Celebrity Interview | Entertainment & Film Industry: 12-Year-Old Luke Speakman on His Acting Journey and Rising Career

Thank you for listening to the Staffa Corner Podcast. I hope you enjoy this actor's interview. Who would you like to see featured on the podcast next? Tune in to the Staffa Corner for more conversations with Hollywood stars and entertainment insiders from the TV and film industry.

Age Is Just a Number: 12-Year-Old Luke Speakman’s Acting Journey

In this episode of The Staffa Corner Podcast, our celebrity interview features rising young actor Luke Speakman, exploring his journey in the entertainment industry at just 12 years old. From his first audition on Amazing Stories to intense roles in projects like Weapons, Luke shares how passion and preparation help him stand out in the competitive film industry. These actor interviews reveal how age is no barrier to talent or dedication when pursuing dreams alongside Hollywood stars. Luke offers insights for aspiring performers on building a serious career in entertainment through professionalism and commitment to the craft.

We dive into:

•  How Luke turned his first audition into his first booking 
•  The discipline behind memorizing scripts and breaking down scenes 
•  What it takes to be taken seriously as a young actor on set 
•  Balancing online schooling with a demanding filming schedule 
•  Behind-the-scenes realities of filmmaking, from multiple takes to stunt safety 

Luke also shares stories from working alongside seasoned actors, including mentorship moments that helped shape his approach to the craft. Beyond acting, he opens up about his curiosity for directing, writing, and even his unique passion for tornado science, offering a glimpse into a creative mind that goes far beyond the screen.

At its core, this conversation is about dedication, curiosity, and the drive to pursue a dream, no matter your age.

Whether you're an aspiring actor, a parent supporting a young performer, or simply someone who loves hearing how careers begin, this episode delivers an insightful and inspiring look at the next generation of talent.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful, fun, and inspiring conversation with one of Hollywood’s promising young actors.

Follow Luke on Instagram 

Check out the interview I mentioned during the podcast involving Jeff Cohen, who plays Chunk in the movie The Goonies. Both Jeff and Luke were child actors who got their start with Steven Spielberg. I saw some similarities between Jeff and talking to Luke. There are a couple of cringe moments in Jeff's interview that I hope I didn't have with Luke.

Transcript

Celebrity Interview | Entertainment & Film Industry: 12-Year-Old Luke Speakman on His Acting Journey and Rising Career --- Opening And Age Bias Acknowledged

Greg Staffa 0:00

You're listening to the Staffa Corner Podcast, a Staffatarian look at entertainment and life. With your host, Greg Staffa. My guest this episode is talented young actor Luke Spiegman. At 12 years old, he's had a talented career already. He got started at five years old when he appeared in the Steven Spielberg Amazing Stories on Apple TV and was recently seen in the film Weapons, directed by Zach Krager. Luke, thanks for coming on today.

Luke Speakman 0:50

Thank you for inviting me. I love doing these podcasts.

Choosing Acting As A Real Career

Greg Staffa 0:53

I have to admit, uh, up front, I am not a fan of interviewing little kids. And the reason I say that isn't anything to do with you. It's because we we look at you as a little kid and focus on you as a little kid. Rather than like no one ever talks to Tom Hanks and says, You're 69 years old. What is it like? Are you taking this acting thing seriously? And so I want to apologize up front for asking some of my questions because I don't think they're necessarily fair, but yet we have to ask them just because of your age. And I think that's unfortunate that we have to focus on that. Uh so I'm gonna get those out of the way just because I I feel like they need to be done, but I really want to focus on you and your career. And and by that I mean when I was, you know, 12 years old, I had no clue what I was doing. And if I said I wanted to become a doctor, by the time I was 13 or 14, I would want to become something completely different. When you're looking at acting and you're looking at this as a career now, how is it that you decide that you're this is what you really want to do? Was there you know, how are you as a uh a 12-year-old able to determine that this is my career?

Luke Speakman 2:14

Well, when I feel like whenever I walk on set, it's a completely different vibe and it's a different like world on set, and like I just it's something I love to do and I love to do it, and it's just such an amazing thing to do, and I feel like that because I have the opportunities to be able to go on these sets and work with these amazing people, I'm like make the most out of it and hopefully uh do it for the rest of my life.

Greg Staffa 2:48

And how are you treated when you walk on a set? Because you've like I said, you've been acting since you've been five years old, done some amazing things. You worked with Steven Spielberg, and you've done weapons. When you walk onto a set, what is the the attitude around you being such a young actor at your age? How do you show that you are a professional and demand to be treated as a professional? How do you convey that to the those around you?

Luke Speakman 3:16

I mean, I feel like once because like I have I do very serious acting because you know, weapons and like you know, my upcoming film, John Money, which is gonna become those are like they're very serious films. And I feel like that when someone sees me being all like, hey, because I'm very like that on set, I feel like I don't need to explain to them. I just once I'm on set and I'm like in the mode and acting, I think that just portrays to them that they're like, oh wait, this kid actually is like serious about this, like this kid's good, you know? So yeah.

Greg Staffa 3:55

And I I kind of explained why I don't like interviewing kids because I think we we gravitate towards the youth, and are you serious as an actor and how do you treat it seriously? Does that is that just me projecting? How do you feel about the focus of your youth being such a I assume, not just by me, but by others, questioning it?

Luke Speakman 4:19

I mean, I'm fine with it. I me personally, I just love talking. So I'll talk about anything, whether it's acting or tornadoes, I'll talk. So, you know.

Earning Respect On Set

Greg Staffa 4:28

Perfect. Let's get started and talk a little bit more about your acting career. You started with doing amazing stories on Apple TV. What was that like for you?

Luke Speakman 4:39

So, what really was shocking the most is how my first ever audition turned into my first ever booking, which was Amazing Stories, which, if you're getting into the acting industry, is not usual. Like, usually you could go on like a rampage of a hundred auditions before you get a booking. The fact that I got my first booking was incredible. And then when I first got it onto that set, I only had one scene and I think one scene, and I think I had like I had like three lines going like mom, what was that? And it just when I first got on that set, I'm like, this is a whole new world. Like, I'm like, this is incredible. And at that time, I feel like that because I was treated like royalty, because you know, it was a big film and all these different new things to see, like this huge camera, these cool lights, you know, all these different things. I feel like that that what is what got in me to keep going on acting, and yeah, so and when you decided to become an actor, how did you who was it that kind of approached you?

Greg Staffa 5:54

Who was it that came up with the idea? What were your parents thinking of you know you wanting to do this? How did that all come into play?

First Break On Amazing Stories

Luke Speakman 6:03

So when I was younger, four years old or five, whichever one, I had a lot of emotion. A lot. I was always over dramatic about everything. But my pediatrician was like, hey, how about you guys try theater? I hated it. I didn't like it at all. But after I did that, I tried on screen acting and I loved it. I loved doing the auditions, and I loved that. And so basically that's when we got our first audition, and that's when it just all blew up. Then I got with Barbara, and then she got me signed with eventually Kim. So the star is just aligned for me there.

Greg Staffa 6:48

What was that process like as far as getting that role, not having to go through the hurdles that you said most people have to do? You came to set what was that first experience like?

Luke Speakman 6:59

Well, no, I don't want like when I was five years old, I didn't know better. Like, I didn't know that, hey, you're not gonna be getting a hundred roles every day. You know, it's like, but then when I re when I grew up and I was around seven and I looked back, I'm like, wow, I had an incredible experience. And I would, and so that's when when I looking back at it, I'm like, I'm like, oh my gosh, this is this was incredible. You know, like I can't believe this. But back then when I was five, I'm like, oh, this is cool. You know?

Greg Staffa 7:38

You have an amazing experience on amazing stories. At that point, you know, what made you decide this is what I want to do going on versus that was a fun experience. What what was the light bulb that made you decide this is something I want to take seriously?

Luke Speakman 7:55

It was me looking like it was probably when I was around six or yeah, about that. I don't know, uh, when my episode came out, and I looked at that, just me my part, and I'm like, that's me. And I realized I'm I'm pretty good at this, even though I only have three lines. And then that's when, and then I had I think I had another booking or something coming up, and I'm like, Mom, I'm gonna do this for the rest of my life. And my mom's like, okay. And now seven years later, here I am.

Greg Staffa 8:30

Here you are, and so you were growing up in Georgia at the time, right?

Luke Speakman 8:35

Yes, and I'm still in Georgia.

Greg Staffa 8:36

Were you able to find work in Georgia or are you traveling more or yeah, there's a lot of local stuff, but like I'm heading up to Massachusetts soon.

Luke Speakman 8:46

I and I just came back from Brazil, so that's cool. And I might have one film coming here in Georgia, but you know, we I'm still in the running for it.

Early Auditions And Family Support

Greg Staffa 8:59

So yeah, there there's a lot of things going on all the time, and a lot of local things, a lot of, you know, either from short films to TV shows to movies, and you're at a young age where for a lot of people movies are still kind of magical, but now you've looked behind the curtain a little bit and seen how things are done. Is there a loss of innocence in that such at a young age you gotta see behind the curtain and see how things were done?

Luke Speakman 9:31

Yeah, so like when I was still young, I'm like, this is really cool, but most of my films that I watched, you know, like animated stuff, you know, that's but like later when I got in one of my films, I it was in this huge studio where there was an animation project. I got to see them create the animation a little bit, and I'm like, wow, this is amazing. And so now, and then I'm like, that's really cool, or like, you know, I wonder what will happen next, or something. I'm like, I wonder how many safety safety safety meetings that took. I wonder, I wonder how many um stunt doubles they had. You know, like I'm asking questions in the acting industry than the watching industry, I guess you could say that.

Greg Staffa 10:21

It sounds like as much as you love acting, there's a lot going on in your brain as far as the process and and everything like that. Do you also have aspirations to become director or a writer? Is there more in the industry that you're looking at exploring, or is acting the main focus for you?

Luke Speakman 10:39

So right now I'm I really like acting, but I'm definitely looking into writing or directing because I just love because you know, I've worked with so many directors before, and I'm like, huh, I wonder what it's like to be in that director's sharing and give everyone the directions and see the movie come to life. And so, yeah, it would be cool. And also the amount of stuff that goes on in here, I think I could ride 15 movies in one day.

Greg Staffa 11:06

When you take on a role, what goes into the process? Do you go over it with your parents? Do you because a lot of the roles that you've had are probably not films that a normal kid your age would be able to see? What is your process for looking for for roles, or is it just you're at a young age where you're taking whatever you can get?

Luke Speakman 11:27

Yeah, so like ever so recently I've got I've I got an offer for a for a film, but I'm st every audition I get I'm taking and I'm doing the best I can. But like with weapons coming out, I'm starting to get more like kind of offers. But like usually I take the audition, if they like me, then they'll call me back, and then and then from there it's either 15 more callbacks or booking. And so, yeah.

Greg Staffa 11:58

What is your process when you get a script or you get a scene and you're asked to audition it? What is your process for breaking it down and learning that scene or or going into an audition?

Luke Speakman 12:10

So whenever I have so like once I get my script, I read it through a couple times, and usually it's right before bed, and the next day I'll have it memorized or something like that. And once I once I read it, I break everything down one by one by one, and I see what motion or thing what or like what is my character going through and why is he doing this, why is he saying this line instead of this line? Or like why isn't he saying it anything here, but he is saying something here. So like I break it down, I s question myself, and then I try to answer it. And that's if I'm by myself, or if my or if I'm with my acting coach, then she'll help me break it down into different steps, and then we walk through it, and then that's usually when we tape it and try to get it done.

Greg Staffa 13:02

I hate what a mature answer that is, because at your age, I would have been like, I looked it over and then I went and played video games. You're an amazing young man. When you're doing these roles, you're showing up to set. What is kind of your workday life? Because you still have to attend some kind of schooling, I would assume. How is your acting involved with your real life and how does that all play out or put together?

Luke Speakman 13:27

So once I became really serious about this with around third grade, that's when I switched over to Connections Academy, which is an online school. So I can basically as long as I have computer and Wi-Fi, I can do my school. And so, like, whenever I have time uh onset, I can try to get the school done during the school time, and then I can log it in for this if it's SAG, I believe. But now I recently switched to another program called Estellus, which I love. And so it's the same thing, as long as I have Wi-Fi on my computer, I can still do school. So yeah, usually I will have a I will have a teacher, um, an acting teacher on set, and I usually and every day I must get four hours of school on a weekend or weekday. Weekend.

Greg Staffa 14:18

And I mean, as an adult, we talk a lot about finding a work-life balance for you know working and then but also finding time to to be with family or to have fun and stuff like that. As a 12-year-old, what is your work-life balance? And are you able to still be that 12-year-old when you're reviewing scripts and and trying to get into roles? How do you find time to still be a 12-year-old?

Luke Speakman 14:42

Well, right now I'm in Georgia for the rest of the year. And like, whenever I'm onset, I or whenever like I'm traveling the world, I'm always calling up with my family. And also like my brothers and sisters, my brothers and sisters are all active. They always do their own thing. So, like, usually during the holidays, everyone comes. So, like, I every time like I so like I do baseball, I also do this thing called American Ninja Warrior. Have you ever it's like it there's a show called American Ninja Warrior?

Greg Staffa 15:16

I've I've seen your videos.

Beyond Acting: Directing And Writing Curiosity

Luke Speakman 15:18

Oh, thank you. It's it's literally just that where you know you like um swing from one rope to another and try to get, you know, it's really fun. And I also I do a little bit of coding. I'm learning some I'm learning Lua and Python. And yeah, I also have free dogs.

Greg Staffa 15:41

What kind?

Luke Speakman 15:42

So I have a pimple mix, she's the sweetest thing ever. Her name is Gracie. I have a golden retriever, Pierre Golden, and he's his name's Gol his name is his name is Waffles, he's my baby boy, and then we have Chatter. Chatter. He's kind of his own breed, so we think he's a little bit of a mix of a Tennessee tree dog, but you don't know. He can open doors, lock doors, unlock doors, steal food off of counters, um, steal bowls off of counters. He wants to he also want uh he almost tried to eat our elves here that's here for Christmas, but luckily that didn't happen this year.

Greg Staffa 16:23

Your parents must have had a very important role in your acting career. Can tell us a little bit about the sacrifices they've made in getting you to be able to do this.

Luke Speakman 16:37

Every time I go on a trip, my mom and me and my mom always travel no matter what. And she takes time out of hers uh out of her own things to take me to go travel the world and go do acting. It's just amaz it's just I I I really appreciate it and I love it. And she sacrificed so much for me. I just you know, I can't be more appreciated.

Greg Staffa 17:04

Good. I just think that's important to to point out that when you're at that age, it it's not just the one person, you know, going off to college, it's the parents have a a vital role in that success. What are some of the big things that surprised you uh from an early age, you know, watching TV to now being on TV and film, what are some of the big surprises that that you learned when doing these things?

Audition And Script Breakdown Process

Luke Speakman 17:30

So whenever when before I started acting, whenever I saw saw something, I always thought that they just did it on their first take and it's perfect. Now I'm going on acting. I was on a set that had that had at least 13 takes just bec or like 13 to 50 takes just for one scene. And like what I thought before versus what actually happened is just so different that I utterly didn't believe that I thought of that before. Like I thought that so whenever I saw like older and younger versions, like you know, I thought they actually waited years for the actor to grow. And so like I would watch this one video that had or like this one show that had um three different stages where they just grow. I thought that took like 15 years to film, but now I just know that they just use the same or they just use different actors that look the same.

Greg Staffa 18:36

Now you worked with some talented actors. Has there been anyone in particular that that kind of took you under their wing or gave you some advice that was deeply instrumental, or do they just treat you as another actor and you focused on your thing and they focused on theirs?

Luke Speakman 18:52

So I in weapons I worked with um Josh Burlin, which you may know from the Marvel movie The Phanos or The Goonies. And when we were on set together, he would always like he would give me advice about different things, and he would he he talked to me like I was like I was like his best friend instead of just another castmate, you know. So working with him was just a completely different, amazing world.

Greg Staffa 19:22

Now, had you seen Endgame or Mar the Marvel films or Goonies prior to working with him?

Luke Speakman 19:28

I uh yes, so I watched a little bit of Infinity War that with Phanos because I woke up at 3 a.m. at Great Wolf Lodge when my brother and sisters, my older brother and sisters were my older brother and sister were watching something, and I just kind of watched and I'm like, who's that purple guy? And then now I met him, so hey, and then um The Goonies is a great movie. Uh I really enjoyed it. So yeah.

Greg Staffa 19:56

And what was that like kind of going again? Talked about going behind the curtain. What was that like meeting Thanos or meeting the guy from Goonies? Is that something that still, I mean, it clearly excites you? Is that something that you're getting more and more used to being around that and realizing that you're now them? There's some kids out there watching you now, going one day I would like to meet you know him versus you one day wanting to meet Thanos.

Luke Speakman 20:24

Yeah, so when I first like heard that I was gonna meet Phanos, I lost my marples. And then when I met Fanos, I'm like, hold on a second. I realized that like, you know, there are some people who like in the horror industry after weapons came out, there are some people that are just like, oh my gosh, this kid from math or this kid from weapons is like, this kid is like, I want to meet this kid and I want to talk with him. And now me realizing that is just really special to me and mind-blowing.

Schooling On Set And Daily Routine

Greg Staffa 20:58

And what and what has that process been like? I mean, we we talk about you know the eagerness to meet Josh, and you finally did, and I'm sure you've seen interviews with Josh and stuff like that, but now you're the ones that are doing the interview. You know, you're the one that's being treated like Josh was treated when he did Goonies. When he did Goonies, there wasn't podcasts, but he was doing these interviews just like you're doing. What's that like to now be in that role and how how much fun are you having with it?

Luke Speakman 21:27

I'm having too much fun. Um one, I'm having too much fun. And two, it's just it just blows me away, like I said before, that like and I'm I'm I'm so appreciative of it. Like I every time I get it, like every I'm like, oh my gosh, thank you so much for these opportunities that you know do all these and all the time. It just I'm just like it like it's just unbelievable in my opinion that I have I'm getting to that level where like you know when you're taking on roles, you you kind of express that you're pretty much taking anything that you're being offered.

Greg Staffa 22:07

Are there certain genres or stories like Western action? Are there things because you've done like the American Ninja stuff is plastered all over your homepage? There's a lot of you doing uh some pretty incredible stuff that I couldn't do. But is there a certain theme of film that you're especially drawn to if you could get it?

Luke Speakman 22:28

So I've been working in a lot of horror projects, like my top three movies that I'm mainly in that are soon to be released are horror. So it's you know, and action. I I love the thrill of an action movie because I have one going up to Massachusetts for, which just stay tuned to find out. You know, it's I feel like horror and action are just drawn to me because I'm always in them for some reason. I'm always in them.

Greg Staffa 23:03

So you do a lot of horror, you do some action. That's as an actor, that's as Luke the actor. If mom comes up to you, it's a Saturday and says, Luke, let's go to a movie, what kind of movies does Luke the the 12-year-old like going to?

Hobbies, Coding, And Family Life

Luke Speakman 23:19

That is a great I so recently I I really enjoyed the new Zootopia movie, but I also like uh like the Twisters, like you know, Twisters, have you heard of yeah, um I love twisters. I love tornadoes. I love, you know, I just love anything about them. Also, I I really enjoyed Goonies very much. It was a really cool movie, or it's very it's a very nostalgic in a way. Like I I wish I could have worked on it, but you know, that was before I was born, so hey. And I also loved watching The Sandlot. I really enjoyed The Sandlot, that's a good movie.

Greg Staffa 24:07

I would suggest, and just watching you and watching your the animation and your expression and stuff like that, if you ever have time, look up some of the interviews. The the kid that played Chunk on on the Goonies. Uh, he's done some late night TV interviews, and I think if you watch them, I think you would see a lot of yourself in it because that kid has your energy and your passion, and it's it's uncanny to watch. But it's interesting. Do you you said you know it's utopia and stuff like that? Do you like going to horror movies now because you've seen so much of behind the scenes of how horror movies go what they go through? Is that something that a horror movie can get you now, or do you analyze things so much, having been in so many, that you're able to kind of deconstruct them and not see the horror in them?

Luke Speakman 25:02

Well, whenever I see a horror movie that I'm not in, I still get scared. Whenever I see a horror that I am in, I still get scared. Because even though even if you're like the main main character of a horror movie, you're gonna be like, hey, that's really cool that I was on that. Or like, hey, I remember that. But you're not gonna remember the things that make a horror movie a horror movie, because there's just something about a way that a director does a horror movie that's just gonna make you like a horror movie is always gonna get you unless you just are, unless if it's just you know, you're it's you're it's not appealing to you, but still, horror movies gonna get you no matter what.

Greg Staffa 25:44

So met Josh Brolin, you've met some other talented actors. You've worked with Steven Spielberg. Is there anyone on your bucket list of celebrities you love to meet or work with?

Luke Speakman 25:57

I went I um The Rock or Dwayne Rock words I can't speak help Dwayne The Rock Johnson. There we go. I did work on a TV show called Young Rock, but I didn't get to meet him. Also, Jack Black would be so fun to me. He's I he did a great job in both the Mario movie and the Minecraft movie. He did he made me laugh all the time. I feel I wish I could meet him. So fingers crossed.

Greg Staffa 26:30

You have a long future ahead of you, so I'm sure it's gonna happen. When doing this, when going to you know, these sets, you're going up to I think you said Maine, was it soon? You said you're going up, was it Maine that you're going to soon?

Luke Speakman 26:45

Massachusetts.

Surprises About Film Production

Greg Staffa 26:46

Massachusetts. I mean something something. When you're going up to there and you're away from home, what is that like? I mean, as as you know, for a lot of young people that are in college, it's their first time leaving home for a long period of time, but you're 12. This is a relatively new experience. What's that like? And what do you do? Do you bring anything special to kind of remind you of home? Or is there like a trinket or something that that you take with you? How do you make where you're filming a little bit more home and a little bit more comfortable for you?

Luke Speakman 27:18

So um, we're totally not gonna try to see if my dog Waffles can come up to Massachusetts because we're gonna be up there for three months. But usually I all so usually I bring like a little photograph or a picture of someone or some like of someone, usually like my younger sister, my family, or my dog Waffles, because I, you know, he's my baby boy and I love him so much. And like, you know, it's when you're gone for a long period of time, it's just it I usually there's so much to see and so much to learn that when you look around everywhere, you know, like you know, time flies when I just see so much different things to learn, and every single thing is so cool in every single way, like, you know, like learning a new language or you know, seeing a different culture. So usually by the time I realize that we're leaving, I don't realize it because you know there's so much to learn. But usually I bring like a usual uh little photograph or picture of someone.

Mentorship From Josh Brolin

Greg Staffa 28:32

And my next question, you already got answered, so you're way ahead of most of the actors that I talked to. But if Steven Spielberg approached you and wanted you in one of his roles and said, I don't know what I'm gonna do it yet on, but Luke, is there a story that you would love to tell at your young age? Is there a story that you would love to be a character in? Or is there a story out there that that you would find passionate about? Maybe a book that you read?

Luke Speakman 29:01

A story that's like that's been made or hasn't been made?

Greg Staffa 29:06

Like a story that you read or a book that you loved or just uh a character that you're aware about, you know, Jack the Ripper because you've done horror, or maybe you you're fascinated by Billy the Kid, so you want to do a Western. Is there anything that you've read or seen or a comic book that that if if Steven Spielberg said I have a bunch of money to film something, what do you want to do? What would Luke want to do?

Luke Speakman 29:31

Another tornado movie.

Greg Staffa 29:35

You really like those tornadoes.

Luke Speakman 29:37

I really do. I've been studying them since I was like free. I know everything about a tornado. So if you want to ask me a question about a tornado, I'm up.

Greg Staffa 29:44

But see, you've never been near a tornado, have you?

Luke Speakman 29:47

Actually, I have.

Greg Staffa 29:48

Oh, I take it back.

Luke Speakman 29:50

So when I was born, there was an EF2 tornado about three miles away from the hospital. When I was around eight, I was in an apartment in downtown Atlanta or sometime around that. There was also another tornado touchdown, but barely missed us because it disp dissipated before it hit our apartment. And then one week of or the second week of moving into our new house, there was a tornado. So yeah.

Greg Staffa 30:19

And what makes you so curious about tornadoes?

Luke Speakman 30:22

I don't know. I just love the entire tornado part, you know. Like, uh, and I I would make it scientifically correct, you know, because you can't like um like I would make a scientifically correct tornado movie because, you know, all these tornadoes, you know, like twisters, there was a fire tornado, that's not possible. You know how they kind of just made the tornado dissipate. That's iffy, you know. There's a chance we could do that, but right now there's no possible chance. You know, I would like make a legitimate tornado scientifically correct movie.

Greg Staffa 31:01

Interesting. I've been in one tornado, took out half of our house. I enjoyed it because I was a little kid at the time, and I gotta get a new bedroom out of it because it took off the walls and everything like that. So I have a little bit different perspective on tornadoes, uh, but I did get a new bedroom out of it. So that was the cool part as for a little kid like me. So another tornado movie, anything else like in the superhero genres or anyone that you like given the little action stuff that you've done?

Luke Speakman 31:32

I mean, it would be cool to be um to be in a Spider-Man movie. That'd be fun. And Spider-Man, I don't I haven't seen all the Spider-Man movies, but I'm I think like how many Spider-Man movies are there right now? Two million, five hundred, thousand?

Greg Staffa 31:48

Yeah, there's there's been a lot because you have the Toby ones, you have the Andrew Garfield ones, and now the the Tom Holland ones.

Luke Speakman 31:55

Yeah.

Greg Staffa 31:56

So a Spider-Man movie, that'd be pretty cool.

Handling Recognition And Interviews

Luke Speakman 31:59

That would be really cool.

Greg Staffa 32:01

Wrapping things up, and I do appreciate you coming on. One of the things I ask of all my guests is so much of what you've done is attributed to the roles that you've played. You know, you've been in weapons, you've been in amazing stories, stuff like that. But when you get up in the morning and you splash a little water on your face and you look in the mirror, who is it that you see?

Luke Speakman 32:26

I see myself.

Greg Staffa 32:28

And who is that?

Luke Speakman 32:30

I see myself, you know, like in maybe in the future, seeing myself on like being on a big movie that I landed after a long time of hard work.

Greg Staffa 32:45

Nice. And what, if anything, and I know, you know, spoilers, you can't say too much. Is there anything you can share that fans of yours can look forward to seeing you, or should they just keep an eye out?

Luke Speakman 32:57

Yeah, uh, so I have two movies in the work: Buddy, which is going to be in the Sundance Festival soon. And so I actually have three. Then John Money, which I just got back from Brazil, and their trailer is already out, so it's it on YouTube. And um My Little Lamb, which is a action movie, and we don't know when that's coming out, but hey.

Genre Preferences: Horror And Action

Greg Staffa 33:31

So look out for those. Well, Luke, I really want to thank you for coming on. Um you've you've dispelled some of my fears over young actors. I just it's not that I don't like talking to young actors, I just think it's unfair that we focus on their age rather than treat them as serious actors. I think we get as as critics and as writers and podcasters, we get too focused on the little things like how can you be a serious actor if you're only 12? And I don't like diminishing people like that, but yet I feel the need that I have to ask some of those questions. So I hope I didn't harp too much on the age factor. I do want to give a shout out to your mom. Uh, you are an incredibly talented, smart, funny young kid, and I don't think a lot of what your success would be possible without the loving support that you got your mom. I don't think moms get enough credit when they they take on roles like this as far as helping their kids do this and the sacrifices that your mom makes. Uh, not to diminish anything that you've done or the hard work that you've put in, but I don't think the moms out there get the credit for the sacrifices that they make. So I wanted to give a shout out to your mom for for getting you to where you are to being as smart and a ticket as you have been. And I know she's there right now, so thank you for that. Thank you for coming on. Uh, people can check out weapons and uh amazing stories is still on Apple TV. And Luke, I just want to thank you again for coming on, and I look forward to seeing what the career has for you and uh where you go to next.

Luke Speakman 35:05

Thank you.