BY JACOB BROOKS
The Daily News
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Paul Rae (who went by Paul Rae Stuart when he grew up in Washington Parish) stars opposite Cuba Gooding Jr. in "Daddy Day Camp," opening Aug. 8 nationwide.
"Cuba and I are two best friends that run a camp together," said Rae, 39, who graduated from Bogalusa High in 1986. "It's like 'Meatballs.' I get beat up the whole movie."
The movie is from the producers of 2003's "Daddy Day Care."
In a campfire scene of "Daddy Day Camp," Rae said his character, Phil Ryerson, sings a song called "Juanita," who happens to be a lady from Bogalusa.
The original song was written by the sister of "Daddy Day Camp" director Fred Savage. Previous-ly, the lyrics went "a lady from Ponchatoula," but Rae said he asked Savage to change it to say Bogalusa.
"I said I need to switch one thing in this song," Rae said. "And he was totally for it."
Rae said working in the movie with Gooding was a blast.
"He's like a big kid. He's like me," Rae said.
In the movie, Rae's character, Phil, and Charlie Hinton (played by Gooding) are a pair of dads who run a summer day camp. "Armed with no knowledge of the great outdoors, a dilapidated facility and a motley group of campers, it doesn't take long before things get out of control. Up against threats of foreclosure and declining enrollment, Charlie is forced to call on his estranged father, Col. Buck Hinton (Richard Gant) to help bring the camp together and teach everyone about teamwork, perseverance and the power of forgiveness," according to the movie's Web site, www.sonypictures.com/movies/daddydaycamp.
The role is a big leap in Rae's acting career that began in modest fashion as a high school student in Bogalusa. He did one play at BHS - something from Shakespeare, as Rae recalls.
"And I think I had one line," he said. There was also a sword fight scene where he accidentally stabbed his buddy, Donnie Hall, who was not seriously hurt.
"That was my first on-stage moment - stabbing my best friend in the thigh."
After high school, Rae attended LSU, and furthered his acting training.
"I took an improv class just on a whim."
He moved to California in the mid-1990s, took more acting classes and got odd jobs with commercials and voice-overs. About five years ago, he started getting some screen roles.
And with movie executives already getting pre-screenings of "Daddy Day Camp," Rae said the job opportunities have started to pour in.
"It's starting to happen," Rae said
On July 23, he will be in an episode of "The Closure" on TBS. On that same day, he is scheduled to go to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to shoot a movie called "The Circuit," where Rae plays a NASCAR race team owner.
He's already done about eight jobs this year, and he's getting calls for more.
"He's worked really hard for it," said Rae's mother, Jean Rushing, who is originally from Thomas and now lives in Mississippi.
Rae started school in Mt. Hermon, and then later went to Thomas before attending junior high and high school in Bogalusa, said his mother.
Rae was a good boy growing up, but Rushing said she never thought her son would make a living by appearing on the silver screen.
"I figured he'd be a businessman," she said. "He talks well with people."
But that trait probably helps Rae with his acting career, Rushing said, adding his role in "Daddy Day Camp" may make him well known everywhere, not just in Bogalusa or Hollywood.
"I think this may be the one that takes him to the next level," she said.
Rae was in Bogalusa a few months ago, and still considers Washington Parish home.
Filmography for Paul Rae
2007
Daddy Day Camp
Bone Eater (TV)
South of Pico
The Closer (TV)
Girl, Positive (TV)
The Wind Fisherman
Next
2006
The Last Supper
Malcolm in the Middle
(TV)
The West Wing (TV)
Prescriptions (TV)
Air Buddies
2005
Navy NCIS: (TV)
Desperate Housewives
(TV)
Zodiac Killer
Monk (TV)
Coach Carter
The Division (TV)
Such's Life
2004
Las Vegas (TV)
The Handler (TV)
2003
Enterprise (TV)
CSI (TV)
Sabrina, the Teenage
Witch (TV)
Source: imdb.com
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