Hey Grayson 🙂 You’ve definitely had a busy year! What’s been your favorite thing you’ve done this year?
I think one of the favorite things I did this year was work on the TV Series Dave that will premiere on March 4, 2020. I will be on episode 7. It was great working with rapper Lil Dicky. I have also loved being invited to all the amazing events this year like “Party on the Pier”, “Blizz Con” “Comic Con in San Diego”, “Comic Con in Los Angeles” “Queen Mary Dark Harbor”, “Instabeach and Instaskate” several Film Premieres like Hold On, Next Level, The Great Alaskan Race, Grand Isle. I was even invited to attend the Luxury Experience Gifting Suite for the Emmy’s. I am so honored to have had such a great year in Los Angeles.
You are well known for your role on the popular BRAT movie “Chicken Girls: The Movie”. Can you explain the process of how you got this role?
Well, my manager pitched me for the role of Sheldon on Chicken Girls: The Movie and I booked the role from his pitch and my demo reel. I had never heard of Chicken Girls until I booked the role. I am so very thankful to my Manager, BRATS and Chicken Girls for giving me this amazing opportunity.
Can you explain the character you portray?
My character, Sheldon, is a pain in the heinie. Sheldon, I think is a complex character. He is Principal Anthony’s (Melanie Paxson; Fairy Godmother from Disney’s Descendants) teacher’s pet. He is a tattletale on anything fun and wants to get all the kids at Attaway Middle School in trouble. However, I think Sheldon would really love to be part of the group but he is not included so he wants to cause trouble. In a way, he reminds me of the character from iCarly Nevel Papperman.
What do you think makes this show standout from other shows that have been aired on BRAT?
I think it is the amazing cast: Hayden Summerall, Annie Leblanc, Indiana Massara, Talin Silva, Brooke Butler, Carson Lueders and many more. I think they connect with their fans on a level they understand. They are having some of the same problems at their school that most of the middle school teens and tweens are having themselves.
What did you like most about being on a movie that was aired on YouTube?
I love being on set and filming so anytime I can film I will. I love the environment of filming and being a part of a production even for a short while. I have also really liked meeting all the Chicken Girls fans on Social Media. I try very hard to respond to all their questions but sometimes I get way behind. I also like popping into to the fans live videos to just say “Hi” I have to say when they realize it is me it does make me feel good seeing their excitement. As an actor, you always want to bring happiness to those that watch you and it always makes me feel good that they want to talk to me Grayson or me as bratty Sheldon.
What was your favorite part about being on “Chicken Girls: The Movie”?
I love meeting new people and making friends. I did make several friends from the Chicken Girls with Hayden Summerall, Indiana Massara, Talin Silva, and Brooke Butler. They are all very busy but I see them around town at events. I was able to attend Hayden Summerall and Brooke Butler’s new film premiere Next Level. It was great and I always support other actors in this industry. I think it is very important to support everyone. It is a hard business so why not support other people making their dreams come true. I try very hard to always be positive on my social media and in my personal life. I think being positive will only bring positive things in your life.
What was your thought about the movie when you saw it for the first time?
I thought wow there are talented people that make up the Chicken Girls. The first scene was a song; a musical number. I thought “well I could not do that!” They are good! Brooke Butler was amazing how her voice was so unique and powerful. Right after this scene, you see Principal Anthony come in and me following right behind her like I am her sidekick. So, that was the first scene everyone got to meet Sheldon.
Did you think it would get as big as it did?
I knew it would be big because the TV series had done so well. I had no idea it would be over 24 Million views. However, I was very excited it had.
What was the Chicken Girls’ movie premiere like for you?
It was great seeing all the cast and being a part of that group. There were several friends that were not in the movie, just came out to support us. My manager came out to the premiere to support me. It made me feel so good that so many people were supporting in such a positive way.
What was your favorite part about being on set?
It was great! I took my Rubik’s Cube with me and when there was down time, I showed some of the cast how to solve it. Other times we sat around a table with games or just talked. I think my favorite part about being on set is the environment of how it all comes together. We do not think about how many people behind the set it takes to make the magic happen. I enjoyed meeting the crew and learning more about what they did and how things worked.
What’s it like working a long side well known artists Annie LeBlanc & Hayden Summerall?
It was great! They both were so very nice and welcoming on set. They are really some of the best talents you could ever want to work with. I see Hayden Summerall at many events and every time he has come to see me to just say Hi. That means a lot to me. He is genuinely a great person. I ran into him at the “Party on the Pier” where we volunteered and worked the same game.
You’ve also had many other accomplishments in your career. For instance you were in Blackbear CD Single Video “do re mi” on iTunes and Amazon!! What was that experience like for you?
I was so very honored to be a part of that video. I had worked with Madeleine McGraw on set the of Cinemax series Outcast when I was still living in the South. She was just great and so very talented. Both Madeleine and her sister, Violet, were in this video as well. I am so blessed to have gotten that role! Had it not been for a recommendation by their family, I would not have known about this video. I am very thankful I have friends in this business.
We had a fitting for our costumes a few days before filming and that is where I got to meet Violet, Maddy’s sister. It was great seeing Maddy again. A few days later we filmed at a Mansion in Pacific Palisades. It was unbelievable how huge this place was! It was right on the water and it was magnificent. When we were filming the video, we never heard the music or the lyrics so I did not even know what the song was until it was released. In the video, it reminded me of the movie “Sound of Music”. It was as if we were the Van Trapp kids. I was the one holding a kitten. It was somewhat ironic me holding a kitten because I am very allergic to cats. It did not matter to me. I was on set with great friends and I was doing what I love. I am so happy to say that I gained a friendship in the South by meeting Maddy McGraw. It was great working with her and her sister Violet. We all follow each other on social media and I am so proud of them both for all their great success.
Since the year is coming to an end, do you have any last thing you’d like to tell your supporters?
Please follow my career. If you send me a message, I will try my best to get back to you as soon as I can. If you see me out, I would love to meet you. I am just so very thankful for all the support I have gotten and that people believe in me. Thank you so very much!
Can you spill any details on what the supporters can look forward to next year?
This year will be amazing! I am taking my CHSPE exam in March. Hopefully, if I pass it, there will be more big roles that will open up for me. I am also working on part two of my short film that I released last year, John Foley: Motivationally Speaking. It was a tribute to one of my favorite actors Chis Farley for his SNL skit Matt Foley “Living in a Van Down By The River”. I play the role of John Foley his son.
Are there any other acting projects in the works you can tell us about?
I am working on some but none I can tell you about right now.
Did you have a favorite role you played? If so what was the role and why was it your favorite?
It is somewhat hard question to answer. I have so many favorite roles. My role on Daddy’s Home. It was great working with Mark Wahlberg. In Heaven Bound I got to work with my friend and acting coach Danny Vinson. I even worked with Jamie Costa on this film. The cast and crew was so great! I worked on my Birthday (April 1) and they made me a birthday cake and sung Happy Birthday to me. When I moved to Los Angeles, I was able to work with Bill Hader and Fred Armisen on Documentary Now. The episode clip was played on Conan when Fred Armsien was a guest. I had a part on To Tell the Truth and it was great meeting Anthony Anderson and his momma. they were so very nice to me. In American Horror Story I played a werewolf. The makeup artist was so talented because I looked like a werewolf. In Black Pumpkin I was on and off set for several months so I loved that. This movie was very physical with a lot of running, riding a bicycle and fighting.
You have also created a huge social media presence for yourself. Why do you think social media is so important for teen actors today?
I think that Instagram is the King of all Social Media these days. Back several years ago it was Twitter. I think it is so popular because it is a place for teens to be able to express themselves, have social interaction they may not have otherwise. I think social media is an easy way to interact with people you may not get to see much. In this Millennium, life is very fast paced and busy. it is easy to pick up your phone or iPad and with a touch of a few buttons, you can see what’s going on in your friend’s life. I love Xbox! I play on it almost every day. not only for the games but I am homeschooled and playing with my friends on Xbox is my time with friends that are back in Alabama, across the country, in Canada or right here in Los Angeles that have very busy lives.
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
I would like to have a personal relationship with them or at least try to. I love talking to people and meeting new people so I do not mind them coming up to me. I want my fans to know when they’re responding to me on Instagram it is me answering them.
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
Instagram @graysonkilpatrick is the one I use most but you can also find me on twitter @GraysonT04 and Facebook Graysonthornekilpatrick and recently I just joined TikTok @thegraysonkilpatrick
Any last things you want to tell your supporters?
Yes, I want to think all my fans for supporting my family, my management and especially me. Thanks to my parents who made many sacrifices for me to be here and to Rojo Management for believing in me and always encouraging my mom and dad when we get disappointed and advising me. Thanks to my friends and family back home in Alabama and to the second family I have made here in Los Angeles. To my agents at Pantheon Talent, DDO Artist Agency and People Store in Atlanta, thank you so much for all you have done and still doing for my career.
To my fans and or future fans, please continue to follow me and support me during my journey as an actor. We all need support and knowing we have fans who think we are doing a good job at being an actor is a huge confidence builder. We all need positive people in our lives! I have had some fans that tell me “You are such a good actor” or “You are such a great role model” or “Thank you so much, I can’t believe you are following me or joined my live streaming” it means a lot to me just to know that maybe I made a difference in a person’s life. It makes it so fulfilling. So, be positive! If you are having a bad day, do not post negative stuff. If you see someone struggling, say something encouraging to him. If you see someone getting Bullied stand up for them and do not go along with the crowd. Be your own person. Being different is not a bad thing. It makes you unique.
Thanks for taking the time and doing this interview 🙂
