GABRIEL BATEMAN [LIGHTS OUT] — A BOOK OF MAGAZINE

Hello Gabriel! Tell us your story. Who is Gabriel and what do you think makes you different from other child actors?

Hi. Thank you for the interview. I grew up in a small town and I am the youngest of nine kids, and I'm very family oriented. I think since I grew up in the middle of nowhere, I'm more of a country kid, than a LA one. I also get along better with adults, then I do with most kids my age.

How is it to be the youngest with a family of nine siblings?
It depends on the day. I'm just kidding. For the most part, we all get along and we are strongly protective of each other. It's helped to have siblings in the business, like my sisters Leah and Talitha, and my brother Judah. We all talk to each other, run lines together and we go through a lot of the same stuff. Without the support I get from my siblings and parents, I wouldn't be anywhere close to the person I am today. I wouldn't trade it for the world, though I couldn't really since they are my world. But I am bossed around a lot, since I'm the youngest ha ha.

When did you start acting and what inspired you to be an actor?
I started acting about two years ago, and I was inspired by my sister Leah, who had already been acting, but has since taken a break to help Talitha, Judah and I with our future.

How do you manage your time?
School is a priority whether I am filming or not. My schedule is flexible but my objectives are the same - school, play, film, chores etc.

Do you get to pick the roles you audition for?
Yes. I always discuss with people on my team if I want to audition for a role in the first place.

How do you approach the characters of the roles that you play?
I usually try to find things I have in common with the character, no matter how small, to build a foundation, so that I can better relate to and understand the character
so I can bring them to life. Sometimes I try to view myself as the character, and use our common ground to understand how they would react to certain
situations.

Tell us about your role as Martin in the upcoming film Lights Out?
Martin loves his mother and wants to take care of her, but for the most part, he's just a normal kid put in an awful situation and he has to adapt, as you can see in the movie.

How about your character Jack from American Gothic?
Both of Jack's parents are drug addicts and he rarely sees his mother so as you might expect he has problems because of it. As the show continues on you see him find his own way of coping.

Who is your acting idol?
I can't chose only one, but a few of them are, Meryl Streep, Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, and Marlon Brando.

Name an actor that you really wanna meet.

I think I would probably want to meet Matt Damon or Leonardo Dicaprio.

What’s your favorite aspect of being an actor?
To become a completely different person, to ease into someone else's skin. It's like creating someone, for me. You get to mold their personality, decide their likes and dislikes, and then you become them.

Tell us about a really memorable experience in your acting career so far.
Early in my career at an audition, I walked in smiling and ended up sitting next to a very nice woman. We started talking and she told me to "never stop smiling. Just keep on smiling, because that’s what everything is about, happiness". That stuck with me every since.

Dream Role.
Not really anything special, but just a tough, independant kid, faced with dangerous situations, probably in some sort of fantasy film. Kinda like a young Indiana Jones, or something similar. A perfect example is if they made a new Percy Jackson movie, that accurately portrayed the books. In the first he was about my age, 12. I'm also a huge fan of the books and Riordan's work in general.

What do you think about playing dark characters/ characters revolving around a really dark theme?
I enjoy all genres of acting, but the thing I love about acting is becoming someone else, and so the further the person is from me, the more interesting the experience. However when the character's personality is similar to mine, it’s kinda cool because I can connect with them
on a deeper level. So every style of acting has its pros and cons.

What’s on your music playlist right now?
I have a lot of sad music, because it makes you feel things, which is what music is for. I also have a lot of electronic/dubstep to pump me up. Finally I have a lot of classical music on my playlist. They're all different. To name some artists, my recurring are, Melanie Martinez, Lindsey Stirling, Deadmau5, along with Philip Wesley, and Christina Aguilera.

Book that you’re currently reading?
Right now I'm reading "Magnus Chase and The Sword of Summer". It was also written by Rick Riordan.

Tell us a secret.
Sometimes I crawl into the bed with my mom, or my siblings, at twelve years old, haha! But usually I sleep by myself.

Last movie you saw
"Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" was the last movie I watched.

If you’re going to have a your own book, what title would it be?
I would first need to decide on a storyline, and characters, but I like the sound of Crimson Blade. My brother, Noah, is currently writing his first novel, and it's called
"The Faded Citadel".

If you will be given the chance and opportunity to help a specific charity, what would it be and why?

There are so many! I like that St Jude's helps kids that are sick. I also love what Matt Damon has done for water.org. Can you imagine having little or no access to clean water? We are so blessed.

Photography IRVIN RIVERA

Styling SHANNON KOMSKY

Grooming SIFA SITANI

Photo Asst PHILL LIMPRASERTWONG

Catch Gabriel in LIGHTS OUT in theaters July 22, 2016!