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Tales from JOHNNY
GRIFFIN Connor, a wisecracking 13-year-old boy, is Bastian's classmate and tormentor. Connor has been left back a year in school, making him bigger and older, but not necessarily smarter, than his Grade 7 classmates. Because of his size and his bullish nature, Connor is feared and revered by all the kids in school. Connor is performed by 15-year-old Johnny Griffin, who takes pride in the fact that he's been cast as a bully in every role he's had. That's what happens when you're tall for your age and muscular. The spiked and gelled hairdo helps too. The strapping teenager is confident that in a few short years he'll be playing romantic leads or swashbuckling heroes. But for the record, it is a challenge to play a tough guy and a school thug, especially is you're not one. Before every scene in which he plays Connor, Johnny has to sit apart from the rest of the cast and think about his character. "I have to build myself up to be Connor. When I feel him inside me, I go on the set," he says. Connor regularly makes Bastian's life at school miserable. He taunts and ridicules Bastian and steals his money. And to impress his girlfriend, Fallon, Connor even forces a team jacket off the back of the school's star athlete. "It's so great to play a bully on TV because I can be who I'm not. People who know me in real life will see a completely different me on screen," says Johnny. "I am Bastian's enemy in the real world. Every adventure story has to have an enemy to provide conflict. Otherwise nothing interesting happens," says the young actor. Connor and good marks don't go together either. He would much rather hang out with Fallon or at the local Internet Café. The only time Connor does get a decent mark is when replacement teacher, Mr. Blank, gives it to him for a science project Connor barely worked on. But Mr. Blank is not an ordinary teacher - nor an ordinary human being. He is a rare shape-shifter who can jump from the world of fantasy (Fantasia) into the real world. Indeed, Mr. Blank arrives at the school to wreak havoc and turn things topsy-turvy. He punishes the good and rewards bad behaviour. When Johnny is not on the set of The Neverending Story, he is either at school or rehearsing with his punk rock band. He formed the band called Out of Angst with four friends and performs the vocals and guitar. He also writes his own songs. "Acting and music are my two loves. I will make my career in one or the other," he says confidently. Johnny's first professional acting job was on the feature One Eyed Kings. He also enjoys playing basketball and soccer. In the winter he skates, snowboards and plays hockey. |
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