Scout Taylor-Compton and Kalli Flynn Childress: On Sleeping Over

In the upcoming Summer film Sleepover, Alexa Vega and Mika Boorem are joined by two cute newcomers, Scout Taylor-Compton,14, and Kalli Flynn Childress, 15 who play their best friends. Both actresses are bubbling with enthusiasm. Scout is actually a blonde but has red hair in the film. Kalli stays blonde and is fresh from Chicago. She's had a guest star t.v. role but this is her first film. Scout has a supporting part in the upcoming 13 Going on 30.

During a break in filming in Glendale, California, we chatted with the girls on the back porch of the house that doubles as Alexa's home in the movie. The owner's cat weaved in and out and got pets from all of us during the interview. The girls told us about meeting Alexa and Mika, who gave them a hug and welcomed them to the cast, about their Hollywood dreams, troubles with school cliques and fun bonding with the other cast members.

TeenHollywood: You're naturally a blonde, Scout. What's it like being a red-head?

Scout: It's strange. I still have my blonde moments. I'm getting used to it but I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it yet. But, I got compliments from people saying I should keep my red hair. I'll try it out on auditions.

TeenHollywood: Tell us about your characters in Sleepover.

Scout: My character is Farrah. She's a hippy-chick, spiritual girl. She's a blabbermouth; doesn't think before she talks and I'm one of Julie's (Alexa Vega's) closest friends. I create her outfits.

Kalli: I play Yancy. She is not so popular. She's shy and one of those people who have dreamed her whole life of being popular. She sees the popular girls in school walking through the hallway and is 'oh, I wish I was her'. She gets made fun of which is mean but it's all good because in the end she gets invited to this party and ends up saving the day. I get to drive. I have my permit. She gets friends and an older guy!

TeenHollywood: How did each of you get involved in the film?

Scout: I went to the same casting director who was casting the movie but for a different audition and she's like 'How did I miss you for Sleepover? She had me come back for the producers. I read for Joe the director and it was like a week. I lit my (wish) candle and then I got it!

Kalli: I'm from Chicago. I've been doing theater and heard about this audition. It was a month and a half and I thought they hadn't picked me. It was just a dream I had. Then I got a call. They wanted me to fly out and meet the director. I was sooo excited. I met everyone and got it. It was awesome when I got the phone call. I was in a public place and screamed. Everybody was looking at me.

TeenHollywood: Did you guys hang out off the set?

Kalli: We had a "Sleepover sleepover".

Scout: Alexa asked us. We all got together and took a hotel room. We played Twister and chatted and told secret stuff from the set and next day we went to Universal Studios and Citywalk. Alexa had a video camera but she didn't know how to work it. We were going to play elevator tag but we didn't want to get in trouble.

Kalli: It was a lot of fun. We had to wake up at 7:30 to get to Universal. Me and Scout went to sleep at 6:30. We were wired. We went on tons of rides. We went into The Mummy [attraction]. Alexa's in the front and I'm stuck in the back. They run and leave me alone in the room. I got back at them later.

Scout: Then we all got our face painted. She had a cute butterfly. Alexa got two black eyes like a football player!

TeenHollywood: Do you guys have that class system, "cool table" stuff at school?

Scout: I'm homeschooled luckily. I do internet school but when I went to school there was the popular table. I don't want to say 'geeks' but the unpopular group, then the 'normal' people, then my group who just hung out with everybody. I hated the popular people. You had to have perfect shoes. Your hair had to be a certain way. They'd call you names. I was really short.

Kalli: I started out going to a Catholic school but don't be fooled. It's a nice school, you wear uniforms and it's like a prep school but there are some mean people. I came out here and went to my first public school. There is the popular and non-popular. I'm short too and part of the non-popular group. This movie is so real. There is a whole deal about getting that higher status. I like this movie because girls realize all they really need is a friend.

TeenHollywood: Have you guys had a sleepover experience on your own back home?

Kalli: Yeah, I have. I remember my friends were in the mood to get scared so we stayed up and watched Children of the Corn and I have a corn field right across the street from me! So, they dared me to go into the cornfield and I did it and they snuck into the field and scared me. Alexa and I had a sleepover while my guardian was out of town. I'd never been surfing before. I'm afraid of sharks and she took me surfing. But I had fun. Major props to people who can really surf.

TeenHollywood: Are your friends jealous of you now?

Kalli: I had trouble with that back in Chicago. A lot of people in L.A have something to do with the entertainment business and that's cool but in Chicago a lot of my friends thought I thought I was too good but I hope I don't come off that way. I have to say right now, my best friends are here on the set. And my whole family is really supportive.

Both girls are hot to see Peter Pan and think Jeremy Sumpter who is 14, is way cute. They think the guys on the set are really nice and get along great as friends. They figure when they are sixteen they'll be on the prowl for a guy but not yet. They plan to be friends a long time. Scout and Kalli tell us they have plans to go to USC together and, of course keep acting...or be casting directors...or set decorators...or...

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.