Chris Colfer of 'Glee' Writes His Hollywood Ticket

(AP) Chris Colfer of `Glee’ writes his Hollywood ticket
By ALICIA RANCILIO
Associated Press
NEW YORK
When “Glee” star Chris Colfer was 8, he began writing a novel. He wrote two pages, called it the first chapter and proudly showed it to his grandmother.

That memory was worked into his script for the movie “Struck by Lightning,” which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Colfer wrote and stars in the movie. He plays Carson, an ambitious high-school senior who blackmails his fellow students into helping him get into Northwestern University.

The 21-year-old actor came up with the idea for the story when he was a teen as a way to vent about his teachers and classmates. He then taught himself how to write a screenplay.

Allison Janney plays his mother, and Colfer says he always pictured her in the part.

Janney said she was unaware the part was written for her, but loved it immediately.

Dermot Mulroney, Christina Hendricks and Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family”) also star in the movie.

Colfer has just finished a psychological drama he hopes to shoot independently this summer. He also adapted a pilot for the Disney Channel based on Florence Laughlin’s children’s book “The Little Leftover Witch.”

He also inked a deal to publish two children’s books. “The Land of Stories,” which will be in bookstores in July, is essentially the completion of that story he began writing when he was 8.

Colfer said he told his parents when he was growing up that he was going to write and act, and he has made good on those bold declarations. His portrayal of gay teen Kurt Hummel on the Fox show “Glee” has earned him a Golden Globe Award and two Emmy nominations.

Despite the opportunities he’s had since “Glee,” Colfer says he cannot ever really get used to fame.

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Online:

http://www.fox.com/glee/

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Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aliciar