The Burnaby NOW caught up with 13-year-old Alexander Christine, a young aspiring actor who keeps himself busy helping seniors and perfecting his acting and piano-playing skills.
Jennifer Moreau: Please introduce yourself.
Alex Christine: My "professional" stage name is Alexander Christine. It is a reversal of my sister's name Christine Alexander. I'm 13, and I attend Ecole Alpha Secondary in Burnaby. I am pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. I am going to be an actor. However, I have many interests. I am mostly self taught on the piano. I enjoy playing for people who like to listen. I am really into comics and like to draw cartoons. I also hope to study animation and game design.
JM: You were recently nominated for a film award. Can you tell us a bit about that?
AC: I was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in: Early Teen Dramatic Filmmaking. I was part of a three-person crew, and we produced a film called Groovy Juvie. We had mentors: Fran Breden and Jonathan Piteux. It's about two teenagers in juvenile detention who try wacky ways to get out. I helped produce this film at Gulf Islands Film and Television School. It is an awesome place, and I feel so lucky to have been able to attend there. I can't believe my lucky stars! Students there learn to make movies as well as video games, and there is also acting. It's located in a forest close to a beach. It smells really good there. The film festival was held in Victoria. Our film did not win, but one of the judges complimented me on my acting in one of the other nominated films: Henry Hedgepot and The Missing Ring. (http: //bit.ly/ HenryHedgepot). I played the detective.
JM: Where can we see your film?
AC: You can see the film on YouTube. (http: //bit.ly/GroovyJuvie)
JM: Have you done any acting?
AC: Yes, I have done some acting, but nothing major. My first acting experience was at four in the TV movie: Zeyda and the Hitman. I really enjoyed this and got to talk with Mr. Judd Hirsch. He said I had a future in this.
JM: What languages do you speak? AC: I speak English and Mandarin.
JM Where did you learn Mandarin?
AC: We moved to China right after I made my first movie, and that's where I grew up.
JM: What do you do in your free time?
AC: I draw a lot and go to auditions and practise my piano. I like to play video games and go to the movies every Tuesday at Dolphin Cinema. I also like to dance and sing. I am also a good swimmer and learned snowboarding during the teachers' strike. I like movies, concerts and musicals. I have seen many while in China. I just saw Cats, and I enjoyed it very much.
JM: What do you want to be when you grow up?
AC: I want to become an actor and be able to travel the world. I have been to many places already and once went to Paris just for the weekend. And, as an actor, I can do many things that I am interested in, because I would have time to develop other talents and interests.
JM: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
AC: I like to volunteer and help people. I like to help seniors, like carry heavy grocery bags upstairs for them or just keep them company and talk or entertain them. I have also helped with painting fences and gardening.
For more on Alex, go to www.agency click.com/alexanderchristine.
