Josh Whitehouse Channels Nicolas Cage & the '80s in Valley Girl Remake

How are you doing?

I'm doing good, thank you. Yeah, yeah, just, you know, living through lockdown, uh, growing my beard for a TV show. Um, growing my hair, too.

Have you been keeping yourself busy right now?

Um, well, I've been doing all sorts, to be honest. I've been over-busying myself if anything. Um, I've been I have a band and uh, everyone runs in quarantine at different areas of the world. One of them's in New Zealand, one's in London. I'm in Los Angeles. The time differences. Yeah, so working on really funky time differences. And I've been making videos with them, um, where we do split-screen performances of songs, which I've been posting all over my Instagram and on YouTube. Um, just to keep us all entertained. Uh, I've been writing a lot of songs, I've been um, what else has been going on? I've been auditioning for things still, and I've been preparing for Daisy Jones & The Six. Uh, with Amazon, which is a TV show that I'm out here to work on, which I'm really excited about, I get to be another musician. Um,

Love it.

And actually, also, finally recently, I've been uh, working with UNDP, United Nations Development Program, and I've joined on board to uh, help support a cause, which they are, they've created a game, which is uh, you can basically, it's it's like there's a world inside the game, and they ask you questions about how you should fix the problems in the world. Um, and then you can vote. And then your answers on the game actually will be collated and presented to the world leaders in the future.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah, to try and show the world leaders exactly how the youth and people of any age, really, are feeling about what should be done about climate change, and hopefully to do to sort of develop awareness uh, for climate change.

That's kinda genius.

Yeah, it's called Mission 1. 5, and you can find it by going to mission1. 5. org. Um, uh, it's it's it's a quick-fill game, but I think it's very valuable and I think, you know, people will be able to hopefully make a difference on some of the you know, and it kinda links into quarantine as well because there's been such a drop in so many of the things causing climate change since everyone's been in quarantine, the world is actually getting healthier, but I think beyond quarantine, it's like a an initiative to try and keep that going in some way, shape, or form.

Yeah, definitely. Thanks for sharing that.

Yeah, no worries.

We're excited to talk to you today about Valley Girl, new film coming out that you're in. Are you excited about it?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm so excited about the film coming out. I mean, obviously, it was three three years ago that we shot it. And, you know, I've been I've been wondering if it was ever gonna come out, so I'm really excited that it finally is. It's something I was really proud of, and I know that everybody that worked on it was super proud as well.

Can you tell us a little bit about your character Randy in it?

Yeah. Uh, Randy, a character I kinda relate to. Uh, in that, you know, he was a a musician, and I was too for a long time in my life. I still am, but um, growing up, I certainly was in my punk phase, and played in a series of punk bands and all sorts. Um, he's uh, he's he's kinda been from the wrong side of the tracks, lives in Hollywood, loves his music, loves his friends, but um, you know, it's the story of him kinda bumping into this girl Julie, who is from the opposite side of the tracks, um, you know, and and kinda the drama that ensues because of it.

Mhm. When you found out that you were gonna be cast as Randy, were you excited? Like, a punk rocker in Hollywood. Like, how was like when you found out you were gonna cast for it?

Yeah. No, it was um, such an exciting thing, and honestly it took me a minute to really kinda believe that I was gonna do that, you know, knowing that Nicholas Cage did the did the role the first time around, and am I really gonna try and fill the boots of Nicholas Cage in this? And Okay, cool. All right, well, I'm gonna do that.

Really are, you're like the newest Nicholas Cage.

Oh, well, I didn't see myself as that, but um, you know, it was very exciting for me and intimidating, but uh, also a great challenge. And, you know, my first American role, so that kinda kickstarted me into having to try and learn to get that right quicker than I had. I mean, I've been practicing it ever since I got um, signed in, you know, eight years ago or something. Um, so yeah, this was a great opportunity for me to uh, test that out. And, you know, that really helps in that sense, too. Uh, and also, you know, it's a musical, and I got to, you know, I got to kinda play the guitar, which is something I've been doing since I was about 12 years old. There were so many reasons why it was a very exciting um,

Yeah.

role for me.

Did you watch the original Valley Girl before you found out you were gonna be in the movie?

Well, before not before I found out that I, well, I found out about the remake, and then I watched it a bunch of times 'cause I loved it. Um, it was funny because I got the script, and I was like, oh, I hear there's actually an original of this. Uh, and so I watched it, and I was kinda like, this is this is great. I feel like they shouldn't be remaking this 'cause it's it's awesome. You know? Um, but I kinda fell in love with the new script and, um, I mean, I really fell in love with it, and, you know, I I felt that normally I'd be the person who says you shouldn't remake a classic, but at the same time, this one I feel like they're doing something so different with it in that they were um, you know, it's kinda a retelling and kinda a um, a love story to the first film in that it's set in present day. Um, and it's kinda based inside Julie's memories, you know. Uh, which kinda gives it a slightly otherworldly feel in that, you know, people just break into song. And I think there's a part in the film where Julie's daughter says to her, hold on, wait, you were singing and dancing on tables? She says, yeah. Right, like on the fountain. Like, Yeah. So I thought, you know, that's a really nice different spin on it. And the whole like mother-daughter story and arc and relationship that goes through the film as well is uh, a really nice new touch.

Yeah. And did you know your other cast members before you started filming with them? Were you all met at the set on the set?

We all met, um, not necessarily on set, but, you know, in costume, or um, you know, I did my screen test with Jess, um, and then we were sort of working on rehearsals together for a while. And I kinda got to know we're gonna have dinner and stuff like that and just spend some time acquainting one another with each other, you know? So, I didn't actually know anybody beforehand, though, but it was again my first film in in America, so it was a really nice chance for me to, you know, make a family uh, out here. The first time I actually really came out here and had friends after that. So, Yeah. Yeah.

And you filmed it three years ago, so is it gonna be like weird for you to watch it now because you were like younger then and like different things were going on in your life?

I mean, yeah. I mean, I watched it about a month ago, um, you know, in the kind of lead-up to it coming out and I was doing all of this press. Um, and it certainly is in a way because you kinda forget like everything you went through, and so to see it again is like, oh, yeah. Right, I really am really like proud of this and happy about it and um, looking forward to people seeing it and stuff, so, yeah. Uh, it's it's certainly odd when something's taken so long, but um, you know, I'm I'm just I'm just happy it's finally coming out.

Yeah. And how do you plan on watching the film, like the day it premieres? You gonna watch it?

Yeah, for sure. I mean, it's on digital, so I guess I'll be tuning into Amazon, I think, or VOD. Um, and uh, I mean, it's a shame I can't have like a few friends around or something, you know?

Yeah, facetime them and zoom them in and all just set up the laptops and have everybody watch it.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I'll definitely be tuning in, and I heard from somebody that they might even be doing a drive-in uh, screening somewhere.

That would be so like ideal for the movie, too.

Exactly, that's what I thought, that's pretty much. It would only make sense for that to happen. Yeah, you know, it's it's always fun to uh, when when one of your films comes out. I know some people don't like watching their own movies, but I'm always really like, yay.

Oh, do you ever like look at yourself on screen and kind of cringe or anything, or you're like mostly glad with how it turns out?

Sometimes, but generally I'm mostly just proud that I was in a film.

So, you know, I think it's a really exciting thing to be able to do, and I worked very hard to try and get roles in films, and so I think it's a little odd when people don't want to celebrate that, and I think a big part of the job is being able to look at yourself objectively and, you know, and just like see the finished product and think, is there something I'd like to do differently in future, but generally, you know, if you're happy enough with what you see then 'cause obviously everyone can be really picky about, you know, what they've done and they start picking their performance apart. And I don't really like to do that. I like to, you know, I like to hope that I had a good time, and that I'm just like, yay, there it is. That's the movie. Yeah, so.

How long did you when you casted for it, how long was it before you found out you got the role?

I mean, I did a load of self-tapes, um, for a couple of weeks, I was sending self-tapes in. And then after about six self-tapes, I think, I um, I was flown out to LA, and we did a screen test with Jess and the director and such. Um, and uh, yeah, that point I found out the day after.

The day after.

Who they call you? Exactly, that morning. Yeah, I was told that I'd do the audition and then uh, within 24 hours I'd find out if I got the job.

That's so nerve-wracking. Did you sleep that night?

No. Barely. Yeah, no. Uh, and I was staying in a hotel, so I ordered myself a big bed and breakfast and I was uh, having myself a Bloody Mary and going, come on, ring, ring.

Right, like you just need the phone to ring. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Bringing it all back. It's just all coming back right now. Yeah. Well, all in all, we learned about Valley Girl, we're excited about that, and it was great talking to you.

Mhm. Yeah, great talking to you, too. Thanks so much for having me.

Yeah, and I'll keep an eye out if there's a drive-in anywhere for Valley Girl, so we can spread the word about it.