Examentrainers

Teen Machine has interviewed Jonathan Taylor Thomas on
his leading role in the film Tom and Huck, based on the
book The adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

1		Tom and Huck is an unforget-				also a demanding shoot, not
		table tale of growing up in rural				only for the stunts Jonathan
		Missouri. The story centres				does, but also because he's in
		around Jonathan's character				almost every single frame of the
		Tom Sawyer, who's a good kid				film. And finally, Jonathan felt
		at heart although he longs to be				the pressure of bringing to life
		free of school, duties and res-				Tom Sawyer, one of the most
		ponsibility until he's forced to				famous boys in American
		make a life-or-death choice.				literature.
2		"The character is very interest-		5		Just as Tom Sawyer is a giant
		ing and has so many different				in American literature, so is his
		sides to him," explains Jonathan				best buddy Huckleberry Finn.
		about Tom. "Of course, it does				Their friendship is central to the
		take place in 1845, so Tom's not				movie and the story. You see,
		real, real educated," he says.				Huck is the town's homeless kid
		"We tried to hit on that with the				- his father's an alcoholic and
		language he uses." But despite				he lives as he pleases down by
		Tom's impatience with formal				the Mississippi River. All the
		education, he's very creative				adults in town look down on
		when he wants to cut class or				Huck, but all the kids think he's
		get out of his duties. "Tom's very				cool because he doesn't have to
		clever and he's always thinking				go to school or church and is
		and planning out his next move.				never punished.
		That's his trademark - how		6		When Jonathan's character
		clever and sneaky he is."				Tom isn't fooling around with
3		Tom's carefree boyhood				Huck, he's chasing the new girl
		comes to an abrupt halt when				at school, Becky Thatcher. Her
		he and his friend Huckleberry				refusal to be caught by Tom
		Finn witness a murder as they're				keeps him interested throughout
		exploring the local graveyard.				the story. And, their "engage-
		The pair swear never to tell				ment" kiss is one of the film's
		anyone what they saw. That is				sweetest moments.
		until the wrong man is about to		7		So, how did Jonathan like
		be hanged for the crime while a				doing his first on-screen kiss? "I
		murderer goes free.				was nervous," says Jonathan
4		For Jonathan, the filming of				with a laugh. "It was not some-
		Tom and Huck was a consider-				thing I'm comfortable with but it
		able challenge. First, as the only				was an important part of the
		"name" star in the film, it's a very				story so you've got to do it. In
		important movie for his career.				the end, it's just like doing any
		Physically, Tom and Huck was				scene and it went fine."
								'Teen Machine', April 1996