Have you ever wondered what it takes to see your idea go from script to screen? Or have you ever wanted to know what it takes to stay in camera ready shape in Hollywood’s very public eye where not a pound is missed? In this Feature we are going to be speaking with Christopher Showerman, also known as Disney’s George of the Jungle. Christopher has been featured in successful television series such as The OC and CSI: Miami. His work with charities such as Special Olympics and Elizabeth Glazier Pediatric Aids has made him a favorite with families. His generous nature coupled with his personable attitude will certainly win you over.
Currently busy with a shoot North of L.A., Christopher is also hard at work bringing his vision titled Between the Sand & the Sky to the big screen with the help of an award winning cast and crew.
SLS: Welcome! And thank you Christopher for giving us a few minutes out of your busy schedule. I know that your connection over the jungle vines is a little flaky today and I think Ape mentioned something about needing to use the computer so I won’t keep you long. Can you tell us about your Herculean effort to bring your script to the big screen, and can you give us a brief overview of the storyline?
CS: Funny! Well Between the Sand & the Sky has been in the works for about 3 and a half years so far. The first step is to find or, in my case, write a story you feel impassioned about. My script has gone through massive changes but the characters remain the same and I do love these characters. Then I took parts of that story and pieced together a 4 page “teaser” script to shoot like a movie trailer to stir up interest with investors. Currently we are in post-production on that mini-movie project.
SLS: I can’t wait until your “mini-movie” is ready! How receptive do you think the audience will be about a Western movie? It seems most Westerns just don’t have the sort of draw that they once did. Have you created a story line that takes us effectively beyond the Western genre?
CS: The Western genre has gotten a bad rap from studios and audiences as an antiquated story form. However, the success of shows like HBO’s Deadwood prove that it can once again be a viable form of entertainment if it evolves and adapts to the standards of modern audiences. Rumor has it they successfully did this with the Pirate genre recently. Ultimately the thing that draws us into the theaters is HOW the story is told.
SLS: In effect, this movie does take us away from what we see as a typical Western since you have something similar to time travel incorporated into the story line. True?
CS: Sand & Sky actually blends the Western theme with a supernatural backdrop and a journey through early 20th century history. The events that happen anachronistically are there to draw us deeper into the humanity and personal experience of LS – the protagonist.
SLS: It’s no secret you’re a strong advocate of a healthy life style and encourage the youth that you work with to do the same through proper eating and exercise. I’ve personally fed you at my bbq’s and have sat with you at restaurants where you’ve put away enough food to feed three men and you don’t gain a pound! How do you do it? I mean look at you, you’re cut! Shredded even! You picked me up and tossed my 6’-6”, 235 pound carcass like a rag doll. Give us the breakdown of your regime if you will. What foods, if any, do you avoid? And how does your exercise today differ from that of when you were preparing for your role in GOTJ2?
CS: HA! I don’t remember tossing you like a rag doll. But here is the key: I love to exercise. I am lucky to be surrounded by lots of folks who will exercise with me and keep me moving. If you are always burning calories, you can eat more and not worry about it. However, when I need to get shredded, I have to really restrict my diet. The other key is to drink a LOT of water. It helps the body metabolize fat, absorb nutrients, and flush toxins. And there are still a few places on earth where it’s actually still free!
(Note: Christopher is reminded of the time at a birthday party of which there is quick recollection of a game of Human Toss Across)
SLS: I would like to point out too that you are all-natural and have never used steroids or artificial performance enhancers to boost your work-out results, just hard work daily at the gym which usually takes place before most people wake up. You also avoid caffeine and alcohol, and don’t smoke. Now that is a positive image to portray. But honestly, don’t you want to cheat? It’s got to be tempting at times. How do you curb the temptation?
CS: As I mentioned above, my diet gets more strict when I need to look really lean. However, my girlfriend makes the best cake on the planet so if I’m not dieting, I won’t say no to that! Currently I am playing a character in a film that smokes cigarettes. Honestly, cigarette smoke chokes me and I gag if I inhale it - an interesting dilemma. So when I have to shoot a scene where my character is smoking I try to be careful not to let any of it go into my lungs. Bill Clinton taught me his technique.
SLS: While you were on the road in the play Legends starring Joan Collins and Linda Evans, did you find it difficult to stay in shape? How did you manage to maintain your excellent health?
CS: Actually when I was touring I found myself with a LOT of free time once we were in a new town so I occupied myself in various gyms across America. It was fun discovering new exercises in many different gyms – and a great way to meet health conscious people across the nation!
SLS: Now I know your heart is taken by a woman of captivating beauty and a personality to match. How do you politely dismiss the many proposals and invitations from your female fans without hurting their feelings? I mean some of them really do become attached; your MySpace is evident of that. Do you find it difficult?
CS: For the most part I haven’t had “proposal dilemma”. I’m sure folks like Paris and Lindsey have to deal with these issues much more than someone like me. In fact, the people I have met through my career so far have been exceedingly cool.
SLS: Ok, funny moment here. You were recently on an episode of Gay, Straight or Taken as the Taken male of which you thought was only going to be a PRACTICE run. Turns out the Producers of the show aired it. They really tricked the audience on that, portraying you as the Gay male. In what ways did the Producers of the show attempt to dupe the audience, and do you think that this is a common practice on shows of this nature?
CS: Gay, Straight, or Taken is a great show that is aimed at breaking down stereotypes. Some of the coolest and most amazing people I know are gay, so being mistaken for gay on that show was in many ways a compliment. However, the thing that made me appear “gay” was moments before we taped a pool segment, the producers asked me to wear Speedos instead of swim trunks. I found it fascinating the reaction to that garment – I might as well have been in drag.
SLS: I know it is a losing battle to ask about your personal experiences in Second Life simply because you do not have time for games of any kind. However you do see the value in networking tools such as Second Life, MySpace or Second Life Society and see their value in our society. How might you see Second Life as a tool to help promote your upcoming project, or even your past projects, or possibly, for the betterment of society as a whole? Feel free to discuss any negative aspects that you feel might exist as well. This is an equal opportunity forum. *grabs shot gun and loads it*
CS: I think internet networking gatherings like Myspace and Second Life have massive positive impact on our global culture. Now we can meet and, in the case of Second Life, engage in scenarios with people of other races, backgrounds, nations, religions, cultures that we would NEVER get to meet in the physical circles we operate in. It has made the world much more of a community from a grass roots level. I believe that the generations born since the internet have much more a sense of global responsibility because they have friendships and therefore vested interests in every corner and on every continent of the planet.
SLS: Christo, I want to thank you for your time today. You’re a champ and we wish you the best with your endeavors and wish you many good years. BBQ at my house Saturday, see you there?
CS: We’ll be there! And your BBQ is the best ever! I’ll ask Natasha to make a cake.
Featured here on Society, will be links and information to Christopher’s project. This is an exclusive that you will not find anywhere else.
