General Hospital Alum Joey Luthman Talks His New Film 'The Last Champion,' Soaps, and Much More! Check it out here --->>>
Soap Opera News has the opportunity to catch up with General Hospital alum Joey Luthman as he gives us the details on his new film, The Last Champion, as well as a look back on his time in the world of soaps, and much more!
“I definitely have to give credit to my big brothers and sisters,” Luthman recalled about his introduction into acting. Growing up he watched his older siblings participate in community theater and soon got the acting bug. “I really looked up to them and thought that it looked like a lot of fun.” It wasn’t long before the family found themselves in Los Angeles after competing in talent competitions. “We went back and forth for a bit, which was a little difficult just bouncing back and forth between Ohio and LA. Eventually, it was just something that I really fell in love with and I wanted to keep pursuing it. And my parents being super, super supportive ended up finding a good place out here and we moved. The rest is history.”
In 2015, Joey made his first venture into soap operas when he played the young version of Luke Spencer in a series of flashback episodes. Luthman told us that the experience was incredible and intense. “First of all, getting to do the callback with Anthony Geary was amazing. It was probably one of the most memorable auditions that I’ve had because I went in there and had to read with him. And I was kind of thrown off,” he laughed. “But then we got to get so into it. Obviously, his legacy goes further than I have been alive. So, that kind of presence is definitely something I felt while on set. It was such a fun experience. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Just the intensity of it all. We were inches away from each other's faces just yelling at each other. It was incredible.”
The experience is one that left a lasting mark and has him wishing for a return to the world of daytime. “I love the family that it is. It’s such a fun community. At General Hospital, the filming is really fast but everyone is so together and supportive of each other that it just feels like home. So, I absolutely would love a return to soaps anytime and on any program. It was my first experience with soap operas and so I wasn’t totally sure what it would be like but this was such a fun first experience and everyone was so welcoming.”
Luthman’s latest project is The Last Champion, which tells the story of a scandal-ridden ex-Olympian, who makes his way back to the hometown that hasn’t forgiven him when his mother becomes sick. He soon finds himself on a journey to redemption as he takes on a high school wrestling coach position. “I play Ronnie Ledman, one of the members on the team. I definitely had a big challenge with this one because I’ve never wrestled before. I actually got a little bit of advice from my oldest brother, who did wrestle in high school, about some of the stances and stuff. Then we ended up getting training for a week from a professional wrestler. So, that was really fun and educational. It’s definitely a world I’d never explored before.”
The film is filled with triumphs and growth which is what Luthman takes away from the film. “I definitely hope the takeaway is no matter what you’ve done in the past or your regrets in your life, there’s a time for you to change and to become someone greater and to rebuild the trust with people around you. There’s always a time to ask for that forgiveness.”
When he is not busy acting, Joey has begun to share his creativity with his work behind the camera. “I’ve always had a love for filming stuff ever since I was younger. I was just filming things on a tiny little camera but as I got older I got more creative with it. As time went on I was like maybe I could turn this into something?” He has since teamed up with friends and fellow actors Dylan and Alisyn Snyder to work on their own projects. “I met Dylan a while ago when I guest-starred on his show Kickin’ It and we both found this love for cameras and filmmaking.”
Discovering that he has this innate drive to tell stories, whether it be in front of the camera or behind it, Joey has made it his mission to create a legacy of work that will live on after he has gone. “I would like to make some kind of mark on the world that has a significance on a greater amount of people. Maybe a film or a performance that people talk about for years and years to come. There’s a beautiful thing that happened while filming The Last Champion. We were running through the snow at one point and it was crazy! We had to run up this mountain and as we got further up we reached these 2 foot thick sheets of ice that we had to stomp through. It was horrible but one of the guys we were working with said ‘I know it’s tough but pain is temporary. Film is forever.’ So, that is something that I think about a lot. It’s something that I want to capture in some way. Maybe that's too big but it would be cool.”
We certainly think that with the passion and the talent that he has it is a sure bet that we will be talking about this actor for years to come! Thank you, Joey, for the lovely chat! Be sure to check out The Last Champion.
Tori
COMMENTS