Jacob Tremblay continues rise with ‘Cold Copy’
Set in the world of competitive TV journalism, “Cold Copy” pits a demanding instructor-TV personality against one of her most ambitious students.
In this rivalry, the would-be reporter Mia (Bel Powley) will do most anything to get a scoop on Igor (Jacob Tremblay), a very private and emotionally troubled kid.
In reality, Tremblay, now 17, is far from a troubled soul. Born, raised and still living in Vancouver, known as “Hollywood North” for its profusion of film and TV productions, Tremblay was initially a spectacularly successful child actor.
“My older sister started acting first,” he recalled in a Zoom interview from Vancouver.
“Because I never did like sports or anything like that, I thought, I’ll do it too just for fun. I suppose I was three or four.
“I did a commercial or two which was fun because when you’re at that age, you get to play with the toys that give you. Then I got really lucky because a small role in a movie led to doing ‘Room’ which was my breakout role I guess. I turned eight during production.”
A modern classic “Room” was initially a successful book adapted as an Oscar-winning movie by author Emma Donoghue. It’s soon to be a Broadway show. In it, a woman (Brie Larson) has been held prisoner for seven years. With her 5-year-old son, born in captivity, she plots their escape. Nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture, “Room” brought Larson a Best Actress Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA.
“We filmed from October to December in Toronto in 2014. It’s crazy to think how I was eight years old. I’m 17 now, which means that it’s been 10 years, over half my life! Which is kind of surreal.
“It’s pretty weird and almost a little sad because over time I’ve noticed that the memories are getting a bit more fuzzy. I’m remembering less and less. One of the things about that, was getting to do things, like going to the Oscars, that I couldn’t really comprehend much. I know I say this a lot but I wish I videotaped everything.”
In “Cold Copy” Tremblay is the 16-year-old son of a famous children’s author who died of an accidental overdose. With an often absent father he’s a sought-after tabloid fixture. And a ripe target for Powley’s scorching ambition.
“He’s so young. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing,” the actor decided. “The deal with him is that he genuinely just doesn’t understand his emotions or how he feels about the loss of his mother. But I also think he’s a very strong, independent character.”
“Cold Copy” is available on Video on Demand Jan. 26