The Washington Times - Youth Group Draws Crowds (2007)
The Washington Times
December 2007
By Unknown
Asked if he was hoping to be "the new Harry Potter," Alex Etel, the 13-year-old British star of "The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep," didn't hesitate for a second. "Yesss," he exclaimed with an ear-to-ear grin in British Ambassador Sir Nigel and Lady Sheinwald's drawing room Sunday night.
Here with his mother, co-star Ben Chaplin and studio brass for a dinner and local premiere benefiting Sasha Bruce Youthwork, the plucky Manchester lad chatted like a pro about sharing scenes with a mythical creature he never got to see until the film was screened.
As Crusoe is an animated beast, young Alex was forced to interact with a bopping tennis ball to establish visual sightlines.
"I thought he'd have lots of wrinkles," the actor told a reporter, "but he turned out to be sort of a lovable dinosaur, completely different from what I'd imagined."
Co-producer Charlie Lyons and director Jay Russell were confident the film would top U.S. charts after it opens in 3,000 theaters on Christmas Day. "It's got state-of-the-art technology," Mr. Lyons said, promising enough "visual effects and live action" to jolt the most jaded 9-year-old from holiday ennui.
Back - Home - Forward
From Time to Time
The Waterhorse
