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"Dawson's Creek" has made Josh Jackson one of the hottest young stars on television. It's a long way from his "Mighty Ducks" movies, but, as Dawson's friend Pacey, he has helped to propel Kevin Williamson's (Scream, Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer) coming-of-age drama to one of The WB's top-rated shows. In real life, Josh is as personable and self-deprecating as Pacey is brash and impulsive. The rising young star took some time out to bring Prevue up to date on the show and how it has changed his life.
Prevue: You don't take much time off do you?
JJ: No! You have to strike while the iron is hot.
Prevue: You're working on "Urban Legend" and "Cruel Inventions" right?
JJ: "Cruel Inventions" is done actually. It's in the can for me. My job - don't let it be over exaggerated - my job was pretty miniscule in that film. "Urban Legend" I'm actually right in the middle of filming. And then last year, what kind of facilitated my getting this job in "Dawson's Creek," was a movie called "Apt Pupil," and I may potentially get another job right after "Urban Legend." I'm having a pretty good run of it. 1998 and 1997 have been good years for Josh Jackson.
Prevue: Have you seen any of next season's scripts?
JJ: No. None of them are written. Some of the stories, the first 13 stories are broken, the idea has already germinated, but they haven't actually put the pen to paper, and that stuff is really not my business. They give me the script. I'll show up, I'll say the words. I go home. (laughs) That's my job.
Prevue: What do you think will change with "Dawson's Creek" next year?
JJ: Well I think after you watch the cliffhanger, it'll be easier for people to speculate. After the season finale, a lot of things on "Dawson's Creek" are going to change for various reasons, and for different reasons for different people. I think your going to see all four of the characters sort of branch off in new directions, and also I think to certain extent maybe branch away from each other. As part of the growth process you don't always keep the same 'cosm of friends through the whole thing. I think you're going to see a lot of new things next year, but I don't really know. You know what? I don't write the show. I just show up and say the lines.
Prevue: Are you going to try to contribute to story lines?
JJ: I would try to contribute as much as I could. If my opinion was asked, I wouldn't hold it back. Our writing staff is so strong, and these guys are professionals, and Kevin Williamson obviously knows what he's doing. I don't want to tinker with it. They're doing well and I could only screw it up. There's nothing I could add to it to make it any better. I'm more than willing to let them do their job, and let me do my job. Perhaps for something else in the future - who knows? But for right now, I'm quite happy doing just my job.
Prevue: Do you get recognized a lot now?
JJ: Actually I don't get recognized. First off, in Canada - I live in Vancouver - in Canada, the show didn't start airing until the middle of April, so it was just like being home. And then after that, every once in a while I get a sideward glance or someone will come up to me, but it's not on a Leonardo-DiCaprio-can't-go-out-of-his-house craziness scale. It's more like, "Hey you're Pacey aren't you. Okay! Good show," and then they walk away. The more insistent fans are "The Mighty Ducks" fans 'cause they're younger and there's no reality barrier. It's just, "Hey that's Charlie Conway! How're ya doin'! Remember when you were in the goal in the game, and the guy came and he hit you in the..." I spend more time explaining "The Mighty Ducks" than I do "Dawson's Creek."
Prevue: Are you looking forward to resuming shooting "Dawson's Creek?"
JJ: I can't wait to get back down to North Carolina. The first season was like it was a vacation, and we had no pressure. It was like being on a film set. None of the shows were airing. We knew that people were anticipating the show coming out. We had no idea the kind of tidal wave that "Dawson's Creek" was going to become, so we were just down in wonderland, and then we came here and everything changed. Its funny, we all talk about going back to our normal lives, which is filming "Dawson's Creek" in North Carolina. That's how twisted the four of us are. Our normal life is our TV show.
Prevue: What are some of your goals for the near future?
JJ: My goals for the future are to make sure that I'm better next year on "Dawson's Creek" than I was this year on "Dawson's Creek;" to correct my mistakes and improve upon the success of the show. That's my main focus for the near future, you know, as an actor to improve and grow and get better at my job.