Duneon Master

An Interview with Justin Whalin

by Jeffrey M. Anderson

What do you do when you're Jimmy Olsen and you're through watching Superman save the world? You save the world yourself. At least that's what Justin Whalin, star of the new film Dungeons and Dragons, did.

26 year-old Whalin, who was born and raised in San Francisco, plays his first leading role as an adult with the fantasy film based on the popular role-playing game. Strangely, Whalin never actually played the game, "I was a little young. When I was in school, the people who played were 12-14. I was 6 or 7. I didn't really get a chance." He has since played, though, and finds it a fascinating game. "The thing about D&D that people don't understand is that everybody who plays is playing against the dungeon master and you're talking and working together. It's a really good social game. I used to play Risk where you're lining up against each other."

Whalin has made some savvy career moves in his day. He began as a child actor playing The Little Prince on stage for three years in San Francisco, and landed a bit part in the Dirty Harry film The Dead Pool (1988) as one of the two kids operating the remote-control car. He also won a part on the famous soap opera General Hospital. "I made a decision not to publicize myself or appear in any teen magazines. I've been in this business a long time, and I never wanted to become a really well known kid. Then they're not really able to see you as an adult. I didn't want people to think of me that way."

Whalin later gained cult appeal by appearing in John Waters' brilliant comedy Serial Mom (1994), playing Kathleen Turner's son. He was the only actor Waters ever hired without meeting in person. "He hired me off the tape. I had a great time working on it, and a great time meeting him. Super sweet, really and nice, nice guy. Later I was doing Lois & Clark on the lot and John was in town doing a Danielle Steele movie of the week. He was playing a producer of these sleazy horror movies. (He must have loved that!) I went over there, and I was dressed in costume. He asked, 'That's what you wear as Jimmy Olsen? They made Jimmy fuckable!'"

Following Serial Mom, Whalin got the part of Jimmy Olsen on the Lois and Clark TV series, replacing the first Olsen, who only lasted one season. "I came in the second season of that show. When I first came on the show, the fans were really upset that they replaced Jimmy after the first year. I always took that as a compliment that the fans had such loyalty to the cast. You want the audience to have enjoyed you doing it," Whalin says.

Whalin has also appeared in Child's Play 3, better known as the "Chucky" films. As a result, his face is now well known at science fiction and horror conventions. "They're great. Without those fans, we really don't have movies. I think it's great that they take so much joy in it." A recent convention is where Whalin played Dungeons & Dragons for the first time.

Playing the hero in the new film was a new opportunity for Whalin. The film was in preparation for three years, while waiting for funding to come through. "We made the movie independently, but for a lot of money," he says. "Everyone took a pay cut." During that time, Whalin agreed not to take any other work so that he would be available when the funding came through. He attended script meetings in which the script was broken down and analyzed, line by line. They also looked at the process of how the movie should be filmed. When the actors see a dragon on screen, they're really looking at a tennis ball on a rope. "It's important that you have a clear idea of what the dragon looks like, but also, do we see a dragon every day? Is it scary, is it not scary?" Whalin really enjoyed the process of being an insider. "I've always been the hired gun goes in hits his mark, says his lines, and goes home. Eight months later they call me and it's done."

One thing that comes across in Dungeons & Dragons is the sense of fun. Whalin says that a hilarious edited reel of outtakes exists-not just a blooper reel, but a complete story told in outtakes. Sadly, this little masterpiece will never see the light of day. It was voted off the DVD release. "We watch it every other day," he says.

Whalin remains a remarkably perceptive and intelligent actor, very grounded. "I'm not interested in being famous. I'm just interested in doing my job," he says. Most of his family is still here in the Bay Area, giving him a respite from the pressures of Hollywood. "I'll be there for Christmas," he says.