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Wednesday, January 19, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C1 Arts & Entertainment NN* Photo by Peter C. McCusker Robert and Daniel Clark ham it up at home. T\vo Oakville actors star in new movie releases B y Sa n dra O m a n d SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The entrance to their home is cluttered with snowboards, hockey sticks and basketballs. Inside a boy stares intently at a TV, playing Nintendo, oblivious to the gam e's discordant music. Another is running from room to room on some imaginary mission while his older brother is upstairs in his room doing whatever it is teenage boys do. This is a house like many others on a quiet residential street in north Oakville, with kids like any others except for one thing. Two of the three children also happen to be accomplished actors who have theatre, television and film credits to their names and can count Emilio Estevez and his son Taylor among their friends. Yet Daniel Clark, 14, and Robert Clark, 12, remain untouched by their success in the enter tainment industry, even down-playing it, as does little brother Aaron Brown, 6, who occasionally models. "People take pictures o f me and I get a cheque," stated Aaron flatly before running off to do something more interesting. "Everybody has the ability to act," said Danny. "Some people call it a skill, but I don't look at it as such a big thing." Their mother, Suzanne Brown, a talented singer in her own right, feels differently. "That's a gift. I'm sorry, I have to disagree," said Brown, an energetic woman who guides her boys but never pushes them in their craft. Brown said before each project the family sits down and asks whoever is offered the part if this is something they really want to do because, in addition to talent, it takes a lot of hard work and self discipline. "You can 't push children in film ," said Brown. `T hey have to want to do it." Danny explained that for his lead role in the television show I was a 6th Grade Alien he was required to memorize 85 to 90 lines a week. `T h at is basically a half-hour script per week for 22 weeks in a row," said Danny. "At first it was really tricky to memorize lines but the more you do it the less you need to prac-' tice and the easier it gets," added Robert. Auditioning for parts requires not only mem orizing lines but also physical movements, such as moving your hand or walking, that accompa ny the words. Consequently the night before an audition the boys study very hard. "I don't practice in front of a mirror," said Danny, discussing his craft. "I just think about how I would react." Danny first became involved in acting three years ago after winning a part playing Chip in the stage production of Beauty and The Beast at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre. He had never acted prior to that but his moth er, who was working in a dinner theatre produc tion at the time, was encouraged by a number of people to take him for an audition. "My mom took me to the audition, I got an agent, I went to the callback and got the part," said Danny shrugging. Robert followed a year-and-a-half later in 1998 playing in a commercial alongside Wayne Gretzky (he played the Great One as a child). "I was excited big time," said Robert, adding that Gretzky was really nice and, unasked, auto graphed a puck for him. Robert went on to play a part in a movie called Super Star with Harlon Williams, as well as bit parts in / was a 6th Grade Alien and numerous other television shows and made-for-TV movies. He also co-starred in Switching Goals with the Olsen twins from the show Full House. Robert recently finished filming All American Girl - the Mary Kay Letoumeau Story, a true story about a married teacher who slept with her 11-year-old student and became pregnant. He also completed his first feature film, called the Mitchell Brothers, due to be released later this year. The film is directed by Emilio Estevez, who also stars in the movie. Robert plays Charlie Sheen's character as a child while Taylor Estevez, Emilio's son, plays his father as a child. Danny, who has played the lead in a number of television shows such as Goosebumps, How / Got My Shrunken Head and The Theory o f Eerie to name a few, has just completed his first feature film as well in which he plays the main character. Entitled Grizzly Falls, and filmed entirely in Alberta, it is due for release in February. Filming the movie required him to be away from home for a month, so his mom and dad, Paul Brown, who works at IBM but whom Suzanne describes as a "serious amateur photog rapher," each took two weeks vacation to be with him. A private tutor was also on set to ensure that he did not fall behind at school. Whenever the boys are required to spend extended periods o f time on set they receive tutoring, following the same curriculum as their classmates so they can easily slip back into regu lar classes. "I like the fact my children are privately tutored," said Brown. "In this day and age, the fact they can study on their own and are very computer literate, is important." Despite her sons' obvious enjoyment of act ing, Brown said she gets varying reactions from other parents when they find out her kids are actors. Some are positive and some are negative which she attributes to the negative publicity some child actors have received. "The children are in it because they enjoy it and the opportunity has been given to them," said Brown who has curtailed her own career to ensure she is always there for the boys. Furthermore, Brown sees being involved in acting as no different from being involved at a competitive level in sports such as gymnastics, hockey or soccer. She feels they both require a high degree of commitment from the child and the parents. "It's a family thing and a family commitment, but it is worth it because they love it," said Brown. 'NESS CENTRE *Free Weights ' Lifecycles ' Step M ill *Nutritional Councelling ' Babysitting ` Hair Salon * Saunas ` Nautilus 3? Stairmasters q / Tread Mills 3? Liferower 3? Sunbeds 0? Nordic Track 3 ^ Reg'd Massage Therapists 3? Esthetician 3? Daily AerobicsClasses Fine Children's Furniture Linen and Decor THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR A N D THE VERY Q U IET CRICKET SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 AT 1 PM & 4:30 PM Vibrant puppets and colourful props combine for the telling of Author/Artist Eric Carle's much-ioved stories. 2111 D u n w in § M D r . (M is s is s a u g a ) = 1 § 1 1 11/2 blocks west of Erin Mills Parkway facing Dundas 849-1021 Call 905-306-6000 467 SPEERS RD. (W OF DORVAL) Toll free at 1-888-805-8888 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga H w y 403 & H w y 10 (west o f Square O ne) l iv in g ARTS 4