As soon as I finished the tour of Lion King I decided to try auditioning for Television and Film. From that point on I worked on TV shows and movies which helped me develop my skills and get me ready for one of the biggest roles of my life – Some Assembly Required.

Tell us about your experience on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
I did a video with a friend and we just did it for fun. But around 25 000 views the producers from the Ellen Show contacted my mom and invited us to perform on her show. They told us this song was amazing and knew it would go viral. I did not even really understand what that meant – It happened so fast and being on The Ellen DeGeneres Show was so surreal! I was so scared that I would mess up the live performance but Ellen made me feel so relaxed. She came to watch our practice run and talked to us in such a calming way that it made everything amazing! Everything you think she is onstage, she is offstage. She is kind, personable and very humble. She met with us before the show and after the show and was genuinely interested in my life and where we lived. I have never met such an incredible honest and sincere person in my life. It was truly a remarkable experience and I will never forget her generosity and kind spirit. I hope one day I get to see her again and give back the way she gave to me. It changed everything for me and I’m very grateful for this.

Who are your top 5 favorite artists?
Well Ray Charles really influenced my life and I think I own every CD he has ever put out. I listened to him non-stop when I was little! My top 5 Favorite artists now that I listen to are John Mayer, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder, Justin Bieber and Usher.

Favorite clothing in your closet right now?
At the moment I am absolutely obsessed with Hollister Clothing and GShock watches!

What do you like most about doing “Some Assembly Required”?
My favorite part about doing ‘Some Assembly Required’ is just being able to film an episode every week with a group of amazing actors. I feel very lucky to work with the talented writers, editors and producers because they are so incredibly talented. I love learning from everyone here on set at Some Assembly Required. Being able to know that every week I get to film an episode is so awesome and all of my fellow cast members are truly unbelievable. They are all so talented and have become great friends.

What excites you most about doing this TV series?
What I am most excited about is that I am filming in a series. I have always dreamed about doing something like this. I just did not know it was going to happen this fast! I feel so lucky to be here! Growing up I have always watched shows on YTV and thought to myself “wow imagine if I got to be on a YTV series! Now suddenly that I am actually fulfilling one of my dreams – its so amazing!

Why should people watch this show?
People should watch this show because it is filled with laughter, excitement and drama! We have a group of great writers and every week they never fail to give us hilarious scripts. It’s a very funny show with a lot of big surprises and people of all ages will like this show. The entire cast is super talented and I think people will love this show.

Do you like Twitter and Facebook to reach out to your fans!
I love Twitter and Facebook! Ever since being on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, I have really been connecting with my fans and a lot of people have been connecting with me via Facebook and Twitter. Social Media is such a great way to reach out to your peer group, your fans and your friends. Check me out on Twitter (@kolton_stewart) and Facebook (Kolton Stewart Performer)! Some Assembly Required also has Twitter, Facebook and a YouTube channel so I hope we will see you there too!

Social Media Handles

Facebook: Kolton Stewart
Twitter: @kolton_stewart

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE STORWICK WHO PLAYS PIPER ON YTV’S NEW SERIES ‘SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED’

Our first interview is with cast member Charlie Storwick, whose fiercely independent attitude, edgy sense of style and musical talent led her to play Piper Gray on Some Assembly Required. Piper is a sardonic, alternative “hacker chick” (her term). She can program code, overclock a computer, and kick your butt at Halo. All that makes Piper a natural to head up the Knickknack Toys video game and app division.

Tell us about your character.
My character is named “Piper Grey”. She’s a very quirky feisty gal. She has lots of spunk, and a LOT of attitude. She likes the world to think that she doesn’t like people in general, but deep down she loves her co-workers at ‘Knickknack Toys’ and she wants the company to succeed. Piper is strong willed, and is NOT afraid to voice her opinion. She is very clever with technology, in fact, that’s her role at the toy company: “Technical programming and game design.” Piper is not your average girl. She has eclectic style, and a quick mind. She doesn’t let anyone or anything get in her way of completing a mission. She has one soft spot, and that is Jarvis Raines. Piper has had a HUGE crush on Jarvis since she started working at the company. He has no clue, but tries to express her love for him, but he tends to not see it.

What attracted you to “Some Assembly Required”?
I remember reading the audition sides for ‘Some Assembly Required’ for the first time. I instantly fell in love with the show. The concept of kids running a toy company just clicked with me. I had never heard of a show that was anything like this one. I like to look at the show as “misfit toys that run a company”. All of the roles in the show are so different from each other and yet they work so well together. The picture the script painted in my head just seemed so magical. The show just sounded like 100% fun, and it is.

Is this your first acting experience?
This is indeed my first acting experience, and I could not of asked for a better first experience. I am having a blast and learning every day.

What do you find is the best experience about being part of an ensemble cast?
The best part of being a part of an ensemble cast is definitely the bond we’ve created. I feel like I have a second family that has the love of the same thing I do. It could not be better. We are all learning and growing together, and it could not be cooler. We get to share laughs every day. We support each other, and we just love being together.

Why do you think that people should watch “Some Assembly Required”?
If you are looking for a good laugh and a unique show this is the perfect show for you. It has something for everybody.

Tell us about your experience when you were the winner on the fourth season of “The Next Star”.
The Next Star experience was insane. I was only twelve at the time, and I was learning to develop the skills that I have now. When I was crowned “The Next Star” I was speechless. That whole finale was a blur and still is to that very day. I cannot believe that I was crowned winner, and I cannot believe where that experience has gotten me.

Do you write songs?
I do in fact write songs. I’ve been writing since I can remember and I love it more than anything. I have this dream of giving people the special felling that music gives me, with my own songs. I write every day, hoping one day to publish and inspire others. Music is such a gift and I can’t imagine life without it.

Favorite concert you’ve been to?
I remember going to my first concert ever, which was “Hilary Duff’s Fly concert” It will always be my favourite concert, because that was the first time I had been exposed to music in such a energetic atmosphere. I remember wanting to be a musician the second Hilary Duff walked on stage.

What are your favorite fashion brands?
Some of my fave fashion brands are: Betsy Johnson, Chanel (I have nothing from Chanel, I just drool over the clothes when I see them in magazines), Urban Outfitters, Free people.. I could go on FOREVER. Anything vintage and eclectic is a definite yes!

Do you like using social media?
I love using social media for two min reasons.
ONE: I have this incredible opportunity to connect with my fans.
TWO: I love posting fun things, social media is such a fun thing. I look at it as a way to share smiles. I love being quirky and real on social media. I try to show people that I’m just a person, nothing more. I’m just as special as anyone.

Social Media Handles

Facebook: Charlie
Twitter: @SoooCharlie

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People

A Tribute to Cory Monteith

Our hearts go out to Cory Monteith’s family and friends.

We were lucky enough to work with Cory as his publicist from 2007 to 2009, while he was on his road to “Glee”.

Cory is one of the nicest people that anyone could ever meet. The last time we saw Cory from a far was with Richard Branson in Vancouver at a Board of Trade Luncheon. Of all people in the world, Richard Branson chose Cory to be his Virgin Unite Ambassador. Cory also supports Project Limelight for homeless youth in Vancouver to give them the chance to discover their strengths and potential through the arts.

Cory was a talent of course, but also a caring, lovely man who will be greatly missed. He had love and respect from everyone who knew him. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and Lea Michele. Cory was blessed with his long time agent Elena Kirschner, who guided Cory’s career from the beginning. We know how much they care for each other.

From the first time we meet Cory, we knew that he had a very successful career as an actor ahead of him. We were with Cory when he walked his very first Red Carpet at the Vancouver International Film Festival. It turned out to be the first of many. After an interview with the Biography Channel early on in his career, the reporter told us that Cory was one of the most amazing interviews that she had ever experienced. He was so honest about his struggles to succeed.

Cory drove to Los Angeles to audition for “Glee”. He had to pull into roadside rest stations to conduct press interviews along the way. We were so excited when Cory called to tell us that he had booked his role as Finn Hudson on the new Fox hit series.

Cory has had a US publicist since the explosion in popularity of “Glee”, so we were thrilled when we could work with him again at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, while promoting Carl Bessai’s Feature Film “Sisters & Brothers”, with co-stars Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew, Gabrielle Miller, Ben Ratner, Gabrielle Rose, Camille Sullivan, Tom Scholte, Jay Brazeau, Kacey Rohl, Ali Liebert, Monica Delain and Beatrice King; all past/present clients. It was a very special time and Cory was genuinely happy to see me and gave me a huge hug. One I will always remember.

We join Cory’s family, friends, the cast of ”Glee”, actors, media and millions of fans everywhere when we say:

“Cory you will be missed. You left us all far too soon.”

– Lesley Diana and The Promotion People team

Press:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/glee-star-cory-monteith-dies-584965
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/cory-monteith
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1816642/

Contact The Promotion People

Lesley Diana – Founder, President and Publicist
lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca
604.726.5575

Jasmyn Pozzo – Publicist
jasmyn@thepromotionpeople.ca
705.255.6887

Website: thepromotionpeople.ca
Twitter: @PromotionPeople
Facebook: The Promotion People