The Teen Talent on "Gotham" Tease a "Can't Miss" Season One Finale!
David Mazouz and Camren Bicondova Reflect on Their Journey Thus Far and What (They Hope) Lies Beyond!
*Please note that "Gotham" is recommended for our readers 14 and over!*
By: Susan J. Yeager
It's hard to believe that it is already time for the "Gotham" first season finale. It seems like just yesterday everybody was awaiting the premiere of the much-buzzed-about show on FOX. Created by Bruno Heller (The Mentalist), "Gotham" quickly proved it had everything going for it. Established stars Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Donal Logue slid perfectly into their roles and breakout stars like Robin Lord Taylor as "Oswald Cobblepot" and Cory Michael Smith as "Nygma" threatened to steal every scene in which they appeared. The same could be said for "Gotham's" youngest cast members. David Mazouz (Pronounced Dah-Veed) as the quite, curious, teenage "Bruce Wayne" is spot on and Camren Dicondova as the sleek, crafty street kid "Selina Kyle" is perfectly charismatic.
We recently chatted with the young, dynamic-duo about working on "Gotham," what they hope happens in Season Two and that explosive season finale which airs May 4th at 8:00PM on FOX. Read on to find out more about these talented teens.
David Mazouz
It's hard to believe that a naturally-gifted actor, like 14 year old David Mazouz, fell in to the business almost by accident. "When I was about five, I have a sister who is three years older than me, she really wanted to do it," he begins about he got started. "I was five and wanted to follow my older sibling. We took classes for three years. Just taking classes, that's all we thought it was gonna be. My commercial agent saw me and wanted to represent me. Then I started going out on theatrical auditions. Everything happened very organically. I never really made the decision [or] said to myself, 'This is what I want to be.' I thought I would just do some commercials and get some money for college."
It wasn't long before he started landing jobs. "One of my first commercials actually, it was a 'Little Tikes' commercial. I was singing 'Wild Thing' with a Little Tikes guitar," he recalls, laughing at the memory. "It was a lot of fun!"
Soon after that, he booked his first television/movie gig. You might say David was so excited, that he got a little carried away. "I think my first theatrical job was a film called 'Coming and Going' which ended up premiering on TNT," David says. "It was directed by Edoardo Ponti. It was with Rhys Darby. I only had one scene in that, it was a very small part. It was a comedy. In the scene, I had to kick Rhys Darby in the shin, so he was wearing a shin guard. I had to kick the guard. There was one time when I missed the guard! I was seven so I kicked really, really hard, so you completely understand the whole pain factor. Rhys Darby was a really cool sport. He acted through the rest of the take and then he said, 'Hey! I think you missed the guard on that time!' I was just like, 'Oh my God! I'm so sorry!'"
The young actor would continue honing his skills by guest-starring on several shows like "Private Practice," "Mike and Molly," and "Criminal Minds," before earning critical praise for his co-starring role as Kiefer Southerland's son on a television show called "Touch." The show lasted one season but you know what they say about "When one door closes."
Making the audition rounds, David found himself trying out for a new series called "Gotham." "It was actually similar to 'Touch' the other FOX show that I was on," David says about the audition process. "The 'Gotham' process was really long and very, very strenuous. Usually, the way it goes is... you have an audition, you have a callback, you have a test, then you find out if you get it. For 'Gotham,' I had about five tests. They kept calling back saying, 'We want to see him again. We want to see him again.' I finally got the offer. I would say the whole process took two months."
The actor didn't have much time to celebrate or to let the news sink in. "The day I found out I got it, the producer called a couple of hours later and said, 'Yeah, we're going to need you to take a flight out tomorrow to New York.'"
As he got further and further into the casting process, was it hard not to get his hopes up? "I was really hopeful! I really wanted to get it," he admits. "My mentality always has been, 'If I don't get it, it's for the best.' It works out for me. So I wasn't really thinking about it too much. When I found out I got it, I was like, 'Oh! That's so awesome!' I was completely shocked and I was completely very, very excited. I was never really saying, 'If I don't get this, it's going to be the end of the world.' I was never really thinking like that."
So with such a short time before he had to report to work, we wondered how much he knew about the Batman history before landing the role? "Honestly, not that much!" he confesses. "I'd never opened a comic book."
"Batman's always been my favorite character," he says quickly. "I knew the basics of his history. I knew his parents died. That's why he wanted to get revenge and fight. I was never really a big Batman fan until very recently when I found out I got 'Gotham.' Now I'm a MAJOR, MAJOR comic book fan and movie fan and everything."
"Gotham" is really the first time anyone is exploring Bruce Wayne as a teenager. We asked David how he would describe his version of "Bruce?" "I think Bruce is interesting. He's really composed," he begins. "I think composed is a major adjective to describe Bruce. He's intelligent, he's dark, he's serious. He's compassionate. He's obsessed. He's compulsive. He's really, really smart and composed."
In terms of co-stars and actors to learn from, it seems like David has hit the acting lottery, working with the aforementioned actors and others like Sean Pertwee who plays "Alfred Pennyworth." "Everyone's really, really great!" David confirms. "I feel really blessed to have such a nice, welcoming, warm, big cast that we can hang out with each other. I feel really comfortable around everybody. It's really a dream come true."
So about this big, explosive, season finale, David calls it his favorite episode from the season. What can he tells about it? " Not much!" he admits as everyone involved has been sworn to secrecy. "What I can tell you is that it's absolutely breathtaking when you see it. Every second is completely gripping. I was shocked! I was so amazed when I first saw it. I saw it Monday night for the first time. It's a really, really great conclusion to season one and a perfect introduction to season two. You really can't take your eyes off the screen."
See a commercial for the finale here:
It seems like fans should be happy with the episode and that's something that is important to David now. "I didn't really expect anything. I really just came in to do my job, especially in the pilot and the earlier part of it. I never really expected any sort of fan response" David says about the overwhelming impact the show has had on Batman fans and people who have supported the show. "Really, the only time I saw the fan response was at Comic-Con, it was a complete madhouse and that was overwhelming cause everyone there was just a huge, huge, huge, fan of the show and very excited to see it. That was just amazing! That just made me so much more motivated to work and to do my best. It felt really great to see them that happy with what we had done."
When he's not creating amazing television with "Gotham's" incredible cast and crew, what does he do in his spare time? "What's spare time?" he jokes. "When I'm not working, I'm home in L.A. We shoot the show in New York, but I live in Los Angeles. When I'm here, I go to school and do homework. If I do have spare time which is very rare, I hang out with my friends and I walk my dog, go out with my family."
He also finds time and energy to donate to charities like, "Pet Parnters is a major one," he says. "The Alzheimer's Association. The Humane Society. I'm involved with those. Best Friends, they're NKLA, No Kill Los Angeles, Animal Shelter here. They're having an event this weekend that I'm going too."
There won't be much time for a big summer vacation this year either. " Being a normal fourteen year old boy" is how he will spend his summer break. "I get out of school on June 8. I'm graduating 8th grade and going to High School next year. June 22, or around there is when we have to go back to New York to shoot the second season. So, I'm not really going to have that big of a break."
Not that he is complaining. He knows he's lucky to be a working actor and has this advice for those who want to give it a try themselves one day. "I would say perseverance is key. You really have to be determined. If you believe that you can get somewhere, if you believe that you can take on this industry, there's going to be a ton of obstacles, a ton of deterrents, but you really just have to stay on target and don't let the obstacles get to you. Really just persevere!"
Looking to the future, what kind of role would David love to find himself playing? " I would play Bob Dylan," he says excitedly. "A lot of people have told me that I look like him. I just feel like it would be really, really, great to play someone as iconic as him. I've always wanted to play him."
Which then begs the question, are you musical at all? "I have taken guitar lessons," he says. "I wouldn't say I'm good in any way shape or form. Kiefer Southerland, he was my co-star on 'Touch,' he bought me a guitar for my eleventh birthday. He taught me a little bit."
With production of season two of "Gotham" just around the corner, what would David love to see happen to "Bruce" this season? "I would like to see him get out of the Manor" he says. "I would like to see him interact with some of the other characters, hopefully, some of the villains.
Then, in a completely normal, 14 year old boy way, he adds, "I'd also like the cape!"
Don't forget to tune in to the season one finale of "Gotham" May 4th at 8:00PM.
Camren Bicondova
She’ll turn sixteen on May 22, but Camren Bicondova has already packed a lot of life in to fifteen years. The dancer turned actress loves playing “Selina Kyle” on “Gotham” and has nothing but praise for the cast and crew of the show that has gained legions of fans in its first season.
Friendly and easy to talk to, Camren seems more like your best friend in High School than actress on a big time televisions show. Hopefully, fans will have a chance to meet her as her summer plans include several personal appearances.
We caught up with the rising star recently to chat about her background, working on “Gotham” and that jaw-dropping season finale that airs on May 4.
“I've been a dancer since I was five,” the San Diego native begins, when talking about when she got bit by the acting bug. “I've always wanted to act. I just never really knew how to get in to it. Then I just kind of fell in to it and it's been amazing!”
“My first professional job, I was hired as a dancer on 'Shake it Up' on Disney Channel. It was really fun. I was part of the group that was called 'The Highlighters' on the show. I remember driving down to L.A. from my grandparent’s house in the morning for rehearsal and getting ready and just having fun! It was amazing! I got to meet Bella Thorne and Zendaya and they're really great people!”
A life-changing moment occurred when her manager checked a major casting site and saw they were casting for a new show called “Gotham.” “I got it on Breakdown,” Camren recalls of the first time she ever heard of “Gotham,” the series. “My manager found it. On the breakdown, it said, 'Selina Kyle' and 'must be good at cat movements. She's a street thief, an orphan.' But on the sides, it said 'Lucy.' So I was really confused because it sounded a lot like Catwoman to me,” she says. “It turns out, it was the young Catwoman!”
We asked what kind of research Camren did before she started playing “Selina?” “I definitely read the comic books!” she confirms. “Just for audition purposes, I was just going off the sides because I didn't know that 'Selina Kyle' was who I was going for. For the audition process, I was just going off of instinct and what-not. But then once I found out that I got the role, that's when I started researching through the comic books and watching the TV show, with Adam West and watching some movies. It's been great! I didn't realize how big the Batman franchise really was.”
“I would say that she's a survivor definitely!” Camren comments when asked to describe her character. “She does whatever she needs to do to survive. She does whatever she needs to do to stay alive in Gotham City. She's gone though a lot both mentally and physically this season. With what happened with Reggie, and things that have been going on with Bruce Wayne. She's gone through a lot!”
Gotham boasts some familiar faces to entertainment fans like Ben McKenzie, Jada Pinkett Smith and Donal Logue. What’s it like going to work every day with these actors? “It's amazing!” Camren gushes. “Initially, going in to it, I was really intimidated and nervous,” she confesses. “It's such a great cast. It just so happens that my first [big] TV job, I'm with an A-List cast! They were definitely intimidating but they were very welcoming and they're very kind. It's just a great atmosphere to be in. I love going to work! I don't necessarily have a favorite person to do scenes with because everyone is great! It's just a blessing!”
With the season finale upon us, Camren says it is her favorite episode from the first season. “My favorite episode is the finale! The writing from Bruno Heller is incredible! It was very refreshing to be able to work with Dan Cannon again because he directed it. I loved where they took ‘Selina Kyle’ and how she's going down the darker path. It's getting really, really exciting and I'm really excited for everyone to see it!”
What can we expect to see? “There's a lot of change!” Camren hints. “There's definitely a lot of change in the finale. People who you don't really expect to join forces, join forces. People that you don't necessarily expect to die, pass away. A lot goes on in the finale and you can't take your eyes off the screen! There's just so much going on and it's so intriguing. It's just going to blow everyone's minds! I'm so excited!”
The "Gotham" Stars Talk Finale:
Sounds like it’s going to be hard for fans to wait for season two, but Camren is already thinking about what’s coming next. “I definitely know they'll be going down a darker path with her. I have no idea what to expect in season two and I love that because I love not knowing what's going to happen it keeps it more exciting when you get the scripts. I'm really looking forward to a fight scene of some sort. I really want to do a fight scene! That'd be really fun!”
Speaking of fans, that’s another perk of the job that Camren wasn’t really expecting. “I knew the show was going to be successful in some way because the people behind it are very talented. I just didn't expect it to explode the way it did. It's great because when people are watching the show and enjoying the show, it's very refreshing because it allows us to know that people are enjoying are work and appreciating the work that we all put in to it. I just love being part of it. I'll be walking down to a grocery store in New York City and somebody will recognize me. It's really cool!”
Yes, working on “Gotham” means long days on set sometimes, but was does Camren do when she’s not working? “I run with my Dad,” she says, rattling off a list. “Dance. I do Parkour. I eat. I breathe,” she jokes. “And I do homework! Being in school is hard for me because I’m a procrastinator but I’m also a perfectionist and those two things don’t work very well together. But if I don’t do my school, I can’t do ‘Gotham’!”
She also makes time to give back to others in need. “I support the SEAL Legacy Foundation. It focuses on education, funeral, health and wellness, and quality of life for Navy Seals and their families. That’s one of the charities that I support. It’s great!”
Way in the future, when ‘Gotham’ is done, what kind of character would she like to take on next? It doesn’t really matter to her. “I love playing different characters. I would say action-adventure-esque because I like doing stunts and stuff like that. I like any character. I like any type of movie,” she reasons. “Although, horror movies… I get nightmares!” she sighs.
With “Gotham” on summer hiatus, what are we likely to find Camren doing this summer? “I’m getting back in to training, dancing and parkour classes,” she tells us. “I’m also doing some personal appearances both nationally and internationally. I’ll be in Houston and Detroit and Australia so I’m excited for that! It will be my first time in Australia so hopefully, I’ll get to hug a Koala bear! So I’m just traveling and training and having fun!”
Lastly, what advice does she have for aspiring actors and actresses out there? “You can’t give up!” she says adamantly. “If you have a dream, you have to reach for it. There will obviously be ups and downs. When you’re trying to get to something, there will be more downs than ups just because the destination will be the highest point. So I would just say, ‘Don’t give up, because you can’t give up your dreams. That’s what your destiny is to do!’”
Catch Camren fulfilling her destiny by playing “Selina Kyle” on the season finale of “Gotham!”
For more on "Gotham" visit http://www.Fox.com/Gotham
Follow David on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/realdavidmazouz
Follow Camren on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/camrenbicondova
Read our article on Ben McKenzie here: http://www.EnterTeenmentNews.com/gothamfinale.html