Posted by In preparation for Los Angeles Comic Con, we got a chance to speak with a couple of the boys from The Sandlot cast. Though we went into the interview hoping for nostalgic conversation, we left with much more than that. What we got and what fans will get at LACC is inspiration from the heartfelt effort these men are making to make the world of athletics healthier and more accessible all over the country.
Interview with the cast of The Sandlot
Both Victor (Timmy Timmons) and Grant (Bertram Grover Weeks) said that their favorite part of filming The Sandlot and in doing fan events was seeing each other and the rest of the cast. The friendships portrayed on screen were very real, and you can see that through their enduring off-screen friendships and desire to work closely on their non-profit project together. Grant and Victor started Play Forever and got the rest of the cast involved with its execution and promotion. Play Forever is a non-profit organization designed to equip young athletes with everything they need to be successful. From equipment to scholarships and opportunities, Play Forever and the cast of The Sandlot desire to make immediate impacts as well as change how youth athletics are handled as a whole.
Play Forever
When asked what sparked this incredible idea, Victor said that he and Grant both wanted to do something positive with the continued love and support the cast gets from being in The Sandlot. In traveling and doing events, the cast saw how much help was needed, and Grant and Victor really wanted to be that help. In addition to donating equipment, Play Forever strives to pair areas in need with organizations that can help on a local level.
In working together on Play Forever, the cast has gotten a lot of quality time. Victor said that the best memories of filming were the ability to just hang out with the boys. They were just having fun together and happened to make a movie at the same time. Grant said that the ability to grow up with his childhood friends is one of the best parts of remembering the movie and continuing to work with his castmates.
Remembering The Sandlot
In addition to their phenomenal non-profit, we did also talk about the film and their experiences filming. We asked that if, like many child stars, they ever felt the need to distance themselves from their roles on The Sandlot, and overwhelmingly their response was no. Victor said that he never understood that approach, and that the least they could do as actors was sign a few autographs and take pictures with fans. There is such an outpouring of love that they get from now multiple generations of fans that giving back doesn’t take much out of them.
Now, whenever you take part in a massive project like The Sandlot, there must be a lot of favorite memories, but Victor’s stand out memory was the treehouse explosion scene. It’s his favorite scene to watch back, though it was his least favorite to film. There were lots of layers of dirt and makeup, the director was going for a pigpen vibe so a lot went into it but it was worth it watching it back. Grant’s favorite memory was the 4th of July game. He said, “It felt kind of like staying up past bedtime, filming night shoots as a 12 year old, it felt like we were getting away with something.”
So if you want to catch up with The Sandlot cast and learn more about their incredible non-profit then join us at Los Angeles Comic Con on Sunday at 1:30 on the main stage. And if you want to get involved with Play Forever, there are many ways to get involved, from donations to volunteering to simply spreading the word.
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