Ten Questions For Matt Prokop!

Texas-born 18 year old Matt Prokop is a welcome addition to the High School Musical cast in 'Senior Year,' stepping into Troy Bolton's shoes as basketball lover 'Rocket Man' Jimmie Zara. David Savage put Ten Questions to him!

Wotcha, Matt! When you moved from Texas to LA at 16 to take up acting professionally, did your family move with you - and if not, how did you set yourself up in the city alone?
My mom moved to LA with me and stayed until I turned 18. I have a great group of friends that really keep me grounded. Friends are the best way to survive this big city.

There's a buzz that your High School Musical 3 character may take over from Troy in a 4th film, though Jimmie the Rocket is a much quirkier, crazier character than Troy. If you get the chance to continue, how would you most like to see the Jimmie character develop?
I would like to see him get a haircut. (LAUGHS) I would also love to see him possibly in a band. I wanna see him become an actual rock star!

You've said you were entering a Subway when Kenny Ortega called you to say you had the part. Which sandwich were you about to buy - and did you splash out on a bigger, more expensive one after you got the news?
I was getting a Footlong Ham and Cheese with Bacon. After I got the call I was speechless, and just handed the lady the cash and she went to give me my change back - it was like $2.50 American - and I just said keep it, and she looked at me weird and said "Aww thanks."

We know you're a big soccer player, but do you have to agree to quit playing soccer before and during movie making periods in case of injuries? (And if so, do you sneak out and play anyway?)
When I moved out to LA I stopped playing for a little bit, just focused on acting for a year straight, then got really back into it. The day we filmed the championship basketball scene me and Shawn (one of our principal dancers) snuck out during the lunch break and started a pick-up game 5 vs. 5 on East High's practice soccer fields.

Do you find auditions fun or stressful - and do you have anything superstitious you do or take to bring you good luck in them?
My first year and a half of acting auditions really stressed me out. I'm pretty sure that's why I didn't book anything, but in that year I got out all the bad auditions, so now its kind of routine, and you know more of the people involved with the casting so its more of a friendly environment. And I don't bring anything to my auditions - I guess my cell phone just because it goes everywhere with me (LAUGHS).

You obviously have a natural talent for comedy, so who are your own favourite comedians... and would you ever dare to do stand-up?
Aww. Thanks! I'm a huge fan of Nick Swardson, Will Ferrel, and Andrew Caldwell. No... no way, (LAUGHS) stand up freaks me out. I give so much credit to people that do stand up.

If America is ever overrun by mobs of hungry zombies (superhumanly fast running ones like in the modern films, not shamblers), what would your survival plans be and how long do you think you'd last?
If America was overrun by zombies, I would get in my car and drive... I think I would last until I ran out of gas, haha.

Which childhood toys are you still too sentimental about to throw out?
I have two teddy bears that I've had since I was a baby. Teddy is a brown teddy bear and Sammy is a brown big eared dog. I will have them forever.

If you could live in any period in history except today, which one would you choose - and why?
The 1800s. I would like to live in a time where people didn't depend on technology.

What was the last film you saw in a theatre - and how did you rate it?
HSM3! Of course (LAUGHS) I haven't had much time for the movie theatre lately, but it's a great movie, (LAUGHS).

Source: Popcorn.co.uk (link)

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