411 Movies Interview: Kevin Covais of College Posted by Tony Farinella on 01.16.2009
411's Tony Farinella sits down with former American Idol contestant Kevin Covais for an exclusive interview about his role in College, which hits DVD on January 27th.
Kevin Covais appeared on the fifth season of American Idol and made quite an impression on America. In fact, he was even nicknamed Chicken Little. Since American Idol, Kevin has kept himself busy in the entertainment world. Recently, he starred alongside Drake Bell and Andrew Caldwell in the comedy, College, which hits DVD on January 27th. In my interview with Kevin Covais, we talked about his time on American Idol, College, the New York Jets, and a whole lot more. I hope you enjoy my interview with Kevin Covais.
TONY: How did all of your previous entertainment experience help you on this project?
Kevin Covais: They definitely helped. I was relatively new to the scene even with this movie. I did American Idol at the young age of sixteen years old, and, from there, went straight into this film. I mean, it was literally the next year. But I really didn't anticipate, after Idol, this being the first move I'd make. But when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it. I've always loved to act just as much as I love to sing, and after auditioning for the film and getting the role, it definitely helped having that prior experience of Idol and being in front of the camera. The nerves just seemed to fade away and my instincts took a hold of me. I really enjoyed it, and it was so much fun to do.
TONY: What's it like to show people that you have many different talents in your repertoire? Even though you were on American Idol, you can do other things.
Kevin Covais: It's so exciting to be able to show people that. I went on American Idol at such a young age. I went there for my singing. Like I said before, I've always loved to song and to act, and I went strictly for my singing. After the show, I only assumed that opportunities might present themselves in the music industry. And that's happened to a certain extent, but I found that there was more interest in film and television. And that really excited me, to be able to show people another side of me and show people my other abilities. And I love it. It's something I want to run with, something I want to continue to do. I want to do it all. I'd love to continue doing film, maybe dabble in television, but also make an album one day. I got a lot of plans in store.
TONY: What was it like being thrown into the fire with this film? I mean, you're involved in some crazy situations.
Kevin Covais: Like you said, I really went all out for this first role. Coming off the show, when I thought about potential acting opportunities, I thought, 'Hmm, maybe Disney. Maybe Nickelodeon.' And this couldn't be further from that. And that's what I love about it. In all honesty, when I got the script for College and I auditioned for the role and got the part, I looked at it and I said, 'Well, this is something that I'd go see at the movies with my friends. This is the kind of fun, humorous movie that I'd want to go see.' So getting the opportunity to actually be a part of that, it was so exciting for me. I got to go all out and show people a different side, a little crazier side, and test my boundaries. It was a blast to do. The cast was so fun to work with. We had a great time.
TONY: What kind of reaction are you getting from your American Idol fans? Are they shocked that this is the same kid from American Idol?
Kevin Covais: The reaction that I've received has been a bit of shock. But in a good way. I haven't come across too many people who were like, 'Oh, you were on American Idol and now you're in this film? I don't like it.' It's mostly a good shock. They don't anticipate me, being the young, sweet kid from Idol, in a movie like this. But it really shows that it's acting and it's all in good fun. They tend to be surprised, but in a good way. They seem to really enjoy it.
TONY: Whenever you're eliminated from a hit show, there's always a lot of pressure to strike while you're hot and keep the momentum going. Did you feel a lot of pressure to find something right away and keep your name in the public eye?
Kevin Covais: That's a great question. To an extent, I did feel that way. I know when you're doing something like Idol, in the moment, people know your name. You go from not being known to millions of people around the country knowing you. But then it comes to a point where you're on one season, the next season starts, and, hey, there's a new batch of contestants that everyone knows and slowly but surely you're forgotten. You always keep that mindset to a certain extent, but I don't think I necessarily felt pressure to go out there and grab the first opportunity that came my way. I've always believed in fate. If something is meant to be, meant to happen, it will. I was so fortunate and so blessed to have that opportunity on Idol and make it so much further than I would have ever originally thought I would. And since then, I wanted to pick and choose the right opportunities. And I think I did that by doing some work in films, on College first, and the movie I got coming up, Labor Pains. It's really given me an opportunity that I didn't expect. So, I'm really happy. But to answer your question, I don't think I really felt the pressure too much to jump out there right away. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
TONY: When you were working on American Idol, did you have time to just step back and take it all in? It seems like it all goes by so quickly.
Kevin Covais: There would be times. Like you said, the whole experience went by, literally, in the blink of an eye. You're having so much fun, you're in the moment. I mean, I got the chance to perform on national TV for five weeks with millions upon millions of people watching me. It all happened so fast. I look back, and it was nearly three years ago. But I feel like it was yesterday. I was really happy that, in that time, I did, at times, just stop for two seconds and look around me and say, 'Wow, this is pretty great.' I was really fortunate to have that opportunity. So I definitely did take time just to be grateful for it. It's an opportunity that a lot of people would love, and I was very fortunate to get the experience.
TONY: What was it like working with Andrew Caldwell and Drake Bell on College? Since you're relatively new to the movie business, did you ask them for a lot of advice?
Kevin Covais: That's a great question. Drake and Andrew, you know, pretty much everyone on this movie, I was the rookie going into this thing. This is my breakout role, my first role in a feature film. Before this, I was doing plays and musicals at my high school. This is it for me. This is the start. And I definitely did take time to gain knowledge. I remember going into that first scene, and I was like, 'Do I really know what I'm doing?' I remember being a little nervous about it all. Slowly but surely, they showed me the ropes, Drake, Andrew, and some other great people on the project. They definitely did take time to teach me about it, and I was really grateful. I had a great time with those guys. It was a blast hanging with them on set, getting opportunities to hang with them off set. It was great.
TONY: What was the hardest scene to film in this movie? Like I said before, you're thrown into some really crazy situations.
Kevin Covais: Oh boy. Wow. There were so many crazy scenes in this film. I'm trying to think of the hardest. One of the most challenging scenes for me just to kind of break out was a scene in which I am intoxicated and I'm walking down the street, trashed and a car is coming up and I'm just acting crazy in the street and the Dean eventually catches me and sees what I've been doing. That's not me in real life. I'm a pretty level-headed guy, and, like you said, I was thrown into the fire and acting crazier than I ever have in my real life. So it was a challenge. I had to become a completely different person, and I know that's what acting is about, and I really got to test my boundaries by doing that. So that was the hardest, but definitely looking back and watching the movie, it was definitely one of the most fun scenes. And it turned out to be pretty funny I think.
TONY: Did you get a chance to do any online research about the college experience?
Kevin Covais: I wouldn't say I did a whole lot of research online. The great part about it is that I was a senior in high school when I did this. When we shot College, I was a senior in my high school and just about to graduate and just literally months before I, myself, graduated from high school. So I really felt that it was right for me because I was playing my own age. The great part about it is I didn't have to do research online. I mean, I had a lot of friends who were already in college and had that experience. I talked to some of them about it. I asked them about what it was like for them, how it was. Certainly, most of their experiences weren't nearly as crazy as a lot of what you see in the film, but it definitely gave me some insights. They gave me some helpful pointers.
TONY: What was the number one lesson that you learned from acting in this film?
Kevin Covais: Number one lesson I learned, that's a really great question and something I'd have to think about for a little while. I learned that just being yourself can get you really far, because, through doing American Idol, being myself got me to where it got me on Idol and helped me to land this role in this film. Being a genuine person can get you real far. I guess that would be the ultimate lesson that I learned. It helped me to land this role and this movie that I had so much fun doing. It was such a blast and it really helped me.
TONY: How do you stay true to yourself while also branching out the same time? Is it hard to balance that and not get typecast?
Kevin Covais: That's what I want people to know me as. During my time, going back to Idol, I was totally myself. During my interviews, that was me. I've had a great life so far, not too many bad things have happened, and I think that comes across. I'm just a genuine person and what you see is what you get with me. I don't even worry about the typecast. People are going to assume what they want to assume about you, anyway. It's not up to you. When you're in the media, people are going to make assumptions, anyway. It's a given. So I can only be myself and not worry about it.
TONY: What has it been like watching American Idol since you have been off the show?
Kevin Covais: It's so odd, and I don't mean it in a bad way. It's the strangest thing watching the show now. In a good way. I was a huge fan of the show before I auditioned. I started watching the show when I was twelve-years old, and I auditioned and made it on the show when I was as young as you could be at sixteen. And I'm still a fan and I still support the show and still love it. Without it, people wouldn't know my name right now. And it's a beautiful thing that that opportunity came my way. But watching it now, it's very interesting, because I watch it, but I can't get into it for what it is now. I find myself, when I'm watching the contestants doing their thing on the show, I'm thinking about what's going on backstage or what people behind the scenes are doing because that's how I know it now. And you look at it from a new perspective and not a bad one, from a good one, because it was such a great experience. Watching it is strange now but in a good way.
TONY: What's the best advice you can give someone who is thinking about auditioning for American Idol?
Kevin Covais: It's so cliché to say about being yourself, but I'm just a huge advocate and that's what I say all the time. I got as far on the show as I did because I didn't pretend to be anyone else. I was trained classically, and I don't have a real pop-driven voice, and I think that come across on the show when I was singing songs that were out of my element a little bit. I'm more of a classical-type singer, but I was myself the entire time and it helped me to get far. For people who audition for American Idol, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen, and if it doesn't, there's always going to be other opportunities, whether it's on Idol or other places. But if you want to try out for the show, my best advice for someone is just to be yourself all the way through it, and if you don't make it, don't get discouraged, because there's going to be opportunities down the road.
TONY: Finally, I know you're a big New York Jets fan, so I have to ask you, how are you holding up after their collapse?
Kevin Covais: I spent most of the night crying myself to sleep. It's really tough. I'm a Jets fan, and I'm used to being disappointed I guess we can say. (laughs) No, I love the team, and I had the good fortunate of singing the national anthem this past year at a game against the Cardinals in the Meadowlands. This was heartbreaking to have Favre in the fold, to have the great roster that we had, seven Pro Bowlers, and did not make the playoffs? You gotta be kidding. What can I say? There's always next year. And I'm sorry to see Eric Mangini go.
TONY: Kevin, thank you so much for your time. It was great talking to you.
