22 - Wednesday, June 8, 1994 - North Shore News ter meecead med ere mA ede HAT TEEN actor doesn’t fantasize about becoming the next Michael ). Fox? While very few actually do anything about their day- dreams, Myles Ferguson is working to be hot on the heels of the boyish Burnaby - box-office favorite. Evelyn Jacob. a SPOTLIGHT FEATURE The 13- year-old Dorothy Lynas student is one of the lead . players in the made-for-TV movie Avalanche, an action-adventure . picture. shot in Vancouver by Atlantis Films for the Fox Network.” Ferguson plays 12-year-old -* Max Kemp, and, Fox’s father —. ° actor Mic ael Gross -—— stars as . Kemp’s father. .. “I'm hoping to be just like Michael J: Fox. He started with * Fox (Broadcasting) as well as =~" ». ; with Michael Gross on Family. Ties," says Ferguson. If Ferguson’s claim comes “across as sheer bravado, just ask his agent. “Myles the next ; ‘Michael J. Fox? Definitely,” says ".: Carmella Evangelista. “If there's *.. one.kid who's determined, it’s Myles.” woe While it's tempting to think. _ Evangelista is just blowing her ~. Client’s horn, she says Ferguscn’s “= accomplishment is something to” - brag about because the Deep Cove teen had practically no pre- vious acting experience when he - landed the principle role.in »: Avalanche... Ferguson broke into the busi- ness last year after winning a lip. sync contest at Lynn Valley Mall and had taken only a couple of - acting classes. With just one - - commercial and two modeling Yb, Dai. Can you pelle the Secret Lor life on earn? . jobs under his belt, he managed to beat out kids from Vancouver, Los Angeles and Toronto. “This is amazing,” s says Evangelista. “He’s only been in the business less than a year. I’ve always said he could do it. He’s a real ball of energy.” _. As for Ferguson, he says he was in shock to learn he’d been chosen for the part. In fact, he ' didn’t even know he was audi- tioning for a TV movie. “| thought | was auditioning for the (TV series) X-Files,” he laughs. Even if he didn’t get the role, one gets the impression that he would have taken it in his stride. Ferguson has no illusions about the business; he says he’s been through enough auditions to know how exacting casting directors can be. “You have to be a certain height, you'have to have a cer- tain look, you have to be just perfect for the part or you won't e chosen. And because there are so many kids competing for _ the part, it can be tough. “I've been rejected lots of - . times,” he says matter-of-factly, “but you get used to it. | tried out for all the roles on (the feature) ~ Yellow Dog, and was a hair. away from all of them. ! was the last one to be cut from the series No Adults Allowed. They told me Hooked too childish — they - wanted someone 14,” says the 13-year-old without a‘trace of « -. ‘irony. “The Avalanche producers were equally specific about - whom they wanted: someone . who could cry on demand and cry convincingly. This time, Ferguson fit-the bill. - . “The director. (Paul Shapiro) loved the fact that they could give Myles a big scene where he is stuck in an avalanche and | ‘Myles could show enough emo-: tions and cry with fear,” says: Evangelista. : Now that shooting is over, Ferguson will likely spend the’ next few weeks catching up on sleep. Hours on the set were long, and it wasn’t unusual for _ him to stumble home at 3 a.m. Unfortunately for young actors, though, saying “4 was on the set all night” has as ‘much credence i ™ te et Hor Scie ee ont ete) Worlds Foe hyo ashes ‘THE SECRET OF Ll FE ON EAL BLOWING MINDS DAILY ON A GIGANTIC SCALE AT SCIENCE WORLD'S OMNIMAX THEATRE. SHOWTIMES: “The Secret of Life on Earth” at 10 & 11a.m., noon, 1& 3pm. Additionat shows 5 p.m. Saturdays and ‘Sundays. “Hail Columbia!” at 2 and 4pm. daily . Admission to OMNIMAX Theatre via SCIENCE WORLD box office up to 15 min. before showtime. § For information: 268-6363. SCIENCE WORLD is also featuring the Star Trek*: Federation Science exhibition. At tne Blan Street SCIENCE WYORLD Stvtean Station. OMNIMAxX 7 a SCIENCE WORLD BRITISH COLUMBIA canaleren peers nea scmedetoare 97-KISSEM | 5 NEWS photo wal Lucente DEEP COVE resident Miles Ferguson is currently on the set of Avalanche which Is being | fily dd. in Vancouver. The teen actor hopes to follow in Michael J. Fox’s steps to stardom. ane with teachers as saying “my dog ate my homework.” To keep up - with school! Ferguson had a tutor with him.on the set and studied - between scenes. But whenever he had a free moment he'd watch Gross and (tanned Baywatch star) David Hasselhoff, who plays the villain ‘in the show. “It’s been great working with Michael Gross. He's taught me a lot.” ... Being surrounded by big- name TV actors has‘its draw-... f backs, too. “Is s hard to get pub- : licity,” he laments. “Entertainment Tonight came on the set the other day and inter- viewed both Michael Gross and David Hasselhoff. But they used my chair!” While Michael J. Fox may be . the model to which he aspires, Wonder Years star Fred Savage is Ferguson’s true idol. “1 just like what he does. He’s always been my big inspiration.” Perhaps it’s due in part to . June 17,18 @ 19 at Capilano Mall Friday 10 to 9 © Saturday 9:30 to 5:50 ® Sunday 11 to 5: _ Show Admission is FREE!! | Power boats... , - sailboards... water skis... jet skis.. fishing tackle... electronic navigation... radios... sailing. lessons... sailboats... scuba kayaks... canoes... -inflatables... Beare. marinas... destinations... outboard engines... marine supplies... wet suits... flotation suits and jackets Demonstrations: by: Canadian Coast ‘Guard, Marine Harbour Police and HMCS Discovery. Sponsored by £4. & & SYMEVOICE OF WORTH AMD WEST VANCOUVER « Fox's success that Férguiion’ x believes Canadian teen actors are every bit as talented as their: American counterparts: “| don’t believe there is an ‘difference between American ° and Canadian teen actors. The “quality of actors is the.same.” So why does.a show like’: Beverly. Hills. 90210 draw more. ‘Canadian viewers than; say home-grown series like the- recently-cancelled’ Northwood? “Well, Beverly Hills 90210