Disney Channel

Although he is no stranger to Disney Channel audiences thanks to roles in shows like “Mech-X4,” Dan Payne continues to be in awe of his “Descendants” experience, one he sees as exposing him to an entirely new generation of pop culture fans… even those found closer to home.

“I think one of my favorite things, though, is that this movie makes my kids think I’m cool… for now,” he joked in an exclusive interview with TrunkSpace.

We recently sat down with Payne to discuss shaping the Beast, becoming a set dad, and how being a professional volleyball player prepared him for a career as an actor.

TrunkSpace: The “Descendants” franchise has tapped into a younger generation in a way that is difficult for new properties to do in this current day and age. What do you think has enabled the ongoing narrative to hold audiences through three movies to date, especially at a time when so much other content is available?
Payne: I believe the success of the “Descendants” franchise has a great deal to do with the underlying messages and concepts within the movies. The most important idea being, quite simply, love. These movies deal with the idea of love by addressing the concepts of inclusion, standing up for one another, not judging a book by its cover and acceptance, to mention a few. The story is told by an unbelievably talented cast of young artists who can dance, sing, and act brilliantly with Kenny Ortega masterfully at the helm of it all. I just feel like it came together in a way that connected with people of all ages and I am truly grateful to have been part of it.

TrunkSpace: You have returned to the role of Beast in “Descendants 3.” Is there a different vibe – or even a different approach – to reprising a character in a film franchise as opposed to a television series that checks in with audiences more frequently?
Payne: I think each character could ‘grow’ with the story and express how their character had been affected by what happened previously. Each movie afforded a new challenge, which could hopefully inspire more growth. Some characters’ ‘growth’ might seem more drastic than others since the audience does not get to check in as frequently with movies as they do a television series. And, for me, Beast is a father. He has to learn to grow as a father and help his son as he matures in to a fine young king.

TrunkSpace: Obviously the films, though enjoyed by people of all ages, are geared towards a younger demographic. Do you think the “Descendants” franchise has opened you up to an audience that has yet to see your work, and if so, how do you use that in your career as an actor to carry momentum forward?
Payne: “Descendants” has been an amazing opportunity for so many reasons. I think it has opened me up to a new audience. I have been fortunate to be a part of the Disney world prior to “Descendants,” having played Traeger, the main villain on “Mech X-4” for a season as well as Gabby Duran’s father, Bruce on “Gabby Duran and the Unsittables.” I hope the exposure the “Descendants” movies has brought opens up more opportunities and audiences because it would mean more chances to do this job that I absolutely love. I have an amazing team around me, and I think we will work together to make the most of this shift. Disney has been very good to me, and I hope our relationship continues and that audience continues to grow too! I think one of my favorite things, though, is that this movie makes my kids think I’m cool… for now.

TrunkSpace: Your character is based on a very famous fictional beast, who to date, has been enjoyed by various generations over many years. However, this still feels new enough in the narrative and tone that it wouldn’t feel like history has had too much say in how you approached him on-screen. While the past is there, did you feel like you were taking on a character that audiences have never seen before?
Payne: I was very fortune to have Kenny Ortega help me shape our version of the Beast. Kenny let me know that we would collaborate to create a King Beast very specific to our world of “Descendants” while honoring the famous classic character as much as possible. In essence, the most important trait of the Beast I got to play is that of a loving father.

TrunkSpace: For fans, the final product of a film or series is always the most memorable part, but for those involved in a project, we’d imagine it goes much deeper than that. For you, what is something about your time working on the “Descendants” franchise that you’ll carry with you through the course of your life/career?
Payne: I will always cherish the relationships that began with the cast and crew. We came together as strangers on the first film and now continue as friends. It’s not often for me that I get to revisit film relationships for the course of three films and six years. I got to see some of the young actors grow up and got to become, in a way, a set dad to some of them. They are truly brilliant young stars.

TrunkSpace: You have been involved in many facets of artistic exploration, from acting to photography to stand-up comedy. As a person, are you someone who needs a creative outlet to feel your whole self? Is artistic expression a must have for you?
Payne: I think artistic expression and having a creative outlet are an extremely important to part of me. I would almost say essential as if part of my DNA. I don’t believe I need it to feel my whole self because there are other equally, possibly more important parts, like that of being a husband and a father. Those parts give me tremendous joy and fulfillment. I’m very fortunate that I have an amazing support group around me so that I can pursue those creative outlets that fulfill that part of my being and also be a father, husband and the other parts of me that all add up to the whole.

TrunkSpace: Prior to pursuing acting as a career, you were a professional volleyball player. Are there parallels between pursuing sports and pursing acting, particularly when it comes to training?
Payne: I believe that my experience in professional volleyball taught me to bring an excellent work ethic and sense of professionalism to everything I do. I also think it has paid major dividends in the less structured career path of acting. Auditions are like tryouts. Do the homework, put in the work, and give it everything I have to succeed. I learned to work in a team environment. I also learned the life lesson to get up one more time than I get knocked down to find success – big or small, whatever it means to you – on the journey of trying to be the best version of me I can be. I’ve said it before, I think you have to be a warrior for your own cause and battle for the right reasons!

TrunkSpace: We’re suckers for “Supernatural” here, a series that you appeared on back in 2014. It is about to begin its final season, so we’re curious how important that show has been to performers and crew in the Vancouver area and how much of a void it will leave behind?
Payne: Jared and Jensen are ambassadors of awesome! They have relentlessly been a brilliant part of the Vancouver film community. I think it will leave a fairly substantial void. But I have to say, Vancouver is an amazing and resilient community of tremendously talented actors, directors, crew – you name it – and I’m excited to see what fills those big shoes!

TrunkSpace: What has been the highlight of your career thus far?
Payne: That is an extremely tough question to answer. There have been so many milestones along the way that I could say are a highlight. I mean, I have met and worked with people that have inspired me beyond belief, been part of projects that altered the course of my career and traveled to foreign countries to do a job I love! I truly hope the highlights are still coming and THE highlight is yet to come! If you are asking me to pick one as I sit here, filming a movie in Thailand was surreal. It was the first time I left the continent on an acting gig. What a gift!

TrunkSpace: Time machine question. If you could jump ahead 10 years and get a glimpse of what your career looks like a decade from now, would you take that journey? If not, why?
Payne: No… yes… no.

Okay, admittedly, there was a moment of curiosity that arose as I thought about being able to know. But it faded quickly, and I can now confidently say, “No, I would not take that journey.” I guess the lesson of Faust in a way? I would rather continue this crazy journey as an actor and be excited by what may be just around the corner. I have loved the wild ride it has been so far and look forward to the next adventure… whatever it may be!

Disney Channel star Paxton Booth didn’t get into acting for the recognition, he got into it because it’s fun. As part of the ensemble of the new hit series “Coop & Cami Ask The World,” the fun is emphasized thanks in part to seeing his character Ollie Wrather grow on-screen, while also having the opportunity to do his own stunts, including taking flight in a wing suit.

We recently sat down with Booth to discuss the popularity of the series, which Tim Burton film he’d have liked to star in, and the most cherished item in his Hot Wheels collection.

TrunkSpace: Congrats on the success of your new series “Coop & Cami Ask The World.” Are you surprised by how well it has been received or did you anticipate that people would tune in and enjoy it?
Booth: Thank you! After reading the first few scripts and seeing how the characters are developing, I knew it would be a good family show. It is definitely something my family would sit down to watch together.

TrunkSpace: In the series you play Ollie Wrather, the youngest of the Wrather family. He is a character who speaks his mind. What do you enjoy most about getting to play Ollie, especially over a long period of time? (We believe you’ve shot 20 episodes already, correct?)
Booth: We just finished shooting Season 1, which was twenty-one episodes! Ollie is such a fun character to play because he has no filter. It was fun to say things I wouldn’t normally say. Playing Ollie gave me the chance to do a bunch of stunts, which is something I’ve never done before.

TrunkSpace: Is it fun getting to stay with a character for that long – seeing him grow and develop over time?
Booth: Yes, it is great to play a character that actually grows up on screen! I’ve been on projects where you don’t get to play with the character much, so this has been awesome to be able to put my own spin on him. You can see his character develop so much from the pilot. The first few episodes didn’t have much of a storyline for Ollie, but he slowly grows and gets more involved in each episode. I really like how Ollie and Fred start to bicker as the season goes on.

TrunkSpace: What was the most exciting thing you got to do while shooting the first season of “Coop & Cami Ask The World?”
Booth: All the stunts were a lot of fun and exciting. One of my favorite was getting to fly in the air in a wing suit. We were lucky to have such an awesome stunt coordinator, Danny Wayne, to teach me how to be safe and always made sure I had fun.

TrunkSpace: Disney Channel is known for turning young actors into big stars. Are you prepared for the attention that could come with the success of a big Disney Channel show?
Booth: I haven’t really thought about it too much. I was so young when I started acting – I did it because it was fun, not to get attention. I don’t mind when people recognize me and say hi, it’s pretty cool.

TrunkSpace: We read that you are a big Tim Burton fan. If you could have starred in any Tim Burton movie, which one would you have liked to have been involved with and why?
Booth: I would have loved to been in “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Being the character of Barron, played by Samuel L. Jackson, would have been awesome. Playing the bad guy would be a big change and challenge. His character eats eyeballs in the movie and makes it look delicious.

TrunkSpace: You have been acting since you were 2 ½. What do you enjoy most about getting to perform and work in film/television?
Booth: I really like meeting new people. It’s cool to see your hard work on the screen and see people’s reactions to it. Plus, I get to play pretend every day!

TrunkSpace: You’re a Hot Wheels collector. What’s the prize car in your collection, the one you were most excited to get your hands on?
Booth: On the last shooting day of Season 1, one of the camera operators gave me a Hot Wheels from his personal collection he’s had since he was my age. It’s a fire engine from 1969 that has a really cool fire ladder and it’s in awesome condition. I really like collecting the classics, but when they have a personal story that’s even better.

TrunkSpace: Finally, Paxton, we know you’re still so young, but have you thought about what kind of career you want to have in the future? Have you set goals for yourself in terms of your acting and other creative endeavors?
Booth: I’d love to continue acting and eventually get into doing films. I’ve really started to become more interested in learning what’s going on behind the camera, too. I’d love to shoot some high fashion editorials and start my own fashion line someday, too. But like you said, I’m still young, so my future is wide open!

“Coop & Cami Ask The World” airs on Disney Channel.

There is a life lesson, one rooted in expectations, hidden deep beneath the surface of the career trajectory of Ricky He, currently starring in the musical remake of “Freaky Friday” for Disney Channel and the latest season of “Trial & Error” on NBC. He never planned on pursuing acting as a professional pathway, but instead, realized it was a passion that was missing from his life after beginning college.

Even with his career-changing role in “Freaky Friday,” it was never destined that he would portray one of the leads. He had originally auditioned for a much smaller, more comedic part, but the casting directors saw something in his read that spoke to the character of Adam, the charismatic crush of costar Cozi Zuehlsdorff’s Ellie Blake.

Basically, life never goes exactly as we intend it to, but like He’s zig-zagging career, sometimes the results are even better than we could have ever expected.

We recently sat down with He to discuss awkward in-between times, why campiness is great escapism, and how putting his best foot forward lead to his biggest job to date.

TrunkSpace: With everything that is popping for you this summer, it must be a really exciting time?
He: Yeah, it’s pretty crazy. This is the first year that I have multiple projects essentially coming out back to back. Super exciting stuff.

TrunkSpace: Is there a different kind of excitement involved with a project when it’s being released, as opposed to when you’re shooting it? Does it have a different feeling?
He: I would definitely say so because there’s the excitement of landing the job, and then working on it, and kind of seeing it all pan out. No one really talks about that awkward in-between time of the movie being done, and then several months later the movie coming out, and so the anticipation in the last couple months has been pretty unreal.

TrunkSpace: Because “Freaky Friday” and “Trial & Error” are two such high profile projects, does it feel like this could be a game changing period of your career as well? It’s almost like you’re waiting on the future at the same time, right?
He: You’re completely right. The part of the anticipation is waiting to see what kind of changes will happen. And I’ve been trying really hard, and I’ve been working a lot on… especially, in the last couple months… just really connecting with myself, and also with close friends and family members, just so I know that regardless of what happens, whether or not the movie is a hit or is a success, that I’m, at the end of the day, just still me fully. I’m still just a grounded, regular human being. I’m a brother and a son before I was an actor or a Disney star, or anything like that.

TrunkSpace: Well, and when you look at the track record that Disney has, they have certainly had a hand in creating stars.
He: Right. Kind of like a personal mantra is I try to keep the expectations nice and low because if I set the bar too high, then I’ll get disappointed. I just kind of tell myself, “What comes will come, and what doesn’t is just how it is.”

TrunkSpace: We read that you almost walked away from acting. Not because you didn’t feel like you had the talent, but because you felt it might be a steep hill to climb in terms of being cast. Is that true?
He: There is so much that goes into it. I went to high school, kind of like a performance arts school. We had a really good music program, we had a really great drama program, and we had a really good visual arts program. I kind of got into the school doing the drama program, but it was never… everyone says, “Oh, I wanted to be an actor ever since I was a kid.” I really had no idea. I didn’t think anything of it. It was just a drama program that I did in high school. And come time for senior year, I kind of figured out, “You know what, I’ve got to be realistic. I’m not gonna be an actor. I should probably drop the drama program and just do what I need to do to get into school.” And that’s basically what I did.

And that detachment from it was unnoticeable at the end of high school. It was like, “Oh, yeah, I’m just not doing an elective in high school.” But it wasn’t until I finished high school, which is this huge transition – graduating out of high school and not seeing your same friends every single day, and learning how to time manage, and actually make time to spend time with friends. Just adulthood stuff – grown man stuff that you would think would come hand in hand, but it really doesn’t. It’s stuff you have to learn. That’s when I started to learn about myself that I really miss it (acting). I just felt like I was missing something, and that I needed to fulfill that to satisfy my own curiosity. I went back into some acting classes, and the rest is history.

TrunkSpace: But at the time when you were in college, you were studying psychology, right?
He: Correct. I was. Yeah.

TrunkSpace: That has to be one of those great “other” paths that actors can actually apply to acting.
He: Right, and you know what’s funny is, everyone kind of assumes that. But to be fair, I was doing Psych 101 and 102. (Laughter) It was a lot of, “Who was the founder of psychology?” Stuff like that. Part of me was kind of curious about it. I’m like, “Yeah, psychology that translates right over to acting…” But I don’t know if knowing that Wilhelm Wundt discovered psychology will really help me with my acting.

TrunkSpace: Unless you’re playing Wundt some day!
He: (Laughter) Exactly. Now I’m set.

TrunkSpace: With a project like “Freaky Friday,” is it exciting knowing that because it’s an established property and brand, that you’re going to have an audience who watches regardless?
He: Yeah, there is definitely that aspect to it. But on the flip side there are also the nerves surrounding it. Now having seen the movie, and having had it screened, and knowing how well it actually is received, and how much kids and their parents even like the movie, I can say with confidence that the nerves definitely have settled. But prior to that, there was definitely nerves around the fact that it is a preexisting franchise that is so precious to so many people. People love this story, and people love these movies, and there is almost the pressure to keep true to its original form, but also not stepping on any toes. Because people love it so much, it’s easy for people to feel defensive over the previous films, but having seen how well it’s been received is very comforting because I truly believe… and it’s the same with human nature… if you give it a chance, and you watch the movie, you’ll find so many things that you love about it. Just like people, we have more in common than we don’t.

TrunkSpace: And it truly is a family movie, something that parents and kids can both watch and enjoy on a different level.
He: Yeah. For me growing up as a kid, one of my favorite movies of all-time is “Toy Story 2” and the “Toy Story” movies in general. Those are a great example, case in point, of movies that are made for kids that family members can all enjoy. And I think that’s really where we kind of really nailed it with “Freaky Friday” is that, yes, it’s a kid’s movie, but beyond that it’s also a family movie. There are real emotional moments. There is real storytelling involved. And yeah, some of it is on the campier side, but you have to remember that it’s a kid’s movie, and it’s fun, and there is levity, and it’s funny. All the good mushy stuff that people like.

TrunkSpace: When campiness is done right, as an adult, it’s great escapism.
He: Oh, big time. I mean, think about the old Adam West “Batman” series. Talk about campy, but enjoyable, right?

TrunkSpace: When you first auditioned for “Freaky Friday” it was for a smaller role. Eventually you landed the part of Adam, one of the leads. Does that kind of sum up the industry as a whole, that you can never really expect where the path will lead?
He: Yeah, definitely. This is I think something that really helped me with my acting career too. Specifically, about two years ago, I just had to change my mentality on things. Because truthfully, I’ve been really lucky that I found some really great opportunities, and in the grand scheme of things I’ve put in the hours and I’ve been working really hard, but I haven’t been doing it as long as some my peers. And I think one of the huge differences was that I realized that in all sense of the word it’s a collaborative effort. People go into an audition, and they feel like, “Oh, no. They’re out to get me. They’re judging me, or they don’t want me to succeed.” But that’s not what it is. I think of it is we’re working together between me and the casting director, and the producer, and the director if they’re in the room. It’s a collaborative effort. And sure, if I don’t book this thing, it doesn’t matter because I’m just trying to make a good impression for a future endeavor. And that’s kind of the mentality I had with “Freaky Friday” because I walked in, and I knew the character description well of the original role that I was going out for, and I’m like, “Honestly, I can play the dorky stuff, but I’m not gonna be as good as somebody else.” Look at Isaiah Lehtinen, my costar that actually plays Karl. He’s so perfect for it. And I knew that I wasn’t gonna get it, but I was gonna put my best foot forward, and just see where this would take me in the future. It just turned out to be a more immediate future.

Check listings for “Freaky Friday” air times or watch it On Demand.

“Trial & Error” airs Thursdays on NBC.

Licensed Practical Nurse by day, actor by night. It sounds a bit like the premise of a new superhero movie, and while the day/night schedule juggling is not exactly accurate to his story, it’s a log line that happens to be pretty close to the life of Joshua Pak. The Calgary, Alberta native can be seen in the recently released Charlize Theron film “Tully” and is set to appear in the most recent update of “Freaky Friday” premiering on the Disney Channel this summer. And yes, he is also a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Give this man a cape!

We recently sat down with Pak to discuss being present in a scene, the best advice he received from director Jason Reitman, and why he’s leaving the time traveling adventures to Marty McFly.

TrunkSpace: You appear in the new film “Tully” opposite Charlize Theron. They say that work begets work in this business. Are you hopeful that the film will be a game changer for your career and open up additional doors?
Pak: Since being cast and having it appear on my resume, it has definitely led more casting directors to have me come in and audition. It has also been a conversation piece at times whenever I’m in a director or producer session. However, breakout star when the film premieres? Likely not. More opportunities? Absolutely. No matter where I am in my career, I’m always going to have to work for it.

TrunkSpace: Within your performance, what are you most proud of? Where do you feel that you were stretched the most in inhabiting Dallas?
Pak: Charlize and Jason (Reitman) believe being present lends to moments that you can’t plan for. We would do a general blocking of the scenes and run the dialogue very flat. But everything was done on “Action!” On most of the projects I have worked on in the past, there would usually be a very thorough rehearsal before we shoot, that’s what I’m used to. In this instance, I was challenged to trust my instincts, which is an ongoing battle as an actor since it is something we question all the time. I’m proud of the fact that I was able to throw away everything I had prepared and really just be present.

TrunkSpace: As you mentioned, the film is directed by Jason Reitman, but it is also written by Diablo Cody. As far as creative teams are concerned, we would be hard-pressed to find one that carries quite as much industry cred as that. Did you view your time on “Tully” just as much of an education as you did a job?
Pak: Absolutely. Every set is different and I always learn something new. This is the first time I have worked on a project with multiple A-list creatives and talent attached. Oscar-nominated director, Oscar-winning writer, and an Oscar-winning actress who is my scene partner for two days. It was an absolute masters class! Whenever I was in the green room, I couldn’t help but peek out and watch these geniuses work. Believe me, I took a lot of mental notes.

TrunkSpace: Was there a piece of advice or direction that Jason passed on to you while in production that you’ll take with you throughout the rest of your career?
Pak: Jason told me not to worry about performing and to focus on finding truth in the dialogue. He said it’s just as important to listen as it is to talk and that acting is just as much about how you hear things as it is about how you say things.

TrunkSpace: You’re also set to appear in the Disney Channel update of “Freaky Friday,” which will premiere on the network this summer. Is there something kind of nice about working on a project that has an established fan base/interest level, because, to an extent, you know that people are going to tune in and see your work?
Pak: Disney has made different versions of movies and TV shows and they have extremely dedicated fans because they are able to reach all generations – so it’s incredibly thrilling to be part of a story that people are familiar with. This version of “Freaky Friday” will be a lot of fun as it’s a music-driven movie.

TrunkSpace: “Tully” is a comedy. “Freaky Friday” is not exactly heavy drama. Is comedy the direction you see your career heading or are you eager to also dive into more dramatic roles and other genres?
Pak: I love comedy. Because in life, comedy exists even during the most “dramatic” circumstances. It is something I want to continue doing, however; I do want to explore many genres of film and television so I can express myself and be seen playing different characters. At the end of the day, I always want to be able to reinvent myself.

TrunkSpace: The first audition you ever had was for the film “Superbad.” You read for the part of McLovin’, which was more CHARACTER than character. That’s a big first audition to tackle. What did you take away from that experience and what did it teach you about the auditioning process?
Pak: Oh my god. I was so new and really had no clue what I was walking into. During the audition, the casting director was laughing and laughing very hard. I found out later from my agent that she was laughing at the fact that I was delivering the dialogue like a theater performance: to the reader, to the camera operator, to the casting director, to the walls. She told my agent that I had potential but I needed to take audition classes. I followed their advice and learned very quickly that auditions are a completely different animal than scene study or a film set. Let me say it, auditions are HARD! There is nothing easy about them but it is an integral part of the process and a skill that needs to be worked on consistently.

TrunkSpace: You’re a Licensed Practical Nurse. Within that profession, you must experience a lot of human emotion as an outside observer. In a way, has it helped you with your acting, almost from a character study standpoint?
Pak: Very much so. I get to care for people in some of the most difficult and frightening times of their lives. Working in healthcare has not only aided my craftsmanship as an actor but also as a human being.

TrunkSpace: Is acting the career path you always saw yourself taking, or was it a detour from the path you were paving as a Licensed Practical Nurse?
Pak: The interesting thing about actors is that we take on many different jobs to support our craft. I always saw myself pursuing acting, but I was at a point in my life where I needed stability and flexibility. The entertainment industry is very unpredictable so I took a bit of a hiatus to go back to school because I wanted something more concrete behind me to support this path of mine.

TrunkSpace: We read that you love yourself some “Back to the Future,” so we have to ask… if someone claiming to be a “Doc” came to you with a time-traveling car and offered you a chance to catch a glimpse of your career 10 years into the future, would you take it?
Pak: As tempting as it would be, no! I love those movies but those adventures were meant for Marty McFly, not me! I’m a huge believer that everything happens for a reason.

TrunkSpace: And as an extension of the previous question… neon-colored hoverboards, how badly did you want one as a kid?
Pak: I wanted one so bad! As a kid, I thought that by now we would have flying cars and hoverboards – maybe in another lifetime.

“Tully” is in theaters now and will be available on DVD and VOD in August.

“Freak Friday” premieres this summer on the Disney Channel.

A series like “Bunk’d” means so much to the generation that is glued to their televisions (phones?) watching it. Yes, we’re well beyond the age of Disney’s targeted demographic, but it’s no different than the shows that came before it like “Hey, Dude” or “Salute Your Shorts,” scripted TV that spoke TO the audience as opposed to AT them.

With Season 3 of “Bunk’d” set to debut on Disney Channel this summer, the fictional camp is about to get a handful of new seasonal guests. One of those cast additions is Will Buie Jr.

We recently sat down with the young actor to discuss how he celebrated being named a series regular, the reason he’s called the “Bunk’d Encyclopedia,” and why he hopes his career runs parallel to Jay Leno’s.

TrunkSpace: First and foremost, congrats on being named to a series regular on “Bunk’d” in Season 3. What went through your mind when you first heard the news?
Buie: I was on a plane when I found out. Since I couldn’t jump up and down, I had a dance party in my mind.

TrunkSpace: Are you excited to see your character Finn developed out further and to see where the writers take him both in Season 3 and beyond?
Buie: Yes, I’m so excited. I have seen Finn develop over the 16 episodes, and cannot wait for the public to meet him.

TrunkSpace: Twofold question. What do you enjoy most about working on a series like “Bunk’d” and what do you enjoy most about getting to play Finn specifically?
Buie: I love working on “Bunk’d” because I have been a fan of the show since it premiered. I love being in scenes with the Ross kids and Lou, and being on the set of the Great Lawn, the woods and the Mess Hall every day. It’s so cool, they actually use a lot of real trees and bushes in the woods.

Finn is a fun character, but specifically my favorite part about Finn is his high energy and his strong desire for adventure.

TrunkSpace: Is comedy a genre you always felt comfortable with? Is it an area of performance that comes natural?
Buie: This was my first ever job in comedy, but I always have had a strong desire to play comedic roles. I don’t know if it comes natural, but I really love it and I would love to do more.

TrunkSpace: We here at TrunkSpace are mostly oldish now, but we all remember growing up on shows like “Bunk’d,” which in a lot of ways, help to define the childhood of the audience watching it. It speaks to them, not at them. Is “Bunk’d” the kind of show that you’d be watching even if you weren’t directly involved in it?
Buie: Oh yes, for sure. Actually I watched every episode of “Bunk’d” more times than I can even count before I even knew there was going to be a third season. The executive producers and everyone in the cast and crew nicknamed me the “Bunk’d Encyclopedia.” I know almost all of the details in every episode of the first two seasons, including the episode number and name. So you can imagine how much I love the show.

TrunkSpace: What are you most excited for fans of the series to see headed into Season 3?
Buie: There are three new campers at Camp Kikiwaka. We are all very different, but we become friends and we have a lot of fun and adventures together. I can’t wait for fans to get to know us and have fun with us at camp.

TrunkSpace: The Disney Channel has a long history of launching careers into the stratosphere. As much as you’re enjoying working on the series now, do you also see it as one step in a long flight of stairs that leads to your ultimate dreams?
Buie: Yes, I definitely do. I am so proud to be a Disney kid, and can’t wait to see what I get to do next.

TrunkSpace: Speaking of dreams, what is that ultimate dream? Where do you hope to see your career go? What do you hope to accomplish beyond acting itself?
Buie: I want to win an Academy Award one day for acting, and I want to be a famous car engineer and be the head of my own car company. I would love to meet Elon Musk or Jay Leno. I follow “Jay Leno’s Garage” on Instagram. My mom and dad say Jay Leno was an actor and comedian, and he’s also a car guy. I think I want to be like Jay Leno.

TrunkSpace: Are you a Marvel or DC fan, and if so, is there a particular superhero that you’d like to play down the road?
Buie: Growing up, I wasn’t a huge superhero fan. My favorite though is Marvel, because it’s a Disney company and because they have my favorite superhero movie, “Guardians of the Galaxy.” I would love to play a superhero one day, but a new superhero that doesn’t exist today. One that can fly and be invisible.

TrunkSpace: Finally, we read that you’re a big X-box fan? What are your go-to games or genres that you are most drawn to these days?
Buie: My favorite game is Forza Horizon 3. Recently I started playing FortNite, but my mom doesn’t like me playing that. (Editor’s note: Ninja aka Tyler Blevins is one of the biggest names in Fortnite gaming. He frequently streams gaming content to millions of subscribers. If you would like to learn more about Ninja’s Fortnite setup, take a look at this handy guide: www.bestgamingchair.com/ninja-fortnite-settings).

Season 3 of “Bunk’d” arrives on Disney Channel this summer.

Featured image by Storm Santos.