Imagine writing a script and having your favorite TV and film actors perform your work. Then, imagine doing this before leaving elementary school! The Young Storytellers Foundation (YSF) mentors students in schools with no funding for Arts Education. Every year, the organization puts on a star-studded event called “The Biggest Show” and thus, shows off the students’ talents. This year’s show raised the bar. Stars like Raven Symoné from That’s So Raven, Glee’s Cory Monteith, and Diary of A Wimpy Kid’s Devon Bostick all turned out to give a rare live performance—in an elementary school gymnasium—acting out screenplays written by YSF students. For the lucky YSF mentees, the show was a big encouragement to keep their creativity flowing. Bostick—who’s kinder than his character Rodrick Heffley—told one YSF mentee, Dominique Cojuangco, “If you need a guy to do your movie, I’m your guy.” We chatted with Bostick about curing acting jitters and how he got started in Hollywood.

Photo: Getty Images

ELLEgirl (EG): How was it to perform live for an audience?

Devon Bostick (DB): This is my third time doing [YSF’s “The Biggest Show”]. I was extremely nervous. I’ve never been so nervous. It was really important to do a good job for the kids. With “The Biggest Show” and what the kids come up with, you can be anything. So, you really have to push your limits and go out of your comfort zone. And you really want to go for it.

EG: How do you calm your acting nerves?

DB: I don’t think you can calm nerves. I think you use the nerves and put them into your performance. And that’s what really helps. That’s the jolt. It’s like when you like a girl for the first time. It’s a jittery [feeling]. You have to let it out somehow.

EG: How did you start your acting career?

DB: A friend of mine invited me to theater camp when I was in grade one. I went and I just loved it. My whole family is in the business. Different parts of it—not acting. So, I’ve always had art in my blood. It’s sort of a world I was already a part of.

EG: Why did you participate in YSF’s “The Biggest Show”?

DB: I had the opportunity to go to theater camp and then an art school from grades nine to twelve. For schools and kids who don’t have the chance, for them to get the chance is the most special thing ever because there could be little Scorseses in here or Brad Pitts.

EG: What will we see you in next?

DB: I just finished shooting Diary of the Wimpy Kid 3. So, the trilogy of the Wimpy Kid‘s over. I’m also writing right now—like these kids—trying to get my stuff out and trying to get actors to do it.

Check out Young Storytellers Foundation!