Garrett Clayton: JJ Spotlight of the Week (Exclusive!)

Garrett Clayton gets wet and broody in these exclusive photos for Just Jared’s Spotlight of the Week, shot by photographer Justin Campbell!

The Teen Beach Movie stud helped garner over 8.4 million viewers for the Disney Channel Original Movie premiere, further catapulting his brewing stardom.

“I would love to do another one if the opportunity came my way,” Garrett told JJ about a possible sequel. “I think it would be fun to get back with my friends. I’ve done a lot more movies than television, so I haven’t been able to be a character more than once. It would be cool to go back to a character and explore it after I’ve already started his story, to see where it continues.”

In case you missed them, check out some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot too!

Click inside to read our exclusive interview with Garrett Clayton…

JustJared.com Interview – Garrett Clayton

JustJared: Let’s talk about Teen Beach Movie first! Congrats on the high ratings! What are you feeling after such a positive response?

Garrett Clayton: Thank you so much! Its really exciting, and I can’t believe its out! I’m really happy about all of the positive responses! From here, I’m getting ready for the next project. I just want to thank everyone for all of the support!

JJ: What do you love most about being a part of this movie?

GC: I loved being a part of a family. We’re all really close, I had a lot of fun.

JJ: Were you intimidated about doing a musical movie?

GC: When I was growing up, I did a lot of musicals. If anything I think I was more excited than I was intimidated. I think the only intimidating factor was that Disney has such a good history of making really good quality products, so I just wanted to live up to that standard.

JJ: Did you and the cast hit it off right away?

GC: Yeah. They flew the four of us out first. We all knew that we really wanted to build chemistry and to do that, you have to trust your scene partner. Grace [Phipps] and Maia [Mitchell] talked about it a little bit and they got us all together. We went and swam out past the ocean to where we kind of had to like doggy paddle ourselves out, and we all told each other one secret. We all confided in each other and we built that trust out right off the bat, just to make sure that we all knew that we were there for each other, and that we were ready to do this as a team.

JJ: What is your favorite off-screen moment from filming?

GC: We were up on a night shoot until 2 AM – Me, Jess Keller, and a few of us were standing around. We were so tired that we got really slap-happy. At some point, Jess, she plays Struts, and she wears these hot pink heels the whole movie, and she’s talking into one of her shoes and I’m talking into the other one and we’re hiding in a bush. We were literally acting like we were covert agents, hiding in a bush on the beach laughing. We were laughing so hard we were crying. They were shooting so we had to silently cry laugh, talking into hot pink shoes, hiding behind a bush. It was kind of crazy.

JJ: You mentioned that you did theater in high school, so you’re no stranger to performing in musicals. What’s been your favorite role so far?

GC: On stage? I would have to say… I think Peter Pan.

JJ: What’s your favorite musical?

GC: I don’t know. I have a few of them that I really like. I really like 42nd Street and Jekyll and Hyde, Newsies. That’s what comes to mind right now.

JJ: Is their a future for you to perform on the Big White Way?

GC: You never know! It’s one of those things that’s always been in my blood and I’ve always felt at ease while performing a musical. I love being an actor and being able to do…I just did The Client List, and before that I did a movie for Lifetime called Holiday Spin. I’ve done some acting in heavy movies where it’s more based on the storyline, not on the music. I love that just as much. I’m open to whatever comes my way.

JJ: What would be your dream role in a musical?

GC: Oh boy. Right now… I don’t know. I really like Into The Woods and I think that it would be awesome to be able to sing “Giants In The Sky.” But then I also really love Newsies and to get the chance to be Jack Kelly, that would be amazing. Also How to Succeed in Business is kind of awesome. See, I like too many shows. I’m the worst person to ask!

JJ: Who is your favorite actor, either on stage or on screen?

GC: I have three favorite actors, for vastly different reasons. I love Ben Stiller because he’s gotten to write, produce, and direct his own work and star in it. That’s kind of what I want to do, as I grow up. I have a short that I made recently that I’ll let out in a little bit. It emulates, or is an homage to, what he’s done, because I love his work. I also love Johnny Depp, obviously because he’s such a good character actor and molds into whatever state of mind or being, or anything like that, that he needs to. And I really admire that. Then, Hugh Jackman because he can go from Broadway to film in such a great way. He can play a masculine or a feminine man and still go into movies and play Wolverine. I think there’s a really good balance between those three people.

JJ: You were recently on The View, and we heard you hit it off with Whoopi Goldberg?

CG: Whoopi is amazing. And she is such a nice person, she’s so down to earth. She doesn’t even know she’s famous. It’s amazing.

JJ: She’s one of those people who is so legendary. Would you love to work with her?

GC: Uh yeah! That’s not even a second thought. I would freak out.

JJ: Your mom is one of your biggest inspirations, could you tell us about your relationship?

GC: Growing up, she was always the person who let me follow my dream. I was even talking about it with her today, ironically. She was always someone in my life who said, “If you want do something, do it. The only person stopping you is yourself.” Growing up, she’s always said, “Whatever you want to do, I love you no matter what. Whatever makes you happy, I support you. As long as it’s not hurting you mentally or something bizarre.” So in life I’ve lived like, if you want to do something, then do it. Ask all the questions you need to or figure it out yourself. There’s always ways to make what you want happen. And she worked really hard and was always there for me. But she always made sure that, when I wanted to get into this, she said, “As long as you keep your grades up and you don’t screw around, you’re allowed to do this.” So school always came first and that’s transferred over into my work ethic now. So she’s always been someone there for me and so welcoming and any bad day I’m having, she wants to hear what’s going on and then wants to help. She’ll work through any problem and she’s always there for me. And I’m always there for her. So we’re kind of a team.

Be sure to catch the Dance Along Edition of Teen Beach Movie THIS Saturday, July 27, at 8/7c on the Disney Channel!

PHOTO SHOOT CREDITS (PICTURES BELOW) �”�”

Pictures #1 and #3
- Shorts by Earnest Sewn

Pictures #2 and #4
- Shirt by PRPS

Picture #5
- Jacket by Diesel
- Shirt by Gents

Producer: Jared Eng (@JaredEng)
Photographer: Justin Campbell (@JustJustinNYC)
Stylist: Monty Jackson (@MrMontyJackson)
Makeup: Desirae Cherman (@desiraecherman)
Hair: Ryan Richman (@RyanRichmanHair)