I had this thing about hanging out in dark theaters. My family thought I grew out of a rock.

I did tons of theater in school, and then when I was 16 and got my driver's license, I started driving to Los Angeles, along with my friend Eric Stoltz, who was a year ahead of me and was doing the same thing. So we had the same manager, and we started auditioning for things and doing commercials when we were 16.

I had this thing about hanging out in dark theaters. My family thought I grew out of a rock.

It's difficult to keep that perspective, I think, as a parent: to know your boundaries as to what's good parenting or just projecting your own expectations on your kids. That's the hardest.

There are definitely roles within this industry that are industry-related, but to be a good actor, you really have to want to act first. At the same time, my goal was never to go to Hollywood to make movies. I think if you come here with that attitude, then you've missed a few steps.

To be a good actor you really have to want to act first.

I love being a part of something that is grassroots, and you can see the actual changes, the effect of what people do.