|
"Peter
Pan" the movie, starring former Mt. <=
span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sterling resident Jeremy Sumpter
climbed as high as No. 6 recently on the list of top movies at the box
office.
He and his family believe such showing bodes well for the young actors future.
"This is what is going to take him to the top," said his
grandmother Mary Johnson, who lives here in Mt. <=
span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sterling.
Despite spending much of his time hoisted in the air by thin guy wire=
s in
the action thriller, Jeremy said the experience was, well, what you w=
ould
expect a 13-year-old to say, "pretty cool."
"It was fantastic," Jeremy said further. "It was
really great fun. I worked with a lot of really good actors.&nb=
sp;
It was the role of a lifetime."
Since filming the movie in Australia Jeremy, who has a birthday ahead
Feb. 5, has returned to school where he is a freshman this year.
But his mind is still on m=
ovies.
Next up, he said he would like to play a part in a film trilogy,
something along the line of the popular "Lord of the Rings"
series.
"The look fun to film and there's a lot of action," Jeremy
explained.
Eventually, he hopes to direct his own picture.
Whatever the case, this grandfather, Mt. Sterling resident Herb White,
insists Jeremy will keep his feet firmly on the ground.
|
"The
great thing about Jeremy's career is that it hasn't spoiled him,"
White said. "He's the same kid he was when he left here in
2000."
Jeremy grew up an imaginative and energetic child in Mt. <=
span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sterling, where he was known to t=
rek
through the woods near his home climbing trees and bringing home snap=
ping
turtles to adopt as pets.
Johnson remembered Jeremy as a rambunctious and talented youngster, b=
ut
never foresaw his stardom.
"Not that I look back he was always carrying on," she
said. "He was a card. He would have you climbing the
wall or pulling your hair out. He was always singing Achy Breaky or Wild Thing. =
; We
didn't know it was going to this place though."
Jeremy's raw talent was first discovered as a first grader in element=
ary
school.
A teacher there noticed his colorful artwork, which was soon put on
display at a local art gallery. At age 6, be became the state's
youngest child accepted to the Gifted Arts Program.
In subsequent years he would excel in other areas, including
spelling. He was a finalist in the fourth grade spelling bee.
Jeremy's break would come when he entered an International Model and
Talent Association contest in Lexington at the urging of his fam=
ily,
who were familiar with his humorous dancing and outgoing personality.=
|
From
there, Jeremy was invited to the association's international conventi=
on
in Los Angeles, where he went on to win
Pre-Teen Model of the Year.
At the convention Jeremy signed with a personal manager and in June 2=
000
relocated to the Los Angeles area with his family, pa=
rents
Gary and Sandy Sumpter and sisters Jennifer and Gigi.
Soon after Jeremy appeared in several national commercials and made g=
uest
starring appearances on television shows, including "ER."&n=
bsp;
He has also appeared on stage and drew praise for his work in "J=
ust
A Dream" a Showtime movie production directed by Danny Glover.
Jeremy's other movie credits include "Local Boys" and
"Frailty," in which he co-starred with fil veteran <=
st1:PersonName>Bill Paxton of
"Twister" fame.
Jeremy returned to Mt. Sterling<=
/span> last year =
to
attend a premiere of "Frailty" at Tenth Frame Cinema.
Joining him during a limo ride to the premiere and walk down the red
carpet were some of his childhood friends.
"I miss everyone back there, my friends and family," Jeremy
said. "I miss Mt. Sterling."
The acting bug has claimed his sisters as victims. Both have been attending
auditions for television commercials and Jeremy's twin sister Jennifer
recently appeared in an anti drug and alcohol message.
"They are doing very well," Johnson said.=
|