Actor Luis Guzmán inspires youth in his native Lower East Side neighborhood
Luis Guzmán, star of the upcoming film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, talks to children at the Henry Street Settlement, a social services center where he worked as a counselor before becoming an actor. The film hits theaters February 10. (Photo: Amaris Castillo)
By AMARIS CASTILLO
Channel: Entertainment
On Wednesday afternoon, the small gym in the basement of New York City’s Henry Street Settlement filled with restless, pint-sized voices. Lots of them.
The children were at the social services center to see Puerto Rican character actor Luis Guzmán –- but they didn’t know that yet. For now, all the children could see were huge posters of Guzmán’s upcoming film Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. It was a promotional event for the new 3D family adventure film, which follows young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson) and his stepfather (Dwayne Johnson) on a quest to rescue a mysterious island’s lone inhabitant.
In the film, 55-year-old Guzmán plays a helicopter pilot named Gabato who helps Anderson and his stepdad, along with his daughter (played by Vanessa Hudgens).
For Guzmán, this was not just another stop in his promotional tour. It was a visit drenched in nostalgia; a proud native of NYC’s Lower East Side neighborhood, the actor once worked at the center as a counselor.
Once the children were shown the film’s trailer, an unshaven and burly Guzmán entered the gym and walked up to the podium to address the little ones. Seemingly unaffected by fame, he thanked everyone for being there and then jokingly asked, “So what grade are you guys in if you’re not in college?”
After reminiscing on his days as a counselor and doling out advice, Guzmán kicked off a fun Q&A. Most of the kids’ questions were amusing, with one boy asking, “Why do you answer all our questions with a joke?” As always, Guzmán was armed with a funny response, saying that it’s the only way he knows how to keep their attention.
“[I have to] Keep them laughing, keep them smiling,” the actor said.
Third-grader Danielle Salazar was one of the first to ask Guzmán a question. “Why do you look so short in the picture?” she said, referring to the film’s poster, in which the actor is kneeling. “There was this 60-foot lizard looking at us and I fell down to my knees because I had to,” Guzmán explained. “But I look good in there, don’t I?”
In addition to t-shirts, the drama program participants of the Henry Street Settlement received swag bags filled with goodies.
After answering questions relating to his acting career, Guzmán gave some encouraging words to the children of the Henry Street Settlement. “Let your mom and your dad, and your abuelos and abuelas know how much you love them,” the actor said. “Always choose to do the right thing.”
For the most part, kids like third grader Danny Wong (pictured here in the middle) loved hearing Guzmán speak.
After speaking, Guzmán presented the kids with a signed poster of his new film. To show their appreciation on behalf of the center, a beaming Nicholas Cromwell and Jaelyn Gutierrez gifted him with a notepad.
For the actor, visiting the center’s youth seemed to be a wonderful trip down memory lane. “I will always be proud to be from the Lower East Side,” he said. “It’s always nice to come back.”
