In the new NFL flick “Draft Day” out this Friday, April 11, Tom Welling plays Brian Drew. Welling is probably best known for his hit show “Smallville” on which he played Clark Kent. Welling is back on the Silver Screen and gives as stellar performance.
Film Synopsis: On the day of the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Kevin Costner) has the opportunity to save football in Cleveland when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide what he’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL.
The Source Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Tom exclusively and chat about his new film.
First let me ask you what artist are you currently listening to and what was the last hip-hop concert you attended?
I’m definitely into hip-hop. I’m a mood listener, so I’ll listen to anything from country to hip hop to trap music or Elvis, I listen to everything depending on how my mood is. I saw a Jay Z concert in Dallas a few months ago and I had no idea that he uses a live band and does covers of certain things and you know people always talk about how great he is and then you see him in concert and you understand that he’s a true artist and truly inspirational.
Talk about your experience on “Draft Day”? You starred in sports projects before, so what was new and fresh for you about this role?
I did a project called “Cheaper by The Dozen,” one and two and my character played football, but this is the first film that I played football and got to wear an actual NFL uniform, so that was cool.
And how was that experience for you, playing a Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns?
Excellent, The NFL has really supported this film, they’re promoting. They’ve also allowed us access and that’s provided a sense of authenticity to the film.
You played Clark Kent for 10 years on “Smallville,” so the physicality was obviously there, but talk about what differentiated from that character and the character that you play in “Draft Day”?
Well this character is from planet earth. One of the things we tried to do on the TV show is kind of ground what it was that Clark was going through and make him accessible to the audience. This character is also grounded. The difference is that Clark was the best player on the team because he could do things that no one else could. The character I play in this film is the opposite, he’s coming back from a career ending knee injury, and he feels like he’s in the best shape of his life, but there’s a younger faster guy, right there that might replace him so in some ways it’s the exact opposite of a situation Clark would find himself in.
We root for you and your family in this film. My heart was pulled in by realism and family themes that it touches on, even someone who knows nothing about football will be able to relate. Can you talk about your personal similarities to the character and how that affected your performance?
Thank you, I”m glad that came through. This is a character driven film. You don’t need to love football to love this movie. Football is a big part and it’s what brings all of these characters together. I was able to speak to some NFL players about what it’s like, not just on the field, but what it’s like off the field and it’s not easy. You travel a lot and there’s a toll that it takes on your family and even with the industry that I’m in, I was able to relate because there’s always other guys trying to get the same roles or trying to replace you or trying to knock you off your game or things like that; so I tried to draw from those experiences as much as I could.
The chemistry between you and Coster in the film is intense. How was it playing opposite Kevin?
It was fantastic. I mean he’s such a great partner in a scene. I was nervous and excited to meet him. He has such a calm energy and it was awesome working with him, I want to do it again. It’s just that simple! I mean he was there, and for a guy who has achieved so much it’s motivating to see that he still holds some core values that are important in a scene; like to be a good partner and to really be there and to try different things and to explore the scene and there were just some fundamentals that he still keeps and I don’t know why I would think that he wouldn’t, but it’s just cool that he still does.
You said earlier in the press conference that your father played college football, and that you never had that opportunity, did his former experience aide in helping you select this film and was that something that attracted you more to the film?
To be honest I don’t think my dad had anything to do with me taking this role. I didn’t even think about my dad when I was doing this role, I don’t have any angst or anything toward playing this role, I mean even though I didn’t grow up playing organized football I still grew up throwing a football with friends and having fun with football, so when you find out you’re going to go to the Brown’s training camp it’s like, “yeah sign me up! Let’s do it!”
Everyone loves to root for the underdog in a movie and I feel like your character was the underdog. What was your takeaway from playing a character like that and what would you want the audience to walk away with?
Well hopefully people are inspired to or motivated to reach their own dreams and goals. My character is a guy who just doesn’t want to give up. He just wants the opportunity, he doesn’t want it handed to him, he just wants the opportunity to do what he feels he can do and that’s a pretty good mentality to have in most situations. You know he wants to work for it and he wants to earn it.
You character is pretty serious for most of the film, take us back to a really fun moment on set during filming, did you get any time for that?
You know it’s not that it’s not fun but there’s a focus and it’s work. There were no pranks or anything that happened on set, there’s just no time for it. I’m sure if there was time, especially when you put a bunch of guys together somebody’s going to start playing jokes on somebody else, but there was just no time on this one.
Do you have a favorite sports team or any particular athlete that you pulled from for your character?
I’m more of a casual sports fan, but I found myself watching and checking out the Cleveland Browns, while preparing for the role.
And do you work with an acting coach at this point in your career?
Depending on the project. You have to build a team around you to get you to the best possible position that you need to be in and whether that’s with a coach or a physical trainer or a speech person, you know whatever it is I think it’s always project specific. For me it’s all about what players I want on the team.
You look very dapper today and you have a huge fan base, can you talk about your personal style and what inspires it?
I have no style. (laughing) I’m a jeans, t-shirt and sneakers guy. Like today, this is so dressed up for me and someone told me to wear it!
What’s next for you Tom?
Im not sure yet, in a good way.
What is the number one reason you choose to work on a new project? And do you think that you’ve set yourself up to be in a position to select your projects and not be apart of the waiting game that we sometimes hear about in the acting world?
I try. And I guess there are many different things to consider, but if I had to narrow it down to one thing, it would be that I like to read a script and feel simply like I want to be apart of it. That’s the one thing that I hope for. There can be a number of reasons like maybe it’s a good career move or because there’s an actor attached and you want to work with that person, maybe it’s a theme that’s really interesting to you. But for me, both this film and a film I did earlier this year “Parkwood,” I just wanted to be in the movie. Like I wanted to be apart of it.
-Chasity Saunders (@itsmechasity)
