Interview with Katie Duckett

Complied by Traci Muller

1. How did I get the part of Lulu Spencer?

Pure luck. I had done one local TV commercial for a bank in Knoxville and had an agent. She called my Mom and told her to bring me and my two younger sisters (we were 6, 4, and 2) up to Townsend early one Saturday morning for an open audition for a TV movie. Our family was scheduled to go to Atlanta for the weekend to see two Braves games, so my Mom told her we couldn't go. Family time is very important to my family, so she never considerd giving up our trip for the chance to be in a movie. Anyway, about a month later there was a story in the newspaper saying they were still looking for kids and parents could send in pictures if they wanted their children considered.

Mom sent in a snapshot of each of us that day and the next day the casting woman called and said that Mary, my four-year old sister had been cast as Lulu because she had long, brown hair and had big blue eyes like Bruce {the actor who played Jeb) and Tess Harper. We were all so excited and the next day we all went with Mary up to the Smokies where Meredith--the kid wrangler--brought us in a van to meet Elsie at the old Greenbriar schoolhouse and over to see the set. The next week, Mary and my Mom went up to the Foothills Parkway to shoot. Mary met Tess and got in make-up and costume and was paid for two days but never worked. Finally at about 4P.M. on the second day, Mike Rhodes, the director, told my Mom and the mother of the little boy they had cast as Least Un that the kids were too young because they couldn't work enough hours. He was going to recast the parts with older kids. The other mother was real upset but a PA (production assistant) turned to my Mom and said, you have an older daughter don't you? Now, I had real short hair at the time so my Mom figured they'd never use me. But she called home and after tracking me down at a friend's riding lesson, convinced my Dad to drive me up to the Foothills Parkway by 6 P.M. that night. We drove really fast and got there in time.

I met Mike Rhodes and I was Lulu. Mary wasn't upset because she really wanted to go to kindergarten. Plus she got paid for two days for doing nothing. They did give her a part in the movie. She's the first child Christy sees as she walks up to school on the first day. She also played my double in "The Lie" (because I couldn't work all those hours since I was only 7) and earned enough money to buy her American Girl doll, Molly.

2. What was a typical day like on the set?

My typical day started by waking up at 4:30 or 5:30 A.M., depending on the call time, and driving the hour up to Townsend from Knoxville. My sisters and I slept in the back of the van while my Mom drove all these back roads past horses and cows. When we'd get there it was often still dark. The first thing we'd do is go to wardrobe, then make up. All of these were located in trailers parked on the side of the hill. There was a lot of hill climbing. It could get very cold on the fall mornings, especially in the movie and first few episodes when they wouldn't let us wear shoes. Then all the Moms complained and they worked into an episode that we'd be given shoes. I could work 8 hours a day but sometimes it turned out to be more, as long as my Mom agreed. Some days we'd shoot right away and other times it could be several hours before we'd actually work. That's when we'd do school work or sleep.

We also got lunch every day and that was great because you could pick what you wanted. The second catering crew were from LA and the man was really friendly to the kids. He'd always have hamburgers or something we'd like. The only bad thing in the summer was that the flies would get into all the stuff on the salad and dessert table. Some days we'd get done earlier than expected and we'd make it home in time for me to make my karate class. I learned how to break boards that year and I was so proud. Lots of days I was so tired my Mom carried me down the hill to the van and I would sleep all the way home. On the days that I didn't work, I went to school and if I didn't have to work until the afternoon, I went to school in the morning. The only time we didn't go back and forth to home was when I was shooting "The Lie". It was pretty intense, so my parents decided to get a room at the Hampton Inn so I wouldn't have to make the drive. The out of town kids like Kyle, Jenny, and Andy and Clay always stayed in the hotel. I'm glad I got to go home every night and keep up with my friends and activities.

School Work:

I can't remember exactly how many hours we were required to do school work each day but it was at least three. Sometimes that meant 2 or three hours straight and other times we'd get in a half hour here and there when we weren't needed on the set. The Goodes were homeschooled and lots of the kids went to public school, but I went to Catholic school and they were real supportive of my being on Christy. My first and second grade teachers, Mrs. Pucker and Mrs Kramer at St. Joseph, would give my Mom all the assignments for the week and I'd bring them up to the set. Since I was working at my own pace and had one-on-one help from Miss Mary and my Mom, I was able to complete the work quickly. That's how I got so far ahead. When I went back to school on the days I wasn't shooting, they'd usually have me run errands or help them do things because I had finished all my work.

During the second season, we had a reading contest among the Cutter Gap kids to encourage the kids to read on the set. Kellie Martin always had a thick book in her hands and she was a real role model for me. I loved to read anyway, so it wasn't a problem. Kristin Goode, who is much older than me, and I tied for the top book readers and LeVar Burton, who of course was the Reading Rainbow host, presented me with a cassette recorder/ radio and an autographed picture. I still treasure both of those and they're in my room today.

Coming and Going:

My Mom always drove me to the set and during the initial movie and first season, she and my youngest sister, Cassidy, would often go into Townsend and ride the bike trail. Cass was in a baby seat. Mom usually stayed down at the catering area or near the schoolhouse so Cass wouldn't make any noise during shooting. My sister Mary was in kindergarten so my Grandma or Dad would pick her up from school. My Mom was able to really tutor my two younger sisters when they were with her on the set and they both became excellent, early readers. She also got to know the other Moms and they'd swap stories.

During the second season, Mom was able to sign a release and leave the set during the day if she had to. That enabled her to pick up Mary from school or get errands done. I was wroking or in school, so I didn't miss her. And there were plenty of emergency numbers so if there was a problem she would be there in a flash. But nothing ever happened. Since sometimes we got released early, if she wasnít there yet, Iíd stay with Meredith, the kid wrangler. She was like a big sister to me and I miss her a lot.

Reading Your Lines

They didn't want us practicing our lines too much because then it would sound too rehearsed. I'm really good at memorizing things, so it was easy for me. When we'd do a scene Iíd deliver the line the way I wanted and if they wanted me to change it somehow they would. Kellie Martin could always do her lines perfectly in one take and I tried to be like her. I knew from the start that time is money when you're doing a movie or show, so I wanted to be prepared and do my job as efficiently as possible. Also since my parents are from Massachusetts and California, I don't have a Tennessee accent--even though I was born and raised in Tennessee--so I altered my voice slightly but tried not to sound fake. A mountain accent really isn't a southern accent and it bothered me when people talked southern trying to fit in.

Lights, Action, Camera!

It really wasn't hard not to look at the camera because I knew it was a job. Also when you're in the costumes and make-up and up on that set you really start to feel like you are in a classroom and Christy is real. My little sister always called Kellie "Miss Christy" because she couldn't quite separate the real person from the TV person. One neat thing I remember from the first season was being able to sit up on Mike Fash's lap and look through the camera. It was cool to see how he saw everything.

Shooting a scene could take forever. When you see the finished product, it's so quick but it could take us a whole day to shoot one little scene. First they had to set up all the cameras and lights and props. Then they'd bring us in and run through it a couple of times. Then it could take several takes. My favorite words were cut--print, because that meant we were done. Don't get me wrong, I loved being there, but when you're 6 or 7 and it's cold or dark or really hot and you've been up on the set for hours, you really want to change and go home. I loved doing the scenes in "The Lie" though, because they were focused on me, which is kind of a special feeling instead of being part of a big group. Everyone was so supportive and helpful. They really made it easy for me--even with all those bees glued to my face and hair!

Off-screen Fun:

Between scenes I read a lot of books. Also the kid wrangler, Meredith, would organize games of softball, kickball, Frisbee, and teach us crafts like making pot holders with those little weaving sets or making corn husk dolls. We'd also have special events like pumpkin decorating or helping paint the backdrop for the Romeo and Juliet scene. When I had lines and got a trailer (extras didn't get to use the trailers), I'd often take a nap in there with my Mom until I got called. I also enjoyed getting snacks from the craft services truck. My Mom always brought up toys and dolls for me and my sisters to play with and we'd play with the other kids and the children of the actors when they visited. I remember playing Barbies with Stewart's daughter Sky, for example.

From Hair to Eternity:

The hair length was more of an issue for the boys. They couldn't get real modern cuts and some of the actors who got cast in movies and commercials outside of Christy had to be careful about what they did with their hair for the other parts. Like I said earlier, I was real lucky that they cast me with short hair and we just let it grow from then on. At the start of the second season, my hair was longer but kind of shaggy, so my Mom braided it in two pigtails to make me look neater. The make-up people loved it and decided to tie pieces of cloth on the ends. So my Mom really came up with the plan for Lulu to have little pig-tail braids for the second season!

On the Road Again:

I enjoyed filming in Townsend, because even though we lived only an hour from the mountains, we didn't really visit there a lot. I know for some of the LA actors, that living and working in Townsend got to be a drag, but when you're 6 or 7, there's nothing more fun than playing in the dirt and woods and riding past cows and horses everyday. Now when we drive up to the mountains and go on some of those same twisting back roads that we took back then it all comes flooding back to me. I'm sure some days my Mom wished we lived a little closer though, especially when she had driven me home at 9 PM then night before and then had to leave at 6am the next morning to get me back.

Come Rain or Shine:

Summers can be extremely hot in Tennessee, but we were really lucky that it was a pretty cool summer and mild fall when we were filming. I can't ever remember being hot or buggy, but I do remember being cold--especially before they let us wear shoes. My feet would get really cold walking up the dirt path to the set. Also, they also made sure we had plenty to drink, so we'd never get real hot and the entire set is under the trees, so there was always plenty of shade.

Liking Your Job:

I never got sick, so I really can't say what would have happened if I did. There were plenty of days I was tired, though, but my Mom reminded me that I was hired to do a job and that this was a business and I could rest when I was done. She wasn't mean or anything, but she made me realize that this wasn't dress-up or play, but a real job and although I was young, much was expected of me. I appreciate that because I think that experience has made me more responsible in my school work. I know when I am given a job to do at home or at school that it is my responsibility to do it. People are counting on me. I like that feeling of purpose, of being someone people can count on to get things done on time and professionally.

Reading With the Stars:

On the few episodes where I had multiple scenes, there would be a read through--usually at the old elementary school offices on the Sunday before shooting started. I enjoyed that because Kellie and Randall and Tyne and whoever else was in the episode was there and you got to see them more relaxed and in their street clothes. They would talk about what they had done on their time off and it was all very relaxed. I could read, so that was never a problem and I was one of the youngest kids to have lines. Even though I looked very small (I'm small for my age), I was in first and second grade at the time and could read pretty well. I enjoyed reading the whole script to see where my part fit into the story.

No More Bees, Please!

The toughest thing was probably "The Lie", which was also my favorite episode. It took a long time to do the make-up with the dead bees and then take the bees off (very carefully) when I was through. The actual acting wasn't hard, it was just that there was smoke--when Kellie and Sam were trying to scare the bees away--which made me cough, it was hot, and it was uncomfortable having all those bees glued to me. Besides, I hate bugs!!!!