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Kirk Cameron Video Interview On ‘Fireproof,’ ‘Growing Pains’
Kirk Cameron, star of the hit movie Fireproof, and, oh yeah, Growing Pains, answers your questions.
Q: Hi, Kirk, I heard that your real wife substituted for the actress for the actress that played your wife in Fireproof. I wanted to know why you did that and how it worked?
A: Tanya, I have a bit of an unusual standard that I have in my life and that is, I’ve promised my wife that I would not kiss any other woman than her. So, as an actor, that may present a few roles that I may not be able to get. In this movie Fireproof, there was a very touching and romantic scene, and in order to honor my own marriage vows and do a movie that honors marriage, [my wife] Chelsea and I worked out an arrangement with the producers for her to fly to the set. She wore the dress that the actress in the movie wore. We shot the scene in silhouette, and we were able to have a touching romantic kiss and honor our own marriage at the same time.
Q: So many child actors are screwed up but you turned out so well. What do you attribute that to?
A: Micah, turning out well is a relative concept. I think I understand your question, and what you are really asking is, why didn’t you turn out to be crack smoking transvestite in drug rehab like so many other people your age? Well, that’s a good question and if I had to point to something I would say that my mom and dad taught us basic values of sticking together as a family and doing the right thing. When I was about 18 years old, I realized the right thing was that I was given a lot more than I deserve. People work harder than I do and have less.
Q: You say you pick your roles based on moral beliefs. What was the message you saw in Fireproof?
A: When I read the script for Fireproof, I was already predisposed to liking it because it was from the creators of a movie called Facing the Giants. Fireproof is a story about marriage. It’s a story about a firefighter who rescues people when their house is going up in flames, but he’s letting his own marriage burn to the ground. It’s a story about a father who takes his son under his wing and teaches him what true unconditional love is and how to rescue the heart of his wife.
Q: You grew up on Growing Pains in front of the whole country. Was it hard to grow up like that?
A: Micah, I’m not sure how old you are but at 15-years-old you don’t want anybody looking at you. Your skin is all going crazy, everything about you is just so awkward as a teenager, at least it was for me. To have the whole world looking at you is pretty difficult. And then to have your face plastered on magazines and everything else is very very challenging. So the answer to your question is yes. It’s a difficult time so I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. I would say that if my kids ever wanted to get into the industry and be on television I’d say, ‘Hey guys, wait ’til you get through school. Wait ’til you’re a little bit older. If it’s a career you want to pursue, I’ll help you.’
Q: Do you sometimes feel out of place in Hollywood given your strong Christian beliefs?
A: I learned that about 17 or 18 years old fame and stardom and money are all fleeting. It’s all gonna fly away like the wind. In fact, we’re seeing now with the economic downturn now. The things that I’ve decided to build my life on are my family and my faith. As long as I can continue paying my bills as an actor, I’ll go ahead and do that. The projects that I’ll choose will be based on and fit into the value system that I’ve put in place for my life. For instance, I’m not going to do anything in my life professionally or personally that’s going to hurt my wife or intentionally hurt my children. As an actor, I have the same standard. I want to do stuff that’s going to have a positive effect on my family and on yours.
Q: Can you tell us about your experience making the Left Behind series?
A: I’m grateful for the Left Behind movies, for the chance to be involved in the making of movies of books that were so very popular, but to tell you the truth, Fireproof is probably one of the most important movies that I’ve made. Not only as an actor and career-wise but just because of the impact that it’s having around the country right now. There’s a message of faith, a message of hope, a message of love. The story is so well told by the writers of this script that I’d have to say it’s probably my favorite of all the movies I have done.
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Tanya, I have a bit of an unusual standard that I have in my life and that is, I've promised my wife that I would not kiss any other woman than her. So, as an actor, that may present a few roles that I may not be able to get. In this movie Fireproof, there was a very touching and romantic scene, and in order to honor my own marriage vows and do a movie that honors marriage, [my wife] Chelsea and I worked out an arrangement with the producers for her to fly to the set. She wore the dress that the actress in the movie wore. We shot the scene in silhouette, and we were able to have a touching romantic kiss and honor our own marriage at the same time.
Micah, turning out well is a relative concept. I think I understand your question, and what you are really asking is, why didn't you turn out to be crack smoking transvestite in drug rehab like so many other people your age? Well, that's a good question and if I had to point to something I would say that my mom and dad taught us basic values of sticking together as a family and doing the right thing. When I was about 18 years old, I realized the right thing was that I was given a lot more than I deserve. People work harder than I do and have less.
When I read the script for Fireproof, I was already predisposed to liking it because it was from the creators of a movie called Facing the Giants. Fireproof is a story about marriage. It's a story about a firefighter who rescues people when their house is going up in flames, but he's letting his own marriage burn to the ground. It's a story about a father who takes his son under his wing and teaches him what true unconditional love is and how to rescue the heart of his wife.
Micah, I'm not sure how old you are but at 15-years-old you don't want anybody looking at you. Your skin is all going crazy, everything about you is just so awkward as a teenager, at least it was for me. To have the whole world looking at you is pretty difficult. And then to
have your face plastered on magazines and everything else is very very challenging. So the answer to your question is yes. It's a difficult time so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I would say that if my kids ever wanted to get into the industry and be on television I'd say, 'Hey guys, wait 'til you get through school. Wait 'til you're a little bit older. If it's a career you want to pursue, I'll help you'
I learned that about 17 or 18 years old that fame and stardom and money are all fleeting. It's all gonna fly away like the wind. In fact, we're seeing now with the economic downturn now. The things that I've decided to build my life on are my family and my faith. As long as I can continue paying my bills as an actor, I'll go ahead and do that. The projects that I'll choose will be based on and fit into the value system that I've put in place for my life. For instance, I'm not going to do anything in my life professionally or personally that's going to hurt my wife or intentionally hurt my children. As an actor I have the same standard. I want to do stuff that's going to have a positive affect on my family and on yours.
I'm grateful for the Left Behind movies, for the chance to be involved in the making of movies of books that were so very popular, but to tell you the truth, Fireproof is probably one of the most important movies that I've made. Not only as an actor and career-wise but just because of the impact that it's having around the country right now. There's a message of faith, a message of hope, a message of love. The story is so well told by the writers of this script that I'd have to say it's probably my favorite of all the movies I have done.
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kirk was my idol as a teenager. Now, his views are so real- what a great guy!
Hello, Kirk,
My daughter and I saw the moveie, “Fireproof” today and loved it. She is pursuing an acting career, but everything offered is so shallow and immoral. Any advice on how to find good Christian films to be a part of? Thanks so much.
Hello, Kirk,
My daughter and I saw the moveie, “Fireproof” today and loved it. She is pursuing an acting career, but everything offered is so shallow and immoral. Any advice on how to find good Christian films to be a part of? Thanks so much.
– Posted by A. James 11/03/08
Hello Kirk,
It was great to see you on television all those years, knowing that you became an actor due to your talents, than what THE DISNEY CHANNEL is putting out.
Foremost, Miley Ray Cyrus. Heres a girl who definitely has a speech impediment, who tends to speak and sing through her nose. Yet, THE DISNEY CHANNEL has made a celebrity out of this young girl. How they did this, I suppose its through the miracles of television. Why they did this, my suspicions is that someone toward the top of Disney has a definite crush on Billy Ray (although I dont know why) and in order to get to Billy Ray, they had to make his daughter into a star. I still cannot get over Disney throwing all their support behind Billy Ray, for allowing some magazine shoot photos of his daughter in a semi-nude pose. This makes one suggest that Billy Ray may have some sort of sick fetish for his own daughter. By the way, where is Miley’s mother at these days. Has Miley took her mother’s place?
If this was not enough, THE DISNEY CHANNEL has also thrown all their support for the young girl who co-starred with Zack Efrom, when she took not just part of her clothes off, but ALL of her clothes off for photos. Makes one wonder exactly how some of these kids at DISNEY are compensating the DISNEY executives for making them into stars that they may never have been. I truly believe DISNEY should be investigated. Eventually, when everything is uncovered, I feel that there will be some who will say, “I TOLD YOU SO”.
Whats the old saying? If it sounds like a duck and it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, then it must be a DUCK.
Again, thanks Kirk, for having the talent that took you to where you are now.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH STEPHEN. WHAT ONCE WAS A GREAT CHANNEL FOR OUR CHILDREN TO WATCH, IS TURNING OUT ALMOST AS WORSE AS MTV OR VH-1.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF “CHESTER THE MOLESTER”, WHO HIDES BEHIND BUSHES AND WHEN A CHILD WALKS BY, HE JUMPS OUT AND OFFERS THE CHILD A LOLLIPOP.
WELL, DISNEY IS DOING ABOUT THE VERY SAME THING. HIDING BEHIND WHAT MAY LOOK LIKE HARMLESS TELEVISION PROGRAMS, BUT IF AN ADULT WOULD JUST TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, THEY WOULD SEE PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE INTER-RACIAL TOGETHERNESS, AND IM NOT REFERRING TO SIMPLY FRIENDSHIP. THEY WOULD SEE SEXUAL TOPICS WITHIN THE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT SELLS DISNEY.
EVER WATCH THE OLD PROGRAM CALLED “BOY MEETS WORLD”. CORY’S BEST FRIEND (WHO IS WHITE), NOT ONLY IS DATING A GIRL WHO IS BLACK, BUT THERE WAS SEVERAL EPISODES OF THE TWO IN BED WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A PROGRAM CATERED TO TEENS AND PRE-TEENS. WHENEVER THERES A BOUNDARY THAT SHOULD NOT BE CROSSED, DISNEY WILL TRY THEIR DARNEST TO CROSS THAT BOUNDARY.
I ALSO HEARD THAT WHEN MILEY RAY CYRUS POSED SEMI-NUDE IN ONE OF THE MAGAZINES, DISNEY DID SAY THEY STOOD BEHIND WHAT MILEY RAY CYRUS DID. ALSO WHEN THE YOUNG GIRL FROM HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL UNCLOTHED HERSELF TOTALLY FOR PICTURES, SO TOO DISNEY STAND BEHIND HER 100% PERCENT.
MAKES ONE WONDER IF DISNEY HAS SECRET HIDDEN CAMERAS IN ALL THE DRESSING ROOMS, TAKING AS MUCH FOOTAGE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. BUT NO, NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE DISNEY WOULD DO SOMETHING AS FILTHY AS THIS.
BUT YET, DISNEY STANDS BEHIND CHILDREN UNDRESSING BEFORE THE CAMERAS. BUT YET, DISNEY PROMOTES INTERACIAL TOGETHERNESS. BUT YET, DISNEY PROMOTES PREMARITAL SEX, NOT ONLY BETWEEN TEENS, BUT PRE-TEENS AS WELL.
SHAMEFUL THAT DISNEY IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. I STAND BEHIND THEM WHEN THEY TRY TO BRING MORE BLACKS IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA. I STAND BEHIND THEM IN MAKING STARS OUT OF CHILDREN THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF AFFLICTION OR HANDICAP, SUCH AS MOSES ARIAS, MILEY RAY CYRUS AND RAVEN SIMONE. BUT PLEASE STOP TRYING TO CHANGE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE WORSE. ITS TOUGH ENOUGH KEEPING THEM OFF OF DRUGS.
I remember the Disney show called “Boy Meets World”. The friend of Cory’s is played by Ryder Strong. Of course, he’s white and his girlfriend was black and there were episodes on the Disney Channel where the two were in bed with one another, kissing one another very passionately.
What about just the opposite? Disney also has a program called “Cory in the House”. Cory in this case is black and the Disney Channel has him hopping around looking for white chicks all the time. There are other instances of this on Disney.
I truly feel that Disney is trying their best to sexually integrate America’s whites with America’s blacks as a way to wipe out racial bias. You have to admit, this is one way to go about it.
But I must ask everyone this important question. What gives THE DISNEY CHANNEL the right to try to change the behavior of our nation’s children? Shouldnt this be left up to the parents? What makes them all high and mighty about anything. If what the previous commenters have said, are true, then the authorities should look into why they seem to be condoning young people taking off their clothes to the almighty camera. Whose running Disney anyway? Certainly not anyone with morals.
Boy, you guys have really hit the nail on the head.
***
Hollywood is not only manufacturing non-talented individuals into the lime-light, Hollywood is actually creating a new type of stars. Stars with gigantic egos, stars that know, no matter how bad they are away from the camera, whether they rob, mame another individual or they get caught with pounds of heroin or cocaine on their person, Hollywood will stand behind them 100%.
***
Whats wrong with this picture? There seems to be no responsibiltiy for your actions in Hollywood. This undoubtedly shows today’s youth, no matter how much trouble you get into, Hollywood will still reward you for a “job well done”.
***
No matter how many times you get caught using drugs, you will continue to get these high-paying parts in Hollywood.
***
Those that keep getting rewarded are:
Richard Dreyfus
Corey Haim
Corey Feldman
Lou Gossit Jr.
Lindsay Lohan
Brittany Spears
The Olson Twins
Heath Ledger
Oh yeah, the news media in Hollywood keep saying:
HEATH LEDGER – A Hollywood Tragedy.
Yeah, it was certainly a tragedy that he came to Hollywood in the first place. But it was surely a blessing that he chose to end his life with an overdose. We all know that the reason why that Olson twin sent her bodyguards over to Heath Ledger’s apartment, before the paramedics or the coroner was called, was to make sure that Olson twin’s medicine was taken away before the authorities found out who contributed to Heath Ledger’s death.
NOW, LETS NOT PUT ALL THE BLAME ON HEATH LEDGER.
THE EVIDENCE SORT OF HINTS THAT ONE OF THE OLSON TWINS MAY HAVE INTRODUCED HIM TO AN EASY WAY TO HANDLE THE STRESS IN HIS LIFE.
WHY WOULD SHE BE CALLED AN HALF HOUR OR LONGER BEFORE THE PARAMEDICS OR THE CORONER ARE CALLED?
SURELY, SHE WAS NOT AN ACTING PARAMEDIC. PERHAPS SHE WAS AN ACTING PHARMACIST MAYBE?
WHY WAS HER BODYGUARDS SENT SO QUICKLY TO HEATH LEDGER’S APARTMENT, BEFORE THE AUTHORITIES GOT THERE? WERE THEY PARAMEDICS? I DONT THINK SO.
IN ANSWER TO THOSE WHO FEEL THAT PEOPLE ON DRUGS SHOULD BE SYMPATHIZED WITH, BECAUSE ITS AN ADDICTION AND AN ADDICTION IS A DISEASE.
I SAY “BULL CRAP” TO THIS, BECAUSE BEFORE IT WAS AN ADDICTION, IT WAS A CHOICE FIRST.
SO I SUPPOSE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY I AM NOT SO SYMPATHETIC AS SOME, AT THOSE WHO CHOSE TO TAKE THE DRUG ROUTE.
AND WHY IN THE WORLD DID THEY GIVE AN OSCAR TO HEATH LEDGER?
IF HE IS TO GET AN OSCAR FOR THIS VERY SMALL PART, WHERE IT DID NOT TAKE THAT MUCH OF AN ACTING JOB, THEN THERES THOUSANDS OUT THERE THAT SHOULD GET AN OSCAR AS WELL.
SO WHAT IF HE KILLED HIMSELF? ARE WE TO BELIEVE ANY OTHER ACTOR WOULD RECEIVE AN OSCAR, IF ONLY THEY KILLED THEMSELVES OF A DRUG OVERDOSE?
I SERIOUSLY DONT THINK THIS WOULD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO MAY THINK THAT KILLING ONESELF WILL GET THEM AN OSCAR.
PLEEEEEASE, LETS START HOLDING ACTORS AND ACTRESSES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR. IF WE DONT, THEN OUR BELOVED CHILDREN WILL THINK, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO IN LIFE, NO MATTER HOW BAD THEY ARE, THEY WILL STILL GET REWARDED IN LIFE.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
NO WONDER SO MANY CHILDREN ARE GOING ASTRAY NOWADAYS. THESE PEOPLE IN HOLLYWOOD IS TELLING THEM ITS O.K. TO GO ASTRAY.
So because Disney is showing kids of varying racial and ethnic backgrounds dating/kissing, you’re angry? I thought that was simply breaking down walls that should never have been erected to begin with. If “Interracial togetherness” is your biggest issue on TV today, then thank the Lord above! TV simply mirrors real-life (albeit in an often exaggerated way) … blacks and whites (and every other race, color, religion, etc) ARE dating and marrying. And you may ask, who is Disney to say that that’s ok? Well my question is, who are you to say it’s NOT?
Eddie, evidently you are a black male that goes after white women, because black women are just too strong for you. Whatever floats your boat, weak man.
If someone wishes to date someone from another race, more power to them.
I just dont agree that a network such as Disney should thrust every type of behavior down my children’s throat, thats all.
Now, wait a moment. Perhaps you are not a black male who goes after white women. Perhaps you are a little more liberal than this.
Instead, more than likely you are alright with Disney for any liberal programs they have on their network, because im sure you believe their next move, is to have people having sex with their pets.
Yeah, thats it. You are in favor of a law that gives the right of a male, no matter what the race is, to have sex and to marry an animal.
Sorry for saying, but you are one sick puppy. I hope you get spade or neutered someday soon. I would hope not to see any births, caused by you.
I’m not sure how the topic of interracial relationships came up or what it inherently has to do with premarital promiscuity, much less Kirk Cameron’s interview or living out a life of faith. The scriptural view on this issue is summarized in this well-written article from AIG: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/interracial-marriage …What is all the ‘ado’ about? It just sounds like something designed to detract from Kirk’s message and confuse readers.