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"Riley Griffiths was only six years old when he first took to the stage in William Shakespeare's magical comedy A Midsummer's Night Dream. After years tackling works from history's greatest playwright (including roles in Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Twelfth Night) the soon-to-be high school freshman is bringing his talents to the movie theaters in this month's sci-fi adventure Super 8\u2014also starring Teen Vogue Young Hollywood alum Elle Fanning. The highly anticipated summer blockbuster helmed by legendary filmmaker J.J. Abrams marks the big-screen debut for Riley who recently took a moment to chat with Teen Vogue about his first experience on set, the film's top-secret storyline, and what he is looking forward to this summer (besides becoming Hollywood's newest star).\n\nTeen Vogue: This week marks your big-screen debut with Super 8; how are you feeling about it?\n\n Riley Griffiths: I'm excited! My friends have been trying to get the secrets out of me this whole time, so I can't wait to see their faces and how they react because the film has so many surprises.\n\nTV: What was it like working with Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams?\n\n RG: I had never ever been on a movie set before, so I had no idea what to expect, but they taught me so much about producing, writing, and directing. J.J. is one of my biggest role models.\n\nTV:TV: What was your favorite part of filming?\n\n RG: Probably any scene when all the kids were together\u2014there was so much energy on set. It was fun because we would play jokes on each other during breaks.\n\nTV: What was it like working with Elle Fanning?\n\n RG: They are both amazing actors and so fun to hang out with on set. Elle would even play football with us.\n\nTV: Did you get to do your own stunts for the film?\n\n RG: Yes\u2014running through explosions, jumping over stuff, running away from tanks. I had to gain some weight for the role, so the hardest part was trying to look cool while running and not look totally exhausted.\n\nTV: Was it scary doing your own stunts?\n\n RG: The first time they told us to act scared, and we didn't need to\u2014we were freaking out. We practiced it like 20 times before filming. It's every teenager's dream to run through explosions, right? I felt like I was inside a video game.\n\nTV: Why do you think should people see Super 8?\n\n RG: The special effects are awesome and the music is amazing, but there is a deeper meaning and great storyline. It makes you feel something while you are in the theater. You'll really connect with the characters.\n\nTV: How did you first get started acting?\n\n RG: In first grade I played Bottom in A Midsummer's Night Dream. Ever since then I've been acting.\n\nTV: You've done a lot of Shakespeare since then, what do you like about his plays?\n\n RG: I love how you can interpret them in some many different ways; no Shakespeare play is ever the same and there are too many of his plays for me count.\n\nTV: What do you do in your freetime?\n\n RG: I play sports\u2014baseball, basketball, football. I also love to mountain bike and hang out with my friends.\n\nTV: Who are some actors you look up to?\n\n RG: Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. I actually met Tom Cruise when he came and visited the set. They are so diverse and can do anything\u2014I want to be that kind of actor.\n\nTV: What else are you looking forward to this summer?\n\n RG: More acting! I've been getting scripts and hopefully I'll do something over the summer. Also, I'm getting ready for football season because I'm entering high school next year.\n\nRiley takes on Teen Vogue's Quintessential 5 Questions\n\nTV: Pop-culture guilty pleasure?\n\n RG: Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory.\n\nTV: Most played song on your iPod?\n\n RG: \"Iris\" by the Goo Goo Dolls. It's an old song, but I like it.\n\nTV: Favorite sweet?\n\n RG: Mochi.\n\nTV: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?\n\n RG: Definitely to be able to jump really high or to fly.\n\nTV: What are you reading right now?\n\n RG: Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It's my favorite series, I've read like four times."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.teenvogue.com/story/super-8-riley-griffiths-interview>