Degrassi The Next Generation Interview with Cast Members-Miriam McDonald, Andrea Lewis, Shane Kippel, and Jake Epstein (2005)

Source: ThaBiz.com
Author: Dorrie Williams-Wheeler
Published: June 2005
Document Type: Online Interview Article
Source Link: View archived article on ThaBiz.com (Wayback Machine)

Degrassi The Next Generation Interview with Cast Members-Miriam McDonald, Andrea Lewis, Shane Kippel, and Jake Epstein

Degrassi-The Next Generation is the AMAZING half hour teen drama that airs on “The-N” in the United States. The show is now entering it’s 5th season. The second season of Degrassi-The Next Generation will be available on DVD on June 21st. You can check out my review of the box set here. You can also check out my interview with FUNimation brand manager Diane Hansen. FUNimation is the company that produces the Degrassi DVD box sets. The gang was so much fun to interview. They are very articulate and friendly.

Miriam McDonald plays “Emma” on the hit series Degrassi The Next Generation. Emma has been on the show since the very beginning. Her mother Spike and her stepfather and teacher Snake were members of the Degrassi Junior High Cast.

Miriam McDonald

Are you excited about the next season starting?
Miriam McDonald: I’m very excited. I think it’s going to be amazing.

Are we going to see a different side of Emma?
Miriam McDonald: I think so. My character is always changing and evolving. I have only read six of the first scripts. She’s just growing up a lot this year.

I remember you had to tape that episode with the school shooting. Was that really hard to film? It was hard to watch.
Miriam McDonald: It was actually. The scene with the gun I think terrified everybody even though we know it’s a prop. It’s just the idea and the setting of being in a school is eerie for kids our age thinking something like this could be happening at our own school.

Do you all go to a regular school or are you schooled on the set?
Miriam McDonald: I go to a school that’s geared toward actors and athletes and other kids that have to miss a lot. But I’m in grade 12 and I’m finished with high school now, so it’s all good.

What are your plans for the summer?
Miriam McDonald: Filming mostly. We film from May to November. I’ll be doing that. Hopefully, I’ll get some time off to visit my friends at their cottages and stuff.

Now your mom on the show was Spike on Degrassi Junior High. Did you ever watch that show?
Miriam McDonald: When I got the part I watched a couple of episodes because the producers gave me some tapes. But I was never really a hardcore fan because I was a little younger then.

I know the show is out on DVD now so I didn’t know if you had checked it out.
Miriam McDonald: Not yet.

What’s the best thing about being on Degrassi?
Miriam McDonald: I think it’s just working with such and amazing cast and getting to meet the fans. To be part of a show that really makes a difference and it’s a unique show. We try to give a realistic view on how things work. To be a part of something that kids can relate to.

Andrea Lewis

Andrea Lewis portrays the character Hazel on Degrassi the Next Generation. Hazel is best friends with Paige and she recently entered into a romantic relationship with Jimmy.

What’s the best thing about playing Hazel on Degrassi?
Andrea Lewis: What is the best thing about playing Hazel…I guess that I get to work with Lauren who is Paige. We are really close. And also that I get to work with Jimmy. Me and Aubrey are close in real life.

Are you looking forward to the next season starting?
Andrea Lewis: I am. I’m really looking forward to it because every year so far it’s got better. It’s like we go in with all of these surprises We never know what’s going to happen.

You are one of the original characters and we see you in almost every episode. Have you ever wished that Hazel had more storylines?
Andrea Lewis: Yeah you know it wouldn’t be that bad if I had more to say. But you know, I’m just so grateful for being on this show at all and to work with such a wonderful cast and having this experience.

The last episode we saw here in the states was the school shooting episode and we saw Jimmy get shot. Was that really hard for you to film?
Andrea Lewis: -It’s such a serious topic so it was such a sad episode. A sad feel on the set with the shooting and every second we were crying. We got through it.

I read you have been acting for a long time. Are you doing anything else outside of Degrassi?
Andrea Lewis: Right now outside of Degrassi I’m doing music. I have an album coming out this summer.

Really! What kind of music do you make?
Andrea Lewis: Well it’s more R&B but it’s kind of got a pop feel with an old skool soul feel to it.

Do you have a stage name or do you use your real name?
Andrea Lewis: I use my real name. I go by Andrea Lewis.

Where can we learn more about your music? Do you have a website set up?
Andrea Lewis: Yes, it’s my full name-http://www.andreadesireelewis.com/

What’s the first single?
Andrea Lewis: I’m trying to decide. I’m playing songs for my friends. We will be putting it out in a few weeks. I’m going to be working on my music this summer!

Visit Andrea on the web at
http://www.andreadesireelewis.com/

Jake Epstein

Jake amazes viewers with his realistic portrayal of Craig Manning on Degrassi-The Next Generation. Of all of the characters he has had probably the most intense storylines. His father used to beat him. He later moved in with Joey Jeremiah, who was a staple on the series Degrassi Junior High. After his father died, his stay with Joey seemed more permanent. Young Manny had a crush on Craig but they wouldn’t seriously hookup until he was involved with Ashley. On top of that, he is also in a band. Craig is a character that is a driving force within the series.

What’s the best thing about being Craig on Degrassi?
Jake Epstein: The music. Craig is in a band and there are a whole bunch of scenes in which I get to rock out and play my guitar.

Do you play music off camera?
Jake Epstein: I do a little bit of music. It’s a little hard with Degrassi taking up so much time. Music is my love.

Listen to an exclusive audio clip from this interview:

Listen to Jake Epstein discuss the best thing about being Craig on Degrassi

You came to Degrassi in the second season. Before you started did you have any idea that you would have such an intense storyline?
Jake Epstein: No not at all. I always think that on the show there are two major auditions. The audition to get on the show and then there’s your first episode. I’ve noticed that with other characters too. If your first episode goes alright then your character has a chance of being picked up. So I totally didn’t except for the character to take off like it did. It’s been such a surprising and fun ride.

I guess Joey would be your stepfather in a sense, or your character lives with Joey….
Jake Epstein: Yeah, it can get kind of confusing.

Have you ever checked out Degrassi Junior High on DVD?
Jake Epstein: Yes. On DVD, no. They have a whole wall of tapes at the studio we get to steal a couple of tapes for the weekend. And we all make fun of them. Joey had hair. It’s funny.

Do you get a lot of fan mail?
Jake Epstein: -I have in the past year. It’s been cool. It’s been a lot of fan mail from kids who have gone through similar things that Craig has gone through. It’s been really cool, kind of touching.

Have you done in other movies or anything outside of Degrassi?
Jake Epstein: Yeah. Before I show Degrassi I was on this television show The Zach Files.

I think that was on the Disney Channel here.
Jake Epstein: Yeah. I think it was on the Disney Channel for a couple of years. I’ve done some made for TV movies. And I did in Toronto a whole bunch of theater.

What are your plans for the summer?
Jake Epstein: I think I am going to be shooting Degrassi but since there is going to be tons of time off, I’m thinking about traveling with my sister. Something cool. I’m not totally sure yet. I just finished high school.

Somebody sent this into the website since I said I was going to be interviewing you guys. Would you ever date a fan?
Jake Epstein: It all depends. It all depends on the person. The people I have dated have generally not been fans of Degrassi which is refreshing. They don’t treat you like your character on the show. I don’t know. I’ve never been asked out by a fan.

Shane Kippel

Shane Kippel stars on Degrassi as Spinner. Over the years the viewers have seen Spinner in one wild situation after another. He has had some very interesting storylines. Most recently he has been dealing with the guilt with his involvement in a prank that led to Rick shooting his best friend Jimmy. He is also the sometime boyfriend of Paige.

What’s the best part about playing Spinner?
Shane Kippel: Spinner gets himself in a lot of situations I would never find myself in. A lot of trouble and consequences. It’s fun to do that because you kind of experience things in life you normally wouldn’t. It’s not real so you don’t have to deal with the real life consequences of these things. That’s the great part about Spinner.

Are you looking forward to the season that will be airing next? Will we see a different side of Spinner?
Shane Kippel: You will see a much different side of Spinner. A much different side. I can’t get into what it is. I only know about 8 episodes in the season so I am very interested in what happens with Spinner this year. I’m sure it will be good. I’m sure the fans will like it.

I think you have such great storylines. I think one that was particularly good. I’m not sure of the season but when Spinner stole Jimmy’s MP3 player.
Shane Kippel: Oh back in season 2. Yes. He had some great storylines. Season 2 he started to break out. In season 1 he was more of a supporting character. In season 2 he became more 3 dimensional, more of an in depth character. I personally, my favorite storyline with Spinner was season 4 season premiere when it was Spinner and the court case with Paige with the rape. I had the most fun of any episode filming that one.

So what are your plans for the summer?
Shane Kippel: Well. Got to stay in shape. I will be in the gym four or five times a week. I have a band, but besides that I have a couple of exams to finish up and Degrassi. Filming runs through the summer.

What kind of music does your band play?
Shane Kippel: It’s almost like a combination between. It’s a whole bunch of different genres. We have rock, we have punk roots, metal roots, but we also kind of have a psychedelic kind of tripped out sound to us. It’s very cool. I think when we start having concerts people will like us. I hope.

Do you play the drums like your character?
Shane Kippel: I’m much better in real life than they allow Spinner to be on the show.

Who are some of your favorite music groups?
Shane Kippel: System of a Down. Incubus. Def Tones. The Used. Finch.

Related links
Degrassi.tv
BellaOnline.com (Teen) — Degrassi: The Next Generation Season 2 DVD Review

Archival Note: This interview was originally published on ThaBiz.com and has been preserved via the Internet Archive for historical and fan-archival purposes. This post has been intentionally backdated to June 2005 to reflect the interview’s original publication timeframe. Backdating is used to preserve the historical timeline of Degrassi media coverage and ensure archival accuracy when documenting legacy online content that is no longer available in its original live format.