Mike Vogel and Jennifer Morrison in "Grind"
courtesy of Warner Brothers
"2 Blondes and A Board"

ATLANTA: Mike Vogel and Jennifer Morrison look like poster children for California surfers. They both are blonde, tanned, fit and possessed of white teeth that shine brightly when they smile - which they do a lot. They are energetic and exuberant and are willing to talk the talk about their new film "Grind."

They both profess to have had a little bit of skill on skateboards when the movie started. "Yeah, I had done some of it," said Vogel, "but nothing like the pros do. I tried to do as much as I could without making the movie look bad."

"I did a little bit of my own work in the movie," said Morrison. "I am pretty athletic and I am a dancer so some of the stuff came easy."

Both agreed that the movie was a fun time from start to finish. "It was just fun all the time," said Vogel. "We were always telling jokes and acting silly. It was just fun from start to finish."

"We got to mix with the guys who are skateboard stars and that was great," said Morrison. "We would finish a scene and then watch them do their thing. I mean we were all in awe of them and what they could do."

"You know skateboarding is a huge sport," offered Vogel. "A lot of people don't know that but it is. Just like this movie shows, there are kids who worship the skateboarding stars, and think their lives would be perfect if they could just get on that circuit and make a living doing it."

Both Vogel and Morrison's careers are going full blast. Morrison is currently finishing up a movie with "Ben Affleck" called "Payback." I teasingly asked her is this was an Affleck and J-Mo feature. "No, no. I'm just his girlfriend in the movie. He is also involved with Christina Applegate so this sets up a conflict."

Vogel will be seen in the upcoming film "Wuthering Heights, CA" which is an updated version of the famous novel. "It takes place in modern times and it is amazing how the story translates into today. The romance is the same but even the class problems come across as modern."

Vogel will also be seen in remake of the horror classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." "It is a scary movie," he said. "I think even the people who are addicted to the first one will be pleased with how this one turned out."

Morrison and Vogel both come across as well mannered young people. They are both working actors who audition for roles, some of which they get and some they don't. "You just have to be willing to face the disappointments because they are going to come along," said Morrison.

For Vogel one of the hardest things is being away from his wife. "I got married in January," he said. "She is a model so she understands the business but it still is tough being gone for long periods of time. But then it is great when you get to go home."

That's the world of the working actor, but as long as you are blonde, tanned and fit you have a shot at stardom. And a movie like "Grind" could give you that exposure to boost you up the ladder.

 

 

 

 

 

©2003 Jackie K. Cooper

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