Fred Gets a Movie!
TFK chats with Lucas Cruikshank, creator of Internet sensation Fred
Millions of people have watched Internet sensation Fred Figglehorn on YouTube. The fictional, fast-talking 6-year-old has video blogged about going to the dentist, getting a haircut and even about microwaving dinner for his crush, Judy. Now, fans can watch Fred in his very own original TV movie, premiering September 18 on Nickelodeon.
Fred: The Movie follows the kindergartner as he goes on a wacky journey to find Judy after she moves away. Nebraska
TFK:
When did you first start making videos?
LUCAS:
I've been making videos for as long as I can remember. For my 13th birthday, I got a digital video camera, which meant I could put the videos I recorded onto the computer and edit them and add special effects. Then someone told me about YouTube. So I asked my parents for permission, and uploaded my videos. The rest just exploded. It's all been a really big surprise.
TFK:
How did the idea for Fred come about, and why did you decide to make him 6 years old?
LUCAS:
I'd seen some video blogs, and I wanted to joke about how self-absorbed video bloggers are. It's pretty much like they're posting their diaries for everyone to see on the Internet. I always thought that was funny and never understood it. Also, I thought it was funny how kids around the ages of 6 and 7 act. They're always throwing tantrums and so serious about everything and so innocent. That's why I made Fred 6 years old.
TFK:
Were you anything like Fred when you were younger?
LUCAS:
I hope I wasn't nearly as crazy or annoying as Fred. But I'm sure at times I was Fred-ish.
TFK:
What was your goal when you posted that first video?
LUCAS:
My goal was to entertain my friends. I would've been happy if I had made 10 people laugh. But to know that some of my videos have over 10 million views is crazy. When I posted the first video, I wasn't expecting any of that.
TFK:
What do you think makes Fred so popular?
LUCAS:
I think Fred is popular because it's content for teens that is made by a teen. Also, I think kids can relate to Fred not being able to fit in at school. It's fun watching someone who doesn't have very much make the most of his life, instead of moping around. The comedy helps the popularity, too. It's this really random humor.
TFK:
What's your favorite Fred episode so far?
LUCAS:
Probably "Fred Stalks Judy." That's always been my favorite. It's about Fred wanting to give a gift to Judy. He is always trying to win her over. In the episode, he goes over to her house and nobody is home. So, he invites himself over and is creeping around Judy's house.
TFK:
With your videos, you're in charge of everything. What was it like having someone else take the reins for the movie?
LUCAS:
It was definitely kind of scary at first to give other people the power to make decisions about Fred. Luckily, they still let me give creative input and were open to my ideas. The team really wanted to stay true to the character.
TFK:
What did you think about the casting for the movie?
LUCAS:
The casting was dead on. It's how I had always imagined the other characters to be. I got to help with casting, and I sat in on a few auditions. We picked some really great people. Jeannette McCurdy from iCarly plays Bertha, who is Fred's "frenemy." And Pixie Lott, this famous British pop singer, plays Judy.
TFK:
What was your favorite scene to shoot?
LUCAS:
My favorite is the pet store scene. It was really fun working with the two actors in the scene. Oscar Nu鎑z is from The Office and Jordan Black is a big [comedy] guy. And also we were around animals the whole day! That was fun.
TFK:
What can fans expect from Fred: The Movie?
LUCAS:
Fans can expect to see a lot more of Fred. The videos are limited to what you see Fred doing, as in any other video blog. Usually, you just see Fred when he's video blogging—you don't actually see him interact with other people in the real world. So it'll be fun for fans to see Fred out in the real world. They're going to see all of the other characters in the Fred story come to life.
Max- At first, I don’t really know Fred when I was younger, but after I saw a “The Annoying Orange” video clip (which is also funny and annoying), I decided to watch Fred too. After I saw a video about Fred, I think it was funny and it made me laugh a lot. After that, I always want to watch Fred in YouTube, and I want to see some more new Fred videos. After I searched Wikipedia, I finally know he maybe used a voice changer or it maybe can let him talk faster after the video was recorded (because his voice was too high). I very like some of those Fred videos, like “Fred in May Day”, which Fred got hit by a cup, and Judy wears his mom’s underwear on Fred’s head. I also like “Fred Goes Swimming”, which he played in his baby pool with his floaties and he peed in the pool and something else (that screaming and water splashing effects lets me laugh so much!). I never thought about Fred is making his own movie. After I saw the announcement video of Fred’s movie, I think this movie would be funny as I thought. I really going forward to watch Fred’s movie! |
