Here is an interview that I recently did with Children of the Corn 4's star, Brandon Kleyla, who plays Josiah the boy-preacher!
BK: I received a call from my agent one day and she said that they were doing another Children of the Corn. Now when I auditioned, I was not at all familiar with the series. I went into her office and we recorded a tape of me, and at this time I was living in Florida, so we sent it into the director out here in LA. A few days later, the director had watched my tape and I had the full script on my door the next Saturday, read it that morning, and was on a plane to Austin, Texas on Monday to start filming.
MW: How was it working on the set of COTC 4?
BK: It was a blast. Everyone was so cool to work with. Karen Black, Naomi Watts, Brett Jennings, William Windom, everyone. All of us got along great and we really were just one big happy family. One of the most fun moments we had was that we all stayed in the same hotel. So even when we weren't filming, we were still all together and really created a history about our characters. I mean by the time we started filming, we felt like we had known each other for years. Even on our days off, we would all get together and go do stuff and everything. It was great!!!
MW: Did you find your role challenging in any way?
BK: Not really. Everything went very smoothe. I had the BEST makeup crew in the world, and everyone was great to work with. So as long as I did my job, it was all going to work out just fine.
MW: What is your personal opinion of the character Josiah?
BK: When they told me I was going to be Josiah, I read the script and really read his scenes carefully. I looked at his history. With him being "He Who Walks Behind The Rows", and with all of the trouble that he has caused in the past, I knew that there was something there that would be fun to do. The way I took him, was that he was just misunderstood, he was abandonded by his mom, and he his picked up by the traveling preachers, who really became his family. And when they turned on him, he had just had enough and set the record straight, which ended up costing him his life.
MW: If you could go back and change anything in your character, what would it be?
BK: I always wished that I had more lines in the film. That was one thing that I always had originally wanted. I really can't think of alot of things that I would want to change. Well actually there is one thing! In the first scene of the film, when I start freaking out, the thermometer falls out of my mouth. And it's obvious that I was trying to push it out so it could fall. That's always, and always will be, one thing I wish I could fix.
MW: How long have you been acting?
BK: I have been acting for about 8 years now. I started out in equity theatre doing plays. I then moved on to t.v., and then had my screen debut in Now and Then with Demi Moore.
MW: Are there any future roles you will be doing/trying out for?
BK: There's not much I can say, due to legal reasons, but I can say that I don't think we've seen the last of Josiah. No, I'm not saying a 666 type thing. No Josiah's Return, because let's face it, he's in all of the movies, we've just only seen him physically in one of them. But I've got a feeling he'll be back.
MW: Do you have any advice for future young actors/actresses?
BK: Just do it. Believe in yourself, do your best, and don't let people get you down. If you find something you love doing, just go out and do it. If you love it, that's all that's important.
MW: What's the most favoured role that you've had?
BK: Oh man. That's a tough one. Every role that I have had has been so different. And not to mention, they were all so much fun. But when it comes down to it, and I'm not just saying this, but I would have to say Josiah. I mean it was Halloween everyday for 2 months with pretty much your best friends. It was awesome.
MW: What's your overall opinion of the COTC movies?
BK: I love 'em. I wasn't a fan until I had filmed the movie, but once I started watching them and stuff..... I always run down to the video store and watch the new ones when they come out. I mean they're just a fun storyline and it's just fun to watch.
MW: Well, thanks for the interview Brandon!
Have any other questions you want to ask? E-mail Brandon Kleyla, and ask him yourself!